Page 64 of Half Dead

I jumped to my feet. “I’ll do it.”

Kane tugged my hand. “Lorelei, no.”

“My whole life has been a trial,” I told him. “I was born for this.” And when I completed them, Kane would be free of Lucifer’s looming shadow forever. No more looking over his shoulder. No more nightmares.

“You have to sign an agreement in blood,” I told Lucifer. “Make it an unbreakable contract.”

“He’ll add a loophole that we won’t notice until it’s too late,” Kane argued. “He only wants you to do this as a way of torturing me.”

“You know me too well.” Lucifer slapped his hands on his thighs. “So? Will you agree to it if I sign a contract?”

“Yes,” I said.

Kane buried his face in his hands.

“Delightful.” He reached into the interior pocket of his jacket and produced a rolled-up sheet of paper. Ink materialized on the page.

“You came prepared,” I said.

“Deals are my specialty, you sweet little fool. This contract will cover the terms and conditions of the trials.” He pricked the tip of his index finger and signed with his blood.”

“You’re a lefty,” I said.

He grinned. “All the best demons are.” He held out the paper to me. “Sign it in your blood, and the first trial begins tomorrow at noon. We’ll meet at the crossroads.”

Bile rose in my throat. “And if I fail?”

Lucifer had the decency to look sad. “Then you’ll end up on the boulevard of broken gods, I suppose. The two of you won’t be reunited in death. Kane will be my pet to play with, and you will never, ever see each other again.”

Kane didn’t stay the night. Once Lucifer vacated the premises, Kane returned to the Devil’s Playground to update his team on the latest development. He wasn’t wholly convinced that Lucifer wouldn’t try to pull a stunt while we were preoccupied with the trials.

On the heels of tonight’s outcome, it was a valid theory.

I barely slept, knowing that in fewer than twelve hours, I’d be facing the first trial of Lucifer’s creation. The moment the sun broke free of the horizon, I sent a message to Gunther and Camryn, inviting them to breakfast.

An hour later, Gun replied with,What’s wrong?

What makes you think something’s wrong?

You invited us for breakfast. Before noon. If that doesn’t say crisis, I don’t know what does.

I sighed at the phone and typed back.Just be here at ten.

They arrived at ten-fifteen because Camryn couldn’t find the pair of Louboutin’s that matched her purse. At ten-thirty, I broke the news about the upcoming trials as we huddled in the kitchen over bowls of granola with blueberries.

“He isn’t the Godfather. He made you an offer you can absolutely refuse,” Gun said.

“You’re right, Gun. He isn’t the Godfather. He’s worse.” Much worse. “Anyway, the blood is dry on the contract, so there’s no point arguing about it. On the upside, I get atwenty-four reprieve between trials. I promise to update you on all the fun I’m having.”

Gunther pushed aside his bowl. “You made a deal with the devil, Lorelei. Those never end well.”

“I was never promised a happy ending. If my time is up, I’d like to make it count.”

“Don’t say that.” Camryn pinched the skin of my forearm.

“Ouch.” I rubbed the sore spot. “I’m just stating the obvious. Lucifer has no intention of letting Kane go without a fight.”

“Then you shouldn’t have agreed to do this. Why sacrifice two of you instead of one?” Gun shook his head ruefully. “It’s a fool’s errand.”

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