“Amazing, right?” Reeve said, reaching for his own tart and taking a bite. He moaned, the sound unforgivably suggestive. “Mmm. Delicious.”
Viri took a scalding sip of tea in the hope that it would hide the flush rising to her cheeks.
“But back to what we were saying,” Reeve continued, lickinghis fingers, which only made Viri’s flush deepen, “I don’t care about your intention to double-cross me, since it’s not going to happen.”
Viri’s gaze narrowed. “It’s not?”
“You need me,” Reeve said simply. “As long as I have information about the Priest and the kids, you can’t risk letting me out of your sight.”
“Information youoweme, per our bargain.”
“You’re right, I do,” Reeve agreed, sipping his own tea. “There’s just one slight problem.” He raised his free hand, pressing his forefinger and thumb together. “A teeny, tiny issue.” He paused. “Or, well,threeissues, if we’re being exact.”
Something about his tone had Viri bracing. “What kind of issues?”
He drank more tea, then set his mug down. “You want to know where the Reaper Priest is? Where the children are? When the sacrifice is happening?”
Viri nodded stiffly. “Yes.”
“Then those are your three issues,” Reeve said. “Because I don’t have the answers.”
Viri stared at him for a beat, then started laughing. There was no humor in the sound. “Nice try. Now tell me what I want to know.”
Reeve raised his hands. “I swear, I’m telling the truth. But before you skewer me with your glare, it’s not all bad news. I know how tofindthe information. We just have to go somewhere else to get it.”
Viri laughed again, incredulous this time. “You’re joking, right?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
His serious expression made Viri sober.
“Why would I go anywhere with you?” she demanded. “You already know I was planning to betray you—”
“Past tense? That’s encouraging.”
“—so why would I risk my life following a reaper?”
“Because we want the same thing,” Reeve stated plainly.
“And what’s that?” Viri asked, doubt clear in her voice.
“To stop the Aurora sacrifice.”
Viri reeled backward in shock, but then she frowned. “You’re the Priest’s most loyal follower—why would you want to stop his plans?”
Reeve’s expression blanked. “No personal questions. That was our deal.”
“A deal you’vebroken,” Viri fumed. “And how is that a personal question?”
“I haven’t broken our deal—I literally just told you how we can get your answers. You’re the one arguing about logistics.”
“I’m notarguing,” Viri argued.
Reeve looked at her pointedly.
Viri wouldn’t have been surprised if steam began to shoot from her ears. She took a moment to breathe deeply, inhaling the calming scent of vanilla and custard, hating that her plan had gone so awry. Reeve had played her—again—but if there was a chance he was telling the truth…if he had a way to get the answers she needed…if he reallydidwant to stop the Aurora sacrifice from happening…then that meant they shared the same goal. She wasn’t deluded enough to thinkalltheir goals were aligned, not while he was faithful to the Priest—and a reaper, at that—but in this single instance, it might be worththe risk of going with him, especially if it meant saving the children.
Viri’s instincts had never led her wrong before, and she prayed they weren’t about to start now as she looked Reeve squarely in the eyes and said, “Where do we need to go?”
