“Bijou, Bijou, Bijou.” He spared me a glance. “You cut me to the bone when you look at me that way.”
Using a handful of salt, I sprinkled a crude circle around Harrow, Ankou, and me and raised the barrier to give us privacy.
“Like you’re a piece of shit I stepped in once but keep tracking no matter how hard I scrape my shoe?”
“You’re cruel, but I’ve got to admit—” he licked mayo off his bottom lip, “—I like that in a woman.”
Ready to yank out my hair after the night I was having, I growled, “Have you found Kierce or not?”
“He’s safe and sound and locked in his cage. I even checked his seed and water dishes.” He swayed back and forth on his heels, mimicking a bird on a swing. “His wounds are healing nicely too.”
Low moans rose in my ears as my rage woke spirits under my feet. “Woundsyougave him.”
“He would have killed you if I hadn’t killed him first.” Ankou pouted at me. “Where’s the gratitude?”
“You turned him into a pincushion.” When I shut my eyes, I still saw the warped bones piercing his pale flesh, shredding muscle. Worse had been his relief. He was so glad when Ankou broke him beyond repair, when I could get near him becausehe couldn’t harm me again. “The next time you have a choice, choose him.”
“I can’t do that.” Ankou spread his hands. “Kierce and I go way back, but I answer to my god, Bijou.”
There were too many gods, if you asked me, and all of them assholes. “How do we break him out?”
“We don’t.” He dropped his usual antics. “Not until after you remove Dis Pater’s control over him.”
Those troubled spirits trailed cold fingers down my arms. “That’s not what we agreed?—”
“Set him free, and he will kill you.” His eyes darkened. “The kind of death you don’t come back from.”
Hurt throbbed behind my breastbone, each beat its own condemnation. I should have freed him sooner. I should have protected him better. I never should have let him wind up back in that fucking cage.
“Hold on.” Harrow crossed his arms across his chest. “You came back. So did Kierce.” He cocked his head at me. “So did Frankie, actually.”
“The thing is…” Ankou scratched his cheek, “… Kierce is the Viduus.”
“I’m aware.” I set my jaw to stop its grinding. “What’s your point?”
Leaning in, Ankou stuck out his hand, pinky finger lifted. “Can you keep a secret?”
“You really want to die, huh?” Harrow scrubbed a hand over his mouth. “Just spit it out already.”
“You know how Kierce isn’t allowed to know certain things about himself?”
“Yes,” I hissed through my teeth, ready to snap them at him.
“There’s one secret buried deeper than all the rest, and I need you all to myself before I spill the deets.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Harrow scoffed at the god blood. “I’m not leaving Frankie alone with you.”
“Break the circle,” I ordered him, heart pounding. “I want to hear this.”
Stupid. This was beyond dumb. But I needed an edge.
Harrow did as he was told, clearly unhappy with my choice, and I raised the barrier again after he left.
“This is as private as it gets.” I ignored Harrow pacing on the edge of my periphery. “Out with it.”
“Kierce is…well...” he rotated his wrist, “…to put it delicately…”
“Put itindelicatelyif you have to,” I snarled, tired of his games, “but get to the point.”
