40. The Ferrier

Chapter 40

The Ferrier

M y journey to the manor was quick and uneventful. The mists were calm and quiet as usual, no sign of Behryn's beasts to be seen. Without the horses and carriage, the distance was quickly covered within the dark embrace of my shadows.

I checked on the beasts upon my arrival, ensuring they had been unhitched and cared for by my shadows when they'd returned. I detected no other presence within the confines of my property, but I sent my shadows ahead to sweep the manor just in case. I would need to perform a thorough search before returning with Katrin.

A sharp tug deep in my core gave me pause. Somewhere in my territory, a soul waited to be ferried. I couldn't ignore the summons forever, but it could wait another night or two. I would not be so quick to leave Katrin again once I returned to Sam's. Even if anxiety hadn't sunk its claws in me, she'd nearly bit my head off when I left. I had no desire to upset her again.

My shadows returned signaling all was clear, and I hurried inside, heading for the kitchen to gather what food I could. Little remained of what we'd pilfered from her family home. Soon, we would need to find more, but what was left should be enough to last through our stay at Sam's.

I placed the food in a rucksack and handed it off to my shadows. My body moved with an unfamiliar urgency as I strode from the room. The sun was still high in the sky, but I was eager to return to Sam's—to Katrin.

I turned the corner to the foyer and bounced off a shadow blocking my path. Glaring, I stepped to the side and flew backwards as the shadow again obstructed the way through.

"What now?" I asked, holding my arms out in an exaggerated shrug.

Darkness swept toward me, plucking at my shirt and pulling on my trousers. In my mind I saw Katrin, lovely but filthy.

"Fine," I acquiesced. "I will change. You fetch Katrin something to wear."

The shadow disappeared with haste. I didn't want to waste any more time by bathing, so I grabbed some clothes to change into and handed them to the shadow when we met up again in the foyer.

"Satisfied?"

The darkness moved aside, allowing me to pass unhindered. A sign I took for agreement. I rolled my eyes as I passed the shadow, wondering when they had gotten so bold. I knew the answer. She'd had a similar effect on me as well. I wasn't surprised to find myself eager to return to her side.

I smiled as I reached for the doorknob, cursing when it burned my skin. I yanked my hand away and stared down at the mottled flesh as it healed. My instincts told me to run, to gather my shadows and disappear into their darkness, but I knew that he would hunt me. Running was futile, and it wouldn't keep Katrin safe.

Squaring my shoulders, I winced as I opened the door and found Death waiting at my doorstep.

His hands were tucked into the pockets of his deep red suit, a bold color against the backdrop of The Between. Though his posture was casual, his body radiated power, a coiled serpent prepared to strike. Upon seeing me, he cocked an eyebrow. "Going somewhere?"

"Behryn," I growled, ignoring his question. "Why are you here?"

He had the nerve to look affronted by my words. "Can a king not visit his people? Can a master not check in on his servants?"

"You did receive my last payment, did you not?"

The king's eyes swept the space behind me, assessing, searching. "And then some," he replied distantly.

I'd sent some of Katrin's money with my last payment, enough to ease the sting of my tardiness, but not so much as to draw attention—or so I thought. Was that how he knew of Katrin staying with me?

He stepped to the side, and I mirrored the movement, blocking his view as I invaded his space. "What do you want, Behryn?"

"I have reason to believe there is someone else residing here."

Crossing my arms over my chest, I plaster a look of boredom across my features. "What gave you that impression?"

"Come now, Evander," Behyrn hissed. "Do not play me for a fool. Who is she?"

It took all of my strength not to react to those words—not to deflate in relief that he did not know her. He had no idea I harbored the girl he'd marked for himself all those years ago. Somehow, he knew of her but not who she was.

My mouth twitched with the effort of holding back my smile. Behryn tracked the motion, his dark eyes squinting as he filed the information away.

"She was nothing." I shrugged, adopting the cocky grin I'd seen on demons after they engaged in carnal activities. "A bit of fun."

Let him think what he wanted as long as it kept Katrin safe.

"And where is she now?"

I huffed out a laugh. "Gone. She wandered into the mists yesterday afternoon. I spent the night searching for her but came up empty handed."

"Your duties didn't call to you last night?"

As if in answer, the tug in my chest amplified. I didn't have to fake the wince of pain as I rubbed at my chest. "Of course it did, but I know my limits. I'll get to it."

"See that you do."

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" I hoped for a miracle. I didn't want to leave Katrin in Sam's care, but at least I knew she'd be safe. She'd been right, of course. It had been foolish to risk coming here, especially if his eyes were not yet focused on Sam's place. Now, I had to decide if it was worth returning and potentially leading Death right to Katrin.

