“Trap,” I gasped.
Poppy blinked in bewilderment, looking around as if trying to figure out who was chasing me. “What trap?”
“For you.” I waved a hand around. “Whole thing is a trap.”
“Shade, it’s okay,” Poppy said, her voice soothing. “Everything is fine. The zombie is in the ground, and there’s no one else here.” She paused. “Where’s Catherine?”
I shook my head. “Tied up. She’s not the problem. This whole thing was about getting revenge on you.”
“Shade, what are you talking about?”
Suddenly Poppy frowned. She closed her eyes and put a hand on her chest.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my voice rising.
“It’s fine, I just…I feel a little strange.” She tried to smile as she opened her eyes. “Probably just need some sugar. It’s been an hour since I had any candy, and that’s a long time for me.”
“Everything is a joke to you, isn’t it?” came a male voice.
I whirled around to see Alex standing by one of the graves. He’d taken off the sunglasses, and there was something about the way he stood there, his feet shoulder width apart, his arms slightly out from his sides, that made him seem on the brink of action.
“Alex?” Poppy asked. “What’s going on?”
“His name isn’t Alex,” I said slowly.
Poppy’s gaze flicked from Alex to me and back. “It’s not? Then what is it?”
“The necromancer you’re testifying against,” I said, not taking my eyes off the young man. “What’s his name?”
“Reginald Drayton.” Poppy’s eyes widened. “Reggie? Is that you?”
“Do you feel any shame at all using a familiar name with me after what you did?” Reggie clenched his teeth and took a step closer. “You’re going to cost me everything.”
“You shaved your beard and mustache. Cut your hair. And the bandages…Oh, itisyou.” Poppy took a step toward him, but stopped, wincing as she pressed her hand harder against her chest. “I didn’t know you were in college.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake, I made that name up! And I’m not the real ‘Scales,’ ” Reggie said, his mouth curling with disgust. “I just heard those two half-wits Gabrielle and Lauren complaining in a bar. I got some drunk frat boy to get their numbers, then I called them pretending to be Scales. Just to get them mad enough to do something as stupid as trading some of their life force for revenge. I made up the name Alex Walker for you.”
“You’re already in trouble,” Poppy said sadly. “Why would you make it worse by stealing even more life force?”
“It’s worth it if it means making you pay for what you did to me. What you’re costing me.”
“We have to look out for each other, Reggie. You know that. When we slip, we need to hold each other accountable. There’s areason necromancers have such a horrible reputation, and that’s never going to change if we give in.” She took a deep breath but still didn’t stand straight. “You gave in to temptation. You made someone else pay the price for your magic.”
“Life force can berecovered,” Reggie shouted. “They would have beenfine. Theyarefine! Why should I die young because I was gifted with power over the grave?”
“Losing life force comes with a price!” Poppy shouted back, anger glittering in her eyes. “One of your victims tried to kill himself. His death would have been onyourhead.” She forced herself to stiffen her spine but grunted with the effort it took to do so. “I’m trying to help you, Reggie. It’s not too late. You haven’t killed anyone yet.”
“Itistoo late,” he growled. He jerked his jacket sleeves up, baring his wrists.
Tattoos swirled over his skin. Chains edged with runes. I didn’t recognize all of them, but I recognized enough to guess what they did.
“They’ve bound my power,” Reggie bit out.
Poppy’s face paled. “Reggie…I’m sorry. I thought…I thought you would have a trial.”
“Oh, I’ll have a trial. They have to go through the motions, don’t they? But the prosecutor has assured me that with your testimony, I’m done. Zero tolerance.”
The entire time they’d been talking, I’d been looking around. Trying to find some sign that would tell me what was happening to Poppy.
