Dahlia

  “I hate to rush you out of here, but I have a meeting at my mother’s office soon,” Max said as he ran his fingers through my hair with soothing gentleness. “It was nice of you to surprise me, though. You should do that more often.”

  A pang of guilt hit me like a punch to the gut. I’d meant to keep away from Max, given his growing attachment to me. Unfortunately, I’d turned him into a distraction from the Reaper. When I wasn’t careful, my mind turned to the dark vigilante killer, and I found myself fantasizing about what might be beneath that mask.

  But the Reaper was dangerous. Max was safe. Routine.

  And here, lying on his sofa with my head in his lap as he stroked my hair, it was almost possible to forget about the Reaper altogether.

  I shifted my weight to look up at him—furrowing my brows, “Maybe this was a mis—”

  Max sighed deeply—cutting me off, “Don’t go there. I’m not about to argue with you about this again.”

  I knew Max well. After years of working and sleeping together, I probably knew him better than anyone. That’s how I knew Max was serious—angry even.

  I stood up—wrinkling my nose as I reminded him, “This isn’t a relationship.”

  “Dahlia,” Max shook his head as he rose, eyes shifting away from mine as he spoke in a low, somber tone, “Everyone in Firen knows what you are to me—everyone but you, it seems. But if you think I’m about to let you walk away from me, think again.”

  That almost sounded like a threat.

  I watched as he went to his closet to pick out a clean shirt—unbuttoning and tossing aside the wrinkled one he had worn all day. The muscles in his back flexed as he pulled on the clean shirt and buttoned it. He turned to me as he rolled up his sleeves, finally meeting my gaze to find me glaring at him.

  “Don’t look at me like that, Dee,” Max raised a dark eyebrow.

  “You aren't listening to me! Whatever this is—it’s temporary. We can’t stay together. The risks…” I didn’t bother explaining just how dangerous it was to associate with a Halfling. Instead, I stepped towards the door and reminded him, “Even your mother forbids it—you know that!”

  “It isn’t her choice to make,” Max sounded unconcerned as he turned to look at himself in the mirror and ran a hand through his dark hair, “And I’m willing to risk a lot to keep you.”

  “But I’m not,” I snarled—turning to leave without bothering to wait for his response.

  It wouldn’t help. It had been a mistake to come here—to lead him on. I needed to end things with him, and quickly. Unfortunately, I selfishly enjoyed his company. Max was comfortable. He knew my secrets and didn’t judge me for them. I didn’t have to hide from Max the way I hid from everyone else in Firen.

  I took the stairs down to the bar at a slow pace as I promised myself to establish new boundaries with Max. He couldn’t be my distraction anymore. I couldn’t be selfish with him, either. If loneliness was the price to pay to push Max to move on, I’d have to pay it, even if it hurt me.

  A startlingly familiar voice called out to me as I stepped off the stairs into the dimly-lit bar, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the little human, finally showing her face around here again."

  I tensed at the sound of the voice. Bennett.

  It had been weeks since I first met the man, and I hadn’t seen him since. I’d foolishly believed he had forgotten about me. Apparently, that was wishful thinking.

  He was standing at the bar top, empty glass in hand. Behind the bar, Al was watching the Imm with thinly-veiled disgust—a feeling I shared with the old bartender. As Bennett shifted to get a better look at me, my eyes widened at the sight of the blood on the front of his pale tunic. I tried not to think of who that blood might belong to. Had he found the Reaper?

  I wasn’t about to ask. No. I needed to get out of here. I needed to avoid the Imm's scrutiny before he saw too much.

  “Go bother someone else, Imm,” I waved a hand at him dismissively and turned towards the front door, only to find a familiar, beautiful Imm woman watching me from the doorway, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she blocked my exit.

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  “Elaine,” I muttered in greeting as I came to a halt a few paces away.

  Was she here for me?

  “Dahlia,” she greeted with a friendly smile and a nod before scowling over my shoulder at Bennett, “Are you bothering my new friend, Bennett? Shame on you.”

  I nearly jumped when Bennett’s voice sounded from directly behind me, “Friend? You’re friends with the pathetic human woman who’s supposed to track down the Reaper for Ferro?”

  Pathetic? That seemed harsh, considering he hardly knew me.

  “I like her,” Elaine shrugged before eyeing me with confusion, “But I didn’t know she was tracking down the Reaper.”

  I looked back at the Imm man, who now seemed to be busy looking over the liquor selection on the wall behind the bar as if he’d much rather continue drinking than deal with me.

  “Who the hell told you about that?” I asked, wondering if it was common knowledge that I was searching for the Reaper.

