Chapter Three
The Safeway parkinglot was the last place in town still selling Christmas trees. Once I got there, I found outwhy.
“Delaney my darling. So good to seeyou!”
I crossed my arms and glared at the man who was standing between the discounttrees.
He was my height, darker skinned, brilliant-eyed, and his smile could light a coal mine. His spiky black hair was hidden beneath a hat knit with little Christmas trees and a deer armed with a gun, stalking ahunter.
It had been a while since I’d seen my not-uncle, Crow, who was at the moment also the trickster god,Raven.
“Raven,” Isaid.
“Now, now,” he chided. “It hasn’t been that long. You can still call me Crow. Give Uncle Crow-Crow a hug, Del-Del.” He held his arms wide open and madecome heremotions with hishands.
I sighed. What I should do is tell him to get out of Ordinary. Recently, he’d cheated with both holding and not holding his power, which broke the rules ofOrdinary.
That had gotten him kicked out of town for ayear.
His little rule breaking trick had also set into motion the events that resulted in Ryder pledging himself to the god of contracts, which I kind ofhated.
But he was my not-uncle, had known me my entire life, had been a friend of my father’s. I missedhim.
So I walked over and gave him a hug. He smelled of pitch and warm pine needles and the spicy scent that was allhim.
“You can’t be here,” I mumbled against his sweater. “You’re a god and have to stay a god until a year has gone by. No putting down your power and vacationing. It’s only been a few months since youleft.”
“Which is why I’m still a god. Raven. Trickster. Busy, busy time of year for a trickster god. So many New Year’s resolutions to encourage. So many new leaves to not turn over. I just dropped by to see if you liked mygift.”
“Gift?”
“That’s not something you see every day,” Bathin said from behindme.
Crow stilled and I could feel his power moving through him, surrounding him, surrounding me. It was familiar.Protective.
But I didn’t need protecting from the demon. The demon was old news. I steppedback.
“No fighting,” I told themboth.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Crow said. “You know I’m a lover not afighter.”
That was true of the Crow on vacation without his god power. But Raven the god? Yeah, there were stories written about just how vicious a fighter he couldbe.
“Black Feather,” Bathin said. “It’s been sometime.”
“Not long enough, Black Heart,” Crow replied. “How did you manage to slime up onto thisshore?”
“I wasinvited.”
Crow looked at me. Reallylooked.
I braced myself for a scolding. I knew he could see that Bathin had stolen my soul. I knew he wouldn’t likeit.
Surprisingly, he justwinked.
“Negotiation is not the same as invitation, Black Heart,” Crow said. “You of all people should know that. Have you gotten my gift, Pumpkin?” he askedme.
“No?”
