was no time for me to truly bask in this moment. The fae’s lives were at stake, along with the rest of the universe. Their deaths wouldn’t have affected Death, but it still didn’t make it right.
“I’m sorry to show up like this,” I murmured. “I wish there was another way.”
She stopped, leaving only a couple of feet of tightly compressed air between us, her hands clasped together in front of her. She looked at me, showing genuine concern. “What’s wrong, Seeley?”
“You’re not at all surprised that I’m here?” I asked, slightly confused. I would’ve expected a different reaction from her.
“I knew you were coming.” She chuckled softly.
“You did?”
She pointed a finger at her temple. “We’re connected, remember, Seeley? I know everything you know.”
Taking a deep breath, I decided that there was no need for pleasantries, then. She was already aware of the purpose of my visit. “Yet you’ve never bothered to tell me where you were,” I said.
“I’ve been a little… indisposed,” Death replied. “But we’ve always spoken, Seeley. I was always there for you, and you know that.”
“There’s a lot more I didn’t know, apparently.”
She sighed, sounding disappointed. “And I suppose you wanted to confront me about it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you!” I snapped, suddenly fearless. “I could’ve gone out to look for Thieron. I would’ve stopped at nothing!”
“I was ashamed,” she said, her voice trembling. “And it’s not an easy thing to admit, but my recent encounter with my brother has shed some light on things, for me.”
“But you sent other Reapers out to find Thieron,” I replied, crossing my arms.
It made her smile, as if my gestures were merely endearing to her. “Oh, honey, I assigned the task to first and second circle Reapers only. Last time I checked, you were still in the sixth, still working your way up. You don’t know half the things they knew. Trust me, Seeley, you would have failed, and you would’ve disappointed me, and this is the one relationship I didn’t want soiled by the harsh truth of things.” She reached out and touched my face, a billion fires bursting beneath my skin. It felt incredible as she pierced my very soul. “I do not speak to Reapers outside the third circle. You know what a wonderful exception you are.”
I wanted to ask why I was so special to her, but I figured I’d leave it for later. Bigger issues here.
“Many of us are confused about your circumstances. We keep a straight face about it, but it’s tough. Some of the lower circles are losing their morale. A few have even jumped ship, choosing to become ghouls,” I said. “Your leadership is needed, and the Hermessi’s behavior is putting a lot of us on edge. We do our jobs, of course, but… it’s not right.”
She shook her head slowly. “It’s not, Seeley, I agree. But I can’t do much about it until I get my Thieron back.”
“And you trusted Taeral and his band of merry creatures to get it for you?”
“He’s special,” Death replied, the look on her face telling me that there was more to this story than she was letting on. “Taeral is very special. One day, he will become a Reaper.”
That wasn’t exactly mind-boggling. The odds of Taeral being a Reaper didn’t seem that low. I’d noticed it about him. I’d sensed that there was something familiar inside him when I’d met him on Hellym, but this was merely a confirmation. Nothing to knock my socks off.
“You’re not impressed.” Death smiled.
“I’m frustrated. What is it about him that makes him so perfectly qualified to find Thieron for you?” I asked. “He’s not even a Reaper. Sure, he’ll become one someday, but right now, he is literally miles beneath the ninth circle, not to mention mine, or the first and second you’ve already sent out to help you with this…”
Her hand settled on my shoulder. A faint scent of jasmine and night-queen tickled my nose. I’d remember this moment for the rest of my immortal existence—and that was a long damn time to revel in.
“Haven’t you noticed how terrified the Hermessi are of him? How desperate they are to stop him? Did you think it had anything to do with me?” Death replied, stirring a series of questions in my head.
“You’re right. They’ve been on him since before he even got to Cerix. Long before he heard about you, not to mention Thieron,” I said. “What… What is he, then, to worry them