Page 89 of Dead Heat

Tristan averted his gaze. “I don’t know why you’d think that.”

“You’re a lousy liar, Tris. That’s what makes you such a shitty poker player.”

His eyes glinted with malice. “I’m not authorized to divulge the information you’re requesting.”

“You might want to reconsider.” Gun held up the Death card, sparking a laugh from Tristan.

“Ooh, you’re about to tell me change is coming. I’m so afraid.”

“You should be, especially when it’s your breathing habitsthat are about to change.” Gun flicked the card at his opponent.

Tristan’s eyes widened in shock as he clutched his neck.

“Can’t say I didn’t warn you.” Gun examined the shiny polish of his fingernails. “Now, are you going to play nice or are you going to insult me again?”

“Nice,” he choked.

“Thought you might say that.” Gun swept his card off the floor with a flourish and tucked it in his pocket behind the rainbow-striped handkerchief.

Tristan sucked in all the air in front of him, as though worried he might never draw breath again. Poor bastard.

“I’ll ask you again, Mr. Stubborn Pants,” Gun said. “How can my friend bypass the official Helheim entrance?”

Brows drawing together, Tristan rubbed his neckline. “There’s a portal.”

“Like a crossroads?” I asked.

“Like a portal.” His look of scathing judgment was worse than anything Gun had ever inflicted on me.

“And where can she access this secret portal?” Gun asked.

“Yggdrasil, but it isn’t like One Oak. You can’t just find the hidden entrance and tell them the password.”

“Does everybody in town know about One Oak?” I complained. I’d only recently discovered the existence of the secret underground speakeasy from Gun.

“That’s where we met,” Tristan replied, gesturing to Gunther. “In the gambling room. A group of us started hosting poker nights on our own.”

One Oak catered to a variety of vices that seemed to correspond to the seven deadly sins. It was run by Madame Thea, a formidable troll the size of a small petite child.

“Wouldn’t Yggdrasil lead me to the main entrance?” I asked.

“Not if you make an offering to Odin when you get there.”

“Why Odin? He doesn’t have anything to do with the land of the dead.”

“No, but he bears a grudge against Loki and his children, including Hel. Seizes any opportunity to stick it to the goddess. Allowing trespassers into Helheim definitely qualifies.”

“Would Odin offer any protection against Hel?” Gun asked.

“No, it’s enter at your own risk. Once you’re in, you’re on your own.”

“How often do you field requests for this information that you know it off the top of your head?” I asked.

“It’s my business to have this stuff on the tip of my tongue.” He motioned to Gun. “Because as you can see, it can sometimes make the difference between losing the tip of my tongue and keeping it.”

Gun tucked his card into his sleeve. “I wouldn’t have actually hurt you.”

Tristan’s eyes bulged. “Are you kidding? You do remember that you choked me, right?”

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