Page 33 of Bound to Death

I was surprised when Thanatos didn’t say anything, just stared at her. And when she sighed loud enough to make a statement, I wondered if they were having a conversation telepathically.

“Fine. Have it your way. But ten minutes. That’s all you get, Dead. I’m only humoring you because I owe you a favor,” shegrowled before the red door opened. Brilliant light spilled onto the asphalt. “Keep her close. There’s a few in there I wouldn’t put it past to disregard the rules to make sure you do your bleeding job.” Her eyes caught mine, her pupils dilating until all of the blue was gone. “Or make it so you can’t.” Then she disappeared into the white light.

Not sure what I expected when we followed her in, but walking into blinding light before everything disappeared into an endless sea of stars and galaxies wasn’t it.

The gleam of sparkly black marble stretched out farther than the eye could see, but every wall to our left and right was a shiny line of glass that exposed nothing but glimmering stars and far-off galaxies beyond it. Like I’d stepped right onto a bridge across the universe. Were we even on Earth anymore? Was this another dimension? A portal to the Heavens? The afterlife? Were we free-floating somewhere impossible? I couldn’t be certain.

I nearly tripped over my own feet trying to process what I was looking at. It didn’t make sense. The walls weren’t clever illusions produced by some kind of television that I could see. Everything looked too three-dimensional and solid to be an image projected behind the glass.

But the scattered tables and luminous eyes of what I figured had to be angels caught my wide-eyed stare next, interrupting my head’s epic unraveling to comprehend the impossible. I studied the people seated and wandering everywhere with no real purpose or destination.

I expected celebrities, and no surprise, that was exactly what I got. I just didn’t expect there to be so many. Hundreds. No, thousands. Every single one had the fluorescent outline of wings behind them. They were in different states of dress, some showing more skin than others, but those who did sparkled every time a stray beam of light would catch their skin.

I barely caught myself before muttering, “This is the skin of a killer, Bella” fromTwilightbecause I’d break down laughing like I always did anytime I said it to Emily. I wasn’t sure if that was allowed here. Definitely didn’t feel like the time to be cracking jokes. Did angels get jokes? Would I be killed on sight for making one?

Thanatos led my arm through his and jerked his eyes over to a few angels that started to get up, their expressions darkly ominous. The two went visibly stiff, all but stopping the second his glowing gaze sliced over to them. But just as quickly, his eyes dropped to mine when I peered up at him in open confusion.

Were we about to pull a full-blown musical moment from West Side Story and battle it out dance style, or would there be weapons? I couldn’t fathom fighting people this beautiful, let alone beautiful people who were also badass birds. I didn’t bring my brass knuckles with me. I’d left those treasures on my bedside table for Emily to remember me by. I mean, how did one even defend themselves against shimmering flocks of angels?

Brushing his knuckles across my cheek, Thanatos leveled his luminous gaze on the men behind me again. Even I could sense the uncomfortable tension and warning lingering in the air. With a little nod the way we were walking, he urged me to keep going. “Ignore them, little raven. Anyone who so much asthinksof harming you will be devoured by my shadows, and they know it. So let the bastards try.”

“That doesn’t sound like a good time.”

His haunting gaze seemed to glow brighter. “Oh, I assure you it isn’t. Even angels can’t handle the inescapable dread of being lost to nothing but darkness.”

I stole a look at the two who’d been warned with a single glance, and it was clear Thanatos wasn’t exaggerating. Whatever happened after being devoured by his shadows, it was enough to put off powerful creatures like these sparkly badass birds.

“Glad I’m on your good side, then,” I mumbled, terrified to think what would’ve happened if he decided to kill me the night we met. Would I have been devoured by his shadows, too?

When Thanatos laughed out loud, the room seemed to freeze in stunned silence. I got the distinct feeling they were under the impression he never laughed, and with a quick scan of the angels I could see, several had taken to whispering to others nearby.

But Charlize Theron’s doppelganger cleared her throat, agitated by our limited progress. “Can your human walk any slower, Dead?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when his fingers interlocked with mine, and he picked up the pace. “Forgive me, little raven. Michael’s had a stick up her ass since she was banished to your world for—”

“You’re playing with fire, Dead. I won’t bother to hear you out if you’re going to be a fucking ass.”

I bit my lip and tried not to smile when Thanatos rolled his eyes and offered me a sneaky grin. Swallowing, I tried not to stare at anyone else for the five minutes we walked through a galaxy landscape, but someone caught my eye before we reached a bright red door standing on its own, attached to nothing and apparently going nowhere. Our ungracious host opened the door with a sigh and beckoned the two of us inside with a finger.

But not before I’d gotten a good look at the familiar woman standing nearby, acting as if she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was the same gorgeous woman from the club who’d whispered someone was looking for me. You know, the one who helped me take a shower in my drink. Was she an angel, then? Who was she warning me away from? The guys who attacked me? So…did that make us friends already?

Fuck yeah it did.

I gave her a little smile and wave, but the chick looked outright spooked to see me. Her eyes went from me to Thanatos untilshe caught herself and licked her lips. Mouthing something I couldn’t figure out, she motioned to the door we’d entered that led back out to the street. But as soon as Thanatos turned his head to see why I’d slowed down, she looked away and brushed back her silky blonde hair.

“Thought I saw something.” Which wasn’t untrue. I had seen something. Well, someone.

He scanned the crowd. “Other than angels and a universe of stars?”

“Right? Who are they fooling? This looks nothing like the real thing,” I joked, stealing a glance at the blonde still miming something I couldn’t even pretend to understand.

Thankfully, I’d managed to distract Thanatos because he started to walk again as if nothing was amiss. “Odd. Because it is exactly what you think it is.”

“Beg your pardon?” I demanded louder than I intended, and he couldn’t hide his smile.

“Eight minutes, Dead. Time is ticking.”

“Come on, little raven,” he commanded with a tug.

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