“And you will be expected to follow all mortal laws too.”
“I understand.”
“Only by my approval may you enter, only by my approval may you stay. I can kick you out at my discretion.”
Her fingertips tapped on the table, a soft, rolling motion.
“Acceptable.” She nodded for me to continue.
“I will Bridge your power and give it to the goddess who is currently storing the powers. That responsibility changes from deity to deity once a year. If you stay long enough, you will be expected to store the powers for one year.”
“Who is caring for the powers currently?”
“Frigg.”
“Acceptable.”
“You must get a job or otherwise be involved in the community. One of the original intentions of Ordinary was for gods and goddesses to experience a mortal life. That means you’ll need to follow mortal norms.”
“A job.”
“Or volunteering.”
She nodded. “What else?”
“You’ll need to choose your name.”
“I think Talli would be fitting, don’t you?” A small smile played across her lips.
She was teasing me. None of this seemed like news to her. “You’ve been thinking about this for some time, haven’t you?”
“Many years.”
“Excellent. You need to sign the contract. Let me call my sister and have her bring it over.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket, but before I could dial, a manila envelope landed on the table in front of me.
“Hey, Delaney,” Myra said.
I glanced up. Myra was the middle sister out of the three of us. While my build was athletic and lean, hers was curvy and compact. The most I ever did with my hair was pull it back in a braid, and I didn’t bother with makeup.
Myra liked the rock-a-billy look, short straight bangs, and a bob that brushed her shoulders. She did that cat-eye thing with eyeliner and got it right every time which completely baffled me because there was no magic involved.
Her lips, which were currently curved in a smug smile, were a deep, deep red.
“I was headed out to the derby meeting,” she said, “and thought you might need this.”
Myra’s family gift was that she was always in the right place at the right time. So her turning up wasn’t really a surprise.
Still, it was always cool to see her gift in action.
“Myra, this is Tala. She’ll be vacationing in Ordinary. Tala, this is my sister, Myra Reed.”
Her eyebrows went up. “Keeper of the Library?”
“Yes,” Myra said. “Our father passed it on to me. Why?”
“You are also the lover of the demon Bathin?”
