He chewed then swallowed. “I just haven’t seen anyone enjoy eating the way you do. Like you’re in a daydream.”
A self-conscious blush flooded her cheeks. She stared at her plate. “Is that a bad thing?”
“It’s something I could watch all day if you didn’t think it’d be creepy.”
“You’re right, it would be creepy.”
He laughed into his next bite.
“And you’re right about some stuff in your house not being normal,” she continued as if they were talking about the weather. “When I dropped you at the basement and I was ushered out of the house—”
Niko tsked. “I have yet to punish Sickleton for that.”
She polished off her first slice and reached for a second one with a shaky hand. “You don’t have to. He was only doing his…” She paused, confusion creased her forehead.
“Ari, are you all right?”
She shook her head. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Anyway, that day, I went around your house and didn’t see this magnificent garden.” She swept a hand to indicate the circus of color performing for them. Arianne swayed, almost tipping out of her chair.
Niko bolted out of his seat and stretched his arms to form a safety net to catch her before she fell over. “I’m taking you home.”
“But the pizza,” she murmured into his chest, eyes heavy lidded.
“I’ll wrap some up to go for you.”
“Good. Good.”
With his arms behind her shoulders and knees, he cradled her to his chest until her head lolled onto his collarbone for support. The blood-rush in his body from his overcompensating heart had his head feeling lighter than air. He couldn’t understand what had happened to Arianne. She’d been fine upon entering his domain. Now, only a couple of hours later, her body seemed so small, so fragile, like the most delicate glass figurines from the Murano glass blowers. Her breathing had become shallow and ragged, as if she fought to keep her lungs working. A chill, like a clammy hand, caressed his spine, bringing with it goose bumps over his arms and legs. He fought against the rising panic. If she withered because of being in his domain, then the simplest answer would be to take her out of it. He prepared to teleport when she spoke in a voice he’d only heard from those in their deathbeds. Her lips had begun to turn an alarming shade of blue, as if she’d been pulled out of frigid waters.
“Oh, before I forget…” She raised a limp finger.
“What is it, angel?” He kissed the top of her head. A spiked ball of worry bounced off the walls of his gut.
“Come with me tomorrow…” She’d fainted before she could finish her sentence.
Niko had just pressed send for a text he’d written to Arianne when Paris and Rome entered his room. He was still shaken from what had happened that afternoon. By the time he’d teleported Arianne and himself into her room and he began settling her into bed, she’d looked marginally better. Her pallor had receded so that her face returned to its cherries-and-cream complexion, and her breathing relaxed. He’d immediately called for Tomas after he’d been sure of Arianne’s recovery. The older Reaper had been detained because of the forest fires ravaging his state, but left word that he’d meet with Niko the next day.
“Master,” Paris and Rome said. They stood a respectful distance from his reading chair.
“Is there something I can do for you?” Niko slid his phone back into his pocket and tried his best to relax by releasing the breath he hadn’t realized he held in. His joints popped as he rolled his shoulders.
“The human…” Rome said.
“Arianne,” Niko corrected.
“Arianne.” Paris nodded her head once. “This is the first time…”
“…you’ve ever brought anyone into…”
“…your domain, Master,” she finished.
Looking from Paris to Rome, Niko asked, “And how do you feel about that?”
Rome cocked his head to the side. “Better.”
“Good.” Paris smiled like a little girl, all sugar and spice.
Niko’s surprise started with the raising of his eyebrows down to his widening eyes and ended with his parted lips. “Why?” Relief and happiness allowed him only that one word.
The twins glanced at each other and shared a silent nod before they regarded their master with a neutral expression.
“If having her here…” Rome began.
“…means you will no longer let yourself fade…” Paris continued.
“…then we can rest easy.”
“Master, your happiness…”
“…is paramount to us.”
Because he couldn’t contain himself any longer, Niko rose from his seat and moved toward the twins. He knelt down and ushered them with his arms into an embrace. An act he’d never done with his minions. He felt them stiffen for a moment before they surrendered to the show of affection.
“Master,” Paris said softly into Niko’s ear.
“Yes, child?” he breathed out.
Rome answered, “New Certificates have arrived for reaping.”
Laughter unfurled out of Niko’s chest. In a single heave, he carried the twins with him when he stood. They hooked their arms around his neck, question marks in their eyes. After the last of his chuckles left the room, he said, “Let’s get to work then.”
Chapter 16
ARIANNE WOKE UP TO THE INCESSANT CHIRPING of her cell phone. A text message pounced on the screen like a dog wanting attention. She groaned, rubbing away what felt like the sand of the Mojave that had settled at the corners of her eyes. She tried to recall the chain of events that ended with her lying in bed. The leftover glow in the dark constellations on her ceiling provided no answers for her—an oracle gone mute years ago. She reached for her phone with jelly limbs and tapped the LCD screen to retrieve the message.
“Pick you up at eight for the memorial. Niko,” she read in a not-so-sexy raspy whisper. The desert sand had invaded her mouth as well. “How’d he get my…what time…” She tapped the screen again and the numbers 5:00 blinded her.
She struggled with the thin blanket that had once offered protection. Overnight, it had transformed into a straightjacket, weighing as much as a whale for all the strength it took Arianne to get the stifling piece of cloth off her.
Dressing had become a chore of epic proportions, one bra strap at a time. She couldn’t remember when she’d bought a pair of lead underwear. And the dress…she almost cried, even though she picked out the lightest fabric in her closet.
With a heave and a ho, she finished dressing. The buckles of her strappy wedges protested for about five minutes, but she managed to beat them into submission. Looking half decent in her black summer dress, she studied her limp hair.
A spritz of Vanilla Passion later, Arianne prepared herself to tackle the obstacle course that was the stairs.
