Page 17 of Half Dead

Posy groaned in frustration. “You don’t even know him. Why does it matter?”

“It matters.”

“Fine, I’ll play. What makes you think he’s here?”

“Apep followed his trail to a sealed door, not a naturalcrossroads. He only came through to Fairhaven because it was the next closest entry point. I think the door belonged to you and that you lured Anubis away from the Duat.” And now that I’d met Zhi Peng, deity of doors, I was certain of it.

Amusement danced in her eyes. “For what purpose?”

“The only purpose your organization seems interested in—power. You find ways to extract deities from their posts and then replace them with your own puppets.”

“If that’s true, then why is Hestia ruling the underworld and begging you to replace her? And why is Apep ruling the Duat while he searches for Anubis?”

“I haven’t figured that part out yet. Maybe you messed up and your stooges weren’t ready yet. Or maybe this is all happening according to plan.”

“Perhaps, Lorelei Melinoe Clay, we’re simply eager to see you where you truly belong.”

“What good would that do you?”

“If you were queen of the underworld, you’d stop interfering with our activities in the mortal realm, for starters.”

There was more; I could feel it in my bones. “And why would I do that?”

The twinkle in her eye told me this was the moment she’d been waiting for since I arrived. “Because if you don’t—and I’m only spitballing here—everyone you love will die.”

CHAPTER THREE

I returnedfrom my visit to The Corporation feeling disappointed by the lack of answers and unsettled by Posy’s warning—or threat—that everyone I loved would die if I didn’t stay in my lane. Her comment still had me quivering in my boots; I’d been relieved when they made good on their promise to let me leave. Best of all, I was able to pet the Lar’s dog again on the way out, which was the highlight of the day. He was such a good boy.

The same could be said for Kane. True to his word, the demon waited patiently for me at the crossroads. Josie and the soccer ball were nowhere to be seen, and Bert and Paulie had been replaced by Anna and Shoshanna. They were roasting marshmallows over an open fire in the clearing.

At the sight of me, Kane passed his stick to Shoshanna. He engulfed me in his arms and hugged me close. “Did they hurt you?”

“Only if you count the gunk they tried to pass off as hummus. The Greek in me is deeply offended.”

“Hungry?” Anna thrust a roasted marshmallow at me.

“I overdid the h’ors d’oeuvres, thanks.” Posy’s warning had sent me straight to the snack table.

Kane planted a welcome kiss on my lips. “Want to fill me in on the details?”

“Would you mind if we do it later? My head is ready to split open from all the social interaction.”

He kissed me again. “I’m just glad to see you in one piece. Shall I drive you home?”

“I’d rather walk, thank you. I need the fresh air and exercise.” Especially after the gluttony I indulged in. To the manor born, apparently.

I traipsed through the woods, mulling over the day’s events in Paradise. There’d been too many names and faces to commit to memory. No one mentioned knowing my parents except that one executive committee member. I wondered whether he’d spoken out of turn.

My head was still buzzing when I arrived at the front gate of the Castle to find Birdie parked outside the gate in her wheelchair.

“There you are,” the older woman chirped. “I was getting chilly, and I left my blanket at home.”

“This is a nice surprise.”

“I tried to get past the gate, but it was like rolling straight into a wall.”

“That would be my new ward. Sorry.” Some people had been granted automatic admittance, but Birdie wasn’t one of them.

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