Page 136 of Dead Heat

“I think you’ll find I am,” Alessandro replied. “You’re not a boy. You’re a tower of rocks.”

“I identify as male.”

I patted Max’s molten cheek. “Then that’s all that matters.”

“Who has dared to enter my realm without paying their respects to me?”

The sound of her icy voice turned my spine to jelly. Keeping one protective hand on Cerberus’s back, I turned toward the authoritative voice that could only belong to one woman.

Hel, the goddess of death.

She was tall and muscular like her giantess mother, with blonde hair fastened in a single thick braid. Unlike Hestia, she was old school in robes of white and gold and winged sandals.

I gathered my courage and injected every ounce of it into my voice. “My name is Lorelei Clay, Your Reverence.”

Her stare was so withering, I was surprised the leaves didn’t drop off their branches. “And why is it that you reek of death, Lorelei Clay?”

“Because we’re in the land of the dead,” I offered.

“No, the dead I sense are not mine.” She paced in a half circle in front of me, keeping her gaze fixed on me as she spoke. “I sense humanity in you, yet also divine power. Why is this?”

I wasn’t sure how she’d respond to my truth, but I saw no choice but to divulge it. “I’m also known as Melinoe, goddess of ghosts and nightmares.”

Her mouth tightened. “You have no business here, daughter of Hades.”

“Which is why I was in the process of leaving when Garm decided to stop me. We’ve taken nothing,” I assured her. “We only needed to speak with one of your souls, which we’ve done. Now we’re headed home, with your permission, of course.”

She held my gaze, appearing to assess the veracity of my statement through sight alone. “Which soul?”

“His name is Oskar. He’s an honorable man and refused to leave.”

“What urgent business did you have with him?”

Stepping forward, Alessandro ripped open his shirt. “This.”

Tiny lines formed between the goddess’s eyebrows. “Fehu?”

“The rune is infused with black magic,” the incubus explained. “A vala marked me with it. She ordered me to steal the shade out from under your nose or she would use the mark to kill me.”

Hel’s nostrils flared. “How dare she use a mark of divine power in such a hideous manner.”

“She killed Oskar when he refused to reveal the location of a mistletoe arrow,” Max chimed in. “The same arrow used to kill Baldur during the great feast of the gods. If I were you, I’d be wary about what she plans to do with it.”

“Nothing good,” Alessandro said. “I can guarantee that.”

“She’ll claim that arrow over my dead body.” The goddess slammed the palm of her hand against Alessandro’s chest, prompting an anguished howl from the incubus.

Well played, cherufe.

Hel concentrated on the incubus. “I shall have this vala’s name.” The goddess withdrew her hand.

I caught Alessandro as his body crumpled. “Erika,” he said in a weak voice. “Erika Beck.”

As I helped Alessandro to his feet, I noticed the rune began to fade until it dissipated. Slowly, the color returned to his cheeks.

“It shouldn’t take long for her vile magic to leave your system. Rest assured, Erika Beck will pay for her transgressions. I will see to it myself. My sweet Nidhogg will enjoy feasting on her.” Hel’s gaze flicked to Max. “You will tell me the location of the arrow.”

“Yes, Your Reverence.”

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