Page 89 of Grave Humor

“You see something,” Eoghan observed, clipping his seatbelt into place.

I gestured to the dashboard. “There’s a seed of life there.”

“Perhaps it seeks an opportunity to bring a soul back to the mortal coil.”

“In my truck?” I blurted.

Eoghan examined the cab with interest. “There is sufficient space for such an endeavor. It seems like it would be a challenge, but I could find interesting ways to make use of these belts.”

Okay. I stopped and considered the cab for a while, too. I could understand how the belts could be used in interesting ways. After learning the truth about Eoghan’s nature, I suspected I would be the one using the belts on him if he insisted on remaining stubborn. “I’m not sure I want a voyeur just sitting around watching what I may or may not do with a seatbelt.”

“It’s not really sentient. It’s just seeking opportunities. They tend to show up where there are opportunities.”

“In my truck?” I demanded again.

“I don’t see why not. I’ve participated in my fair share of seductions in carriages. This is not that much different from a carriage. It’s far more comfortable, too.”

I refused to become jealous over some woman who’d died hundreds of years ago, although I made some assumptions on the having died hundreds of years ago part of things. “Were you the seducer or the seduced?”

“A little bit of both, really.”

Well, that didn’t help my general cause any. “You’re going to have to help me out here, Eoghan. Either I’m going to need a manual on how to seduce an ancient antique, or you’re going to have to step up your game… but not in my truck.”

“Why not in your truck? It possesses many horses, and I find this appealing.”

Of course. I’d purchased his dream truck, and I had to admit, she had a certain appeal. “Not in my truck yet,” I replied, shaking my head at the insanity of it all.

“Yes, it would be a bit much for a first seduction to take place in such a location. Carriages make excellent seduction spots for later in a relationship.”

“Or with a paid lady of the night?”

“While I have met many a lovely lady of the night, I have never bedded any of them. I require more dedicated attention. I do not share well.”

Neither did I. “Having witnessed your behavior, I readily believe you are not very good at sharing.”

“Some things I am willing to share. A honey rock, for example, is something I would share with you.”

“Well played, Mr. Olin. Very well played.”

“Only a blind fool would not notice your adoration for those melons. I will take the advice given to me and plan a way to provide you with them year round. I may have to hold your prized melons hostage. Appropriate affections paid out would result in you receiving a melon to enjoy.”

Well, if he was trying to seduce me in my truck, he went about it the right way. “Keep talking.”

He chuckled. “If I keep talking, I would be forced to reduce you to begging, and while this is a lovely truck, it is unsuitable for such an event.”

I swiped the seed of life off my dashboard and put it in a different pocket so Hammel’s seed couldn’t bother it. “Does your magic let you see the past circumstances of a soul?”

“That is more of your power, once you learn to use it, but I can to a certain degree. Some souls have stronger imprints of their pasts than others.”

Hmm. I retrieved the seed and held it out to him. “What can you tell me about this one?”

Eoghan placed his hand over mine and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he grunted. “She had a difficult life and a worse death. The seed probably perceived you as a safe place and manifested here.”

I found it odd the universe could be so uncaring yet compassionate at the same time. “Do I want to know how difficult?”

“No, you don’t. It is best if you do not pry too deeply into that soul’s past. It would be best if she slept without remembering.”

“Has her soul been resting a long time, then?”