After he said that, I found it pretty hard to complain about being grounded, even though I would only see Nash at school and at bean sidhe lessons.

The only positive thing to come out of the whole mess—other than returning Regan’s soul—was the fact that we were never fingered for the “break in” at Prime Life. Thank goodness. That one would have been impossible to explain to the cops. It was no picnic to explain to my dad, either.

“So, what are you going to do?” I leaned into Nash’s chest for both comfort and warmth.

Regan shrugged and tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. “Take care of my mom, I guess. And stay far away from John Dekker.”

I nodded. Regan had done us all proud. In honor of Addison’s sacrifice, she’d already broken her contract with Dekker Media and was pursuing other acting opportunities. Rumor had it the Teen Network—Dekker’s biggest competition—wanted her to do a pilot for them, but she wouldn’t even accept their calls until she’d laid Addison to rest.

The fact that the wolves were already nipping at her heels made me wonder if anyone in the entertainment industry remained in possession of a soul.

As for Dekker Media, as far as I knew, they couldn’t continue to provide souls for Avari without someone to ferry teenage stars to the Netherworld for them. So, for the moment at least, the adolescent population of Hollywood was secure. Though I still got a sick feeling every time I thought of all the soulless victims still waiting to suffer throughout the afterlife at Avari’s hands.

But there was nothing I could do about that.

My dad said I couldn’t save them all, and on my good days, I have to admit that he was right. Eventually, people have to learn to make their own choices, and to deal with the consequences.

Including me.

“I think that’s your dad over there,” Regan said, and I twisted to follow her gaze. Sure enough, my father—more handsome than ever in his dark suit—stood in front of his freshly washed car, waiting patiently for me.

“Yeah, I better go.” I stepped away from Nash as Regan opened her arms to hug me.

“Thank you, Kaylee,” she whispered into my ear, as she squeezed me so tight I could barely breathe. “Thank you so much.” She sniffed, and her next words sounded thick, as if she were holding back more tears. “I won’t forget what you did for me. What you helped Addy do.”

I hugged her back, because I didn’t know what to say.

No problem? But it was a problem. I’d nearly died.

Anyone else would have done the same? But that wasn’t true, either.

I’d helped Addy and Regan because I couldn’t not help them. Because in most cases, I believe that people deserve a second chance. And because I couldn’t have lived with myself if I’d stood by andlet them both die soulless, when I could have helped.

Finally, Regan stepped back and looked into my eyes, her own still brimming with tears. “I want you to know that I understand what Addy gave up for me. And I’m going to do my best to deserve it.”

“I know you will.” With that, I squeezed her hand, then turned toward Tod, who stared at the coffin from beneath the skeletal branches of a broad oak. I needed to talk to him before I left, because I wasn’t sure when I’d see him next.

Or if Nash could see him at that moment. But then his hand stiffened on my arm when he saw where I was leading him, and I knew he could see his brother. “Kaylee, do we have to do this now? He’s really hurting.”

“So is Regan,” I pointed out, and my free hand slid into the pocket of my formal black coat, bought just for Addy’s funeral. “I have to know if he did this.”

“Does it really matter?” Nash asked, and I looked up at him to find his eyes swirling slowly, though I couldn’t quite identify the emotion. “What’s done is done, and justice isn’t always pretty. And, anyway, do you really want to know?”

“Yes. I need to hear it.” Because part of me couldn’t believe he’d actually done it.

Nash frowned, but tagged along. When we stopped beneath Tod’s tree, Nash’s body shielding us from the stragglers still loitering around the coffin, I pulled from my pocket a news clipping folded in half. “Do you know anything about this?”

Tod took the clipping and unfolded it. He couldn’t have read more than the headline before handing it back to me, his face carefully blank, though rage churned violently in the cerulean depths of his eyes. The fact that I could see it surely meant he harbored it deep inside his soul. And that thought scared me.

“Kaylee, don’t ask questions you don’t want answered,” the reaper said, his voice harder and more humorless than I’d ever heard it.

“You killed him,” I accused, glancing at the headline for at least the fiftieth time.

BILLIONAIRE CEO MISSING; SISTER FEARS THE WORST

“No. Death is too good for John Dekker,” Tod said without a hint of remorse. His ruthless expression gave me chills.

“Where is he?” Nash asked, when he realized his brother wasn’t going to elaborate.

“I dropped him off in Avari’s office.”

My heart jumped into my throat, and suddenly I could hear my own pulse. “You stranded him in the Netherworld?”

The reaper shrugged. “A live plaything is rare on that side. They won’t kill him.”

“They’ll do worse,” I spat.

Tod cocked one eyebrow at me. “Does he deserve any less?”