Page 123 of Dead End

“I haven’t seen him in a couple hours.” Kane opened the cupboard. “We’re low on red wine. Should I run to the store for a bottle of Malbec? That seems to be your mother’s favorite.”

“We have a bottle of Syrah behind the whisky.”

“Where? I don’t see it.”

Claude sprang from the edge of the counter to the shelf and squeezed between bottles. He emerged a moment later with the bottle of Syrah.

Kane accepted the wine with a slight nod. “Thank you, Claude.”

I regarded the revenant. “Would you mind giving the moat a quick skim before my parents arrive? I don’t want to be judged.”

Claude jumped to the floor and skittered out of the kitchen. I didn’t have to ask him twice to do anything. Although I missed the ghosts, it was nice to have Claude around.

“Your parents won’t judge you for a few mosquitoes in your moat,” Kane said. “They’re just thrilled to be in your life.”

And I was equally thrilled I was in theirs.

“At least we have no extra guests this week,” I said.

Kane chuckled. “I don’t think your parents enjoyed last week’s dinner with Cagn.”

“It didn’t help that he decided to shift into a praying mantis in the middle of the meal.”

Kane bit back a smile. “Yes, he should’ve had the decency to wait until dessert.”

Ever since the destruction of The Corporation, the Castle had garnered a reputation as a Home for Wayward Gods. Any deity that required sanctuary or a peaceful space to regroup and rebuild their lives was welcome here. There were rules, of course, and, unlike with Ray and Nana Pratt, I stuck to them. Nobody wanted a rain god using his powers indoors. After all, boundaries don’t exist to keep others out; when done correctly, they enable you to let them in.

I heard the beginning ofHeart and Soulas Claude took a detour to the library on his way outside. The baby grand piano had been a wedding gift from Otto. He claimed to have bought it for a song at auction, pun intended. I wasn’t convinced, but I accepted the instrument with gratitude. Claude had taken to the piano like a vodyanoy to pond scum. Kane and I took turns playing, although the demon would be the first to concede that I had more talent in my two pinkiesthan he had in all his fingers—at least when it came to tickling the ivories.

Our evenings were often filled with singing and dancing. Memories of my grandparents merged with my own. Ray once told me that a person is far more likely to retain a memory when it’s tied to an emotion, which made sense in my experience. Dancing in Kane’s arms as I gazed into his whisky-colored eyes… I knew a core memory when I felt one.

The doorbell rang. I planted a quick kiss on Kane’s lips and ran to greet my parents.

My father stood on the porch, cradling a small dog in his arms. “I believe I have something that belongs to you.”

My hands flew to my hips. “Spedo, where were you?”

“He dug a hole by the fence. I think he’s making another escape attempt.”

“He’s a ball of mischief. We should’ve named him Aite.” I took the dog from him and held him up for inspection. “Muddy paws. Dirt encrusted nose.” I planted a kiss on his head. “Yep. This is our dog.”

Following the dismantling of The Corporation, his Lar had opted to fade to nothingness, leaving Spedo without an anchor. Kami brought him to the Castle ‘for a visit.’ It had yet to end.

I set Spedo on the floor, and he immediately rolled onto his back, expecting a belly rub.

“You’ve spoiled him,” my mother said, giving my cheek a peck. She slipped out of her jacket and hung it on the coatrack.

I looked at the dog with his splayed limbs and lolling tongue. “Impossible,” I said.

My mother held up a glass container. “I brought dessert.”

I peered under the lid. “Is that sticky toffee pudding?”

“I brought cream, too, in case you don’t have any.”

“I had to go to two stores to find heavy cream,” my father lamented. “Is there some new recipe that’s gone viral?”

“It’s the season,” I said.

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