Page 69 of When Monsters Rise
“You’venever done this before, have you?”Beeasked.
“No,”Erelimsaid. “Butthe theory is sound.”
“Thisis too dangerous,”Tumielsaid. “Whatif it goes wrong?Whatif you can’t put her soul back?”
“Thereis that risk,”Erelimsaid. “Ican’t discount it as a possibility.”
“Butintheoryit can be done.”Ilooked fromGabrieltoErelim. “Wehave to try.”
Ithad to work, because it was our only hope, otherwiseBeewould have to leave or risk exposing us all.
“Iwant to do this,”Beesaid. “I’drather die here than get eaten by some fucking monster out there on the road alone.”
“Youwon’t be alone,”Tumielsaid. “Ifyou leave,I’llleave with you.”
Beelooked up at him, stunned.Icould only imagine the tumult of emotions she was feeling.I’dseen how close the two of them had become, but his words now confirmed it.
“Allthe more reason to stay and do this,”Beesaid finally. “Outthere,Michaelwill find me, and if he finds me, he’ll find you too.”Herthroat bobbed. “He’llkill you.”
Tumiel’sjaw ticked. “I’mnot afraid of death.”
“Yeah, me neither.ButIwon’t be responsible for the death of others.”Shelooked toErelim. “Doit.”
Tumiellooked like he had more to say, but he pressed his lips together.Arguingfurther was pointless, and he knew it.
“Weshould do it in the barn,”Beesaid. “Ifit goes wrong, you can leave my body there.”
Igripped her hand and squeezed. “Itwon’t go wrong.”Ihad faith inErelim.
Shelooked me in the eye, her expression grave. “Ifitdoesgo wrong, then it’s nobody’s fault, understand.I’mgrateful to have come this far.Tohave made it out of that fucking crazy city and had time with you and…”Shelooked atTumiel. “I’mjust grateful.”
Tumielexhaled through his nose and reached out to gently caress her cheek. “SoamI.”
Sheleaned into his touch for a moment before straightening and taking a breath. “Let’sdo this.Michaelcould be tracking me right now for all we know.”
“Haveyou felt strange in your chest?Likea fluttering sensation?”
Sheswallowed hard and nodded. “Yeah.Onthe road.Butnot for a little while now.Isthat him tracking me?”
Fuck. “Ithink so.”
“Thenwe need to act fast.”Sheheaded for the door. “Comeon.”
Ifollowed her out of the house and into the night with a block of ice forming inside me because this felt like an execution, and all we could do was hope for rebirth.
* * *
“What’sgoing on?”Shemjoined us in the barn asBeelay down on a pile of dry hayTumielhad managed to find. “Whatare you doing?”Heclosed the door. “Rue?”
“Erelimis going to extractBee’ssoul from her body,”Gabrielreplied for me. “She’sbonded toMichael, and he could use that bond to track her.Deathcan sever the bond.”
“Butit’s risky,”Tumieladded quickly. “Extractedsouls aren’t usually put back into their bodies.”
Shem’seyes narrowed speculatively. “Butit can be done.”Hisgaze flicked to me, and it wasn’t difficult to read his thoughts.
Ifthis worked onBee, then it might work on me and my bond toGabriel.
“Don’tthink it,”Gabrielsaid smoothly toShem. “Mybond withRueis essential to our operation.Havingme connected to her gives us an advantage.”
