Page 111 of Reaper's Quest

“Why do I have to leave?” he protested on the way out, a wicked grin lifting his lips. “I’ve already seen the goods.”

Hellfire and death gods.

My cheeks warmed.

Camilla slapped his arm. “Don’t be such a chuff.”

“I am not?”

They disappeared down the hallway, taking their exchange with them.

I changed too slowly, my bones aching, into the apparel Camilla had provided. The skirt and blouse fit a tad snug, barely containing my breasts. Leaving me to fear my bosom might rip the seams or make a surprise appearance should I bend over or move the wrong way.

Nothing provided remotely resembled my preferred style. Not in the slightest. I wore my belt with my compacted scythe strapped over the outfit and hid the borrowed look beneath my cloak. At least I had that option. My first order of business, after a filling meal, would be to get to my room at the pub and change into something moreme.

Once dressed, Winter insisted on guiding me down the stairs. He wrapped one arm around my waist and supported my elbow with his opposite hand. Everyone gathered at the kitchen table for sandwiches made with the fresh supplies he had provided.

The conversation, when not informative, fell into idle chat. I wanted to ask Kira about the dream I’d had of the catacombs, but given the company, I kept quiet. From the looks Winter occasionally tossed the girl, I suspected he had a thing or two he wanted to talk to her about, as well.

Despite the flavorful food and pleasant enough company, secret delight buzzed across my skin when we headed back to the pub and my reaper team.

With Winter beside me, we took to the streets and covered the distance slower than I cared for. Winter insisted I not push myself too soon. He walked tightly at my side as if the curves of our bodies were designed to fit together, keeping close under the pretense my strength could fold at any moment.

He dipped his head near, his warm breath brushing my skin as his lips all but caressed the top curve of my ear. “This is nice, isn’t it?”

“What exactly are you referring to?” I kept my attention forward, afraid of what I might discover should our gazes connect.

A hum vibrated in his throat, sounding ten degrees past the friend zone as he tightened his hold. “Our bodies joined in such a comforting manner.”

Was he seriously coming on to me right now—when I was recovering from near-death injuries? That was just…wrong. So why did a warm tickle swirl in my stomach?

I shook my head. I was on a task. A tricky reaping that was in dire need of completion.

Get in, get it done, and get out.No distractions.

And Winter was definitely becoming just that.

I must be wound too tight and in need of arelease.

“You know what I think?” I took in his profile. “I think you may be suffering from some sort of savior complex. I was your damsel in distress, and you got off on coming to my rescue.”

He’d now saved me twice. From the injuries incurred by the palace guards’ overzealous need to fire their weapons at me, and earlier from the specters the night of my team’s arrival.

His brows rose, and he huffed a laugh that left me confident in my assessment. Yet I didn’t force an increase in distance between us because I secretly thrived on the closeness and attention.

And maybe, just maybe, I found a little bit of comfort in the physical support.

His lips twitched as his eyes lit with mischief. “And if I do suffer a savior complex? Would that be such a bad thing?”

I rolled my eyes and returned my attention to the path ahead, then I pulled my cloak’s hood up to cover my hair. I was no one’s damsel. And I would be my own savior.

An image of Chace flickered into my mind—his wet-rimmed, stormy eyes, and his mouth curving downward toward the moving ink decorating his chest and shoulder. The left edge of his jaw and neck. His lips…

Nope. Stop that.

Why was I thinking about Chace now?

Because I’d started thinking of keeping on task—the reaping—and he was my coreaper. Undoubtedly, that was the reason for my momentary mental leap. No other reason existed for why Winter’s flirtations conjured thoughtsof Chace.