Page 14 of Reaper's Reward

I considered all of these paths and came back to the same conclusion. “So? What’s left?”

Hel sighed. “I will chain you in my domain before you can become a danger to anyone else. There you will slowly succumb to the hunger. I will allow Addie to take up her duties as a Reaper early so that she can visit you at will in the afterlife. That way, the two of you can have a little more time before you eventually succumb to the hunger.”

I closed my eyes. Was this the only way? I couldn’t see any other. The paths before me had been eaten by my hunger. There wasn’t anything else.

As badly as I needed her, I didn’t want Addie to have to die for me. Hel suggested letting Addie take up her duties, but I knew that meant Addie would die and become a spirit. That was one thing I did not need. Addie could stay here and live out the rest of her life without me.

Before I could say anything, a wave of arcana rushed through the house. Hel had just enough time to say:

“Gods damn it, Ad—”

Then she vanished.

Addie rounded the corner, wiping chalk from her hands. She had a look of triumph on her face.

“She won’t be able to bother us in here anymore,” Addie proclaimed.

And, like that, my only chance at redemption had been banished.