Page 15 of Reaper and Ruin

I shrugged. “My free fall off the cliff took a few seconds. You, Whip, and Levi could have had a cup of tea and a catch-up.”

She sighed and nudged me toward the piercing room. “Go get your nose ring. Maybe the pain will focus you.”

“Can’t feel anything right now,” I countered. “So I doubt it.”

“What do you mean you can’t feel anything?”

I shrugged. “Might be the cold. Might be a psychopath thing. I don’t know. I feel…detached from my body.”

She bit her lip. “You need a hospital.”

I pulled her into my arms and held her tight. “I just need you.”

She sighed and laid her head against my chest. “Okay.”

I was grateful she wasn’t pushing it.

Dax lifted his gaze from the tray of sterilized tools as we walked in. “So, just confirming, you definitely want this nose ring?”

I flopped into the chair like a rag doll. “And maybe a sticker for bravery.”

Violet stayed standing until I tugged her closer and caught her hand in mine. She squeezed it gently, grounding me in a way that made my chest ache.

Dax snapped on gloves and picked up the clamp. “A nose ring it is, then. Left nostril, right, or septum bull-ring special?”

“Dealer’s choice. I trust your artistic vision.”

Dax shook his head. “That sort of decision is way above my pay grade. I’m not the one who has to see your face every day.”

We both looked at Violet.

She considered me for a second. “Right. It’s your better angle.”

My mouth dropped open in mock outrage. “I have no bad angles, Violet!”

Dax snorted and dabbed antiseptic along the side of my nose. “Okay, hold still. One deep breath.”

I sucked in air, puffed out my chest. “Hit me with your best shot.”

Dax counted off. “One, two—”

“AAAAGHHHHH!” I screamed like he’d stabbed me with a flaming sword.

Violet jumped, wide-eyed.

Dax recoiled, nearly dropping the needle. “X! Youpromisedyou weren’t going to scream this time!”

“I lied!” I howled, clutching at the chair dramatically. “I am but a fragile vessel of pain!”

Violet blinked at me. “You said you couldn’t feel anything.”

I sat back and gave them both a sheepish smile. “I can’t. I just thought it’d be funnier if I screamed.”

Dax groaned and tossed a bloody wipe in the bin. “You’re the worst kind of client.”

“I aim to entertain.”

Violet shook her head, her lips twitching. “You scared the hell out of me.”