"The Council meets in two days," Gabriel reminded him.
"Trust me, I can think of nothing else. Sasha's planning something big."
"End of the world."
"Your sense of humor couldn't be worse timed, Gabe."
"You'll get to see my place finally."
Kris shook his head, his look of disapproval mixed with amusement. Gabriel liked Kris as much as he'd ever liked anyone despite the bad blood between Kris and his half-brother, Rhyn. They were different men with different purposes, yet both honorable to the core.
"You still think you can leave Death when you want?" Kris challenged.
"I'm a guest."
"No such thing."
"I'm an exception. She took me in as a favor to my father and will release me, if I ever wanted it."
Death had her pick of badasses from every generation of man and creature, and she wooed every one with the promise of endless riches and the ability to leave when they chose. His circumstances were different, and they both knew it.
Kris slid two rare green life crystals across the table, the common form of payment for an assassination not ordered by Death herself.
"Two for the girl watching Toby, in case you're right, and someone else grabs her," he said. "Your choice of death for her."
Gabriel took the crystals with a nod. Kris left, and Gabriel closed his eyes, crossing into the shadow world before emerging on the street outside the woman's apartment building. He watched the people pass as he had every generation of man. He sank into the shadows, at home in the darkness, watching. Always watching. Never a part of the world around him.
Some things never changed, like the blue sky, the sun orb, the grass and oceans. They were constants in a world where humans and their inventions passed through the world, less significant than an exhaled breath. He spent most of his time anymore in the shadow world, except when forced out by Death or called out by someone who wanted to buy an assassination. In the darkness, he was comfortable. In the darkness, he was alone.
In the darkness, he wasn't reminded of an ache he'd killed long ago, that which reminded him he once knew what it was to feel the warmth of the sun on his human skin.
He took up his position outside of Katie's apartment building to protect Rhyn's mate despite his promise to Death not to break any more Immortal Codes.
* * *
Katie poured more whiskey into her cocoa. She hadn't been able to shake the cold she felt and was dressed in layers despite the thermostat being set to eighty. Restless, she took her cocoa into the darkened living room and looked out the window, expecting to see Gabriel lurking across the street. He was there.