did. Why you derive some sick pleasure in cavorting with me, I’m unsure. But I won’t complain about the outcome.”
She sighed. “I’m just tired.”
“I know. You stayed awake at my side. I thought for a moment it was out of concern for me, but it was out of your own internal strife. For shame.”
“I have to keep your ego in check somehow.”
“A fruitless pursuit. Now. Come, Cora dear. Let’s put you back in bed, hm? You need sleep. There will be time enough to convince you when you’re better rested. You look as though you might fall over.”
She nodded and let him lead her back to the bed. This time it was him tucking her under the sheets. She was vaguely impressed he hadn’t bled on them the previous night. Not that it would have bothered her. She had bigger concerns. “I don’t think I can kill a man, Simon…”
“I know. Clown should have given this power to me.” He leaned down and kissed her temple. “But what’s done is done. Rest. I will try to think of a way out of this predicament.”
“Tell me something, Simon.” She rolled onto her back to look up at him.
“Yes, dear?”
“The truth.”
“Uh-oh.” He grinned. “This isn’t going to be good.”
She smiled faintly. “If you were given the option to kill me and take this link to the Faire from me…would you do it? Would you kill me to spare yourself?”
He paused and looked away thoughtfully for a moment. “That depends entirely on your decision. I do not wish to die, Cora. I do not wish to die very vehemently. And if I must protect my life by destroying yours…” He sighed. Red eyes flicked to hers. “I wouldn’t enjoy it, if that is any consolation.”
“My god, do you know how much of a jackass you are? Like, does it even register anymore? I’m starting to think if you stopped, you might actually drop dead.”
“I said I wouldn’t enjoy it! You wanted the truth.” He waggled a finger at her. “Don’t blame me because you didn’t like my answer.”
She chuckled. “I know. I know who you are.” She took his hand and pulled his fingers to her lips and kissed them. “At least you wouldn’t laugh at me while you did it.”
“I never said that.”
She jabbed him in the ribs. “Shithead.”
He rolled his eyes into his head and in a fake faint, fell onto her dramatically, crushing her under his weight.
“Ow! Simon!”
“I’m dead.”
“Get off me!”
“No. I’m dead. You’ve finally killed me with your childish name-calling.”
She laughed and shoved him, but he didn’t budge. “Simon, I can’t breathe.”
“We’ll die together, then. How romantic.”
“How can you talk if you’re dead?”
She saw the vicious, playful smile on his face from where it was lying next to hers. “Ghost.”
She sighed and, with a vicious smile of her own, began tickling him. He let out a loud “gak!” and thrashed, finally climbing off her just to escape. By the time he did, they were both laughing.
It was only then that she realized he had cheered her up.
In a stupid, childish, and nonsensical way, he had cheered her up. And the smug smile on his face said he knew it. She sighed, leaned in, and kissed him gently. “You’re still a shithead and a jackass.”
“Mmhm.” He smiled and chased her lips with his for a second, tender gesture. “And you love it. Now…get some rest. We’ll speak when you look like you can keep your eyes open.”
She yawned, stretched, and buried her head in the pillow. It smelled like Simon. Like old places and things. It made her smile. He kissed her temple again and climbed from the bed. “Thanks, Simon.”
“Of course.” He slid the pocket door shut, closing her off from the rest of the boxcar. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep.
And for once—thank anyone who would listen—her dreams were quiet.
The answer should have been yes.
The answer should have been an easy yes.
But it wasn’t. That simple fact sent Simon dressing and out of the boxcar to get some cool air and stretch his legs. Cora needed to sleep without having to listen to him bustle around his little home. And if he stayed, he’d likely crawl into bed with her, and what he wanted to do to her would defeat the purpose of her needing sleep.
“Would you kill me to spare yourself?”
He had implied the answer without speaking it. He simply said that he wouldn’t enjoy the act, not that he would do it. Because her question