With All My Soul
Page 7

Wait. Emma frowned and raised Lydias thin, pale brown eyebrows. Isnt that stuff, like, corrosive? It sizzles like acid.
Yeah, in its concentrated form. It was a challenge to contain. Over time, itll eat through nearly anything but plastic. Sabines grin looked almost vindictive, and I started to question her motives. But its easily diluted in anything water based, like coffee or tea. Or nondairy diet protein shakes.
Tod set his empty soda can on the coffee table. Youve been experimenting with it?
Just a littleI dont want to waste it. But one drop dissolved in eight ounces of water is perfectly safe to touch. I stuck a finger in and felt nothing. Even took a little sip.
And? Nash prompted.
And I dumped the rest of it out. I just wanted to make sure it was safe, not feel the effects myself.
I groaned, Do we even want to know why you were testing it?
Sabine shrugged. Probably not. But Im willing to take a full dose this time, if thatll convince you that its safe. Physically, at least.
No! Em and I said in unison. She continued, The last time you were all hopped up on jealousy you tried to sell us in the Netherworld.
Ill try it, I said. Otherwise, were not doing this.
Sabine shrugged again and sank back against Nashs shoulder. Fine. Ill go get it when were done here.
Its not somewhere Sophie could find it, right? Tod said.
Its in the toe of my left boot. The dancing queen wont go near shoes without a designer label. She thinks shes allergic to cheap fabric. She twisted to scowl at Nash. Sophie and I are not compatible. I still dont see why your mom wont let me stay with you guys.
Emma actually grinned, for the first time in days. Because Harmony thinks shes too young to be a grandmother. But shes, like, what? Eighty?
Eighty-two, Tod said. From puberty on, bean sidhes age much slower than humans. Our average life span is around four hundred years. Not that Id know from personal experience. Half the bean sidhes I knew were already dead or living on borrowed time. But Nash didnt know his brother had traded death dates with himTod didnt want him to feel guilty about something that was beyond his control. Anyway, its not the grandmother thing that bothers her. Its the thought of you two as parents.
That thought bothers me, too. Sabines gaze settled on me and Tod. Not a risk for you, though, right? You two have all the luck.
Yeah. Sarcasm dripped from the word as Todpushed pale curls back from his face, and I could feel my own cheeks flame. Not having to worry about teen pregnancy totally makes up for the fact that were dead. His eyes flashed in anger, probably on my behalf. Every time I think youve reached the pinnacle of insensitivity, you exceed your own reach.
No way. You dont get to be mad about the truth. Sabine turned to Nash, obviously puzzled by social etiquette she didnt understand. Are they pissed because I mentioned sex or death?
New subject! Nash stood and stomped into the kitchen with his soda.
I second the motion, I mumbled as he drained his can and dropped it into the recycling bin. I would much rather talk about trekking toward certain death in the Netherworld than ever again discuss sex in front of my boyfriend, his brother/my ex, and his new girlfriend. Who was also his old girlfriend/first love, whod once tried to sell me to a demon to get rid of me.
Some conversations will just never be comfortable.
Okay. So. I shook my head, trying to mentally strike the previous two minutes from the official record. Any ideas for how to lure Belphegore into our hellion cage match?
Vanity, right? Nash reappeared in the living room with an open bag of potato chips. I nominate my venerable brother. He likes to play hero, and one look at him should establish the vanity angle.
Nash! I really shouldnt have been surprised by the dig. But I was.
What? He raised one brow at me in challenge. Its okay to call me jealous, but not to call him vain?
Awareness of ones obvious advantages doesnt imply vanity, Tod insisted calmly.
Nash turned on him. Does it imply narcissism?
Tod huffed. This coming from the guy who owns more hair products than his girlfriend.
I dont own any hair products, Sabine said. And that was true. Her beauty was natural. Dark, fierce, and kinda scary at times, but completely natural.
Nash glared at his brother. When you were still alive you spent more time looking at yourself than at girls, and I doubt death changed that.
Seriously? Are we doing this again? The overhead light flickered in response to Sabines irritationanother creepy aspect of hanging out with a mara. Youre pretty. Hes pretty. She turned to scowl at Nash. Your brothers arrogant, and youre confrontational. Youre both fed, clothed, sheltered, and sexually satisfied.
Sabine! I hissed, while Em stared at the floor, evidently lost in her own thoughts. But the mara continued without even glancing at me.