Page 8 of Dead End

He nodded. “They grabbed a few of us on their way out, just to show they could.”

“Gods are the pettiest creatures that ever lived,” I said.

He lowered his lids. “My friends are either collared, in stasis, or obliterated.”

“Lucky you, getting special treatment.”

“There was nothing lucky about this. I manipulated my way out of bondage, and I make no apologies for it.”

“It’s all right, Nabu. We all do what we have to do to survive,” I said. “I’ve seen enough. Take me back, please.”

“We haven’t technically left,” he admitted. “This is a vision of the current reality, but we aren’t actually in it.”

I glanced at the ground. “We’re still in the hut?”

He nodded. “If I could teleport, don’t you think I would’ve left a long time ago? I bide my time, playing the role that I’m one of them, a necessity in a den of vipers like this one.”

My gaze swept over the abandoned land. “Why do you think they wanted Dilmun so badly?”

“I believe they wanted a garden of paradise of their own.”

“They have one. It’s right there in the name.”

“Yes, but it’s one they’ve created, and it takes a lot of energy to sustain it. Why do you think there are so many gods in collars? Some are kept in a storage facility and used solely as a power source to fuel Paradise.”

Good grief. I had no idea. “Thank you for sharing this with me, Nabu. It’s been very enlightening.” And terrifying.

He made an undulating motion with his hand and the desolate landscape faded, replaced by the cozy interior of Libby’s snowman-infested hut. The damage was done, however. Images of Dilmun were forever burned into my retinas.

“I’m sorry about your homeland,” I said.

He dipped his head. “I appreciate that.”

Ademir knocked on the door. “Time’s up. Her Highness has a meeting at four.”

“Her Majesty!” I corrected him. I turned to hug Libby. “Thank you for inviting me. It was a real pleasure.” I offered my hand to Nabu. “Great to meet you, too. I hope we see each other again.”

“Likewise.”

I slipped outside so that Ademir didn’t catch sight of Nabu.

“Put a spring in your step,” Ademir said. “The meeting is across campus, and you can’t be late.”

“But what if I enjoy making a dramatic entrance?”

He grabbed me by the elbow and forced me to walk faster. “Save the charm for the meeting. You’ll need it.”

“Aww, you think I’m charming? And here I thought we’d never be friends.”

Ademir glowered at me. “First thing tomorrow morning, I’m asking for a raise.”

CHAPTER TWO

The meeting was heldin a lanai, similar to the first meeting I’d attended in Paradise. There were twelve chairs around the oblong table. Five were already taken.

“You’re late,” a silver-haired god said, his disapproving gaze on Ademir. “Take a seat, Melinoe. Guard, wait in the courtyard until we’re finished.” He didn’t bother to refer to Ademir by name. I wondered whether he even knew it.

I was directed to the vacant chair in the middle section of the table, facing away from the sea. Basically, the worst seat at the table. That tracked.

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