Dark Skye (Immortals After Dark #15)(83)

With a nod of encouragement, Riora left N?x and took her saved spot at the table.

The legendary Skathi presided. She looked exasperated, not bothering to hide her feelings about N?x’s petition.

The Valkyrie didn’t seem to notice the goddess’s displeasure. With that bat on her shoulder, she nonchalantly made her way toward the dais in the center of the rotating table. As she approached, a path opened up, the wood disappearing, then reappearing behind her, like a wake.

Atop the dais, N?x turned to Skathi. It was known that if one gazed into that goddess’s eyes, he or she would experience all the fear and sorrow of Skathi’s prey over the ages; yet N?x boldly met her gaze. Which appeared to surprise the goddess.

Clearing her throat, Skathi called the meeting to order, then took her seat. “We will dispense with formalities to limit the duration of this meeting. We convene because Phen?x the Ever-Knowing is petitioning to join our ranks in the pantheon of goddesses.” Skathi steepled her fingers. “Tell us in your own words: Why should we welcome you into our blessed number?”

Bright-eyed and breathless, N?x said, “Well, I can mime”—she demonstrated as Riora dropped her forehead to the table. “I’m a mistress of keg stands”—N?x looked around for a keg with which to demonstrate—“two of my three parents are gods, and I have a goddesslike power.”

Skathi raised her brows. “Your talent for mime notwithstanding, you have an obvious mark against you: human blood. One of those three parents of yours was mortal.”

“Doesn’t seem to slow me down.” N?x hiked a thumb at herself. “After all, just this Accession, I orchestrated the death of Crom Cruach.” The god of cannibalism. “Hmm, Skathi, wasn’t he your curse to deal with? Right, then.” She brushed off her hands matter-of-factly. “We’ll settle up at the bar.”

Skathi glared, and the flames of her temple climbed higher. Yet then, a bout of thunder shook the mountain, seeming to soothe her. “A goddess is measured by the company she keeps. Yet you’re close to Loa, the voodoo priestess, a mere shopkeeper who grows to be a practitioner of the darkest arts?”

“Loa prefers to be known as the Commercenary.”

“You do realize the power she wields?”

N?x sighed. “Counting on it.”

Seductive Lamia observed, “Under your direction, La Dorada the Queen of Evil has arisen.”

“Dora and I are like this.” N?x spread her arms wide. “Now, I’ll be the first to admit she’s not without faults. Very grumpy when she wakes up. And with Dora, it’s always me me me, ring ring ring.”

“Why would you resurrect her?” Skathi demanded.

“No one else was going to do it!” N?x said, just as her bat leaned in beside her ear. The soothsayer nodded to it, then murmured, “Meet me at the lightning bolt.” She gazed on fondly as the creature flew away with a screech.

“Your attention!” Skathi snapped.

“What were we talking about? Let’s be quick, then. It’s past Bertil’s bedtime.”

Jaws dropped at N?x’s temerity.

Speaking to no one in particular, N?x said, “And because we’re going to need her.”

“Who?” Lamia asked.

“Dora.” As if speaking to a child, N?x said, “You asked me why I’d resurrect her, and I’m answering your question.” She narrowed her eyes. “Are all of you inebriated?”

“Continuing on,” Skathi intoned. “You claim a goddesslike power, styling yourself ever-knowing, yet you can’t even find your sister Furie.”

“Find? As in bring to light?” she asked, leaving the pantheon to puzzle over her words.

Hekate said, “You’ve been working to ally factions of immortals for the Accession, assisting Loreans of different species to find their mates. From what I understand, we’re to have a rash of halflings in future generations.”

“Halflings are formidable,” N?x pointed out. “Think of Queen Emmaline of the Lykae, Queen Bettina of the Deathly Ones, and Mariketa the Awaited, leader of your House of Witches. Plus, Valkyries have a soft spot for halflings, since we have three vastly different parents. I guess you could call us triflings.” Broad wink.

“Why are you tirelessly seeding halflings and renewing ancient alliances?” Hekate asked. “To battle what foe?”

N?x breathed, “The M?ri?r.”

The other goddesses tensed at the mention of the Bringers of Doom. They didn’t speak of the M?ri?r lightly.

The Valkyrie seemed unaware of the stir she’d caused. “All the harbingers are there. They descend upon us. Though the Accession exists to cull the immortal population, mortals and gods alike should fear this one.”

Lamia offered, “N?x would sense them first,” and earned glares.

Skathi’s flames grew and grew. “You took it upon yourself to plan a defense against the M?ri?r? You toy with the fate of the entire Lore, Valkyrie!”

“Not defense. Offense. Why come out of the dugout for anything less? I’m not interested in a farm league. Which is why I’m here. Only a divinity—with this pantheon’s resources—could unite all of the factions.”

“You believe you can lead the charge? Against them?”

“Review: transcript of this meeting. See: farm league comment.”