Page 16 of Death Warden
CHAPTERFIVE
ADI
Fin slept most of the way to Frostgate, curled up on the front passenger seat. I’d never driven so far so late at night. The roads were silent and empty, and I felt like the last person in the world. I’d planned to leave two days ago, but leaving without saying goodbye to Jeremy and Bernard felt wrong. Then we’d gotten drunk and I’d had another hangover… Long story short, by the time we hit the road, it was almost eight at night.
So much had happened in such a short space of time. My world wasn’t what I’d understood it to be, and my responsibilities seemed to have doubled. I was sure once I decompressed, I’d have a mini breakdown, but for now, I had to keep functioning.
That meant caffeine.
The sign for a rest stop glowed up ahead. I took the exit and parked as close to the small café as possible.
“Finley?” I poked him. “Hey.”
He didn’t stir.
I tucked my cardigan around him to keep him snug, killed the engine, and headed to the café. The anemic lighting gave the handful of people inside an eerie look. Yeah, I’d take my coffee to go.
“Hey, love, what can I get you?” a woman with bright purple hair asked from behind the counter.
“I’ll take a tea, please, two sugars, milk, and one of your jam donuts.”
“Make that two.” A man appeared beside me. “And she’s paying.”
“Excuse me?” I glared up at him.
Pale, slender face, dark-haired with even darker eyes, the man seemed to look into my soul. My nape itched and I knew even before his words filled my head.
It’s the least you can do for Death.
Shit.
Oh, God.
“Excuse me, love,ishe with you?” the woman asked.
I blinked at her concerned expression and smiled. “Yeah. He’s with me.”
“You sure?” Her gaze flicked between us.
“He was supposed to stay in the car, but I guess he doesn’t do instructions well.”
Death, fricking Death, shrugged and grinned disarmingly. “What can I say, got to look out for my lady.” He nudged me playfully with his shoulder.
The server passed over the takeaway cups of tea and two donuts. Oh, God. I was buying Death a snack.
Death grabbed one tea and jerked his head toward the door. “Shall we?”
Did I have a choice?
My stomach tightened as we got outside and I turned to him, chest heaving. “Just give it to me straight. Was I in an accident on the highway? Is this some kind of rest stop for necromancers? Is it my time already?”
He looked taken aback. “What? Oh, gosh, you thought… No!” He chuckled. “I just thought I’d check in. Meet and greet the new batch of necromancers and check on my reapers. You were number one hundred and forty on my list.”
“I thought you didn’t do that anymore. I mean…it’s been a while. I mean…from what I’ve heard.”
“Meh.” He shrugged. “I guess for most it might seem that way. But in the grand scheme of things, I only stepped out for a few minutes.” He sipped his tea. “Nice brew.”
I was speaking to Death. The actual fucking Death. “So…um…how’ve you been?”
