“I will—just not yet.”
Viri wanted to stomp her foot like a child. Instead, she coiled her weapon around her arm while grumbling under her breath about infuriating reapers, then reached for Reeve and began checking the pockets of his dark coat.
He jolted back in surprise, bumping into a chair, but Viri didn’t pause her search.
“What are you doing?” he asked in aWhat the hell?tone.
“Stand still,” she ordered, patting him down.
“If you wanted to feel me up, you only had to ask.”
“Let me restate,” Viri bit out. “Stand still, anddon’t speak.”
There was nothing in his outer pockets, so she unbuckled the front of his coat and began to rifle through the insides, her fingers skirting lightly over his sides as she sought to find what she knew had to be in there somewhere.
Reeve’s frame stiffened and then jerked slightly as her fingers shifted between pockets, a noise escaping his lips that had Viri looking at him in disbelief as she realized—
“Are youticklish?” When he didn’t answer, she continued, almost accusingly, “You can’t be. You’re a reaper.”
“Why do you make it sound like there’s a rulebook I’m meant to be following?” Reeve asked. “Should I be taking notes?”
Viri shifted her hands upward, deliberately grazing his sides, and this time, an audible squeak left him.
“Youareticklish!” she cried. She nearly laughed at how ridiculous the thought was, but before she could make that mistake, she finally found what she was looking for. “Aha! Thank you, Soren!”
When Reeve caught sight of what she’d been searching for—a standard accoutrement carried by all Nox guards—he sighed. “Nullicuffs? Are those really necessary?”
In answer, she slapped one around his wrist and the other around her own, wincing at the sting of ellixen as the nullification effect set in. Unlike her fillium, there was no cord dangling between the cuffs, just two separate bracelets that were linked intangibly, both intended to stop magic from being used rather than suppressing and draining it. While less powerful than her own weapon, at least Reeve wouldn’t be able to siphon. Plus, there was one more benefit.
“Since my fillium doesn’t work on you, this will ensure you don’t try to run away.” Viri touched the glittery black cuff. “Movemore than ten paces from me, and every nerve in your body will feel like it’s on fire.”
“Yours, too,” Reeve warned.
“It’s worth it for my peace of mind.”
There was a hint of frustration in his tone as he said, “I told you before, we have the same goal. I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“I know you’re not,” Viri said, touching her cuff again. “Now take off your coat. You’ve played Nox long enough tonight. Betty will make sure it gets back to Soren.”
“You didn’t think to have me take it offbeforeyou went all handsy on me?” Reeve asked dryly, removing the uniform and laying it over the back of a chair. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you enjoyed—”
“Finish that sentence and I’ll walk ten paces away myself,” Viri threatened, willing the heat from her cheeks. She hadn’t eventhoughtto ask him to take it off first, much to her embarrassment. “Now get moving. You have a bargain to keep.”
11
Neither Viri nor Reeve spoke as they retraced their steps through the darkened market district back to the wayportal, the silence oddly peaceful. But by the time they reached the shimmering magestone arch, any sense of calm Viri felt was replaced by unease.
“For what it’s worth, I promise I’m not leading you into a trap,” Reeve said, noting her trepidation. “You have my word.”
Viri straightened her scarlet cloak, surreptitiously making sure her hunter daggers were within easy reach, two strapped to her belt and one hidden in her boot. She preferred using her fillium—it was much less messy—but she’d long since learned not to be picky. “Forgive me if the word of a reaper doesn’t count for much.”
“How about the word of an old friend?” Reeve asked. “Does that count for anything?”
Pain swept through Viri at the reminder of what he’d once been, but she kept her features blank.
“If I wanted to hurt you,” he went on, “I could have done itat any point tonight.” Viri started, realizing he was right. “I told Archer you’d be safe with me, and I meant it.”
Viri struggled to come up with a response, her feelings too confusing, so she focused on her memory of Soren lying unconscious back at Nox HQ and gestured tersely to the wayportal. “Let’s just get this over with.”
