Page 120 of Death's Daughter
“We find her before she’s had a chance to regain her strength. And I kill her.” That might generously be called a plan, right?
A small part of me wishes there was another way. I would have loved to compare notes on Death, to learn from her perspective and experiences with him.
To not be Death’s only spawn.
But I think Nova’s a little bit, what’s the word,crazy, so I’m not inclined to give her a second shot at me.
Devon gives a noncommittal “Hmm” in response.
“What? What does that mean?” I ask suspiciously.
“We almost died,” he says. “Would have, without Carter. And to some extent, Chessa.”
I tighten my grip on the steering wheel. “Nova’s weaker now. And this time, we’re prepared.”
“She was weak last time,” he points out. “And we could bemoreprepared.”
I hit the brakes a little too hard at a stop sign, jerking us both against our seat belts. “If you have another idea, let’s hear it.”
“You’ll die. We both will,” Devon says in a calm matter-of-fact tone, the impact of his words rippling through me. Like a tiny pebble shattering a windshield. “Even if you feed on every human you find, you’re not strong enough.”
“Devon, Jesus.” Shaking my head, I accelerate away from the intersection too fast. But it’s not as if there’s anyone out and about on this end of campus. “If you don’t have anything else to contribute—”
“Carter chose your side,” Devon continues conversationally, as if we’re discussing the outcome of a beer pong tournament. “Even knowing what it will cost him.”
I glare at him. “You were listening?”
He rolls his eyes at me. “Of course I was listening, Jo. You were three feet away, not sealed in a bubble.”
I suppose I deserve that.
“War will probably kill him for it, based on what he said about their relationship. War will see it as a betrayal and he’s not the most forgiving. Not that any of them are, as far as I know,” he adds.
Exhaustion washes over me in an unending wave. “What do you want from me, Devon?”
“You’re not Death yet,” he says.
Not ever.But I refrain from saying it. Suddenly it doesn’t feel so avoidable.
“You need allies.”
“Why are you—” Then it clicks with me. Devon wants me to recruit Carter. “You’re the one who made me promise that I would kill whoever was responsible for Lennie’s death!”
“Which you didn’t,” he points out.
“Yes, thank you,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I only asked because I needed to know you could take action, if it was deemed necessary,” he says, exasperated with me.
“And that’s not condescending at all,” I retort. “He lied, Devon. Heusedmy feelings for him.” I feel like throwing up. “He spied on me—”
“I don’t think he used your feelings, not in the way you’re suggesting,” Devon says.
I stare at him. “You’re defending him? You were angry that he and I were together. I saw it.”
“I was angry that he wasn’t careful with you,” Devon corrects gently. “I’m not of a disposition prone to jealousy or monogamy. It’s not…” He pauses, seeming to search for the right word. “Practical,” he finishes finally.
Because he would always need to feed on someone else’s lust.
