My mouth fell open. “You’re taking them to Boot Camp?”
“It’s a secure facility, and it’s the best we’ve got on short notice. We need someplace to sort them out.”
“You mean kill them?”
“I don’t know, Stone; I really don’t. We’ll do what we can for the ones that can still function. The others … It’s wait and see. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks.”
She started to walk away. Stopped. “By the way, Rufus will live. He’s got some pretty bad burns, but he’s tough. Just thought you’d like to know.”
Relief settled warmly in my stomach. Score one more for the good guys.
Kismet disappeared into the mix. No one paid us much attention. Wyatt slipped one arm around my waist. I leaned against him. We were both splattered in complementary shades of red and fuchsia. My shoulder had stopped bleeding, and the gashes on my stomach itched like a bitch. Overall, though, we’d come out ahead.
“So you going to get your old job back?” I asked. “Seeing as you’re a hero and no longer a hunted criminal?”
He grimaced. “I doubt it. Having everyone turn against you and try to kill your girlfriend kind of sours a working relationship.”
“Girlfriend? Presume much?”
“Probably, yes.” He turned his head, breath tickling my cheek. “I told you yesterday, Evy, you have healing to do, and I’ll be here for you. Whatever it takes.”
My physical body seemed to be healing on its own, but only time would tell if the healing gift was as permanent as my new body. The emotional wounds, though, were more plentiful and harder to reach. I was just glad to know I wasn’t alone. “And in the meantime?”
“I’m sure we can find something to keep us occupied and out of trouble.”
“Like what?”
“Ever wanted to open a nature preserve?”
I punched him in the shoulder.
“How about a Grecian dress shop?”
“I am never wearing a getup like that again, so kiss that fantasy good-bye.”
“Not even if Amalie invites us down for tea?”
I could only imagine how Amalie and her people felt about tonight’s victory. Anger at the Tainted’s successful crossing into our world. Joy over the continued security of First Break. Annoyance at being tasked with babysitting the Tainted we’d captured. Relief at never getting her own blue hands dirty in its protection. Then again, all of those reactions were emotional. Human. Beneath her kind, and yet something I would never give up.
“If I ever set foot in that place again without her asking for a favor, suicidal or otherwise, I’ll eat that damned dress.”
He kissed my temple. “That’s the Evy I know. So, what do you want to do next?”
I faltered. I hadn’t given any thought past today and the events I had felt certain would end in my death. Tomorrow was a gift, and I was glad to have it. I just didn’t know what the hell to do with it.
“I think I want to go get a bag of cheese puffs,” I said.
“You … what?” His expression—openmouthed and eyebrows arched—was priceless. “Since when do you like cheese puffs?”
“Remember the part where you died and, instead of renting, I got full and permanent residence of Chalice’s body?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, it seems like the body comes as a packaged deal with residual memories and odd food cravings.”
His eyebrows arched higher. “Really? Think you’ll be brave enough to try sushi now?”
“Never.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Waiting to take a hot bath and a weeklong nap, along with the rest of me.”
“And after that?”
I shrugged and smiled, unwilling to think that far into my after-afterlife. “I think we’ll just wait and see where the day takes us.”
