Mortified, I grabbed the plain white sheet that had fallen when I sat up and clutched it to my chest. Then I stared at the wall of stainless-steel drawers to my left. And the three other metal gurneys on my right.
I was in the morgue.
Did I die? I asked, my voice virtually toneless with shock.
Yes, a familiar voice said from behind me, and I turned to watch Levi circle my table. But Madeline has asked for an audience with you. Please give her your full attention.
Before I could process that, Madeline cleared her throat, and I glanced at her automatically. Kaylee, wed like to offer you the opportunity to
No. I clutched the sheet tighter and stared her right in the eyes. I dont want to be a reaper. Not after what had happened to Tod. How could they ever think Id work for them after they killed him?
Her left brow arched dramatically. Thats not what we want, either. I work for the reclamation department, and we could use your services.
Doing what? I frowned, glancing from Madeline to Levi, then back to her.
Reclaiming souls from those they dont belong to.
Stolen souls? From hellions? Shouldnt my heart be pounding? The very thought terrified me. But my heart refused to beat. Because I was dead.
No, you would be working here, in the human world. As a female bean sidhe, youre uniquely suited to what we do. And frankly, were drastically understaffed.
Can youmake me alive again?
No, not like you were. Madeline glanced at her hands, clasped in front of her. Unfortunately, no one can do that. But we can do almost as well.
Youd exist in form similar to that of a reaper, Levi supplied. But with a different skill set.
Like a reaper. Like Tod, whod had a physical form whenever hed wanted it. Whod been able to stay with his family. Until Id gotten him killed, and Nash framed for my murder.
No, I repeated, eyeing Madeline steadily. Ive seen how you reward people cursed with an afterlife. No way.
I dont think you understand the opportunity youre passing up, Kaylee. Madeline crossed her arms over her suit jacket. Not just for you, but for everyone you care about. As things stand now, your best friend is devastated and your father is inconsolable. And your boyfriend
Ex Levi supplied, laying one arm on the gurney, over the sheet that covered me.
Madeline began again. Your ex-boyfriend is sitting in a jail cell, sick with withdrawal from a very powerful substance and about to be charged with your murder.
But thats not possible. My hands clenched around the cold sheet in frustration and anger. I killed Mr. Beck. They must have found his body. Theyhave to know he killed me. Yet I couldnt quite wrap my mind around the sentence Id just spoken.
Levi watched me in what may have been sympathy. Or possibly impatience. Kaylee, you and the incubus were stabbed with the same instrument, seconds apart, on your bed. At the moment, the police believe that Nash found you there together, and that he killed you both in a jealous rage.
I shook my head, clinging to denial. Fingerprints. His fingerprints arent there.
Levi shrugged. Theyll say he wiped them off. Hes a smart boy. Smart enough to wrap your dying hands around the hilt of the knife.
No! My dad would know better, as would Harmony, Emma and Sabine. But no one had actually seen Beck stab meEm and Sophie had already been asleep when hed arrivedand thanks to her criminal record, Sabine would make the worlds worst alibi for Nash.
Nash could actually go down for this. And without Tod to break him out, he would spend the rest of his life in jail. Because Id helped Beck frame him.
I couldnt let that happen.
Youre saying that if I do this thing for you, this job, youll help Nash?
Madeline frowned, and I knew I wasnt going to like whatever came next. Its more than just this one job, Kaylee. Its a commitment to work for the reclamation department. In exchange, youll be granted an afterlife with certain physical privilegesand a few unavoidable limitationsfor as long as you remain in our employ.
Limitations?
She lifted one brow in what may have been amusement. Most people are more interested in the advantages.
Fine, I snapped. What are those?
Immortality, of course. Agelessness.
Those sound like limitations to me. Who wants to be sixteen forever? And alone, at that. I didnt want to watch my friends and family age and die. I didnt want the world to move on without me. I didnt want to face eternity on my own.
And she must have seen that on my face.
And, of course, the biggest advantage is the chance to help Mr. Hudson.
She meant Nash. But I couldnt help thinking about Tod, too. Hed diedagainfor me.
Would you really let Nash go down for my murder, knowing hes innocent? I demanded.
Would you? Madelines gaze held steady. Based on her eyes, I knew she had a soul, but based on her cold, hard demeanor, Id guess she hadnt recently found use for her heart. We cant intervene on behalf of every innocent man sent to prison, Kaylee. The reclamation department is only willing to expend its resources on Nashs behalf if well be getting something in returnyour services. Its your choice.
