Since Grymley’s new role seemed to calm the storm, I tested whether he would be good at it. “Explain to her how property ownership works in America, please. And she won’t get good internet out here, no matter how many service people she hires.” I met her gaze. “The internet is as bad as the cell service. The nearest hotel is ten miles west of here.”
“Would it be okay if we talked somewhere private?” Grymley asked, taking my hand.
“I don’t want to talk about Gary.” I wasn’t ready yet.
I let Grym lead me through the room.
Before we left, he turned to Morgana. “Just pick somewhere to set up. We’ll figure out the rest.”
She nodded. “What about Cael?”
Grymley’s entire body sagged as if the question were a weight on his shoulders that he struggled to bear.
Everyone in the room fell quiet. A pin could drop and sound like a boom. They all focused on Grymley.
Grymley shook his head. “He said he had somewhere else to go.”
Someone cursed.
Morgana sighed and mumbled something about prickly demi-gods. She left the room. “Let’s hope he goes to his father. We can’t be alone in this fight.”
Everyone seemed confused, but no one had a chance to question her because she’d already left the room.
“What fight is she referring to?” I asked Grymley.
“Come with me.” So I followed him, even though I probably should have resisted.
Chapter Sixteen
Grym
As soon as we sat down on the couch, I lost track of where to start. If I were a nervous boy asking him out on a date, it would have been less awkward.
“Seriously, Grymley. What the hell is going on? Why are you all here?” Elliot waved his hand, dismissing whatever was rolling around in his pretty head. “I get that you’re like death and stuff. I get that part. But what does that have to do with me?”
That was a good question and probably a good place to start. “Do you remember when I said you were my beloved?”
“Beloved? Like soul mates? That’s just in fairy tales, Grym.”
“It’s real. As real as you and I sitting here.” I hadn’t touched Elliot for fear of rejection, but I longed to. “I felt a connection the moment I saw you in the hospital’s emergency department. I knew exactly who you were to me.”
Elliot drew in a breath, then let it out slowly. “That was you?”
“My soul reaches for you.” I pointed to my chest, where my heart had ached since the moment I met Elliot. The ache had only grown with time.
Elliot didn’t speak for a very long time. He wrung his hands together, holding them in his lap, and stared at his knees without actually seeing them.
As much as I wanted to include all the other information that came with being my beloved, I also didn’t want to bombard him. Elliot tended to shut down when something was hard for him, so I waited.
Eventually, Elliot stood and began pacing. “Do you know how much shit I have to get done today? All I want to do is be in my feelings about this and about Gary. I have to finish an entire dining table, which he was helping me with.” His voice cracked, but he shook his head as if telling his feelings to go to hell and never come back. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Maybe I can help.”
“Help with what, Grym? The table or the grief?”
“Both.”
Elliot smirked and shook his head. “Well, you can’t help with the table dressed like you’re ready for the boardroom.”
