Reaper snorted. “I can’t decide if she’s the best thing to happen to you or the worst.”
“You and me both.”
They stood in silence for a minute. The area was quiet. The sun hadn’t fully risen, and the town still slumbered beneath a mantle of mist. This was the sort of sight she might have paused to admire. For him, his body and mind remained braced, unmoved by the view. Only one view moved him.
Reaper suddenly chuckled. “You’re less of an arse.”
He turned, one brow arched. “Less of an arse?”
“You used to bark orders like gunfire. Now you bark less andgrowl more. Though now that I think about it, that might make you more of an arse.”
Maxen took another draw from his cigar. “Keeping score is bad for your health.”
“Says the man with a book of scores.”
Maxen scowled. “They are called account books, you lackwit.”
“Moving on,” Reaper said. “Now that little mouse has gotten under your skin, what are you going to do about her there? Propose marriage?”
“Don’t be bloody ridiculous.”
“Isthat ridiculous?”
“Yes.” In fact, his whole body broke out in shivers at the mere word. Men like him didn’t marry. What could he even offer a wife? Nothing a woman might want. A woman such as Calliope might want. Security. Constancy.Light.
Reaper gave a low whistle. “Savagely honest.”
“I am what I am.”
“And what’s that?” Reaper asked drily. “A man?”
“A monster.”
“Christ,frère. Even if you think like that, you shouldn’t say it out loud.”
Maxen disagreed. Simply thinking wasn’t enough with Calliope. A man could think his thoughts away with the speed of another single thought. He could begin thinking of all sorts of things he shouldn’t be thinking about. “There’s no difference.”
“Of course there is,frère. If she hears you, she might change her mind about what she imagines you could be, not what you are.”
“What books have you been reading?” He flicked the cigar into the dirt, crushing the ember with his boot. “Save the sage advice for yourself.”
Reaper tilted his head, grin crooked. “So what’s the plan then? Install her at Fury’s and then lock the door when she’s not looking?”
Maxen cut him a sharp look.
Reaper shrugged. “What? You’ve got that look about you.”
A muscle jumped in Maxen’s jaw. “You’re an imbecile.”
“True.” Reaper pushed off the wall, hands sliding into his pockets. “But you’re the imbecile who went and caughtthings. Don’t glare at me,frère. Thosethingsare written all over your face. Well,” he waved a hand at Maxen’s scowl, “as much as anythingcanbe written on that slab of granite.”
Maxen’s fingers itched to throttle his brother. Lock her up? Absurd. He’d never do that to anyone. Enemies aside. Even so, he hadn’t the faintest idea what to do with Calliope. She’d already twisted him into a shape he scarcely recognized.
Reaper clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You should think about what that plan is,frère. Before someone else decides for you.”
“Keep talking and you’ll find your teeth decorating the ground.”
“See?” Reaper leaned closer. “That’s the growl I was talking about. A bit of bark, more growling.”
