Page 124 of Grim Tidings

“Because Darcy is a very smart girl and has made a very good choice.” Gideon strolls around the edge of the mausoleum, his hands in the pockets of another perfectly pressed suit. Charcoal, this time, with jet-black sunglasses to match. “I must admit, meeting at the graveyard on Halloween feels a bit campy, but I suppose I can appreciate a bit of drama.”

He offers me a tight smile and a tilt of his head, then flicks his fingers in the direction of Nate, who might as well be one of the marble statues affixed to the top of the cemetery gates. His mouth gapes open, his eyes blown wide. I’m not entirely sure he’s breathing.

“Is this the one, then?” Gideon asks, sauntering over. He inspects Nate with his hands behind his back, like he’s a pack of hot dogs at the grocery store. One he doesn’t particularly care for. “All this commotion over a mere scrap of a soul.” He clicks his tongue. “Shameful.”

That seems to rattle something to life in Nate. “I’m sorry?”

“Nothing to apologize for, dear boy. It’s not your fault I find mortals to be unimpressive.”

Nate blinks owlishly from behind his glasses. “Is this some sort of cosplay thing? Like—are we in a LARPing situation?”

“I have no idea what that means.” Gideon turns toward me, expectant. “Shall we?”

Gabriel is suddenly between us, manhandling me behind him. “You’re not taking her.”

Gideon’s eyebrows arch in surprise. “Oh, hello.” He leans side-ways, smiling at me over Gabriel’s shoulder. “I didn’t know there would be Guardians here.”

I fist my hand in the middle of Gabriel’s shirt, ready to pull him away if I need to.

“Here I am,” Gabriel grinds out. “Off you go.”

Gideon tuts and shakes his head. “But it would be so rude of me to leave when Darcy’s called me here. Wouldn’t it, Darcy?”

Gabriel sucks in a sharp breath and the graveyard goes silent and still. Even the crows that have been bickering on the roof of the mausoleum have gone watchful.

I close my eyes, the hand in Gabriel’s shirt twisting tighter. This is the hardest part of my plan. The part where I need to tell the truth.

“Yes,” I whisper.

Gabriel turns his head to the side, and all I can make out are the lines of his profile. “Darcy? What’s he talking about?”

I tug at him until he’s facing me, then touch gently at his cheek. I hope that one day he might find the space to forgive me. If anyone could, it would be him.

He is a Guardian, after all. The very best of us.

“There is a debt that must be paid,” I say quietly. “There are people I answer to. You’ve known this from the very start. You tried to tell me, but I didn’t listen.” A sigh trembles out of me. “You were right all along.”

Something in his face fractures. “No,” he whispers.

I let myself look at him for another moment. His wild blue eyes. His dark and riotous curls. The scars that inch up over his heart. He was the last thing I expected when I came to this town.

I let go of his shirt and turn to Gideon. I try to summon all my bravery. “I’m ready now.”

Gideon smiles. “Good girl.” He holds out his hand to mine, palm up. “You’ve made the right choice. Grab your mortal and we’ll be off.”

I shake my head. “Nate won’t be joining us.”

Gideon’s smile turns gentle. Condescending. Mocking.

“Darcy,” he says gently. “You owe me a soul. A life for a life.”

I nod. “Yes. I’m giving you one,” I agree. “Mine.”

Chapter Thirty

Darcy

Behind me, Gabriel makes a choked, anguished sound. My eyes fill with tears, but I don’t let myself turn. I’ve already said my good-byes. That’s what this morning was for. When we were tangled together in my bed and I traced my fingers along his skin and tried to memorize the feel of him. I pressed my mouth to his shoulder and made silent peace with my decision.