Page 108 of Dead End

“We’re still hammering out the details,” Gun said, squeezing his tall, slender frame between us. “Things get messy when there are too many chefs in the kitchen.”

“It’s bad enough when it’s just the guild,” Camryn added. “Throw in a wolf pack, the local cops, the Wild Hunt, and a few randos, and you’ve got yourself a hot pocket of egos.”

“Mhm,” Gun said. “Tasty.”

Brody perked up as he swallowed the last of his pizza. “The Night Mallt has returned as well?”

“It seems the Bat signal reached the far corners of the realm. Who knew it was that strong?”

“We didn’t come back for the Bat signal, Lorelei,” Brody said, licking the grease from his fingers. “We came back for you.”

“Anyway, Matilda’s in the kitchen, boiling the kettle for tea,” Gun said. “I don’t know why she won’t just use the microwave.”

Brody clutched his chest. “Blasphemy!”

The pizzas were gone so quickly, I worried someone would be tempted to gnaw on the boxes.

“What are the sleeping arrangements?” Brody asked. “I’m happy to pitch a tent in the woods if there’s no room at the inn.”

“Nonsense. There’s plenty of space.”

“Excellent. I didn’t want to presume. I know how you like to collect people.”

I recoiled. “I don’t collect people.”

“Oh, I meant no offense. T’is a lovely quality. I wish more would take a cue from you.”

“Apparently, I wasn’t always this compassionate and generous.” I told him about my conversation with Enceladus.

Brody eyed me with curiosity. “You’ve got yourself a giant locked up? Any chance we can free him for a limited time? A fella like that could come in handy in a fight.”

“I don’t think that would be wise.” I was willing to have him released from eternal torment, but not from Tartarus itself. The giant’s time on earth had passed long ago.

“So the old Melinoe was a bit of a shrew, eh?” Brody nodded thoughtfully. “Must be Lorelei who softened those hard edges.”

“There would be no Lorelei without Melinoe,” I said. I understood now more than ever that my two selves were inextricably linked. Not two halves, but a messy mixture of two wholes in one body.

He tipped an imaginary cap. “And I am quite appreciative of both.”

“Kane’s in my room.”

Brody feigned a gasp. “The scandal.”

“Kami can sleep in Libby’s bed,” I continued, “and you can have the blankets.”

Gun glanced at me. “Where’s Libby?”

“I sent her on an errand.”

“You sent her away so she doesn’t have to fight, didn’t you? Is it because you still feel guilty about Unas?”

“Gun apologized to Kami and Libby, just FYI,” Camryn interrupted. “It was quite something to behold.

“I didn’t send her away out of guilt,” I objected. “In fact, I sent her on a very important errand.”

“Why not send me?” Cam asked.

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “We need you and your magic, Cam. Libby’s strengths lie elsewhere.”

---