He passed her a charming grin. “You knew better than to leave me unattended.”
She was aghast as she seemed to forget they were in danger and turned more toward Nibo in the water. “You’re not seriously blaming me?”
Leaning against his crook, he gestured toward Valynda and her new companion. “Well, I can’t very well blame Oussou. He wasn’t there, now, was he? Nay, he’d gone off alone. ’Twas you who were there last, and you knew better than to leave me alone with La Sirene! As if anyone, particularlymoi, could resist her.”
Masaka scoffed. “Since when do you need an excuse to jump into a woman’s bed, Brave Ghede? Oops, I tripped and fell on top of her? Nay, I think not. Your problem is staying clothed. I swear, I don’t know why you bother to dress at all.”
“You’re a fine one to talk. As if you’ve—”
A loud thunderous roar cut their argument short. The sea rose up to form a giant wall in front of Nibo, who appeared less than impressed by the display. “You little bastard!”
Nibo grinned. “Better than being a giant bastard or big asshole.”
“You’ve been accused of both,” Masaka said flippantly.
Nibo cast her a glare that said she wasn’t helping and that she really needed to keep her opinions to herself.
The waves fanned out into giant spikes that rushed toward Nibo as if to pierce him through. Just as they would have reached him, he held his crook up and caught them, then sent them back toward his attacker. “Can’t we talk about this?”
“We cannot! I want what you took!”
Nibo and Masaka passed a confused frown between each other. “Pardon? I’d think you’d be getting a piece of that fair regular, being married to her and all.”
Aggie screamed out in fury. “You motherless, futtocking dog! Notthat! Me kiman, you rotten ass!”
“Oh …that.” Nibo nudged Masaka, then sobered. “There’s a bit of a problem there, mate.”
“How so?”
He screwed his face up. “I rather drank it all. Was quite tasty. Really good recipe that, you know?”
“You didwhat?”
“Couldn’t help meself, really.” He passed an amused, twinkle-eyed stare to his companion that made her roll her eyes before he sobered a bit more. “Had a nip, and the next thing I knew all these rogue little bitches started coming up and out from everywhere. PlacesIdidn’t even know. Had a party with them. Went to town, if you know what I mean. And you probably don’t. Well, long story long, because that’s normally the only kind I tell, we killed a few things, gutted an enemy, and ended up naked in a ditch. No more kiman, but one incredible night out that left me wondering what the hell elephant ran me over and if there were any witnesses to it.”
“I hate you, you daft, arrogant bastard!”
Nibo didn’t seem the least bit concerned by the fact that the other loa wanted to kill him. “Now, now, Aggie, don’t be like that. You know you don’t mean it.”
“Of course I do! Why wouldn’t I?”
“No particular reason really, other than I’m cute and you might need me one day. Never know what fight might be brewing. Gatekeepers come in handy. Healers even more so.”
“That was a mistake,” Oussou breathed under his breath an instant before the water exploded all over Nibo. Only it wasn’t water.
It turned into blood.
And something a little more disgusting.
Unable to stand the sight, Valynda turned away as her stomach heaved violently. More from the smell and sound than the sight.
Oussou caught her against his side. “There now, me pet. It’s not so bad really.” His hand faltered. “Well, perhaps it is, but still. Best you keep looking away for a bit longer, eh?”
Agreeing with his wisdom, she didn’t know what to think. Not until Nibo appeared in front of her, toweling himself off as if he’d just stepped out of his bath. Not one flit of a care about what had just happened or why.
Valynda kept her hand pressed to her lips as her stomach began to settle. “This happen a lot to you?”
He grinned. “The blood and guts, not so much.”
