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“With all the colors of the rainbow. You should be proud.”
“The expression is ‘flying colors,’” I said. It looked like some of Addison’s basic knowledge got lost during the Aite download.
“Whoever you are, you’re strong and will likely heal quickly. Goddesses usually do, unless you’re Aergia. That donkey is too lazy to heal quickly.”
Addison—or should I say Aite—finally came into focus. “You’re not taking those gods.” I was relieved to hear my voice regain its strength.
Her Cheshire cat smile gave me the creeps. “No biggie. They can be your problem now.”
“I thought you stole them…”
“Oh, I totally did. Mischief and ruin, remember? You don’t think I’d steal them without planting evidence on someone else, though, do you? I’m a professional, Lorelei.”
I spit blood from my mouth. “I thought the only professional bitches were in dog shows.”
She leaned down and pinched my cheek. “Have I mentioned how much I like your moxie? Toodles.” She blew me a kiss and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“Cheap theatrics!” I yelled at the empty air.
I staggered to my feet, still reeling from the encounter. My body hurt everywhere, and I was pretty sure my underwear had frozen to my pants, which were in turn stuck to my skin, but that was the least of my problems.
I was now a bargaining chip in a battle that didn’t involve me. It was the outcome I’d feared my whole life, the one from which Pops had done everything in his power to protect me.
I’d pulled Aite’s nightmare into this reality. It wouldn’t take her endless hours of research to figure out my identity. If she followed through on her threat to report my existence to The Corporation, it was only a matter of time before they decided to pay me a visit and make me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
And if that happened, there wasn’t a ward in the world that could keep me safe.
CHAPTER 19
Kaneand I contemplated the cell. The animals had been tranquilized and were slumbering peacefully while we carried out our plan.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” the demon asked.
I surveyed the sleeping animals. “No, but it seems cruel to send them back to The Corporation to languish in a storage container for eternity.”
“It seems cruel to unleash them on the world, too.”
I cast a sideways glance at him. “Which one of us is a prince of hell again? I’m confused.”
His whisky-colored eyes sparked with amusement. “I’m a prince of hell, not the Tin Man fromThe Wizard of Oz.”
In other words, he had a heart. Noted.
“How did you even get this thing through the front door?” Kane asked. “It’s huge.”
“That’s what she said,” I cracked.
He arched an eyebrow. “You flatter me, Lorelei.”
Nope. Shouldn’t have gone there. Clearing my throat awkwardly, I turned my focus back to the cell. “It’s part ofthe enchantment. It came in pieces and assembled itself in the room, like magical IKEA.”
“But we can’t do that with the animals inside.” He rubbed his rugged jawline. “The weight isn’t an issue—between us we have the strength to carry it to the flatbed, but there’s no way it will fit through the doorways without taking it apart.”
He was right. “Teleportation magic is our best bet to transport this to the crossroads.”
“It’s our only bet. Are you sure that’s wise, though? What if we’re intercepted by your new friend?”
“Addison isn’t my friend.” Far from it. The avatar was the kind of bad news I didn’t want to deliver to anyone, especially myself. “Anyway, I feel confident she isn’t coming back right away.” I had no doubt she’d return, but today was not that day.