I was in the morgue.
Did I die? I asked, my voice virtually toneless with shock.
Yes, a familiar voice said from behind me, and I turned to watch Levi circle my table. But Madeline has asked for an audience with you. Please give her your full attention.
Before I could process that, Madeline cleared her throat, and I glanced at her automatically. Kaylee, wed like to offer you the opportunity to
No. I clutched the sheet tighter and stared her right in the eyes. I dont want to be a reaper. Not after what had happened to Tod. How could they ever think Id work for them after they killed him?
Her left brow arched dramatically. Thats not what we want, either. I work for the reclamation department, and we could use your services.
Doing what? I frowned, glancing from Madeline to Levi, then back to her.
Reclaiming souls from those they dont belong to.
Stolen souls? From hellions? Shouldnt my heart be pounding? The very thought terrified me. But my heart refused to beat. Because I was dead.
No, you would be working here, in the human world. As a female bean sidhe, youre uniquely suited to what we do. And frankly, were drastically understaffed.
Can youmake me alive again?
No, not like you were. Madeline glanced at her hands, clasped in front of her. Unfortunately, no one can do that. But we can do almost as well.
Youd exist in form similar to that of a reaper, Levi supplied. But with a different skill set.
Like a reaper. Like Tod, whod had a physical form whenever hed wanted it. Whod been able to stay with his family. Until Id gotten him killed, and Nash framed for my murder.
No, I repeated, eyeing Madeline steadily. Ive seen how you reward people cursed with an afterlife. No way.
I dont think you understand the opportunity youre passing up, Kaylee. Madeline crossed her arms over her suit jacket. Not just for you, but for everyone you care about. As things stand now, your best friend is devastated and your father is inconsolable. And your boyfriend
Ex Levi supplied, laying one arm on the gurney, over the sheet that covered me.
Madeline began again. Your ex-boyfriend is sitting in a jail cell, sick with withdrawal from a very powerful substance and about to be charged with your murder.
But thats not possible. My hands clenched around the cold sheet in frustration and anger. I killed Mr. Beck. They must have found his body. Theyhave to know he killed me. Yet I couldnt quite wrap my mind around the sentence Id just spoken.
Levi watched me in what may have been sympathy. Or possibly impatience. Kaylee, you and the incubus were stabbed with the same instrument, seconds apart, on your bed. At the moment, the police believe that Nash found you there together, and that he killed you both in a jealous rage.
I shook my head, clinging to denial. Fingerprints. His fingerprints arent there.
Levi shrugged. Theyll say he wiped them off. Hes a smart boy. Smart enough to wrap your dying hands around the hilt of the knife.
No! My dad would know better, as would Harmony, Emma and Sabine. But no one had actually seen Beck stab meEm and Sophie had already been asleep when hed arrivedand thanks to her criminal record, Sabine would make the worlds worst alibi for Nash.
Nash could actually go down for this. And without Tod to break him out, he would spend the rest of his life in jail. Because Id helped Beck frame him.
I couldnt let that happen.
Youre saying that if I do this thing for you, this job, youll help Nash?
Madeline frowned, and I knew I wasnt going to like whatever came next. Its more than just this one job, Kaylee. Its a commitment to work for the reclamation department. In exchange, youll be granted an afterlife with certain physical privilegesand a few unavoidable limitationsfor as long as you remain in our employ.
Limitations?
She lifted one brow in what may have been amusement. Most people are more interested in the advantages.
Fine, I snapped. What are those?
Immortality, of course. Agelessness.
Those sound like limitations to me. Who wants to be sixteen forever? And alone, at that. I didnt want to watch my friends and family age and die. I didnt want the world to move on without me. I didnt want to face eternity on my own.
And she must have seen that on my face.
And, of course, the biggest advantage is the chance to help Mr. Hudson.
She meant Nash. But I couldnt help thinking about Tod, too. Hed diedagainfor me.
Would you really let Nash go down for my murder, knowing hes innocent? I demanded.
Would you? Madelines gaze held steady. Based on her eyes, I knew she had a soul, but based on her cold, hard demeanor, Id guess she hadnt recently found use for her heart. We cant intervene on behalf of every innocent man sent to prison, Kaylee. The reclamation department is only willing to expend its resources on Nashs behalf if well be getting something in returnyour services. Its your choice.
