Grave Memory: An Alex Craft Novel (50 page)

The soul collector gave him a small nod.

“I love you, Nina.” Kingly leaned down and kissed his wife’s forehead and then turned to me. “I wish I knew how to thank you, Alex.”

Considering he’d been one of the ghosts who’d led the assault on the rider and got me out of the land of the dead, I figured we were even.

With one last look at his wife and son, Kingly turned and walked to Death. The collector reached out, taking the ghost by the shoulder and the shimmery iridescence of the ghost
turned to the bright yellow of a soul again before Death flicked his hand and Kingly disappeared.

“Thank you, Ms. Craft,” Nina Kingly said and the balance shifted.

I left soon after.

Death waited for me in the hall. “The mender told me what you did. He’s a dangerous being to owe that kind of debt.”

“It was the best option.” I shrugged. “So considering it’s been nearly a week, I guess you’re going to start vanishing on me again?”

His wince was slight, but I saw it. “There will be certain…restrictions. I may be away for some time.”

He didn’t give me a chance to ask how long or what restrictions, but leaned down and kissed me. Not a teasing kiss either. He stole my breath with a kiss full of promise.

Then he vanished.

I leaned my head against the wall and laughed, though it wasn’t a happy sound. When a nurse stopped in the hall to make sure I was all right, I decided it was time to head home.

Maybe I should have waited longer.

“What the hell?” I asked as I opened the door and found not only PC to greet me, but several boxes, a suitcase, and a certain blond fae.

Falin looked up from where he was unloading groceries into my fridge. He reached into his suit jacket, and walking across the room, wordlessly handed me a folded document.

The single page of text was signed with the Winter Queen’s official seal. I reread it three times.

“You can’t be serious. She’s making you move in with me?”