Succubus Blues EPILOGUE

Caseys out sick, Paige told me briskly, putting on her coat. So youll probably have to cover for her on the registers.Its no problem. I leaned against her wrap upice wall(a). Keeps affairs interesting, you know?Pausing, she gave me a brief smile. I really appreciate you coming in same this on such short notice. She patted her stomach absentmindedly. Im sure its nothing, but Ive had this pain all day No, its fine. Go. You have to take care of yourself. You have to take care of both of you.She smiled at me again, picking up her purse and walking to the door. Dougs skulking virtually here somewhere if you need help, so make him do it. Hmm there was one other thing I needed to tell you Oh yeah theres something for you in your office. I left it on your chair.Butterflies shot through my stomach at her words. W-what is it?Youll have to see. Ive got to go.I followed Paige out of her office and turned uncertainly into my own. The last thing left on my chair had been an envelope from Rom an, one more piece in his twisted game of love and hate. Oh God, I thought. I knew it wouldnt be as easy as Carter had said. Romans back, starting it all up again, waiting for me to I stared, swallowing a gasp. The Glasgow Pact sat on my chair.Gingerly, I picked up the book, handling it like fine china. It was my copy, the one I had given band to sign over a month ago. Id forgotten all most it. Opening up the indoors cover, I saw lavender rose petals fall out. There were only a handful of them, but they were more precious to me than any of the bouquets Id received this month. assay to catch them, I readTo Thetis,Long overdue, I know, but very often the things we most desire come only after much labor and struggle. That is a human truth, I think. Even Peleus knew that. SethHes back, you know.Huh? I looked up from the baffling inscription to see Doug leaning against the doorframe.He nodded toward my book. Mortensen. Hes up in the coffee bar again, typing away as usual.I close d the book, holding it tightly with both hands. Doug are you up on your Greek mythology?He snorted. Dont insult me, Kincaid. Thetisand Peleus they were Achilles parents, near?Indeed they were, he told me, smug with the confidence of his area of expertise.For my part, I was simply puzzled. I didnt really get the inscription or understand why Seth would reference the Trojan Wars greatest warrior.Do you know the rest? Doug asked me expectantly.What? That Achilles was a dysfunctional psychopath? Yeah, I know that.Well, yeah, everyone knows that. I mean the really serene part. About Thetis and Peleus. I shook my head, and he continued, professor-like, Thetiswas a sea nymph, and Peleus was a mortal who loved her. Only, when he went to woo her, she was a real bitch about it.How so?She was a shape-shifter.I nearly dropped the book. What?Doug nodded. He approached her, and she turned into all sorts of shit to scare him off wild animals, forces of nature, monsters, whatever.Whatwhatd he do?He held on. Grabbed her and wouldnt permit go through all of those terrible transformations. No matter what she turned into, he just held on.Then what? I could barely hear my own voice.She in conclusion turned back into a woman and stayed a woman. Then they got married.I had stopped breathing somewhere around the word shape-shifter. Still clutching the book, I stared off into space, a great winged feeling swelling in my chest of drawers.You all right, Kincaid? Christ, youve been weird lately.I blinked, tuning back in to reality. The feeling in my chest burst out, launching into glorious flight. I started breathing again.Yeah. Sorry. Ive just had a lot on my mind. Forcing levity, I added, Ill do my best not to be excessively weird from now on.Doug looked relieved. Coming from you, that might be a long shot, but heres to hoping.Yes, I agreed, smiling. Heres to hoping.