Page 85 of Half Dead

“Potato chips are for people without tastebuds, but I digress.”

“English isn’t your first language, yet you use the word ‘digress?’”

“I can be smart in two languages. Anyhoo, my point is that Kane would love you even if you had refused Lucifer’s bargain.”

“I didn’t agree to do it to earn his love; I agreed because I didn’t want Kane to suffer for eternity.”

“So you say.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I say.” I bristled. “Can we get back to the reason for my visit?”

“I would not care for you any less if you weren’t able to restore me to my human form.”

“Give it a rest, Goran.” I stuck my hand in the water and splashed him. “When I get back from the trial, I expect to see you in all your princely glory.”

“I’m glad you said “when” and not “if.”” He snatched a fly from the air with his tongue. “All right. I’ll see what I can do with this information. Seems like a long shot, though.”

“These days, everything in life seems like a long shot. The only option is to keep playing the game and hope we score.”

“I have nothing to give the midnight goddess. And won’t the other two be jealous if I wish on their stars with no offering?”

“You’re smart in two languages,” I reminded him. “You’ll think of something.”

Goran angled his head to observe me. “I appreciate you, Lorelei.”

I patted his slick back. “I appreciate you, too, buddy.”

I replayed my conversation with Goran all the way home. What if my actions weren’t as selfless as I believed? What if,instead, I was motivated by my own need to be loved? It reminded me of Nana Pratt’s discussion with Gunther from months ago about whether true selflessness actually existed. Ultimately, did it even matter?

As I pushed open the gate to the Castle grounds, I let the thoughts go. There was no time for philosophical musings right now, not when I had a second trial to endure. I had to save my mental energy for outsmarting Lucifer.

Ray pounced the moment I reached the porch. “You have an unexpected visitor,” he said. “Ingrid let him in.”

In that case, it had to be someone I’d pre-approved.

Sure enough, West stood in the kitchen, holding a covered glass dish. “I brought a casserole.”

“Isn’t that what neighbors do when somebody dies?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you rejecting Bert’s grandma’s famous recipe?”

“Oh, well, if it’s his grandma’s recipe, how can I refuse?” I lifted the lid and smelled the contents. On cue, my mouth watered. That Pavlov knew what he was talking about.

“I thought you might appreciate a hearty meal before the next trial.”

“I told him I’d cooked a stew, but he can’t hear me,” Nana Pratt complained.

“I would absolutely appreciate a hearty meal, trial or no trial.” I took the dish and carried to the counter. “As it happens, now is the ideal time to enjoy it.”

“Mind if I join you?”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

“It should still be warm. I took it straight from the oven.”

I removed two plates from the shelf and scooped a generous serving onto each one. I brought the plates to the table, along with the forks.

I shoveled a forkful into my salivating mouth. “Bert’s grandma is a culinary genius, by the way.”

---