Just before I'd hopped in the truck, she'd handed me her music player for the ride, muttering under her breath, "Finn isn't plotting."
"I believe that. Aric's just being careful."
"Eves, please look out for my guy."
I nodded.
She'd leaned in to whisper, "Am I killing Finn to want him here?"
I hadn't been sure if she'd meant that Aric might ultimately murder the Magician--or that Circe might.
I'd wondered if I should warn Lark that something big was on its way into our lives. Tick-tock. I'd decided against it, since Finn was already in jeopardy. "He's starving, Lark. He won't last long out in the Ash." Outside of our spaceship. "I'm going to do everything I can to bring him back to you."
Now I told Aric, "Even if there's no need for me to come, I don't want us to separate. When we waited for Circe to part the river earlier, I think you wondered for a second if she was going to let us out. What if you left by yourself, but she refused to let you back in? How would I get to you?"
"Yes, I did wonder. Because she is an Arcana." He increased his speed, flying down an abandoned highway, weaving around Flash-fried cars and eighteen-wheelers. "Say the Magician is innocent of conspiring with the other two. And say we're able to extract him cleanly and bring him to our home. We'll be feeding and sheltering another player who can turn on us."
"Finn would never do that."
"Yet you expect Circe to turn on me?"
Good point.
"And what about convergence?" he demanded. "More Arcana bring more Arcana."
"When I first got here, there were four of us. This is just one extra. In any case, do you really want to be the card that keeps Lark and Finn apart? What if karma paid you back in the same way?"
His voice a growl, he said, "The thought has occurred. That's one reason I'm making this trip."
My lips curled at his surly demeanor.
"What are you grinning about, wife?"
I shrugged, all nonchalant. "I like your truck."
"Good. Apparently, it's half yours."
For a hundred miles or so, we listened to Lark's playlist, lost in our own thoughts. Slowly I became aware that Aric was sliding me looks and drumming his fingers on the steering wheel--not in time to the music.
I turned down the volume. "Spit it out, Reaper."
"I think I know why you're struggling with your powers."
I raised my brows.
"You need to grieve."
"And how should I go about that?" Release the tourniquet and bleed out? What would be left of me?
He opened his mouth to say something. Closed it. Another try: "My nightmare is losing you. I've told you more than once that I can't imagine life without you. But I realized that you might have said the same to Deveaux. And now you're living the life you couldn't imagine. The nightmare came true for you."
I balled my fists in my coat pockets. Twist, tighten, constrict. Once I'd gotten my emotions under control, I said, "Life with you is hardly a nightmare, Aric." Our existence was a good one; I should be happy. "You're the perfect husband."
"When we get back, you're going to talk to me about Deveaux. You're going to tell me about the red ribbon and why the snow makes you sad."
I swallowed. "You . . . you expect a lot from me sometimes. Do you really want to see me cry over another man?"
"I want to be there for you through anything. Sieva, you can't keep stifling this."
I shook my head. "I would never want to hurt you."
"Before the last two months, seeing you grieve for him might have hurt. But now I know you love me. I feel it. And I know you loved Jack." He offered his hand on the armrest. "So that proves your heart is big enough for two."
I drew my left hand from my pocket and laced my fingers through his. He'd proved something to me as well. I met his gaze. "I've never loved you more than I do right at this moment."
His expression grew proud, and a calmness flowed over me. By the end of this night, we would either die retrieving Finn--or I would give him the ring.
_______________
"Blondie!" Finn's face lit up to see me when I hopped out of the truck.
He'd been waiting for us in the rest area parking lot, leaning against his scorched sedan, the falcon perched on the hood.
Aric had pulled up not far away, strategically parked for a fast exit. He stepped out, seeming on high alert.
I glared at his lack of helmet. Damn it, I'd just handed it to him before I got out. "Really, Aric?" Okay, maybe he still needed some husband training.
He hiked his shoulders. "Stay close to me, sieva." I had a flash memory of Jack saying, ". . . like a shadow, you."
Tourniquet.
