That made sense, she supposed.
Makaria inclined her head to Valynda. “Indeed, we’ve even fought over a few.”
There was something she’d never thought about before. “How so?”
“Territory. Who owns whom. Where they need to go.” This time there was no friendliness in Nibo’s tone. “Makaria is in charge of those Greeks who die peacefully.”
That much she’d known, so how the two of them would be in conflict over the dead made no sense to her. “Yet you’re in charge of those who die violently. I should think you’d never be confused by the two.”
“Aye, but there are those who are murdered by poison and other means where they seem to pass peacefully in their sleep, and yet didn’t. In which case, we sometimes argue as to dominion. Especially if the person is in denial and doesn’t want vengeance on the one who killed them.”
That made sense. But it left Valynda with one question. “Who wins when that happens?”
Makaria stepped forward and gave a smile that was sweet and bone-chilling. “The one most determined.”
A shiver went down her spine at the way the goddess spoke, as she had a feeling that she wasn’t just talking about the souls anymore.
With her skin glowing from an ethereal light, Makaria glanced from Nibo to Shadow to Agrios. “I assume since you’re here that you wish to take this soul from my father’s lands?”
Nibo’s smile turned charming. “You’d be correct, and I was hoping you’d be understanding. Even cooperative.”
The spiders skittered away as if the mere mention of such a thing terrified them.
“Well, that can’t be good,” Valynda said under her breath.
Shadow let out a low, evil laugh. “Fear not. Makaria won’t let anything happen to Nibo … at least.”
Oh, like there was nothing sinister inthat. In fact, those words made her stomach knot up and sink south toward her feet.
Xuri, however, didn’t appear the least bit intimidated. “Or to what Nibo cherishes,” he said pointedly, taking Valynda’s hand and pulling her closer to his side. Grateful, she wrapped her arms around his muscular biceps and let his warmth soothe her. “Which means all three of us need to leave here intact. No tricks.”
Makaria considered that. “And what will you offer my father for such a service?”
Nibo cast his gaze about the stalagmites and shrugged. “I’d offer him doom and gloom, but he seems to have that aplenty.”
With a withering stare, Makaria was much less amused by that than Valynda. “My father’s normal price for such is a soul for a soul.”
Valynda gasped as she realized Circe’s game.Thatwas why she’d made her human. So that she could take her son’s place here.
That conniving bitch!
“Nay,” Makaria said as if she heard Valynda’s thoughts. “Not you, little one. Your soul is already spoken for by others.” She held up Valynda’s wrist to show her the Deadman mark that made her a member of Captain Bane’s crew. “My father will have no use for you.”
“Don’t look at me. I have no soul whatsoever.”
Makaria laughed at Shadow. “Not true, either, my precious demonspawn. But yours is so dark that my father would rather not chance you trying to take over his domain.”
Shadow scoffed. “No fear there. I deal with enough dead assholes. Have no use for more.”
Nibo ignored his comment as he kept the goddess on point. “Then where does that leave us?”
Makaria shrugged. “Trapped here, apparently.”
“Not the rules, Makie.” Nibo leaned against his staff with a flourish. He glanced to Valynda and a strange light came into his eyes before he spoke again. “Give me until the full moon and I’ll send him a soul.”
A light of suspicion turned her dark eyes even darker. “No trickery?”
“None.”
