Marina pressed her fingers against Alexios’s neck, checking for a pulse. Did demigods even have a pulse? Surely they did, right? He was half human. She sucked in a breath when she felt nothing, then moved her fingers a bit and went perfectly still, as if willing his heart to beat.

Then she felt it. Faint but there.

A couple seconds later, his eyes fluttered and he moved a bit. Then he sat up and blinked several times, his watery eyes trying to focus on her face.

“Can you hear me?” Marina asked. “Can you breathe? What can I do?”

Alexios smiled. “You already did it. But if you wouldn’t mind helping me up…”

“Of course!”

Marina stood and reached down, gathering Alexios in her arms and pulling him up. He was wobbly but managed to stand upright as long as he was touching the wall.

“Is Zeus really going to kill you?” Marina asked, just in case the stalker or someone else was listening.

“I honestly don’t know,” he said, playing along.

“You could stay here.”

“If he had to come looking for me, it would only make things worse. It’s best to face my failure now. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I’ll try to lobby for your reward, but I can’t make promises.”

“I’m not worried about it. I’ll pray for you.”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “To whom?”

She followed him to the front door and watched as a shimmering white door materialized on her front porch. Alexios walked through the door, turned around, and raised the banana nut bread in the air and smiled.

“Good luck, Marina Trahan.”

The door disappeared in a blink of light and Alexios and the ring were gone.

Marina slumped down into her rocking chair. Her decision was final.

She was taking the rest of the day off.

Chapter Thirty-One

One month later

Marina stood in the middle of the downtown building and smiled at all the old wood covered with dust. It was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

“Are you sure about this?” Halcyon asked, wrinkling her nose. “There’s that new strip mall on the highway to New Orleans. Everything is shiny and clean.”

Marina shook her head. “I don’t want shiny. I want something with history. Something that’s old and still beautiful.”

“Well, you certainly have the old part covered. But I have to admit, the location is great.”

The building was located right in the heart of downtown Last Chance, across from the café and next to the bakery. Advertising wouldn’t even be necessary. In a matter of two days, most everyone in town would visit the bakery or café and they’d see her signs. Everyone would know she was there.

“I can’t believe Dottie bought this place,” Halcyon said. “And everything between you guys is cool, right? It’s all legal?”

Marina nodded. “I signed the papers yesterday. I’m leasing the space with the intent to purchase. No set purchase date, and I don’t start making lease payments until the shop is open and in the black.”