I glance at Cassian. His eyes have narrowed into cold slits, but he hasn’t moved. Maybe he feels it too.
“I don’t know what the fuck is going on,” Talon cuts in, voice edged with frustration. “But I’m with Cassian. Let’s get rid of this kid, throw up some wards, and get back to finding a way to kill the wraith. We’re wasting time.”
“You can’t,” the boy says.
“What?”
“I’m telling you, she will come this time. Just listen to me.”
“Why?” Talon scoffs. “Give us one solid reason. One real point that explains why she’d come here now, of all times.”
Silence falls like a blade.
Then, the boy clenches his jaw, meets my eyes, and straightens his spine.
“Because I’m here now. That’s why.”
Hah. Nice try, demon.
At least, that’s what Iwantto say.
But the moment he says it, something shifts inside me. I don’t know how I know...
But he’s right.
Those words weren’t a lie.
And they weren’t part of some scheme, either.
They were true.
I brush past Cassian and step forward. The boy locks eyes with me instantly, like he knew I was about to move before I did.
“The wraith didn’t attack us earlier because… you weren’t with us?” I ask.
“Skye…” Cassian warns, but I raise a hand to stop him.
"That's what you’re saying, isn’t it?”
The boy smiles. It’s not kind. It’s bitter, bone-deep.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
And even though he confirms it, it doesn’t clarify anything. It only makes things more confusing.
Which brings me back to the only question that matters.
“What are you?”
This time, there’s no hesitation. No scoffing, no deflection. He just answers, calmly.
“I’m exactly what you said I was. A Grim Reaper.”
Cassian steps up beside me, meeting me at the invisible line I’ve crossed. He glances at me, then turns to the boy, the anger in his eyes dimmed.
“Prove it,” he says. “If you’re a Reaper, show us. All Reapers have scythes, right? Let’s see yours.”
It’s a weak attempt at certainty. We don’t know what else might carry something like a weapon. But it’s better than nothing.
