Page 129 of Dead Heat

Alessandro reluctantly accepted the offering. “Thank you, I think.” He put on the helmet. “Better?”

Max scrutinized his head. “It’s very becoming.”

Alessandro paused to stare at him. “I haven’t considered a volcano monster, but…”

“Expand your sexual horizons later.” I pushed him forward.

“What will happen if she doesn’t fall for his charms?” Max asked.

I pointed. “See that basket at the foot of the bridge? It isn’t for apples.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants as I watched Alessandro approach the guardian.

Modgud noticed him and planted herself at the foot of the bridge. “Hail to you,” she said.

Alessandro bowed. “My queen.”

“I am no one’s queen. That honor belongs to Hel.”

The incubus seemed to remember his instructions. “My name is Alessandro. I would like to cross the bridge.”

Her gaze raked over him. “The living do not belong here.”

“No, which is why I’d like to return home, along with my friends.” His arm swept toward us.

Her eyes narrowed at the sight of us.

Too soon, Alessandro.

“I do not understand. How did you get here?”

“It’s a long story.”

She tightened her grip on the sword’s handle. “Good thing I have an eternity to hear it.”

Alessandro swiveled toward us, splaying his arms in a helpless gesture. “See? Hideous.”

“Am I going to have to fight her?” Max whispered. “Because she looks tough.”

All the stories I’d read about Modgud suggested she was levelheaded and reasonable, two qualities in our favor.

“I have another idea.” I emerged from my hiding spot and approached the bridge. “Hail, Modgud. I am Melinoe, daughter of Hades and Persephone.”

Modgud drew her sword.

“Whoa, whoa.” Alessandro flattened his palms in a placating gesture. “Nobody wants a brawl.”

My stomach muscles knotted. “We’re all on the samepage. As I understand it, your job is to keep the dead from returning to the land of the living, yes?”

“Yes,” the guardian said.

“As you’ve already ascertained, we’re alive and all we’re trying to do is cross this bridge so we can return to the realm where we belong.”

Her eyes narrowed. “If you’re alive, why are you in Helheim?”

“Does it matter for your purposes? You want us to leave, and we want to leave.”

“Same page.” Alessandro wiggled his finger between them.

She looked past me at Max. “You have no shade with you?”

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