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“Go ahead,” I said, sounding far more relaxed than I felt.
“What’s your connection to music? I’m not aware that the goddess Melinoe had any special connection to it.”
“It isn’t a goddess thing,” I said. “That one is all Lorelei.”
“But…?”
I wagged a finger. “That was your question, and I answered. My turn. Why were you tortured in hell? At least, I assume that was hell.” I was curious whether he would share the same story as Dantalion.
His face fell into shadow. “That’s complicated.”
“I’m a reborn goddess born to a human family and hiding from anyone who’d want to use me as a weapon. I’m equipped to handle complicated.”
He inhaled softly. “Knowledge is power.”
“Which is why you collect secrets.”
“It was part of my job once upon a time. Old habits.” He shrugged.
The realization hit me. “You used people’s secrets to torture them?”
“I wouldn’t do that now.”
I believed him. “Are you afraid I’ll learn your weaknesses and use them against you? Because I would never. I’m not vindictive, Kane.”
He offered a vague smile. “You weren’t exactly thrilled with me.”
“Because you left.”
“What you saw in my head … there’s so much more than that.”
He feared vulnerability. I understood that well. I reached for him and ran my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. It felt like touching a cloud.
He didn’t move away.
“I have spent centuries building up my walls,” he said. “You’ve got a moat and a castle out here.” He patted his chest. “I’ve built mine in here.”
“What else are you worried I’ll see? That you love puppies? That you’re not the big, bad prince of hell you pretend to be?”
“I’m concerned that what you witness will change what you think of me. I’m not proud of the demon I once was, Lorelei.”
“How do you know what I think of you now?”
He glanced pointedly at his exposed chest.
“That was the goat,” I reminded him. “Lazy whores, remember?”
His mouth formed the hint of a smile. “I told you when we first met that I’d retired here.”
“I remember.”
“That wasn’t strictly true. It was more of a forced retirement. I ended up in Fairhaven by chance. I needed a place to put down roots and this seemed like a quiet place with a powerful energy. I found it a pleasant combination.”
“Why did you leave hell?”
“You seem to have forgotten my building-a-wall analogy.”
“Look at this house, Kane. I’m a demolition expert.” I finally asked the question I’d been dying to know. “Where were you these past few weeks?” I’d assumed it was Hell, but Dantalion’s version of events seemed to rule out his old stomping grounds.
