Page 48 of Dead End

“Good to know.”

Ray turned to face front. “Unas is an Egyptian god, by the way. I probably should’ve led with that.”

I wasn’t expecting that. “I’m surprised I haven’t heard of him.”

“He devours other gods. Consumes their words and their power, right down to their very spirits.”

My hands gripped the steering wheel. “He obliterates them.” If what Ray discovered was true, then Hestia was wrong; obliterationwasa possibility.

“Sounds like it if he’s chowing down on their souls.”

Had my parents been consumed by Unas? Was he a godThe Corporation unleashed when they decided to cut the immortal thread?

“He’s a picky eater, though. The gods have to be deemed worthy of his consumption or he rejects them.”

“Lucky them. How big is he?” Unas had to be impressively large to devour gods whole.

“Didn’t say. There was a lot of talk of cutting throats and removing intestines, if that paints a pretty picture for you.”

I cringed. “It paints a picture. I wouldn’t categorize it as pretty. Does he get stronger the more gods he eats?”

“Yes, but the strength is temporary, like one of those video games where the character gets a power boost by eating a berry, or whatever. Alicia could tell you.” He fell silent.

“She isn’t dying, Ray. She’s moving.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to minimize your grief. Loss is loss.”

Ray’s anemic smile tugged at my heartstrings. “You’re under a lot of stress, and you’re right. In the grand scheme of things, Alicia moving with her reunited parents is a good thing.”

“Where can we find Unas?”

“The books didn’t mention that. Any ideas?”

“Based on what I know, The Corporation has access to him, but I doubt he’s anywhere near Paradise. Too risky.” I bet they called upon him only as a last resort. No god no matter how powerful would feel comfortable in his presence, knowing his specialized appetite.

“If the internet is working, I’ll keep looking,” Ray offered.

I tapped my thumbs on the wheel as I parked the truck outside the gate to the Castle. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” If there was a way to summon Unas and put an end to the threat of The Corporation, I was determined to figure it out.

CHAPTER EIGHT

It wastime to update Kane.

I found the former demon prince resting in the white wicker rocking chair on the front porch. He already looked a hundred times better than he did last night. Hooray for demonic healing powers.

“This is nice.” He waved a hand at the yard. “I can see myself bellowing at children to get off my lawn.”

“You won’t have to. The ward won’t let them through the gate.”

He frowned. “Kind of takes all the fun out of it.”

“The original owner chose this spot for a reason.” The five-thousand-square-foot house had been built for summer respites during the Gilded Age by a tycoon named Joseph Edgar Blue III. Blue was thrilled with the house’s position atop a hill that overlooked the living in the town below, as well as the dead in the adjacent cemetery.

Kane smiled up at me. “You seem to have an eye for diamonds in the rough.”

I ran my fingers through his hair. “I’m glad to see you out of bed.”

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