His eyes flashed. “You’ll neverknow.”
And yet, I knew. Or at least, I sensed I knew. “Can I stay and listen to more, or do you want me toleave?”
“I don’t think having you stay would be very wise. You’d have me save everyone and theirmothers.”
I shot him a rueful smile. “I’d certainlytry.”
“A shame you’re all out ofjokers.”
Would he have given me another if I’d asked? I’d settled for one because that was allIneeded, but Jarod would need to help more than one person to bring his score down. And no, it wasn’t one life for one point—some acts could win him dozens of points, just as some acts could lose him ahandful.
The Ranking System was like a scale that weighed kindness and maliciousness, then established a sum. Even though its inner workings remained a mystery to everyone besides the archangels and the Ishim, who were in charge of it, the way we’d been taught about it was that it was comparable to weight loss. At the start of a diet, the pounds slipped off fast, but then the numbers on the scale dropped slower as the body habituated itself to the newregimen.
“I’ll pick you up at nine sharp tonight.” Jarod’s voice broke me out of my musings. “Don’t keep mewaiting.”
“I know. I know.” As I rose, I skated my palms over my thighs to smooth out my dress. “Your time’s worth afortune.”
Jarod shot me another one of his disarming looks before turning his attention to Celeste. “Will you also be joining uslater?”
“If Leigh wants methere.”
“I don’t.” As much as I appreciated her support this morning, I didn’t know what to expect from the last part of my mission. If it happened to be dangerous, and Celeste got hurt in the crossfire, I would never forgivemyself.
“Well then,au revoir,Celeste.”
“To our paths never crossing again, Monsieur Adler,” she saidsweetly.
“Celeste!” I chidedher.
Jarod observed her with a quiet smile. “I like your friend, Leigh, and I don’t like many people. She’s honest. Most peoplearen’t.”
I wondered if he likedmebut then stopped wondering this, because one, it was strange, and two, I didn’t need Jarod to like me. I just needed him to like doing good deeds so he would keep doing them once Iascended.
As I curled my fingers over the door handle, Jarod’s voice cut through the study. “Is it with you that she made thebet?”
Celeste glanced over her shoulder at him. “Excuseme?”
“Her bet. To marry some formidable male specimen.” His tone smacked of so much sarcasm my shoulder bladestightened.
Keeping my gaze on the cool bronze handle, I waited for Celeste to answer, praying she wouldn’t tell Jarod there was no bet, since our kind didn’t makewagers.
“Wasn’t with me,” she said atlast.
“Have you met the man Feather wants tomarry?”
I looked back at Jarod, found his gaze sliding up the peach waves of my hair before settling on mychin.
“I did,” Celestesaid.
“And do youapprove?”
“They’re perfect for eachother.”
A blush crept into my cheeks. I forced the handle down before I blazed any redder. “I’ll see you tonight, Jarod.” In my haste, I bumped intoTristan.
“Leaving so soon,Leigh?”
“Yes.” The word came out slightlystrangled.
