“That was my first thought. She’ll keep it, I know that. But it might put her at risk too.”
“No one can find the library without her,” Bathin said. “No one can open it but her, and she has to do it willingly. She doesn’t let anyone in.”
“Well, except Than,” Raven said.
Bathin shrugged. “It’s his love of tea and literature that won her over.”
“C’mon. All the Reed sisters adore him.”
“Who is Than?” Lu asked.
“Is he Death?” I asked. Images of the near-death I’d recently experienced, of the god, Death, in a shirt with a map of Oregon on it came back to me.
He had told me he was on vacation, and therefore refused to accept my death. He had sent me back to life instead.
Back to save Lula from Atë.
“He is the god of death,” Raven said.
“Is Myra a powerful sister?” Abbi asked.
Raven tightened his arm. “Yes. She helps Delaney guard the town and keep the mean gods and monsters out.”
“Oh!” Abbi said, bright and energetic again. “I’ve seen her. I’ve seen them. They’re nice.”
“Most of the time,” Raven said.
“If you don’t break their rules,” Bathin added.
“What happens if a god breaks their rules?” Lula asked. “If they broke into the town? Broke into the library?”
“They can’t,” Raven said.
“They could,” Bathin corrected. “The town, if not the library. I found a way into the town.”
“All right,” Raven agreed. “There can be ways a god could break into Ordinary. There can be ways a demon can try to enter Ordinary without Delaney’s permission. How’d that work out for you, Bathin?”
“Got my ass kicked.” He rubbed at the back of his neck. “And I fucking fell in love which was…not an ideal situation.”
“And who won?” Raven coaxed with a grin. “At the end ofallthe shit you pulled, who won?”
“The Reed sisters. Delaney, Myra, Jean. And every single god and supernatural who lives there and protects the town like it’s the last scrap of meat on the bones of the world. It’s a place with people, with family, like no other on this earth.”
“Truth,” Raven said. “Bring it to Ordinary. I promise it will be safe.”
“We don’t have the book,” I said. “We don’t have any idea where it is. And I’m not promising either of you shit.”
“Reasonable,” Raven said. “I hate making deals with gods too. Just…think about it, okay?” He turned his attention to Lula, raised an eyebrow waiting for her agreement.
She held so still, she wasn’t even breathing.
I wondered if she was going to haggle with him. Ask for something, like the continuing of our lives, a cure for her half-vampirism, or the whereabout of the monsters who had attacked us and made me spirit and herthrawanall those years ago.
I squeezed her hand, letting her know if she wanted to make another deal, I’d be there with her, no matter the price we had to pay.
She squeezed back and exhaled, remaining silent.
“All right then.” Raven’s fingertips fell into a blunt rhythm on the tabletop.
