I blink at the reaper and piece everything together, how sad Love looked, how I didn’t explain why I had to leave in the middle of the night and had no way to get back to her room.
“Shit,” I hiss and Mors drinks more of her coffee loudly.
“You’ve lived too long to be this fucking stupid, Death.”
“Thanks,” I deadpan.
“As repayment, I’d like for her to set me up with one of her cupid friends once you have this all resolved.”
I blink at her, trying to picture the grouchy reaper with someone as bubbly as a cupid.
She shrugs her shoulders and sips her coffee. “What can I say, I like pink.” She winks, and I shake my head.
“I’ve got to find a way to talk to her.” I say it more to myself than Mors.
“Seriously, do I have to spell everything out?” She rolls her eyes and I just stare at her, waiting for her to speak again. She finally breaks with a groan. “She never fulfilled your side of the bargain. Find the last person you want to make a love match with and summon her.”
I grab the reaper’s head and kiss the top of her dark hair. “Mors, you’re a genius.”
She shoves me off like I have a disease, and I laugh and teleport to Chinatown, knowing exactly who to use my last arrow on.
I pace back and forth, wondering what the probability of Mors being wrong is? What if Love truly just wanted a one-night thing and can’t picture herself with a reaper for the long haul? She saw the disgust some of the cupids held for me at the party. It wouldn’t be easy, but I know it would be worth it. Hopefully, she feels the same way and this is all some stupid misunderstanding.
Miss Guo is sitting in the back of the restaurant and it’s only a matter of time before Mr. Xu comes with her delivery. Both of them lost their partners years ago and have been doing this little dance with one another. I know with Love’s arrow they’ll finally be able to get over whatever their hang up is. I also know Love will get serious joy out of making a true match.
I take a breath and summon Love as Mr. Xu walks through the back door. Miss Guo grins as they speak in rapid Mandarin.
Love teleports in front of me with a cloud of pink and an absolutely pissed off look on her face.
I grin. Mors was right. Thank fuck.
“What?” she asks, her hands on her hips.
“You still owe me an arrow,” I tell her and point over at the pair speaking in the back of the store. Love softens for a moment and sighs, she automatically feels their connection, and even if she’s pissed at me, there’s no way she can deny I’m right about their pairing.
She doesn’t respond to me, just pulls one arrow out, hitting Miss Guo first. She doesn’t even bother with Mr. Xu—he didn’t need a love arrow. The older couple touch hands and the older man leans down and kisses her. Love melts next to me for a moment, and then she stiffens.
“Is that all?” she says, looking down and not at me.
Communicate—properly—I remind myself.
I sigh and hold out the nipple clamp between my two fingers, the glittering color catching her attention.
“I didn’t leave the other night because I wanted to. I was summoned to collect a soul and had no way of getting back to Cupidale. I took this, hoping you would realize and find me to get it back. I should have properly woken you up. I thought when you asked for Eros’ stupid fucking quiver back it meant you wanted nothing to do with me.” I word-vomit it all out and she takes the nipple clamp between her fingers and laughs.
“You thought I would notice you taking this?”
I shrug and my cheeks heat.
“I thoughtyouwanted nothing to do withme,” she says, looking down.
I cup her chin and force her to look up at me. I hate myself for ever making her doubt herself and that I even doubted what was between us.
“That couldn’t be further from the truth. All night I thought about bringing up how much I enjoyed myself and couldn’t imagine just having you for one night. I want you to be mine, Love.”
Her eyes water, and she shakes her head.
“Did you steal that from the conversation heart pillow on my bed?”
