Page 63 of Sins of the Fathers
“The only ‘ritual’ you’re going to be part of is our wedding,” Dawson told him. “No monsters allowed.”
Grady smiled, but the wan expression seemed strained. Dawson swore he would help put back the light in his partner’s eyes.
Dawson struggled not to curse as he tended Grady’s injuries. He cleaned the wounds with water, soap, and whiskey and bound them with strips of a clean T-shirt until he could give better care at home.
“He had a whip that was a human spine,” Grady said like he was recounting something that happened to someone else. “Said he was the Dullahan, the fae reaper—caught me when I tried to escape.”
“You are a badass.” Dawson pushed a glass of water into Grady’s hand. He suspected that his captors hadn’t worried much about giving him food and drink. Grady looked glazed as he accepted the glass and drank it on autopilot.
“You killed Ophelia,” Dawson went on, needing to keep talking so he didn’t explode or break down in tears. “You got loose and made a break for it against a fae and a witch. You never stopped fighting. Badass.”
“I didn’t think I’d make it back,” Grady said quietly.
Dawson cupped his chin and met his gaze. “I knew we’d find each other. Although you scared the living shit out of me.”
Denny came to the kitchen door. “You done? We need to get a move on.”
Grady nodded, and Dawson steadied him as he stood. “Yeah, we’re ready,” Dawson said, trying not to be obvious about hovering behind Grady as they made their way back to Denny’s truck.
“We wrecked the fairy ring,” Denny said. “And the feds are rigging the cabin to blow as soon as we’re gone. That’ll take care of the bodies and send a message.”
They came to a complete stop when they walked onto the porch. Gibson stood near Ophelia’s body, looking down at her kneeling ghost with a thunderous expression.
Is it weird that I’m more surprised that her ghost has a head attached than that he’s interrogating a spirit?Dawson wondered.
“Glad you’re here,” Gibson greeted them without shifting his gaze from Ophelia. “Want you to hear what she has to say.” He seemed even more intimidating as a necromancer than as a federal agent.
“How many more of your goons are still breathing?” Gibson demanded.
“They’re all dead,” the ghost replied, anger lacing her voice. “All the ones who were insiders. The others are hangers-on. Happy?”
“Not yet.” Gibson’s tone made it clear he was in no mood for Ophelia’s attitude. “What else did you put in motion against the Kings?” He closed his fist, and the ghost shuddered. “Tell the truth, or this gets messy fast.”
Ophelia’s ghost thrummed with malice and rage. “I intended to kill Grady myself. How sweet to use King blood to open the mound. We’d have come for the rest of them afterward. But you ruined it all!” she snarled.
“Are there curses or hexes laid for them? Don’t lie to me—I’ll know.”
“A hex bag at the hospital, nothing else. Daelin promised me the dark fae would finish the Kings for me.” Ophelia’s fury seemed to drain away at the betrayal and defeat.
“It’s time for you to go. May you find in the next realm exactly what you deserve.” Gibson closed his eyes and released the tension in his clenched fist, splaying the fingers wide. A crimson rip appeared in the air, stinking of smoke and old blood. Far away screams echoed, and Ophelia’s ghost lifted her head, all defiance gone.
“Please, no—”
“I just open the door, lady. I don’t pick the destination.”
As Grady and Dawson watched, Ophelia’s ghost peeled away bit by bit, spiraling off into the red split in the air until the last of her vanished with a piercing, terrified scream.
Gibson bowed his head for a moment, murmuring something Dawson didn’t catch. When he raised his head, the powerful necromancer was gone, and he was back to being a federal agent.
“We should go,” he said as if what they had witnessed was commonplace.
Maybe for him it is.
Tucker was waiting in the back seat when they got to the truck, and if Dawson caught a whiff of gasoline, he didn’t mention it.
“How about if you ride shotgun?” Dawson said to Gibson, knowing that Grady would do better if they sat together in the back since the front had bucket seats.
“Sure,” Gibson replied, picking up on the real request immediately.
