“Only if you continue running. But you’re not going to be running anymore,” Pestilence says slowly, his gaze heavy with meaning.
My own gaze moves to War.
Seduce Death.
I can’t seem to catch my breath around the thought.
“This wasn’t part of the exchange,” I accuse.
“Death is a man of honor and duty,” War says, “and his duty is death. If he sees your son, he will release him from his body, because he must.”
I begin to tremble with every word War speaks because I can hear the truth in them.
“If you truly care for this boy of yours,” the horseman continues, “you won’t risk it—”
“Don’t,” I warn, and there’s violence in my voice. “Don’t you dare leverage my love.”
War folds his massive arms. “I am a father—as is Pestilence. We know how to take care of our young. We will take care of yours as if it were our own. That I vow to you.”
I have to keep swallowing down the emotion that rises within me. Or maybe it’s bile. I feel as though I’m going to hurl.
“But I just got him back,” I whisper while Ben blissfully eats the food, unaware that we’re discussing his future.
“We all have families,” Pestilence says, stepping in. “Families who we’ve had to separate ourselves from. Believe me when I say we understand your pain and your hesitation.”
War cuts in. “Our wives and children are staying together at Pestilence and Sara’s home on Vancouver Island. It’s far enough from Thanatos that he cannot so easily reach them.”
“We will take your son to our families,” Pestilence says smoothly, “and I vow on my life and honor, your boy—”
“Ben,” I say. “His name is Ben.” It’s a dagger to the chest, giving up my son’s name, because I know it means I’m already accepting this on some level.
Pestilence smiles, the laugh lines around his eyes crinkling. “—Ben will be cared for and loved until you can return to him. And you will return to him, Lazarus—this isn’t forever.”
I breathe in and out through my nose. All I want for Ben is to survive—it was the entire reason behind us heading to the coast in the first place—to board a boat and get as far away from Thanatos as possible. And now these horsemen are offering up a similar escape—it just happens to be one that doesn’t include me.
The Reaper re-enters the room then, passing by as he heads over to the kitchen.
“I vow the same thing,” War adds, drawing my attention back to the horsemen in front of me. “Your son will be protected and cherished by me and my family as well. My daughters will relish having another child to play with—just don’t be surprised if, when you return, your boy knows Hebrew and Arabic.”
“And Portuguese,” Famine calls out from the kitchen, as though he’s been a part of this conversation the entire time. His voice sounds somewhat bitter, like he hates that he wants to be included in this conversation.
I glance down at Ben, who is fiddling with War’s canteen. A frown pulls the edges of my lips down. “So you three will take my son, and then what? Head off to Canada with him?”
Pestilence inclines his head.
All while I will be … with Death. I try not to focus on the mixed emotions that churns up.
“When will I be able to return to Ben?” I say.
“Once you have fulfilled your side of the deal,” War says, his voice deep and solemn.
My gaze bounces between him and Pestilence. “How will—” I don’t even want to say the word. “How will seducing Death help anything?”
War smirks at me, a humorous gleam in his eyes. “What do you think has stopped each one of us from destroying your world?”
My gaze moves to Famine, who’s pouring himself a cup of coffee that someone brewed, glaring at the cup the entire time. Hard to believe anyone would give that asshole the time of day for anything, let alone love. Immediately, I feel guilty for having the thought, considering he just saved my son—albeit, reluctantly.
My attention returns to War. “You can’t be serious.” This is actually their plan? They’re placing the fate of their families and the world at large in my hands—or rather, certain other parts of my anatomy?
“Come now, tootsie,” Famine calls out, “don’t tell me you doubt your ability to fuck a man into seeing reason.”
“Famine,” Pestilence snaps, scowling.