  “What?” Bennett asked, voice absent as though he wasn’t really listening. The bar still held his attention.

  “HEY!” I snapped at him, fury rising at the need to repeat myself, “Who told you I’m searching for the Reaper?”

  Bennett cleared his throat and returned his attention to me with an irritable gaze, making me look away nervously. I didn’t like to be ignored, but I also didn’t like his scrutiny. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see everything.

  “Ferro, of course. I met with her earlier, and she explained that you’re taking on the task. She seems to think you’ve even met the Reaper and confirmed that he’s a man. Any other progress to report, human? Anything we can use to track him down?” Bennett asked as he placed a firm hand on my shoulder and leaned down to meet my gaze directly, making me flinch, “Tell me you’ve made some progress, so I don’t have to give you more incentive to identify the Reaper for me. I’d hate to mark up your sweet face.”

  I felt my stomach sink. If he hurt me, he might notice the wounds didn’t last long despite the poison running through my veins. That was a risk I couldn’t take with these Imms.

  “Is that why you’ve got blood on your shirt?” I murmured, hoping that the blood there didn’t belong to Portia, “Did someone else need more incentive to find the Reaper?”

  His mouth twisted into a dark smile, “No. Someone lied to me about the Reaper today. He thought the reward money was worth the risk.”

  Bennett’s grip tightened on my shoulder, and I winced again as he whispered, “I hate liars, sweetheart—even someone as cute as you won’t survive lying to me. Understand?”

  I opened my mouth to agree, but Elaine cut in with a laugh, “Cute? You shouldn’t describe women as cute, Bennett. Puppies are cute, children are cute, but there are better ways to describe full-grown women—even a human one.”

  Bennett released me and turned to Elaine with a sneer of disgust, “She’s lucky I gave her a compliment at all—I don’t typically extend that courtesy to humans, you know. Most humans are pathetic, disgusting creatures, and she’s no better than the rest.”

  Imm-God, men could be real assholes—regardless of race.

  He looked back at me, eyes dark, “So, human. Any progress?”

  I was tempted to talk—to give them what little I knew about the Reaper. But as I looked into Bennett’s eyes and took in his threatening demeanor, something stopped me from revealing anything about the Reaper to him. Perhaps it was fear for the Reaper’s safety that stopped me. Perhaps I was simply afraid of what he might do to me. The Reaper had threatened me, after all, but did he mean it? Would he hurt me if I turned on him?

  Probably.

  But that wasn’t what stopped me.

  The Reaper was a hero. The Imms who kidnapped children from Firen in the dead of night deserved their fates—even if I lacked the courage to stand up to them myself. Bennett may not be one of the Imm intruders, but he was still an Imm—still my enemy and a guaranteed threat to my life. I’d much rather side with the Reaper than this asshole.

  “No progress,” I glared at the Imm, “But I assume you’ve had the same bad luck—he disappeared, obviously. Besides, why would he show himself with all you Imms looking for him? If he's smart, he's hiding.”

  “Fair point,” Bennett shrugged before changing the subject with a frown, “You smell like a man. Did you know that?”

  I couldn't help but grimace.

  “I’m sure I smell like Max Ferro—considering we spent the day together and your Imm sense of smell is intrusive,” I stepped away—feeling a little violated.

  “Is he your husband?” Bennett looked to Elaine for confirmation, “Humans marry this young, right?”

  Elaine leaned against the doorway and examined her sharp nails, “Younger, usually, but she’s unmarried—she lives alone.”

  “Some of us never marry,” I wrinkled my nose, “I certainly don't plan to chain myself to a man."

  Bennett furrowed his brows as if confused by this, but before he could respond, I waved at him, “I’m going home. Try not to hurt anyone else tonight, Imms, and if you do, take it somewhere else. Your presence here is bad for business.”

  Like the last time we'd met, I wanted him to believe he didn't frighten me—that I was far more worried about the Ledge and Portia's business—but I wasn't sure it was possible this time. From where he stood so close to me, he could probably smell my fear.

  He ran his narrowed eyes over me as if in warning, “Sure, but in turn, I expect you to let me know when the Reaper makes his next appearance, human. If I find out you’ve been lying, there will be consequences.”

  I felt a thrill of terror, but I kept my breathing steady.

  “I’ll be sure to keep you well-informed,” I lied and placed a fake, sweet smile on my face before backing out the front door and into the warm, evening air.

  I carried terror with me all the way home, feeling like a fool for lying to the Imms.

  Next time, I wasn't sure I'd have it in me to keep lying.