When death came for me, he was wearing a white cape and the cocky attitude of an immortal sure of his success.
Ifelt like a teenager sneaking out at midnight to see her boyfriend, except I was a powerful half-angel in my twenties trying to get past my mate for a coerced date with an ancient god.
Harry shook his head. That, combined with his disapproving stare, left me stripped to the bone. “Don’t give me that look. Sometimes we have to sacrifice something small to get what we need.”
“Your heart is not small.”
I snorted as I slipped on my heels. They were tall enough to look like I was making an effort, but not enough to make me look ridiculous. That said, I was willing to suffer pain for beauty. “My heart is not what I’m sacrificing. I can’t, since it’s been stolen by a growly guy with boundary issues.”
“Not the point. Mr. Abbot will not appreciate the competition.”
I grabbed my matching purple satin purse from the bed and smoothed down the sheath dress that declared I cared, but wasn’t interested. At least, I hoped that was what it said. I hadn’t been able to involve my normal go-tos. Dayna would spill the beans to Hudson before the first sweep of mascara, and then my mate would sequester me away for the foreseeable future, armageddon be damned. “There is no competition.”
“That won’t be his take, and you know that fine well, or you wouldn’t be sneaking around.”
How did my resident ghost know me so well? I opened the door and started down the stairs. Harry floated behind me, and the spirits nodded their heads at us both as we passed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Really? Then why is Miss Lexington currently running interference by creating a distraction so that he is not even on the property?”
I glanced at the clock. Two minutes to go. Would a god be punctual or make me wait?
“Again, I have no idea what you mean. If Rebecca needs my mate’s help, then she needs help.”
“Then you won’t mind me informing him right here, right now that you are leaving the house in a dress on the arm of a god.”
I spun on my heel to glare at Harry. He floated back and held his hands up. “Tell me how to do this. How do I beat my grandmother, who holds the power of a god?”
He blinked and looked at the floor. “He will find out.”
“I know. I won’t lie to him. But the path of least resistance is how we do this. At least on the first date.”
His head jerked up, and his eyes went wide. “There’s more than one?”
I groaned just as power rolled across my skin, causing goosebumps to erupt down my arms. A heavy knock echoed through the house. Punctual. I liked that. “Not one word,” I muttered as I plastered a smile on my face and swung open the door revealing...
What the hell was he wearing? I blinked. Nope, it wasn’t a mirage. Donn, the god of death, was standing at my door in a white tux and a matching floor-length cape.
“Superheroes don’t wear capes,” I blurted. “Or white.”
Donn tilted his head, and the inky tendrils that were his constant companion kissed the air. “Why not?”
“Capes get caught in everything from plane engines to fists when fighting, and the white is an issue for blood spatter.”
“I have neither aviation nor violence planned for this evening, Cora. I believe I am safe.”
“Not when Hudson finds out,” Harry mumbled from behind me.
Donn raised a dark brow. “Your mate is unaware?”
“Not for long, I’m sure.”
Donn grinned. “You look radiant, Cora.” He swept his hand in a grand gesture. “Your chariot awaits.” He stepped to the side, and I froze. Said chariot was actually... well... a chariot.Complete with a gleaming carriage, two dark stallions, and a spooky coachman. I accepted Donn’s outstretched hand and moved down the steps of Summer Grove House.
“Be back before midnight,” Harry called before the door slammed in his face.
I was no Cinderella. Hudson knew that, but Donn apparently didn’t. Also, I planned on being home well before the witching hour.
I climbed inside, taking a seat on the dark velvet bench. Donn slid in next to me before the carriage jerked and we were on our way.
