Page 68 of Cheater Slicks

A pained groan answered me, but I couldn’t tell if it was him or Anunit without seeing for myself.

“I’m coming in,” I announced, just in case, then let myself in and approached the bed. “You look rough.”

Golden eyes accused me from Harrow’s familiar face, and I almost felt bad for Anunit.

Almost.

“How did you find your way to Dis Pater’s house?” I sat at the foot of the bed. “You didn’t come with me the way I’m swept along when Kierce is summoned, I don’t think, or you would have been there sooner. So, how does it work for you? Can you go anywhere? Only places you’ve been? Places I’ve been?”

Curled on her side, cuddling a heating pad shaped like a crawfish, she tucked in her chin.

“You did this to yourself.” I had no sympathy for the pain she had inflicted on Harrow. “Are you going to help me or not?”

“Help how?” She shut her eyes. “This body is too frail.”

“The body has a name, and it’s Harrow. And he’s not frail. He’s just suffering the consequences of your actions. Human bodies aren’t meant to eat pounds of meat at one sitting.” We didn’t know how many meals she hadborrowedhim for. “You’re lucky you didn’t end up in the hospital getting your stomach pumped.”

Actually, I wasn’t sure that was a thing for overeating. It might be reserved for overdoses and other medically necessaryneedtopukenowsituations. Having stuffed myself to the bursting point once or twice during street festivals here in New Orleans, I could say with authority there were times I would have paid good money to correct my deliciously greasy mistakes.

“I followed your scent.” She snuggled the crawfish. “I have an excellent nose.”

“You can smell my soul?” I glanced down like I might find a scented candle glowing in my chest. “Seriously?”

Exasperation crossed her features. “Yes.”

“You can track everyone,” I realized, filing away that information. “Now that’s a neat trick.”

“It is not a trick. It is who I am.”

“I apologize.” I bit the inside of my cheek. “I didn’t mean that how it sounded. I only meant it’s an incredible talent. I didn’t know such a thing was possible.”

“You could learn.” She watched me. “You have it in you to do the same.”

“You said we’re not related.”

The conversation between Dis Pater and the smoky-voiced man bobbed to the forefront of my mind.

“We are not, and yet…” Her expression softened on me. “I feel a kinship with you.”

The temptation to tell her what I had overheard, to get her opinion, almost got the better of me. But the smoky-voiced man wasn’t my priority. “Do you think you could find your way back to Dis Pater’s house?”

“Yes.” She set aside the heating pad. “Have you lost your way?”

“I can project my soul there, but I need to go in the flesh.” I picked at the comforter. “So far I’ve only managed to teleport myself once, and I have no memory of how I managed it.” I considered her. “I’m not sure if what you did falls under astral projection, since you’re all soul and no body, or if it counts as physical teleportation, since you’re…well…all soul and no body.”

Normal rules didn’t apply to gods, so what I knew to be accurate for spirits wasn’t always true for her.

“What difference does it make?” She lifted her head. “I wished to go somewhere, and I went.”

“It can’t be that simple.”

“I am a goddess. I can do whatever I wish.”

Definitely more cat than fox.

“I’m not sure that applies to me. Can I click my heels and appear in his living room?”

“We will find out.” She sat up, hand on her stomach. “I will show you the way.”

---