He put his phone in his pocket.
Greg hadn't moved. He was still standing a few feet back, pale and quiet in the dark, and his eyes were too bright.
Dustin turned to the grave. His throat was tight and his eyes burned. His brother was in the ground and Dustin was choosing not to join him there. “I have more to lose,” he said.
He meant it.
The air changed.
CHAPTER 35
The change in the air hit Greg like a low, sourceless hum that vibrated through his soul-stuff and made every part of him want to step backward, the way a flame might feel if it suddenly sensed water rising.
The moonlight thinned.
A figure stood between the graves, occupying a space that had been utterly empty a second ago.
The demon was tall and his dark suit was immaculately cut.
He was smiling.
“Oh.” The demon's voice was warm and pleasant, and yet it made Greg's skin crawl. “Oh.” His gaze moved across the cemetery with open delight, taking in Tyler's headstone, the flowers Cathy had left, the infinity symbol in the granite—and Dustin, standing in front of all of it with red eyes and clenched fists.
“The surviving twin.” The demon clasped his hands together. “I've been hoping you'd visit.”
Dustin's jaw was tight. He said nothing in response.
The demon circled Tyler's headstone. “I've beenwatchingyou. The stunts. The injuries. The delightful escalation.” He stopped circling and faced Dustin. “You'd be dead by now if it wasn't for me, you know that?”
Dustin looked right back at the demon. “I know everything.”
“Do you now? Well, I guess it makes for a better story.”
Dustin's eyes narrowed. “This isn't a story.”
“Of course it is.” The demon's gaze flicked to Greg. “And look, you brought a supporting character. Areaper.” Something shifted in his expression. “Does your management know you're here, little reaper?”
Greg's mouth was dry. “No.”
“Wonderful. A rogue reaper at a demon negotiation. The plot thickens.”
“I want you to break the deal.” Dustin's voice was flat. Evidently he had no patience for whatever game this demon wanted to play.
The demon raised his eyebrows. “Now why would I do that?”
“My mother made it without my consent. I'm the one being protected. I don't want the protection. Undo it.”
“That's not how contracts work.”
“I don't care how they work. I care about my mother being alive.”
The demon studied Dustin for a long moment. His expression was almost fond. “You know what I love about humans? You make deals in your worst moments and then you come back in your best ones demanding refunds.” He straightened the cuff of his sleeve. “The contract was between me and Catherine. She offered something. I accepted. It's done.”
“Then what do you want?” Dustin pressed. “To undo it. Name your price.”
“My price was met.”
“Name a different one.”
