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“Fallon, you will stay out of this.”
“But if you enlisted the aid of the reapers, had them help in your search—”
Folkoln laughed. “Tell hundreds of people that there is a weapon so powerful it can break an unbreakable deal forged by the God of Death himself? I’m sure that information would light a fire under their asses to look for it, but what would they doifthey did find it? Sure, some of the loyal ones would use it to save Von, but not all of them would. Some would use it for their own means. So no, I will not be enlisting the help of the reapers.”
“Then what do I tell Kaleb? He keeps bringing it up and I just keep pushing the topic off, saying I haven’t gotten a chance to speak with you yet.”
“Thatis not my problem,” Folkoln said, the click in his knee sounding.
“Wait, where are you going?” Fallon padded after him.
His nearly silent steps stopped. “Well, since you are no longer on the menu, I’m going to find someone else who is.”
“Folkoln, I know things have been—”
“Save it, Little Bird. We had an understanding between the two of us, yes? It was just sex, nothing more. I am not like your complicated mortal lovers, so don’t try to make me out as one.” His tone shifted from boredom to intrigue. “By the way, howisthat going?”
Fallon drew out a long breath. “I don’t know. I didn’t expect to have feelings for Ryker anymore, but when I saw him . . . they were still there.”
So the paths of the two old lovers had finally crossed. I had wondered when that would finally happen.
“Sounds messy.” Folkoln chuckled. “Well, good luck with that.”
And then he was gone, shadow walking out of the room.
Leaving me and one confused little reaper.
Years ago, after I’d brought Fallon’s soul to the Spirit Realm, along with the Crown of Thorns, I’d told her many times that she should speak to Ryker, but she refused. Instead, she pushed her feelings to the side—acting as though they meant nothing.
Now, she was going to be forced to face them, whether she wanted to or not.
Just as I would have to face my sister, an altercation that would likely end in bloodshed, but what else could be expected when Saphira had betrayed me yet again? After all this time,shewas the one who’dstolenthe Crown of Thorns—the very thingthat could end my mate’s life—and knowingly delivered it right into my enemy’s hands.
Sage
If I didn’t know any better, I would think a bear had wrapped its massive paws around my waist and now it was trying its damnedest to squeeze the very life from me. At least, that’s what it felt like with Brunhilde at the helm, cinching me smaller with the constrictive corset, inch by breath-taking inch. Last night, before she left, Cataline said she would come early this morning so that she could tie the corset in place of Brunhilde—granting my poor rib cage a fraction of relief. Yet, she hadn’t arrived this morning, which was unlike her.
“Is Cataline unwell?” I asked as I held on to the bed’s corner pillar, my fingers locked tightly around it as I tried to hold my ground.
“I’m afraid Cataline won’t be tending you anymore, my lady.” Brunhilde grunted the last two words as she wrenched on the cord, sucking me in another inch.
“Oh?” That was news to me. My brows lifted. “Why is that?”
“Her family sent word that they wished for her to return to their estate, immediately,” she answered with ease, as if we were discussing what she ate for breakfast. “From my understanding, she has already left.”
I was a bit sad to hear that Cataline had left without saying goodbye. We weren’t nearly as close as Harper and me, but I had believed that we were starting to form a friendship.
“But never fear, my lady, we’ll find another lady’s maid to tend to you,” Brunhilde chattered on, before she started telling me what was planned for the day. While she did, I became lost in my own thoughts, processing last night.
Ryker and Fallon had spoken for hours while Kaleb and I waited inside. In the early hours of the morning, after Kaleb and Fallon left, I told the young, half-asleep guard that I thought I heard something coming from the balcony. As he inspected it, Ryker snuck out into the hallway.
I felt for Ryker. The revelations of last night were a . . . lot.
After years of wondering what had happened to the girl he loved, he finally had an answer. She was alive—well, sort of. I don’t know what all they had spoken of while they were outside, but judging by the looks of Ryker’s weary eyes when they returned inside, it had been a painful conversation.
And then there was Kaleb. He wanted to ask Fallon to marry him. But now that Ryker was thrown back into the mix, would that change things?
Brunhilde patted my hips, signaling she was finished. “All good, my lady. I suppose we should be on our way to morning praise. Naevia, please fetch my lady her shoes.”
