That silly grin didn't last too long. To be fair, it was a good deal longer than Skulduggery would have predicted, but he'd been young once too. He knew what it was like to first realise you were in love. Young love, especially, was so beautifully selfish. Took up all the room in their developing minds, and left none for anything else. When he thought of it like that, it was mildly surprising Fletcher managed to figure out anything else was going on at all.
But he did. He knew what Corrival was referring to. So did everyone there, to some degree, except for Anton. And it wouldn't be too long now before the Hotel owner also knew, because Corrival had never left a Dead Man out of a group decision before. And with good reason. The very fact that Anton Shudder was still here, and hadn't asked Fletcher to take him back to the Midnight Hotel, suggested that Corrival had already asked the Adept to stay. And it didn't matter if he hadn't, because it would have been unspoken agreement regardless.
A part of Skulduggery was comforted by that. The Dead Men were bonded by more than just friendship, and Corrival was always the catalyst for that. Corrival being there when Anton found out... it wouldn't make anything any easier, but Skulduggery preferred that over any other way.
Fletcher was looking towards him. With a quick burst of effort, Skulduggery pulled himself together and gave the Teleporter a nod. It wasn't as if he never thought about this happening, it was just... he'd never thought beyond it. He never thought there would be a beyond it. For once, Skulduggery didn't have any control over the outcome, and it felt far too similar to when he was first resurrected.
"Are we going back to the safehouse?" Fletcher asked uncertainly.
"Yes." It would be the safest place, and the only place where Skulduggery could be sure no one was listening in. China, perhaps, but if Gabe hadn't noticed any symbols for that purpose, it barely mattered. China already knew.
Skulduggery was right at Gabe's side as Fletcher Teleported them all into the safehouse's base living room, and he was immediately the extra arm Gabe needed as their surroundings materialised and the Archangel stumbled forward. And Skulduggery remained there, despite becoming abruptly aware of what he was doing. He remained there, and quietly helped Gabe recover, since he was practically the only one besides Valkyrie and Fletcher who didn't need even an extra second to adjust.
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But he did. He knew what Corrival was referring to. So did everyone there, to some degree, except for Anton. And it wouldn't be too long now before the Hotel owner also knew, because Corrival had never left a Dead Man out of a group decision before. And with good reason. The very fact that Anton Shudder was still here, and hadn't asked Fletcher to take him back to the Midnight Hotel, suggested that Corrival had already asked the Adept to stay. And it didn't matter if he hadn't, because it would have been unspoken agreement regardless.
A part of Skulduggery was comforted by that. The Dead Men were bonded by more than just friendship, and Corrival was always the catalyst for that. Corrival being there when Anton found out... it wouldn't make anything any easier, but Skulduggery preferred that over any other way.
Fletcher was looking towards him. With a quick burst of effort, Skulduggery pulled himself together and gave the Teleporter a nod. It wasn't as if he never thought about this happening, it was just... he'd never thought beyond it. He never thought there would be a beyond it. For once, Skulduggery didn't have any control over the outcome, and it felt far too similar to when he was first resurrected.
"Are we going back to the safehouse?" Fletcher asked uncertainly.
"Yes." It would be the safest place, and the only place where Skulduggery could be sure no one was listening in. China, perhaps, but if Gabe hadn't noticed any symbols for that purpose, it barely mattered. China already knew.
Skulduggery was right at Gabe's side as Fletcher Teleported them all into the safehouse's base living room, and he was immediately the extra arm Gabe needed as their surroundings materialised and the Archangel stumbled forward. And Skulduggery remained there, despite becoming abruptly aware of what he was doing. He remained there, and quietly helped Gabe recover, since he was practically the only one besides Valkyrie and Fletcher who didn't need even an extra second to adjust.