Page 95 of Dead End

Cam tipped back her head to look at him. “It’ll be over one way or another, regardless of the winner.” She sucked in a breath. “And when it is, if I live through it, I’m withdrawing my membership from the guild.”

It took me a moment to register her words. “You’re quitting?”

“I’m choosing a life that aligns with my needs.” Her gaze locked on mine. “That’s what you did, Lor. I’m following your lead.”

Franco grunted. “Yeah, and look how well that’s working out for her.”

I ignored him, keeping my focus on Camryn. “What made you decide this?”

“It isn’t because of me, is it?” Vaughn asked.

Camryn laughed. “Don’t flatter yourself. This is about me and only me.”

Kane inclined his head. “I’ll consider this your two weeks’ notice.”

Relief whooshed from her lungs. Gunther gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.

“Well, that means we’ll have room on the roster for one more guild member,” Monica said.

Cedric’s lips were drawn tight. “Gun’s right. Best not to make any assumptions right now.” The mage turned to me. “Let’s say we manage to subdue these gods. Then what? Where do we hold them that they can’t escape?”

“We can’t hold a bunch of gods indefinitely,” Anna said. “They’ll either bust their way out and kill us all while we sleep, or they’ll escape and regroup, which means we’ll be fighting them again.”

I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. They raised valid points, to which I had no good responses.

Alfonso raised his hand. “When can we expect the invasion?”

“Soon,” I said. “My guess is they’re still finalizing their program. There’s no point in securing the crossroads until they’re close to mobilizing. The longer they have to defendthe crossroads, the more chance they have of losing control before they’re at full strength.”

“Won’t they just use their new supernatural army against us?” Josie asked.

“That isn’t how they’ll do it,” a voice said. I watched as Libitina pushed her way through the gathered bodies with Claude riding on her shoulder.

I smiled. “Hi, Claude. Libby.” I was pleased to note the goddess appeared to be fully recovered.

“Good to see you again, friend.” Claude hopped to my shoulder as Libby joined me at the fireplace to address the group. “The Corporation will send their most powerful first to secure the area. They’ll strike hard and fast. Only then will they summon their new army to send them through the crossroads to the different realms all at once, like a disease designed to infect and destroy.”

I thought of Dilmun. “That way one realm won’t have time to warn another or join forces,” I said. “It’ll be a clean sweep.”

“I think Sage should be here for this,” West said. “Her magic would come in handy.”

“Phaedra, too,” Josie said. “Hell, anybody with magic should be here right now.”

“I agree with Josie,” Gun said. “My cards might not work as easily on gods. You can’t rely on La Fortuna magic.”

West caught my eye. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do, Clay, but we need them,” he said quietly.

He was right. I’d hoped to keep them out of harm’s way, but their magic would be invaluable in a fight of this nature. “Fine. Let’s take a ten-minute break while we call them.”

West held up his phone. “I’ll call Sage.”

I set Claude on the coffee table and walked outside to call Phaedra. I didn’t relish asking the witch to put her neck on the line. She’d already been more generous than I deserved.

Kane joined me on the porch. “You do realize you’re not asking Phaedra to do a favor for you. This is everyone’s fight now.”

I sat on the top step. “It’s a hard habit to break.”

“What?”

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