Page 37 of Dead End

I flipped back the sheet, careful not to disturb Kane.

“Anything important?” he asked in a drowsy voice.

“Steven and Ashley are coming to visit Nana Pratt.”

“Mind if I stay in bed longer?” he asked.

“After this morning’s aerobics, I insist. Let me know when you’re up, and I’ll make you something to eat, but not burnt toast, I promise.”

He grabbed my hand and kissed it before falling back against the pillow. By the time I brushed my teeth and changed into clothes, he was asleep again. I tried not to think about all that he’d endured.

Downstairs, I found Goran in the kitchen with Claude. “I take it we have another guest,” Goran said, chipper as always.

“Kane will be staying here.”

His eyebrows inched up. “Is this a permanent move?”

“I think so, although he only brought two bags of stuff. He might want to go back and forth until he has all his belongings in one spot.” As long as he could stand to be in the club for any length of time. I wouldn’t blame him if he couldn’t.

“Listen, Lorelei. If you want to create a family home, I can find a new place to live. It’s no trouble.” He looked at Claude, who nodded.

“No, no. This house has plenty of space for all of us. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like.” I looked at Claude. “Both of you.”

I summoned Nana Pratt and told her about the imminent visit from her grandchildren. The ghost clutched her invisible string of pearls. “Both my grandchildren and it isn’t even my birthday,” she said with a sigh of contentment.

“When is your birthday?” I asked.

“It was in January. The twenty-first.”

“You didn’t mention it.”

“No, but I baked cupcakes in my honor.”

My eyes moistened. “Nana Pratt, next year I will bake the cupcakes for your birthday.”

“There’s no point when I can’t eat them, dear. The joy now is in baking them.” Her mouth puckered. “Ooh, that reminds me. I’ll serve them the last of the caramel squares. They’re one of Steven’s favorites.”

Goran lifted Claude and set the revenant on his shoulder. “We’ll get out of your way. I’ll be upstairs if you need me. I have a Brandon Sanderson book from the library that will take me the better part of a century to get through, so I best get started.” He tapped Claude. “You can turn the pages.”

The two of them exited the kitchen, and I set to work, preparing for Nana Pratt’s guests.

“Lorelei, I can do this. You haven’t had anything to eat yet, have you?”

“You’re always making my guests feel at home. It’s only right that I do the same for yours.” I poured two glasses of iced tea for Steven and Ashley.

She gave me a wry smile. “The difference is I enjoy doing it.”

I didn’t argue. Domestic duties were not my strong suit.

I lowered the ward for Steven and Ashley in advance and continued with preparations. I also annihilated a bowl ofyogurt and granola. It turned out that rescuing your inamorato from the supreme leader of hell was hungry work.

“They’re here!” Ray yelled.

Nana Pratt raced from the kitchen to greet them. I poked my head out to direct them to the parlor room so Ashley could cast the spell that allowed them to communicate with their grandmother.

I carried the glasses of iced tea and the remaining caramel squares on a tray and delivered them to the parlor room.

“Hey,” I said, setting the tray on the coffee table.

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