“I don’t care about your fuckwit name. Death’s coming.”
“Oh, so now you know where he is?” I say.
Famine gives me a dark look over his shoulder. He turns to his brothers. “You two need to leave.”
Pestilence—Victor—and War are quiet, but neither of them makes a move to leave.
Famine exhales loudly. “Must I be the sentimental one? You two need to go, now. You’re mortal,” the Reaper reminds them. “This is a fight you’ll lose, and today is no longer the day we make our move.”
My eyes leap from man to man, even as a shiver runs down my spine. I don’t know who I’m more concerned for—Death, or these three.
Reluctantly, War and Pestilence head out front, where their horses wait. The rain is beginning to come down harder, and for once, I’m legitimately grateful to be in this rotting house.
“I’ll come for you,” Famine calls out to them, “after I have a little chat with our brother.”
I get chills at the threat in the Reaper’s words.
“So you’re going to face him alone?” I ask.
The Reaper turns back to me reluctantly. “Would you care to join me?” he asks, raising his eyebrows skeptically.
“I have fought that man more times than I can count. I’m happy to sit this one out.” After a moment, I add, “Can you kill Thanatos—for good?”
A mean little smile spreads across Famine’s face. “Does that frighten you, tootsie?”
“I swear if you call me that again, I will take off my boot and clobber you with it.”
The Reaper folds his arms and leans back against a nearby wall. “Try it,” he says, lifting his chin. “I dare you.” His eyes promise vengeance.
Famine is different from his brother, Death. Thanatos might be violent, but there’s no anger to it. He seems grimly resigned to his duty, which makes him and his task all the more frustrating, but at least he doesn’t relish it. Unlike this deviant. I bet Famine loves killing. He looks as though he does.
Before either of us can say anything else, I hear the familiar, dreaded thump of wings.
Excitement sparks in Famine’s eyes. “Is that your boyfriend I hear?” he says, tilting his head.
I part my lips to spit out a scathing retort when the Reaper suddenly crosses the room in three long strides and grabs my arm— “Hey!” I yank against his hold.
With his other hand, he picks up his scythe. Then, giving me a swift jerk, he drags me up against his chest.
“What are you doing?” I demand.
Outside the rain is coming down in torrents, battering the house and pelting the floor through the open windows and doorway.
“This is called payback, tootsie.” Famine says softly into my ear. “You wouldn’t understand.”
I open my mouth to respond when the Reaper’s lethal scythe comes up to my neck.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you,” he says softly. “I don’t plan on hurting you, but if you do something foolish—as you humans so love to do—well, at least it will be a fast death.”
“You bastard, I thought you wanted my help,” I say. Famine doesn’t know that I can’t be killed, which makes this situation all the more twisted.
“Oh, I’m fully convinced those self-preservation instincts of yours will kick in and you’ll be an obedient little woman.”
“Fuck you,” I hiss.
“Hard pass on the offer, but consider me flattered.”
I growl out a response, but the press of that blade keeps me from struggling.
The rain has turned into hail, and off in the distance I see a flash of lightning. Death’s wingbeats grow louder, and then through the doorway I see his malevolent form lower to the ground. His wings fold up and his gaze lands on the open door.
For an instant I swear I see—surprise? Panic? Whatever it is, it’s gone as soon as it comes. He drops something in his hand and storms forward, up the entryway. Thanatos pauses when he gets to the doorway.
THA-BOOM! Thunder cracks and lightning lights up the sky. For an instant, Death’s features flash, a winged skeleton flickering over his face and body, then the illusion disappears.
Immediately, Death’s eyes find mine. They only linger for a second before dropping to the bloody scythe at my neck and, finally, the man wielding it.
“Famine.” There’s a terrifying note to Thanatos’s voice, one that even in our worst moments, I have never heard him use before. And the look Death gives him is downright lethal.