The tiny bumps on my skin hardened, and I swallowed. He thought the Seven had allowed me out of Elysium with my wings intact? I kneeled beside him and gathered the hand dangling off the edge of the recliner, pressing it against mycheek.
His twitching fingers felt like ice. “Did they also . . . change the law . . . on Fallen souls? Have you come . . . to collect mine?” His lips parted around the shortest, quietest breath, and then his heavy eyelashes dragged over hiseyes.
I stared at him, perplexed. “Collectyours?”
Something plopped against my barethigh.
Something warm and wetand—
“Jarod!” I gasped as blood dripped off the edge of the cowhide and onto mylap.
He heaved his lids up, then shifted his body as though trying to roll onto his side, but his jaw clenched, and he grunted. I released his hand and shoved his jacket open, then his shirt, the buttons poppingoff.
Right below his ribs, a depression in his skin oozedblood.
A bullethole!
As I prodded it, his lungs spasmed, and his stomach muscles contracted. I snatched my hand back. I wanted to yell for help, but my voice was rooted to my throat the same way my knees were rooted to the rug that was slowly darkening withblood.
“I gave my enemies every chance to get their revenge . . . because I didn’t want to live”—he lifted his hand toward my face, but it flopped back down without making contact—“without you.” His chest rose and fell sluggishly. Toosluggishly.
I finally located my voice, and it shredded my throat as it soared out of me. “Muriel!”
Would she hear me? I’d shut the bedroom door, and the walls in this house were so damn thick. I twisted around to eye the door, then twisted back toward Jarod, who seemed to have lost more color during the fleeting second I’d lookedaway.
Useless.I felt souseless.
When his eyes closed, I lifted off my knees to lean over him and cocoon his sallow cheeks with my palms, running my thumbs over his proudcheekbones.
“Stay with me, Jarod,” I pleaded before screaming Muriel’s name again, praying the thick wood wouldn’t swallow my shout. As I waited for someone to arrive, I asked, “Who did this, my love?” I had every intention of finding the culprit and putting a bullet through their putridheart.
“The former prime minister’s”—his features crinkled in pain—“guard.”
Hisguard?
Horror struck me. The bearded man I’d passed! He’d looked familiar. I’d assumed it was because he worked for Jarod. My stomach seized as rage swished inside. I yelled for Muriel again, then for Amir, and then, although my voice wouldn’t carry into Elysium, I screamed forAsher.
Jarod lifted his hand and curled it around my wrist, his shiny eyes losing some of their luster. “Show me yourwings.”
My throat rolled with a swallow. I wanted to lie, tell him Asher warned me to keep them hidden while on Earth, but Jarod was as familiar with my expressions as I was with his. He saw the truth before I could buryit.
“Feather, you didn’t . . .” His Adam’s apple judderedangrily.
My wild pulse battered the crescents seared into my back. “I couldn’t live without youeither.”
He shut his eyes as though the sight of me wasunbearable.
“Look at me, Jarod. Open your eyes and look at me. I’m not going anywhere, and you’re not either. I’m going to gethelp.”
“It’s toolate.”
I leaned closer to his mouth, stroked his high cheekbones faster. “No, it’s not. It’s not. I’m going to fixyou.”
Hegrunted.
“Don’t hate me, please,” Icroaked.
His eyes opened, hardened by grief. “I love you too . . .fucking”—he hissed in pain—“much to hateyou.”
