“We’re going to go talk to Gethin. I don’t want to leave this barrier, but maybe there’s a way to take the protection with us. Either way…” My fingers were careful when they lifted, soft when they smoothed his hair back from his forehead. “We need to take care of this.”
The haunted expression that chased through his gaze told me he hadn’t forgotten the last time we’dtaken careof his problem.
And it told me he wasn’t going to let me do it for him this time any more than he had then.
At least Gethinwas in his house when we knocked on the door, though the sound of rustling with no response made me wonder whether he was going to answer. After a minute—and Cole leaning forward to knock harder than I had—there was finally a shout.
“Fuck’s sake, give me a minute. I’m not burning my dinner for you.” He was already retreating back to the stove by the timewe came into his little cabin and closed the door, not even paying attention to us as we stepped into the room. Beside me, Cole was still a little unsteady, though leaning against me seemed to help.
“Exactly how much did Wren tell you about our situation?” I’d heard the conversation they’d had, but there was every chance they’d talked more since then. Gethin had mentioned things likepsychic vampire, so I had to imagine he knew more than he should have.
“Enough to know that your little boyfriend looking that pale means there’s probably no point in me offering to share this breakfast casserole. I’m guessing he needs something else to eat, right?”
Something else.
It wasn’t really that simple… and yet Gethin was talking about killing someone like it was the same as carefully stirring the food he was paying attention to instead of looking at us. Out of everyone we could have come to, at least he wouldn’t judge us.
“I don’t want your shitty bacon anyway,” Cole grumbled under his breath, and Gethin actually turned and threw him a dirty look over his shoulder.
“Look, I know you’re going through a lot… what with the whole getting thrown into a supernatural world and getting stalked by Death shit… but don’t insult my food. You’ve been eating it, haven’t you?”
It was ridiculous. We both stood in silence as he finished what he was doing and then turned to look at us.
“Look, the way I see it, you have a problem… and while I usually wouldn’t give a shit…” He sighed, wiping his hands on his jeans and looking Cole over. “I don’t know. You’re kind of pathetic and it makes me feel bad.”
Cole might have actually stepped forward—I could feel the tension running in a hard line through his body—but my armaround him kept him in place. On the other hand, I was starting to realize something.
Gethin was making enough food for more than just himself, and he was looking at Cole like he was actually taking stock of how pale he was, howunwellhe looked.
“If Wren told you everything, then you know what we need to do. I’m afraid to leave him here. The last time I left him while he was like this… he nearly died.”
Technically, he had, but it was easier not to say it that way.
“Right. And it’s not like I need you calling some pizza delivery guy and killing the driver. I’ve gotten away with what I’ve been doing for years… I’m not going to have it all come crashing down now because you’re desperate.”
“We’re not desperate,” Cole bit out through clenched teeth, but I could see it. Through Gethin’s bullshit—through the facade he had up.
He actually seemed… invested in this.
“You know…” Gethin’s voice was careful when he spoke, his expression guarded and a little cautious. “I could make this easier and help you.”
It hung there in the air, and I was surprised it was Cole who figured out what he meant first.
“You mean you can find someone for us to kill?”
Us. He said it without hesitation, while his hand was still holding mine. I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t let me do this for him, why he wouldn’t let me shoulder the burden… but I couldn’t be angry when it meant he stepped closer to me, pressing his side against mine in a move so instinctual I wondered if he even realized he was doing it.
“I mean…” Gethin’s smile was a little wicked, though I could see the edges of vulnerability trying to make it something more. “I’m a bit overdue anyway, so…” He trailed off with a shrug, as though talking about casually finding someone to murder was aconversation everyone had while cooking. He actually took the time to finish what he was stirring, so he could slide it into the oven before he wiped his hands again and completely turned to face us. “Listen, if it would make it easier on you… yeah. I’m pretty sure my…” He paused, but only for a moment. Only long enough to swallow down the name of the man whose pictures hung in the library where we stayed. “I’m pretty sure it’s time.”
Time.
He spoke about it so easily… ending a life. Like it wasn’t something cupids were taught to fight against.
Like it was a casual thing.
Like he felt nothing at all, though I knew the reason he did it was because offeelings.
“If you did that, Sephtis could just take the Vitality after, couldn’t he?”
