My Soul to Keep
Page 67

Not that my dad needed to know about either the reaper or the hellion. I saw no reason to worry him, since even the noblest of intentions on his part would only get him trapped in the Netherworld. Or worse.
Tod nodded in thanks when the waitress set a glass of orange juice in front of him. Id refused to talk to him if he didnt go completely corporeal at the restaurant.
Over the line I heard the clink of glass-on-plastic as the coffeepot bumped the rim of my fathers travel mug. Im about to leave for work. Which he had no choice but to do, even in the middle of a bean sidhe crisis, if we wanted to be able to make next months rent. And honestly, the only thing I could think of worse than being wanted by a hellion was being homeless and wanted by a hellion. I dont want you alone today. You need rest, and its not safe for you to sleep alone right now.
A very odd statement coming from my father But I knew what he meant.
Im fine, Dad. Im being careful. Whatever that meantI was too tired at the moment for much coherence.
Youre not fine, Kaylee. His mug clunked against the countertop. You cant function on so little sleep, and youre only going to make yourself sick by trying.
So what do you suggest? I asked as the waitress set a plate of chocolate chip pancakes on the table in front of me. Sugar would keep me awake, right? I thanked her, then pushed the melting scoop of butter around with my knife.
My dad sighed. I dont know. Were still working on it. Can you stay with Nash or Harmony? As little as I trust that boy in some respects, I do trust him to wake you up if you start screaming.
Unfortunately, hanging out with Nash wasnt an option, unless I was willing to cross into the Netherworld and hand over my soul for the privilege. And I couldnt stay with Harmony without having to explain her sons absence. So maybe Emma, once Tod went to work?
Yeah, I said around a sweet, chocolaty mouthful. Dont worry, I wont be alone.
Okay, I have to go. He paused, and I heard doubt and concern in the short silence. Ill call to check up on you, so answer your phone when it rings. And Ill see you tonight.
Count on it, I said, desperately hoping I wasnt jinxing myself with that one.
I hung up my phone and slid it into my front pocket, then looked up to find Tod eyeing my pancakes. Do you want something? Do reapers even need food? To my surprise, he was already halfway through his juice, but I couldnt remember ever seeing him actually eat.
We dont need it, just like we dont need sleep, but all the same pleasure sensors are still there and functioning. Including taste buds, he clarified when I grinned with one raised brow.
Unfortunately, the reaper gig doesnt pay in human currency, so Im perpetually low on funds.
Oh. Now that I understood.
Here. Thisis more than I need, anyway. I pushed my plate to the center of the table, and handed him a napkin-wrapped bundle of silverware. I cant eat with you drooling like a starving child.
Thanks. He dug in, and I watched, amused by the thought that Death had a sweet tooth.
So, I assume Im not the only one who isnt buying this Winter Carnival/Liminal Celebration coincidence, right? We hadnt been able to talk it through before, with Emma aroundor even dozing.
Tod swallowed his first bite, nodding. Theres no way theyre unrelated. My guess is that Avaris planning a big Netherworld feast to take advantage of such a large concentration of human energy when the boundary between the worlds is so thin. Theyll be able to soak it all up with minimal effort in the hour surrounding dusk.
I nodded, chewing my own syrup-soaked bite. But surely thats not all there is to it. I mean, really? A big picnic? Thats Avaris master plan? That makes him sound about as dangerous as Yogi Bear.
Tod shrugged. Yeah. If Yogi were a soul-sucking, body-stealing, boyfriend-snatching, damned-soul-torturing evil demon from another world. Besides, what else could he be planning?
I dont know. But the winter solstice happens every year, and Alec said this was their first festival in decades. Why? Whats different about this year? I took another bite, chewing while I waited for an answer neither of us had. Whatever it is, we need to know before we get there. Are you supposed to see Addison today?
Tod nodded and dropped his fork on the plate. Yeah. But if I refuse to take the shipment afterward, Avaris going to know somethings up.
I shrugged and cut another bite. So take it. Just dont deliver it to Everett. Well figure out how to get rid of it after weve gotten Nash out of there.
Tod frowned, a bite hovering halfway to his mouth. Kaylee, we dont even know if Alec is going to show up, now that Avari caught E.T. phoning home. For all we know, hell have his proxy locked up even tighter than Addison, and well cross over into this massive chaos swarming with freaks ready to chew our eyeballs and slurp up our intestines.
I felt my brows arch halfway up my forehead. Eyeballs and intestines? Youve been crossing over every day for a month. Has anyone even looked twice at your soft tissues?
No, but I was there working for Avari. He leaned closer to whisper over the table. Or maybe its because Im dead, and even most Netherworlders wont eat dead meat. But youre not dead and you dont have permission to be there. So its your soft tissues we should be worrying about. He shrugged when I swallowed thickly, and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over the tee stretched across his well-toned chest. I just thought you should know what youre getting into.