Free The Crow King's Wife by Melissa Myers Page A

eyes back onto the ship’s view screen. “How would
you know that?” he asked and glanced back to the back of the ship.
Had it been anyone else he would have assumed they had learned
through scrying on him, but Finn Sovaesh was terrible with magic
and everyone knew it. Shade’s attention flicked between the back of
the ship and the passenger seat once more and he groaned inwardly.
He wasn’t sure if he was praying Caleb would return or hoping he
wouldn’t. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to see Finn get his ass
kicked or if he wanted to hear everything Finn had to say.
    “I was dead, now I’m Death, and you were
nearly dead, but I didn’t allow it. Do you know what that means
Shade?” Finn replied calmly. He seemed amused by Shade’s glances
toward the back of the ship and chuckled when Shade looked at him
in confusion. “Well first of all it means I’m a Divine now and no
matter how much Grim may hate me, he won’t be able to so much as
bruise me. Second it means you owe me a life boon and I’m here to
collect.”
    “Bloody buggering hell. Is there one single
individual in all of Sanctuary that doesn’t want something from
me?” Shade snarled as his shock gave away to anger. “Seriously? You
are a god and you are making demands of me? This is the sickest
joke I’ve ever bloody well heard. It’s ridiculous. Why would I ever
consider doing anything for you? I hate you. You know I hate you.
Why would you even ask me to do anything for you?” His voice rose
with each word as his frustration grew.
    Finn sighed with exaggerated annoyance and
gave Shade a withering look. “The feeling is mutual, but if not for
me you wouldn’t be alive now would you? You know you were too close
to death to live. You know it had to take more intervention than
your pathetic regeneration to save your life. Given what you are I
really would have thought you would have improved your regeneration
by now. It’s rather sad actually.”
    “Really? Is now really the time to criticize
the use of my birthright?” Shade growled and shook his head at
Finn. He let out a long slow breath and stared at the view screen
as he wrestled his emotions back under control. “I don’t have time
for your favor Finn. I’m already in the middle of two other favors
for people that I like more than you.” He said after a long
silence. “And in case you don’t know what the hell I’m talking
about, that was a pretty big insult because I really don’t like
Onvalla.”
    “I know what you are talking about. I watched
your little drama unfold in Glis. Your passion is so touching
Shade. You know I really do think you will save the whole world.”
Finn said in a voice laced with sarcasm.
    “I’m willing to bet Divine or not that I can
still bruise you, and interrupting my shower is reason enough for
me to try. Keep being an ass Sovaesh, test my patience further.”
Caleb’s voice was low and filled with warning.
    Finn slowly turned in his seat and Shade
found himself glancing back as well. Caleb stood just beyond the
door of the back room still dripping wet from the shower. He wore
black uniform pants and had a towel wrapped over his shoulder with
no sign of a weapon on him, but he still looked ready for a fight
if Finn chose to rise from his seat.
    “Now is really not the time Grim, and I don’t
want you in hell any more than I do Shade. So it wouldn’t be in my
best interest to kill you should you decide we should fight. Why
don’t you sit down, shut up, and listen instead? I have a few
things to say to you as well.” Finn pointed sharply at an empty
chair as he spoke and then turned back to Shade.
    “My friends call me Grim and you are nothing
I would consider a friend. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t
use the title.” Caleb snapped as he dropped into the indicated seat
with an expression of annoyance on his face.
    “Shall I call you the Black Bastard then or
Bloody Huntsman?” Finn growled in response.
    Shade’s eyes widened