“No.” My brows crease with a deep line. “Jeriko most definitely wants me dead.” I nod, trying to reassure her as well as myself.
“So, just two out of three is what we’re saying then?”
“Remember when you didn’t want to make things weird between us?” I frown at her. “Eavesdropping on myconversationsis weird.”
“Stroking my hair as if I’m a dog also feels a little weird.”
I halt, holding my hands up quickly. I hadn’t realized I was still doing that.
“I’m lying. It felt really good, please don’t stop. It’s not weird at all.”
My eyes narrow on her.
“It’s definitely weird now.” Picking debris off my own shirt, I continue. “I want to get the Book of Severed Souls.”
“Great. Yeah, we should start plotting that.” Cameron is nodding along eagerly.
“I also want my father dead.”
She pauses her nodding, her hands lifting just slightly as if she’s afraid to offend anyone.
“Maybe... maybe we back burner that idea for a little while. Let it simmer, and we’ll come back to it.”
My jaw tightens.
“Cameron, I wasn’t asking for your help. I have three other very capable Fae who will assist me, who I alsodo notneed.” My words are clipped and short. “I was telling you. Not asking.”
“Very capable. That’s how you describe me, huh?” Nollix’s big hand settles on his hips, pulling my attention to his flashing gaze. “Hmm... and here I thought ‘sweet and sugary’ would be my best qualities.”
I almost blurt out that I haven’t tasted him yet, but I snap my mouth shut before the traitorous words have a chance to slip out.
“Yeah, calm down, cupcake. In case you weren’t listening, your girlfriend wants to get herself killed.” Cameron stands slowly. Grass clings to her dark jeans.
Carver stops the prodding of the fire he was doing to watch us carefully out of the corner of his eyes. He hisses when the flames race up the stick he’d been using and kiss his fingers.
“Actually, I listen to everything my girlfriend says.” Nollix passes a taunting look my way, and I cock a brow at his ridiculous claim on me. “I apparently just don’t listen nearly as fucking intently as you have been.” His attention narrows on Cameron as she folds her arms across her full chest. It’s a stance of pure dominance.
“Violence wants to murder her father.” Nollix pauses as if the statement isn’t as crazy as it sounds. “I agree. We definitely should. I already know Jeriko would approve of death. Carver,” his attention swings to his friend, who steps away from the fire, “Carver would do anything to keep Violence safe. And she’s not safe. She especially won’t be safe once you steal that little family heirloom you’re after. So,” his glare is hard as it pins Cameron in his place, “if you want us to help you get that book, you’ll help us first.”
Carver takes this as his cue that he’s been invited into the conversation. He keeps his distance from the Witch and stops next to Nollix.
The air crackles with a daring electric current. Nollix is testing Cameron. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. Nollix isn’t as deadly as Jeriko, but he does love confrontation just as much.
There’s no sympathy in Jeriko. Nollix is half demon, and somehow he’s more human than Jeriko.
“Fine. But if she dies, I want you to remember whose idea this was,” Cameron bites out.
My eyes narrow on the Witch.
“It wasmyidea,” I say through clenched teeth.
Let’s give credit where credit is due.
I’m sure they’ll carve that into my gravestone if Cameron is right.
* * *
Cameron paces the rest of the morning. Constantly biting her nails, speaking quietly to herself, sweating through her shirt... she looks like she’s five seconds away from a nervous breakdown.
