Page 81

“What is insurance?”

She laughs harder.

And despite the destruction surrounding us, I smile.

Because tonight, I did not defeat an enemy by destroying him.

I defeated the part of myself that believed destruction was the only answer.

And the woman holding my hand is finally free.

Chapter 10

Wren

There are several things I expect after watching my boyfriend nearly strangle my ex to death.

A stiff drink. A nervous breakdown. Possibly a very expensive conversation with the city of New Orleans about the enormous black spikes sticking out of Saint Street.

What I don’t expect is for my six-foot-seven god of a boyfriend to disappear.

But that’s exactly what he does.

One minute, Vidar is standing beside me while the police drive Grant away.

The next, he’s gone.

And I know exactly where to find him.

The courtyard behind the abandoned chapel looks different tonight.

Moonlight spills across the broken fountain, illuminating the scattered pieces of black obsidian that once formed Vidar’s prison.

He’s standing in the center of it all, his broad back to me, his enormous shoulders rigid beneath his black T-shirt.

“Well, there you are.”

He doesn’t turn.

“Go home, Wren.”

I stop.

“Excuse me?”

“You should not be here.”

“Oh, that’s adorable. You’re trying to be intimidating again.”

Silence.

I cross my arms.

“Just so we’re clear, that doesn’t work nearly as well now that I’ve seen you struggle to tie a ribbon around a bouquet.”

His shoulders shift.

Barely.