A Shade of Vampire 81 A Bringer of Night - Bella Forrest Page 0,56

now.”

Lumi chuckled. “They’re probably close to the imperial city at this point. I doubt he’s happy. No one’s going to save him.”

It wasn’t in my nature to revel in anyone’s misery, but I made an exception for the Aeternae responsible for my death. Walking by Seeley’s side, I glanced around to find Maya and Rudolph chasing each other through the tall, wet grass. I remembered Rudolph in his starched suit, with his elegant silk tie and neatly combed hair. On one hand, I figured he missed his former self, but at the same time, he looked ridiculously happy to be able to run around like this. Ghoulish life gave him some sense of freedom, a feeling he might not have experienced in a long time. If this was Rudolph’s silver lining, I could only wish more of it for him.

“You were remarkably brave earlier,” Seeley noted, giving me a sideways smirk.

Lumi and Sidyan walked ahead. They moved in strange unison, like two parts of the same mechanism. I’d never noticed that about someone before. Looking at Seeley, I realized we were also moving in sync as we maintained an even pace behind the Darklings.

“Brave? When?” I asked, still not used to compliments coming from him.

“When you eavesdropped on Zoltan and Veliko,” he replied. “Even after they almost nailed you back in Astoria, you persisted. I just… I admire your bravery, Nethissis. Despite your condition, you are relentless in your pursuit of justice. Maybe that’s why Death thinks you’re special.”

“I’m lucky to have the right Reaper by my side.” I smiled warmly.

“I suppose we do make a good team.” He sighed, looking ahead.

Gazing at his elegant profile, I found myself drawn to his masculine features. After our Hermessi experience, I’d asked Amelia to show me pictures of Rudolph Valentino, to whom she’d compared Seeley upon first meeting him. I could certainly see the resemblance, though Seeley’s eyes were far more hypnotizing with their swirling galaxies suspended in eternal darkness.

“Seeley,” I murmured, drawing his attention.

Ahead, some of the Darklings’ ghouls tugged at their chains. Our pack was farther behind us, quietly walking and watching the enemy and their tormented friends still under their control. It was a weird predicament we’d gotten ourselves into, but this wasn’t a good time to refuse help—especially since the ghouls we’d rescued had one hell of a bone to pick with Veliko and his ilk.

“Yes, Nethissis?” Seeley asked, his eyes absorbing me.

“Do you really think I have a shot at getting my body back?”

It wasn’t an easy question to ask, but Seeley had a tendency to be brutally honest. If anyone could be absolutely straight with me, it was him. “I believe so, yes. Death wouldn’t have mentioned it otherwise, so I reckon we should keep that option on the table while we still can.”

“I know Amal and Amane will take care of my physical form,” I said. “They’ll want me buried on Calliope, so they’ll make sure my body is perfectly preserved until then. We did the same with Acantha when… when she died.” My voice broke as I remembered her sacrifice to Eirexis. Her death had given us the handle of Thieron, the first piece of the weapon that ultimately stopped the Hermessi apocalypse. “Well, the Widow Maker morphed her into a smaller form, but the preservation magic was similar.”

The pained look on Seeley’s face startled me. “I think it’s time I tell you something,” he whispered. “Something I’ve kept to myself for a long time. It’s not fair to keep hiding it from you. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

“Don’t tell me I’m not going to get my body back.” I gasped, thinking the worst.

He shook his head. “No, it’s not about that. It’s about Acantha.”

My heart ached. Her memory persisted, even in death. She’d become my best friend the moment Lumi had initiated us into the art of the Word. We’d shared our food and our resources. We’d encouraged and supported one another. When we ascended as swamp witches, we’d both cried tears of joy and relief because we’d gotten through it all together. Losing her to Eirexis still hurt me deeply.

“Seeley… what are you trying to tell me?” I asked, glancing at Lumi. She was within earshot, but she seemed engaged in conversation with Sidyan, so I didn’t think she was listening to us.

“I was there when the sacrifice was made,” Seeley said, his voice low and his gaze fixed on the road ahead. “I’d been assigned to track you all and