“You give a damn about something to be here.”
“I give a damn you don’t screw us all over.”
“Yawn. This would be more fun without you.”
“Proving my point.”
“Is he a good guy?” Abbi asked Raven.
The god shrugged. “He’s in love with a mortal, in debt to her powerful sister, and has a very high opinion of his ability to keep them both safe.”
“But…” Abbi looked between Raven and Bathin. “Do you like those people too? The powerful sisters?”
“Yes,” Raven said simply. “Very much. Which is why I’m here—eating the best brownie,” he threw a look at the demon, who crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head, “which Bathin wants, but can’t have.”
“I’m confused,” Abbi said. “Is this about sisters or brownies?”
“This is about the spellbook,” Bathin said. “We know it’s being hunted. By you,” he nodded toward me and Lula, “and by others who should not have that kind of power in their hands. We know you’ve had it.”
“We don’t care what you know,” I said. “We want nothing to do with godsordemons.”
“Whether you want it or not, you arealreadyinvolved,” Bathin said. “Cupid took his god form and fought Atë on Earth. When gods battle on Earth, and you are at the center of that battle, you do not have a choice in the matter.”
“You saw that?” Abbi peered around Raven to assess the demon.
“Oh, everyonesaw that,” Raven said. “It isn’t often a god appears in full power on the visible plane. The last time was…centuries ago.”
“Pompeii?” Bathin asked.
“I was thinking Mt. Mazama.”
The demon grunted. “You,” he tipped his chin toward us, “have been noticed by devils far worse than us. Devils you do not want to face alone.”
“Gods, devils. Plenty of other unsavory things.” Raven gulped his tea. When he set the glass down, he was serious, measuring us with sober eyes.
“If this could be avoided,” he said, calm and utterly mesmerizing, “I for one, would be all for it. Bun Bun cares for you. I think Cupid may, too, in his way. This is complicated work made more so by the target you drew on your back.”
“Target?” Lula asked.
“Atë. Of all the gods in all the universes, why did you have to draw her notice? She is such an unreasonable bitch.”
“Bad word.” Abbi leaned back into Raven’s one-armed hug.
“Sorry. She is such a vengeful bitch.”
Abbi giggled.
“For the third time,” I said. “Leave.”
Raven held up a finger. “You made deals with Cupid. A deal with the Hush—don’t thinkthatwent without notice. Deals with—”
“We’re done.” I half stood to leave, but there was a wall of demon in my way.
“If you want to survive,” the demon warned, “you need more information.”
Lula scoffed.
“Let me guess,” I said. “You’re going to tell us everything we need to know. For a price. How generous.”