I hadn't seen Finn in months, but the Magician was still using a crutch, hobbling over to hug me. He looked like he'd lost a twenty pounds, and his clothes were threadbare.
I hugged him, shocked by how skinny he was. "I missed you, Finn." I truly hoped he hadn't plotted against Aric. "How did you part ways with Joules and Gabe?"
"Told them I needed to see my girl." He shrugged. "And that I wasn't really cool with ganking Death, since the Reaper's gonna let me crash on his couch for the rest of my life and all."
Aric scowled. "By whose goddamned leave?"
"Don't mind him." I believed Finn, so I ushered him to the truck. When I opened the back door, the falcon swooped inside.
Lark didn't want to take her eyes off her guy. Aww.
Finn hesitated at the door. "Really sorry about Jack, Eves. The Cajun was a class act. One of the best guys I've ever met." Finn had spent months out in the Ash with him, Selena, and Matthew, scrabbling together a home. I knew the Magician would've given his life for Jack.
I managed to say, "And Selena. She was right by his side till the end." Twist, tighten, constrict. I felt Aric's gaze on me. Was he wondering why my eyes didn't water? They would soon, if he had his way.
"Yeah. She was. I miss 'em." Finn brushed his long dirty-blond hair off his forehead. "You ever hear from Matto?"
Aric suddenly drew one of his swords. "We aren't alone, sieva. Get into the car."
Not likely. I shoved Finn into the back, then turned and readied for a fight. My thorn claws sharpened, and I bled vines into the broken pavement.
Out of the murk, a streak of light shot toward Aric. A javelin! "Aric, watch out--"
Like a blur, he'd . . . caught it with one hand--before I'd even finished my warning. I gaped at his speed.
"Obliged for this, Tower!" he called. "Y
ou can never have too many." He spun the gleaming, silver javelin in his palm, and it retracted into a baton.
Holy shit! We'd scored another lightning javelin! My eyes went wide with realization, and I said, "You planned this."
He winked at me, then gently tossed me the baton. I fumbled before dropping it. He grinned, as if he found my clumsiness endearing.
"Bite me," I muttered, picking up the baton and slipping it into my coat pocket. "Hand-eye coordination is not my power."
"Just so." Expression gone cold, he yelled, "Show yourself, Tower!"
Joules swaggered out from the remains of a building, twirling another baton, his skin sparking with hostility. Gabriel descended in a dark rush of wings. He bowed formally to Aric and myself.
They looked like hell. They'd been missing meals too, and their clothing was ragged. Even Gabriel's old-timey suit--normally so immaculate--was bloodstained and tattered.
I noticed Tess's icon on the back of his hand. He noticed me noticing, and his face fell, his leaf-green eyes full of sadness.
"I knew you'd use the Magician to find me," Aric said. "Was your plan to kill solely me? Or the Empress and Fauna as well?"
Joules said, "We only got to the part where I electrocute you."
Finn stuck his head out from the backseat, falcon in his arms. "What the hell, dudes?" He was genuinely wounded. "You guys were following me? Freaking harsh, man. Harsh. I thought we were friends."
Aric cast me a look. See? Most Arcana couldn't be trusted.
"Oi, Empress, I'll be havin' that javelin back," Joules said. "Even if I have to fight you for it."
"I do believe you gave your vow never to hurt her," Aric said. "In any event, you'll have to go through me."
Joules turned to Gabriel. "What do you think, Gabe? Should I--" Joules hurled his next javelin at Aric with shocking speed--and a second one that I'd never seen from his other hand!
Aric caught one javelin, even as his sword flashed out to deflect the second strike.
Before I'd had time to blink.
From the truck, Finn breathed, "Duuude."
Aric smirked. "Ever wonder where the phrase lightning-fast reflexes came from?" God, he was so cocky. I loved it.
I caught the baton this time. We'd scored a pair of javelins!
Joules gave a strangled yell. "I don't care how long it takes. I will kill you!"
"Concentrate your minuscule talents on the Emperor and his allies. Or die."
I told them, "We should all be concentrating on Richter. Where is he?"