THAT GIFT WAS INTENDED FOR YOU.
“He needs it more than I do.”
IT’S RUDE TO REGIFT A BLESSING FROM A GODDESS.
“I’ll buy you the latest Beyoncé album.”
Artemis paused.THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE ATONEMENT.
Sage started to tremble. “I don’t feel very good.”
His voice was so weak I could barely hear. “I’ve got you.”
“I’m sorry for lighting your house on fire.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” I checked over my shoulder. “And it’s out now.”
“R’gngyk is stirring.” He sounded distant, like he was only half-awake. “There’s going to be a sacrifice. I saw a triangle doorway open.” He sniffled and wiped his nose on my shirt.
“Do you know what the sacrifice is going to be?” I asked.
He shook his head and clutched my necklace in both hands. “I’m gonna be so grounded.”
• • •
The fire inspector told us we were lucky. “Don’t ask me how, but it looks like you avoided any structural damage, and very little smoke or water got into the house. I’ll tell you what, they built these old houses to last.”
By the time she gave us permission to reenter our house, the sun had come up, and we were pushing twenty-four hours without sleep.
I carried a snoring Sage through the front door and stopped. My chest tightened as I took in the water puddled on the tile floor of the entryway. The air smelled of smoke and burnt paint and—ever so faintly—sulfur. Water had gotten into both sides of the shop as well. Despite the inspector’s words, I felt anything but lucky.
“Annette, would you please put Sage in a spare bedroom?” I handed the boy off.
“Did you want to take your necklace back first?” she asked.
I felt naked and vulnerable without it, but I shook my head. “Not until we get Alex and Ringo out of his head.”
“I have thoughts about that,” said Temple. His eyes were bloodshot with dark smudges beneath them. His glasses were folded and tucked into the top of his T-shirt. He wasn’t as pale and clammy as he’d been in the van, but he still looked half-undead.
He swayed like a tree about to topple. Ronnie stood behind him, not quite touching but ready to catch or support him.
“What thoughts?” I prompted after a moment.
Temple blinked. “Oh, yes. Alex’s containment spell, from the pills. It keeps the shoggoth’s influence from getting out. If I turn that spell inside out and put it on the guest room, it could keep outside influences from getting in. Wouldn’t clear the shoggoth out of his system, but it ought to keep him sane for the time being.”
“Are you sure you’re up for more magic so soon after the fire?” I asked, already knowing how he’d respond. “My necklace will keep Sage safe for now.”
He squared his shoulders and thumped his cane. Water splashed onto my feet. “I’m Temple Finn, dammit. I conjured the Vorpal Axe that split Zeus’s lightning in half. I think I can handle warding a little bedroom.”
“That would have been more convincing if you hadn’t been fighting a yawn the whole time you were talking.”
He scowled. “I’ll be fine. Give me a few minutes to recover. A snack would help. I think I’ve got leftover tiramisu.”
Ronnie and I followed Temple into the kitchen. Temple pulled a square glass container from the refrigerator.
“I’ll get that,” I said. He grunted and took a seat at the table.
By the time I dished out three helpings of tiramisu, Temple had his head down and was snoring. I left the plates on the counter and beckoned Ronnie to follow me out of the kitchen.
