Page 76 of Dead Heat

“Oh, that’s your preference, as it is his, but the shades flock to you.”

“I’m the goddess of ghosts, so that stands to reason.”

Laughter spurted from her nostrils. “It is not your ability to control that draws them to you; it is your very essence.They long to be near you. I always assumed it was because, as shades, you made them feel safe. Yet one more reason you belong on the throne in your parents’ stead.”

I couldn’t see myself lording over the realm, yet I couldn’t allow The Corporation to take charge of it either.

“Would you mind staying here a bit longer?” I asked. “This has all taken me by surprise, and I’m not prepared to give you an answer right now.”

Hestia bit her lip. “I suppose I can linger. Charon and I play poker once a week with a few others, and I do enjoy the company.”

Game night in the underworld. She was definitely my aunt.

“You have until the next solstice. Then I will be required elsewhere.”

“Summer solstice?” I confirmed, relieved she’d skipped straight over the vernal equinox given that was only a week away.

“Well, I’m certainly not waiting until winter solstice.”

“I promise I’ll figure out a solution. No more visitors, though. If they come again, tell Charon to refuse them entry.”

Her eyes glinted with suspicion. “There is something you’re not telling me about them.”

“I already said you can’t trust them. That’s as much as you need to know for now. I give you my word I’ll be back to have someone relieve you of your duties.” As long as that someone wasn’t me.

“Very well then. I trust you, niece. As far as I’m concerned, yours is the only word that matters.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

I saton the upstairs balcony with Claude perched on my shoulder like a moldy, featherless parrot. I’d wanted this spot to be a book nook, but I was far too distracted to read at the moment. If I strained to listen, I could hear the faint sound of Hestia’s summer solstice clock ticking in time to my heartbeat.

Ray materialized beside me. “I was wondering where you were.”

I’d arrived home from the underworld in a distressed state, emotionally dumped on my residents ghosts, then ran upstairs to hide from the world.

“I hoped a bit of fresh air and space to think would help.”

“Has it?”

I shrugged.

“You’re still concerned about Alessandro?”

A hollow laugh escaped me. “Why stop at one worry when I can have twenty?” I was nothing if not an overachiever. Maybe I’d inherited that particular trait from Aunt Hestia.

“Thinking about your home, too?”

I looked at him. “The underworld isn’t my home, Ray. This is.”

“It’s only natural that you feel conflicted. No reason to fight it.”

I frowned. “This is the part where you’re supposed to tell me ‘don’t go borrowing trouble’ or ‘worrying about tomorrow robs me of today’s peace.’”

“I’m not going to tell you either of those things.”

“Great pep talk. Thanks.”

“I’m not going to tell you either of those things because they don’t apply here. You should be worried. This is exactly what anxiety is designed for.”

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