Behryn looked me up and down. I didn't blink as he took my measure, forcing myself to breathe normally. The air reeked of smoke and brimstone, but I choked it down. He turned without comment, striding away as though he'd walked here and not appeared in a flash of fire like he always did. He made it ten steps before he lifted one hand and snapped his fingers.

I fell to my knees, head bowed, unable to move even to blink. Pain lanced up my legs, but I was glad. I'd played this game before. The spell would release me when Behryn was out of range, leaving me free to return to Katrin without fear of being followed. I just hoped he didn't linger in the area long.

Night had fallen before I could finally move, though movement was an overstatement. By the time the spell wore off, I couldn't feel my feet. If it weren't for my shadows, I'd have crawled from the manor. As it was, I raced to Sam's under cover of darkness heedless of the incessant tug that urged me toward the mortal world.

When I burst through the door, I stumbled to the floor, the shadows unloading all I'd packed along with me as they, too, battled exhaustion.

"Are you moving in?"

Sam's sarcasm was a welcome sound after fearing I'd never return again. My answering laugh was equally sardonic. I sat up, dusted off my shoulders, and looked around curiously. Concern swept through me when Katrin did not immediately greet me, but my eyes quickly found her asleep on one of the chairs before the fireplace. "What happened?"

Sam showed me his palms, cigar grasped between his right thumb and forefinger. "Nothing happened. She was having a good time."

I shot him a look to rival Katrin's.

"I kept her mind off you." He sucked on his cigar and blew out a line of perfect Os . "Well, I tried to."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I snapped, pushing up to standing.

"Not what you're thinking." Sam smiled like he'd told a joke, but I wasn't laughing. "I thought she was doing all right. We talked and made nice, but she cannot hold her liquor."

I growled.

"Nothing happened. She had a few drinks and passed out." He glanced to where she lay sprawled over the armchair. "You learn a lot about a person when they're in their cups. Did you know she's an only child? Or that she was promised in marriage, but the deal fell through when she was marked?"

I shook my head, feeling the slimy worm of jealousy take hold in my gut.

"She called out for you while she was sleeping." Sam's voice was quiet as his brows pulled together in concern. "What are you doing, Van?"

"I'm earning my freedom." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth, and the words tasted wrong as I spoke them.

Sam raised his brows like he saw the lie for what it was. "Is that all?"

"Of course it is," I bit out.

"Oh, really? Because I see the way you look at her like she's more than just a means to an end. You know this can't end well."

I nodded, though part of me disagreed with him. A larger, more rational part of me knew he spoke true. The Between was not a place for happy endings. It was not a place for endings at all. It was a world of eternities, never ending and never changing.

I perched on the arm of the chair Katrin occupied, needing to be near her, to know that she was safe. My encounter with Behryn had left me shaken. I exhaled shakily. Even if he'd only guessed at Katrin's involvement with me, it was enough to paint a target on her back. The second he realized she was the girl he'd marked—the woman he'd likely been hunting since she disappeared all those weeks ago—he would stop at nothing to capture her. And I would likely see another hefty fee added to my indenture.

Katrin was my one shot at freedom. I was all in.

Sam observed me with an inhuman tilt of his head, his keen eyes missing nothing. "What has happened?"

Scrubbing a hand down my face, I blew out another breath. "I ran into Death."

Sam lurched forward. "Where? When?"

"At the manor as I was leaving." I stared at my hands. If only I possessed a modicum of power beyond the shadows granted to me by Death himself. "He was looking for her. Not her , specifically, but he knew there'd been a woman staying with me. Whether he'd gleaned some hint of her existence at his last visit or learned of her from one of his beasts or subjects, I don't know."

Sam chewed on his lip. "And he just… let you go?"

I nodded.

"Shit."

"We should leave now," I said, making no move to act on the statement.

"And go where? If Behryn doesn't already suspect my involvement, this is the safest place for you. If he does—" He shrugged. "Then, I'm already doomed."

I took in Katrin's sleeping form, the injured leg, the dark smudges beneath her eyes that refused to abate even in sleep. "I suppose you're right."

Sam scoffed. "Of course, I'm right. Now, take your woman to bed before I do."

I glanced sharply at him.

"Take her to the bed. Come now, Van." He chuckled, but the words had their intended effect. Images of Katrin sprawled beneath me replaced the dark thoughts about Behryn.

Ignoring Sam's knowing wink, I scooped Katrin into my arms and carried her into the bedroom. She stirred only once, her eyes fluttering open as I set her down on the mattress. Her smile nearly undid me. No one had ever looked at me that way, like I was her rock, her hero, her true north. As she slipped off to sleep again, I pressed a kiss to her cheek, one I'd longed to give since I'd felt the feather-light brush of her lips against my skin. My lips still tingled as I walked away, content to let her rest and heal while I worried over darker problems.