Page 124 of Rituals & Rivalry

“Everything.” I huff out a laugh, trying to remain lighthearted. “I don’t know anything about death magic.”

“Reapers… we…” He hovers his hand over a plant on the table, and the life drains from it. And drains. Until it’s nothing. “We see death. And we can control it.”

“Oh. Okay.”

What else am I supposed to say? Even at my most powerful, my magic couldn’t do anything like that. He can control death.

He holds the edge of the table. “If you’re asking if you’re safe from it, if anyone is, I don’t know.”

“Very reassuring.”

He smiles halfheartedly. “I’ve been training with Jewel and some death witches since it happened. My magic is under control, and I’ve only had the one accident.”

“Um… okay.”

This is so much to process.

“Can you create life?” I ask. “Or delay death?”

His lips twist. “In theory, but I’d rather not use my magic enough to get to that point. Too risky. I don’t like playing god.”

“I can understand.”

There really aren’t many upsides to his magic.

“But I can see life. When someone is sick, or when they’re especially vibrant. Your lifeline still looks strong, which is why I’m… why I’m still around. I watch everyone’s lifeline. It’s a bad habit, a symptom of my anxiety, but… it’s helpful. Sometimes. You need to believe that I would never want to hurt you.”

Then he’ll leave. The moment my lifeline—whatever that is—weakens, he’ll be gone. Considering everything he’s told me, that would be the best outcome, but I don’t know how to swallow it.

“I believe you.” I squint. “You can see everyone’s lifeline? Like, how long they’re going to be alive for?”

He nods. “I can now. When I was younger, I couldn’t. That’s why her passing—Wendy’s—took everyone by surprise. No symptoms. One day, she was really sick, and then she was gone. But her spirit never passed over. Her family left Starbrook. Couldn’t deal with the cottage. Couldn’t deal with her. And they always blamed me. Because they should. I did it.”

“Okay. Okay.”

This is fine. I’m madly in love with a guy who sucks the life out of everyone around him. A reaper—rarer than the other types of death witches, rarer than a medium by far. They usually live alone.

In a tiny cabin. In the middle of nowhere. No friends, no lovers.

Exactly like Sterling.

How didn’t I see this coming? And how is it that this is the first time I haven’t wanted to run? He needs me. He’s hurting, has been all along, and I didn’t see it.

“We’ll eat the appetizers, then we’ll go back to yours,” I say. “We can talk more, or we can talk about it another time. Your meds will make you tired, right?”

He frowns deeply. “You still want to come over? You’re not breaking up with me?”

“No.” I frown. “Why would I?”

He swallows thickly. “The breakup—the one I went through before we met the first time.”

“Was it her?” I ask. “The house.”

He shakes his head. “No. It was my first attempt at dating after her death. It took me eight years to try again. I met someone in grad school. She was magic-less, an ordinary human, and she broke up with me after I told her about Wendy.” He chokes her name out. “And I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t blame you. It’s a terrible excuse, but that’s why I took so long to tell you.”

I wouldn’t fault myself for leaving either, but I can’t. I finally found something that’s not slipping through my fingers. Someone who’s staying, even though it’s hard for him.

How could I leave now?