Ms. Bouchard took a rasping breath and staggered toward him, her shrunken skin clinging to her spare frame. Hollow black eyes fixed on him, and her long finger jabbed the air in front of his face. “You.”
He stood straight, pointing the athame at her chest. The flames around him ebbed to glowing embers. He lowered his chin. “Ms. Bouchard.”
“You murdered me,” she gasped, now only a foot away from him.
He gripped the athame and a fiery light crackled up the blade. “You were trying to suck the life out of me, if you recall.”
Her pale, pointy tongue ran over parched lips. She took another staggering step closer, sunken eyes opened wide. “I wouldn’t mind some more of that life.” She lunged.
Tobias leapt backward, lashing out with the athame. Ms. Bouchard dodged the knife, losing her balance and toppling onto the marshy ground. She bared her teeth in a snarl.
“I didn’t call you up to fight you.”
“What do you want from me?” She lay sprawled in the undergrowth.
“A favor.”
“Why would I help you?” She pushed herself up on her elbows.
“I’ve returned to you to your corporeal form. If you don’t help me, I’ll send you back to serve Nyxobas.”
“Oooh,” she cooed. “The Tatter boy threatens to send me back to my night god.”
“I’m stronger than I used to be.” Fire sparked from the athame’s tip.
She rose on shaky legs, long fingers rubbing at her protruding ribs. “I know that, Tobias. I know all your secrets.” Twigs snapped beneath her bony feet as she tottered toward him.
He gritted his teeth. “I want you to find Jack Hawthorne and drain him.”
Her breath rattled in her lungs. “In return for letting me live on earth, just like I had for thousands of years before I met you? How gracious.” She twisted a gray curl around her finger. A smile crept over her withered lips. “You do know that there’s a price for what you’ve done with Emerazel, don’t you?”
“Of course.” I have no idea what it is, though.
“You’re in way over your head.” She inched forward, placing a skeletal hand on his shoulder. “If I’m going to find Jack, I’ll need something more from you. I’m not going to get very far looking like this. I need strength.”
This was the part he’d dreaded. He lowered the athame to his side, taking a shuddering breath. He’d been the recipient of one of her kisses before. It had been unpleasant on a number of levels.
Her dark eyes transfixed him, immobilizing his body. Now he couldn’t move even if he wanted to. Dry fingers thrust into his hair, gripping his black locks. She pulled his face to hers, clamping her wizened lips on his like a leech seeking blood. The breath escaped his lungs, and a sharp sense of foreboding gripped his chest. Every nerve in his body screamed at him to run, but his limbs wouldn’t obey.
This time, though, as she drew energy from him, he could feel it replenishing. Warm power surged through his veins, melting the knot in his chest. Amauberge’s flesh grew soft against his skin, her lips now supple. She pressed against him. His limbs were free to move now, but the impulse to flee had subsided. His arms slid up the smooth skin on her back, into her soft hair.
She pulled her face away from his, but kept her arms wrapped around his neck. Tobias found himself staring into her sparkling green eyes and rosy cheeks, her auburn hair tumbling over pale shoulders. He swallowed. She was completely naked. He tried not to glance at her breasts, staring instead at her forehead. Don’t look down, Tobias.
“Well, I’m certainly feeling refreshed. Are you sure you’re not interested in another sort of bargain?”
His mouth went dry. It was extremely tempting, but he had to stay focused. Remember how she looked a few minutes ago. And yet, he didn’t want to pull himself away. He stared at her hairline. “I need you to find Jack. I can help you find some clothes.”
“I can fend for myself, believe me.” She smiled wryly, licking her lips. “Your past is deliciously filling, though.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I find sustenance in despair.” She ran the back of her fingers along his cheek. “There are things you don’t even remember that eat you up inside. It must take a lot of energy, running away from yourself.”
His jaw clenched. “I’m sure you’ll find plenty of misery to feed from with Jack. He’s been miserable for centuries.”
“Sounds delectable. It’s a shame I couldn’t have fed from little Eden before she died. Her anguish would have fueled me for months.”