Death (The Four Horsemen, #4)

by Laura Thalassa

This human doesn’t come with an Angelic word, but she doesn’t need one—she was given a human one that is just as fitting. She can withstand death, which means … She’s creation. Life.

Thanatos stares … and stares, and it would be fucking rude except this horseman clearly has never come face-to-face with boobs. “What are you doing?” he echoes, but his voice has roughened. Breasts are, apparently, his undoing. I grab his other hand, bringing the two of them over his head. I lean forward as I do so until The Girls are up close and personal with Thanatos. Did I plan on distracting Death with my tits today? No. Will I take it? Yes.

Death’s gaze sharpens. “I want you.” The words rip free from him. Absolute silence follows in their wake. I don’t know who’s more shocked, him or me. The admission is so unexpected and so grotesquely inappropriate, given that the two of us are mortal enemies—or immortal ones, but whatever.

“There is one other reason,” I rush to say. He grimaces with his impatience, but waits. “Death is coming this way because I am here,” I say grimly. “He’s after me.”

Why would she say that? What good comes from telling him that? Miss girl is stupid today

“Death and life, caught in an eternal embrace,” he explains. “They look like lovers,” I whisper. “They are lovers.” His eyes find mine, and I swear they can see straight to my soul.

“Why?” I demand, backing up. “Why do this now?” “Because you were designed to be mine. And it’s time I claimed you.”

“I have all of my brothers’ powers and then some,” he says.

Oh??? Okay, that is new

The whole time I cry alongside my son. I’ve never felt smaller than I do now, helpless to do anything to save my son.

If she says “my son” one more time…

“But you don’t know anything about us,” I say softly. “You kill a town before you even ride through it.” “All the same, I must ride through them.” He glances at the walls around us. “And now, you will ride with me too, Lazarus.”

Why did I giggle

kill immediately,” he says. “True,” I agree. “But do you actually talk to any humans? Interact with anyone?” “I interact with you,” he says. “I’m one person. I don’t think I’m a good example of humanity.” “You’re wrong,” he says. “You are the best example.” I swallow. I think he’s trying to give me a compliment.

Death not only makes good on his decision, he extends it a step further. The travelers we cross paths with on the road are spared. They stare at the two of us with wide, petrified eyes as we pass.

Our man is whipped

I see the best in humans, and he sees the best in me, and I’m not sure whether we’re both fools for it.

I’m not going to muse on the fact that the man won’t eat bread but he’ll gladly eat me.

“Must I bring down the rain and lightning or draw the roots and the dead up from the ground? Or make the earth quake and buildings fall to remind you who I am? I set my sights on you a year ago, but I haven’t fully taken you—not yet. So lay back, kismet, and let me show you what it means to be mine.”

“I live in fear of the day I hear your stomach speak again,” he says. “I think she hates me more than the rest of you.” I almost forgot about that time Thanatos heard my stomach growl. “I didn’t realize it had made such an impression on you,” I say. “Everything you do makes an impression on me,” he says solemnly. At that, I quiet.

For a moment, that skull superimposes itself over Thanatos’s features. Then it’s gone. “Your face …” I trail off. I’ve seen this several times before, but it never gets less unsettling. “Life and death are lovers, kismet,” he whispers, shifting my hips to align us. “We are lovers. It has always been this way. It will always be this way.”

“You are exquisite,” he says. He leans forward and kisses the pulse at my neck, his dark hair tickling my skin. “Exquisite and troublesome and curious and alive.” “I thought you didn’t like the fact that I was alive.” He gives me a soft smile. “Even angels can be wrong.”

It was almost like what was once natural to him now took actual intention. Why would that be?

girl, you know damn well

“Death will kill you, and then, if you’re particularly unlucky, he’ll force your corpse to serve me.”

Okay, but they are such a badass duo

“To live is to die,” he adds. “That was the agreement you made when you came into this world. You cannot have one without the other.” Death stands. “All your life, all your suffering, all your loss—it was all for this.” He gestures to the dead around us, his wings spreading wide. “You all have been running towards me your entire life.”

Stop being all poetic and shit

Even if it takes centuries, even if you and I are the last creatures in existence, I vow to you this: I will get you to love me—mind, body, and heart.

“things changed once I found you. Now, I am absurdly grateful when the sun takes its time setting or rising. I’ve come to savor it like I do your skin, kismet. Every minute that drags on is one more spent with you, and I cannot imagine life ever returning to the way it once was.”

“This is the most potent magic, kismet,” he says, searching my gaze. “When I am with you—when I am in you—I am alive.”

“nothing actually goes. It transforms, but transmutation isn’t actually lost or gone at all. You were you before you had a body, and you will still be you when you no longer have one. A caterpillar might become a butterfly—and a human might become a spirit—but it is still the same essence. It has simply been transformed.

You are everything I thought I couldn’t have,” he breathes.

“And you’re everything I thought I shouldn’t have,” I respond.

to answer your question, I don’t remember myself when I look at the sky.” He takes my hand and tilts his head to face me once more. “I remember myself when I look at you.”

You want my human secrets,” I say. “And I wanted to show this one to you.” Thanatos’s eyes gleam. “It’s not sex,” I feel the need to add. “Alright,” he says good-naturedly. “You’ll share this secret, I’ll bask in the wonder of your existence, and then I’ll make love to you.” My God.

On impulse, I lean forward, pressing my lips to his. Next to me, Thanatos stirs. He throws a leg over mine, and pulls me in close. “Love you, kismet,” he murmurs in his sleep. One of his wings extends, just a little, covering me like a blanket. I smile to myself, warmth spreading through my stomach. “I love you, too.”

So this is how it all ends?” I say. “This is how I end?” Death cups my face. “Life and Death are lovers, Lazarus. There is no end for us, no me without you, and no you without me. You are the one exception to all of this. My one exception. I can reap the world … but I cannot—will not—take you with the rest. I will not leave you at all.”

Calm your tits for a fucking moment, will you?” Famine says. As he speaks, a drop of rain drips onto my head.

aww, hes learning from Ana

“You put up a good fight,” War concedes. “But in the end, nothing is quite as tenacious as a human woman.”

Down a long abandoned road in a long abandoned neighborhood in one of the many long abandoned towns of the world, a streetlamp flickers. On—off—on—off— On. And it stays on.

At last

Between one thought and the next, I slip away. There is no ferryman to lead me on, but it doesn’t matter. I know the way. I have memorized it over the eons. There, standing at the threshold of the afterlife, are my brothers, their wives— And Lazarus, my sweet Lazarus. She opens her arms, and I walk into them. And once again I am home. The End

😭😭😭😭