“What?” Orfeo snaps his eyes to Leo. “Have you heard something?”
“A vampire from Atlanta was here last night and he said there’s a known portal in Echidna. Sealed, for now. But with enough power in one place, it could open. Demons would take dominion, have free rein.”
“Kill more humans. Enslave more vampires.”
“I don’t know what he’s thinking. There’s never been a successful demon colony in this realm.” Leo shakes his head. “Sometimes it seems like his goal is to start a war and get us all fucking vanquished.”
“He’snotthinking, Leo. He does not know or care about the portal. He does not care what humans think. That is the problem. Yes, we exist in the shadows, but that does not mean it has to be like this.” Orfeo steps toward him. “We could build something beautiful, build ourselves back to what we once were when sirens and vampires and demi-gods walked amongst people without fear. When our worlds intertwined.”
“If there is a blood debt, I cannot set you free. I am beholden to the code of Hades.”
Orfeo’s expression tightens. He holds Leo’s eyes. “I am fine with my debt transferring to you, even if you are unwilling to set me free.”
He nods and sucks down a breath. “Okay. How do we do it then?”
“Diantha.”
My spirit chills at the sound of my name.Diantha?
“The witch,” Leo says, his tone halfway between impressed and shocked. “That meeting was a ruse then, wasn’t it?”
Orfeo nods slowly. “That is my hope. He will allow Diantha into our world to cast the protection circle—but instead, she will end him. I believe she is powerful enough to do it. I am certain of it, actually. Right now, she has a soul trapped between the realms. Instead of a protection spell, she can cast a blood bargain spell, swapping her lost soul’s place in the ether with Alfo’s here on Earth.”
Another wave of emotion passes through me at the invocation of my mother. The streetlights flicker.
“So, he’d be trapped—not sent back to the Underworld?”
What the fuck?
“Exactly. He would have to call on Hades.”
“And he’s too stupid and prideful to ever do that.” Leo smirks. “Genius. What about her payment? She seemed excited about the money.”
“I hope you will honor her commitment and promise her protection, as well.” Orfeo diverts his eyes. “If you were to become our leader, you could be with Kat, free her from her obligations. You could expel Nisos.”
Leo uncrosses his arms and drags a heavy hand back and forth across his jaw. Orfeo watches him, chewing his bottom lip. “I think we have a plan,” Leo finally says. Then, he extends his palm to Orfeo. “Does she know?”
I can’t hold on any longer. I can’t stay silent anymore.
How could Orfeo do this to me? How could he drag my mother’s soul into this?
The glass panes of the sconces begin to rattle with my rage.
Anger crackles inside of me, and as quickly as I found myself decoupled, I’m back in my body, gasping for air.
I don’t wait for him to find me.
I pull on my jacket and storm out into the night. Leo passes me in the entryway, not even noticing me, and I have to stop myself from shoving him into the wall. I slam my fist into the heavy door, pushing it open, relishing the sting of pain in my fist.
Orfeo’s eyes widen when he sees me. “Diantha.”
He warned you,a voice whispers inside my mind. But I ignore it. I storm toward him, winter air whipping my coat open and slicing against my bare thighs. I hear the glass from the exploded sconces crunching under the soles of my shoes. “Are you fuckingkiddingme?”
“Diantha, please.” He holds up his palms. His curls have come loose from their slicked-back style, frizzy and wild andsohuman. But he isn’t human. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you everything?—”
“Tell me everything?” I spit. “Youlied.Youtrickedme.”
“By omission, yes. I did lie. I didn’t want to, but I saw no other way?—”
