Cael narrowed his eyes and looked at Elliot in the rearview mirror. “He should. He’s the only reason you’re still on this mortal plane. Everyone else wants to usher you into the afterlife, where all the beloveds belong.”
Cael got the car moving.
I stiffened. “If you threaten him again, I’ll end you.”
Cael’s jaw ticked. “I’m not threatening him. I’ll protect him with my life simply because he means so much to you. But that doesn’t mean I agree with your stance on the prophecy or on keeping him here. I don’t understand why things have to change.”
“Things have to change because he exists. He’s a human being who deserves whatever future he wants. Who are you to decide where he belongs? You’re just a reaper. Same as me. We’renothing compared to him and the others like him.” I thought I could trust Cael with my beloved, but I wasn’t so sure anymore.
Cael cursed. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Elliot, who’s already scared because of you.” I turned in my seat to meet Elliot’s gaze. I just wanted to make sure he was all right.
The poker was no longer lying across his lap. Instead, the business end was pointed at Cael’s neck. If he turned his head, the point would graze his chin.
His hands shook. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and fear creased his brow. Yet he met my gaze.
“I’m sorry, Elliot,” Cael said, but the apology was half-hearted. “None of what I said was a threat. It’s just that your existence is... problematic.”
Elliot didn’t take his gaze off me. “I’ve done nothing to you, so how could it?”
“I’ll explain everything. I promise. I just want to get you home first.” I held out my hand. “If you take my hand, I’ll get us there much sooner.”
“How?”
“Teleportation.”
“Bullshit.”
I shook my head. “Take my hand, and I’ll show you.”
Cael cursed. “We’re five minutes away.”
“You’ve threatened him and made it seem as if his life doesn’t matter.” That last part was almost worse than the first. “You’re an unfeeling swine, Cael. And I, for one, need to be away from you.”
“Me, too,” Elliot said under his breath.
He put his hand in mine. His fingers were cold. I wanted to warm them, but I wanted to get us out of there first.
****
The landing was difficult from a sitting position, but I made sure Elliot had a soft place to fall. What I didn’t expect was him wrapping his arms around me, clinging as he shut his eyes and braced himself as if he were in an airplane.
I hesitated to hold him tight because I didn’t want to scare him, but when we finally landed in his yard and he relaxed, I wrapped him in a hug.
“Are we there yet?”
I smiled. “You can open your eyes now.”
It was just getting dark, with the sun dipping below the treeline. We ended up behind his house, next to the forest. It smelled of pine and frozen earth.
“How did you do that?” Elliot lifted his head from my chest and met my gaze. Before I could answer, he frowned and turned toward the house. Revolving blue lights lit the corners of the house and the grass.
Elliot sucked in a breath. His eyes were like saucers as he scrambled to his feet. “Silvia called the police.”
I sighed. It would be a problem, but a minor one. I got to my feet. “Why would she do that?”
“Because I was on the phone with her. My neighbor is older. We take turns caring for him.”
