Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(23)

Making out. Getting hot. Yeah, other things. Feeling her face flame, Amber turned away from them and stalked to the nearby oak tree—not the one she’d been frantically kissing Cass under. The one that her knife was currently embedded in.

She yanked out the knife. The blade was slightly warm to the touch. Cass had been right. You could feel the weapon’s magic.

“And what is that little trinket?” Ivan called out.

“Nothing for you to worry about.” She put it back in the sheath and then hurriedly tucked the knife into her waistband—

“No.” Cass was in front of her. He held out his hand. “I’ll be taking that.”

“It’s mine.”

“Is it? Or did you steal it from Luke?”

They’d already been over this. “Luke never owned this weapon. It’s not what he’s looking for, trust me, okay?”

Behind him, Ivan cleared his throat. Loudly. “Luke? Luke Thorne? I mean, that is who you’re working for, right, Cass?”

Cass didn’t look back at him. “How do I know you won’t use that weapon to stab me?”

His question was just insulting. “I don’t want you dead.”

His lips curved. Uh, oh. That smile of his was absolutely devastating. “Good to know.” Cass swiped the knife from her. “I’ll just keep this safe for you, how about that?”

Her hands fisted. “I’m guessing I don’t have a choice.”

“You guessed right.” He turned to face Ivan. “Is the plane ready?”

“Only if you want to come crashing to a quick and fiery death.” Right after he said the words, Ivan’s mouth dropped open. “What in the hell?”

Blade of Truth.

Cass stiffened. “You want to run that shit by me again? Because when we spoke last night, you promised me that you had a fully operational plane that I could use at dawn today.”

Ivan raked a hand over his face. “You don’t want to piss off a Reaper. If he asks for something, you say you have it.” Again, he appeared horrified by his own words. “What in the hell is happening to me?” He paced toward them. His hand lifted and pointed one claw-tipped finger at Amber. “Are you doing this?”

She shook her head even as she asked, “Doing what?” Amber hoped she sounded innocent.

Ivan’s eyes turned to slits. “You are.” He charged toward her.

Cass brought his gloved hand up and shoved it against the guy’s chest.

Ivan immediately stilled.

“You don’t hurt her. You don’t even think of hurting her. I don’t care how long we’ve known each other…you go at her, and we have a problem, got me?” Cass’s low voice said the guy had better have him.

Ivan’s stare had dropped to the gloved hand on his chest. He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “I got you. And keep those freakin’ gloves on, got me? I won’t hurt your girl. I just—I had this thing all wrong. I thought she was the bounty…didn’t realize the truth until I saw you two—shit, you know.”

She knew. She also knew that she wasn’t Cass’s girl. But Cass didn’t correct the bear shifter and neither did she.

“What’s the problem with the plane?” Cass demanded.

“It’s, um, I don’t know.” Ivan’s eyes bulged as he said those words. “Fuck! Why is this happening?”

Cass tilted his head. His right hand still held the knife. His left hand pressed to Ivan’s chest. “What, exactly, is happening?”

“I can’t lie to you! That’s what’s happening!”

“Uh, Cass, we should really get going,” Amber announced loudly. “Let me take a look at the plane. I bet I can fix it, no problem.”

Now Ivan frowned at her. “You’re a mechanic?”

“Absolutely.” If that was what he wanted to call her, then she’d gladly accept that title. She was extremely handy when it came to mechanical work.

“It’s an older Cessna, twin engine—”

“Got it.” It didn’t matter what the plane was—she could fix it. She could fix anything. That power had never left her. She hurried toward Ivan. Her hand slapped on his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go. Show me the plane. I’ll get started and—”

“Amber.”

She peered over her shoulder.

Cass’s gaze darted from her to the sheathed knife. She knew he’d figured things out. “Why does Ivan have to tell me the truth?”

Dammit. “Because you’re holding the Blade of Truth,” she blurted.

“Fuck me,” Ivan whispered. “I thought that was a myth.”

She rolled one shoulder in a shrug. “Most myths are real. That’s why life is fun.”

He blinked at her. “Who are you, lady?”

He didn’t have the Blade of Truth. She didn’t have to tell him.

“How does the blade work?” Cass asked her.

She rocked back on her heels. “You hold it and you ask questions.” She spoke too fast. “Anyone near you has to answer honestly. Lies just can’t happen when the blade is close.”

Cass glanced down at the sheath. “Interesting.”

“Isn’t it?” She slapped a smile on her face. “Now, in case you’ve forgotten—we have a vamp and a pissed off Lord of the Light on our trail. So how about I just get to work on this plane?” She nudged Ivan. “Show it to me.”