Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
CHAOS
Malice sauntered out of his room, hair still damp from his shower. “Merri already leave?”
I nodded as I set down my drink. “Lucifer walked her to Moira’s room on his way to see his brothers.”
“What were they doing again? Movie night?” he asked as he claimed the seat beside me.
“That’s what she said. They’re watching something called Practical Magic and drinking mocktails.”
Grim snapped his book shut and frowned. “How can they watch movies and pretend everything is fine when we are so close to the end of all of this?”
“It’s called survival, Grimsby.” From his place at the bar, Sin poured himself a healthy serving of brimstone whiskey.
“Sometimes we have to pretend so we don’t get lost screaming into the void.
It doesn’t mean they care less. They have to hold on to something normal so they can fight when the time comes. ”
The frown on Death’s face deepened. “Do we need to make sure she has access to other movies?”
I hid my smile behind my hand at the seriousness with which he asked the question. He was so fucking earnest when it came to taking care of our woman.
“It’s not the movies specifically, though I’m sure that wouldn’t hurt,” Sin explained, claiming the armchair. “It’s more about the ritual and escapism from”—he gestured vaguely—“everything else.”
Something I was pretty sure was panic flared in Grim’s eyes. “Escape from us?”
Malice tossed a pillow at him. “Relax. She’s not trying to get away from us. Sin is talking about the constant stress we’ve been under. It’s normal for a woman to want time with her friends so she can relax and regroup.”
“But we’re her mates.”
Sin laughed. “Look at how easily he says that all of a sudden.”
“She shouldn’t want time with anyone else.”
I choked on my laugh. “That is what modern women would call toxic, my old friend.”
Grim looked from me to Malice, then Sin. The incubus simply nodded solemnly. “Toxic as they come.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Clearly,” Sin snickered.
Malice took pity on him first. “That’s okay, Grimsby. We do.”
After a moment of strained silence, he blurted, “You’re sure she’s not trying to get away from us?”
My heart gave a sympathetic tug. I wasn’t sure he would ever recover from Merri running after his last fuck-up. He probably lived in constant terror that she'd do it again. “She loves us, Grim. She’s not going anywhere.”
“She’s not even sleeping over with the rest of them,” Sin reminded him. “She’ll be back in a few hours.”
“And what happens when this is all over? When we have to go back to our true purpose?”
His questions gave me pause. What did happen when this was successful?
“We do what we’ve always done,” Malice offered.
“Avoid each other like the . . . sorry, uh . . . plague?” Sin looked anywhere but at Malice as he spoke.
“And where does that leave Merri? With Lucifer?”
“Fuck no,” I immediately spouted.
“No fucking way,” Sin agreed.
“Merri will be with us,” Malice said confidently.
“But we weren’t even with us,” Grim said. “We all went our separate ways last time.”
“Things have changed. We have a reason to stay together now.”
Grim’s gaze was uncertain when it found mine. “How long will that last, though?”
“You make a good point. Our duties aren’t exactly conducive to building a family. They never have been.” I knocked back the remainder of my drink and joined Sin at the bar, shoving the glass at him and waiting while he filled it.
“Sure. I can be your bartender. You’re rude as fuck, though.”
“Looks like someone doesn’t want a tip.”
“The only tip I’m interested in is the one I’m going to give Merri later.”
“It’s my night with her,” Malice taunted. “So it’s just you and your hand tonight, Sinclair.”
“Fuck that.”
“I’m going to give up my mantle,” Grim stated, interrupting the conversation.
Everyone went silent, all eyes on Death.
“You’re going to do what?” Malice finally asked.
“I choose her and this life we have. Once this is all said and done, I’ll find someone worthy and pass on the mantle.”
“But that will make you mortal,” I reminded him.
“I know. I will live out as many days as I can at her side.”
The three of us exchanged glances, all arriving at the same conclusion.
“So will I,” I said.
“And me,” Malice chimed in.
Sin lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s not exactly a hard decision, boys. I found everything I’ve ever wanted in Merri. Fifty years with her is better than fifty lifetimes without.”
“So it’s agreed,” Grim said. “We deal with the horsewomen, and then we find our replacements.”
“Sounds like a pretty fucking great plan to me,” Sin agreed. “We can get a big house and live out our retirement in style. Like the Golden Girls. I’m obviously Blanche.” He pointed to me. “You’re Dorothy.” Then to Grim. “Sophia, obviously.” Finally, he pointed to Malice. “That makes you Rose.”
“I have a question,” Malice said, the words hesitant, as though he didn’t want to give voice to something.
“Perfect! You’re already in character,” Sin said, then we all looked at Malice, waiting.
“What happens to Merri once we die? If she goes after us?”
Grim let out a low, unhappy grunt. “We won’t. Not if I can help it.”
“Not how that works, buddy. I know you’ve been the boss man of dying around here for all of eternity, but mortals don’t get to stay as long as they want. It’s not the Hotel California. Eventually they check out.”
For a musician, Sin didn’t really have much of a way with words.
“She has Lucifer. Eventually, once we are gone, he will take care of her.” I hated every syllable that left my lips, but it was the truth. Maybe that’s why fate gave him to her. So she wouldn’t have to ever be alone.
Silence descended around the room as we let the statement hang. There wasn’t much we could do about it, not if we wanted a real chance at a life with her.
“So when are we going to tell Merri?” I asked.
“Tell me what?”