“Karmen cost me someone,” Bish said, his tone curt and abrasive. “I’m owed vengeance.”
The pause that followed his announcement had Cipher glancing at Váli over the top of his sunglasses. The grim-faced fucker with the unreadable expression just stared at Bish. “And?”
“And you’re Vengeance.”
Cipher didn’t quite put his face in his hand, but he thought about it. That, or smacking Bish upside the head. The second was much more appealing. “What my dog-loving friend is trying to express,” Cipher inserted neatly, “is she took the bone from his yard and gave it away. Now he has no bone except the one to pick with her.”
“Still not seeing how this is my problem,” Váli stated.
Did he really have to do everything?
Bish glared at Váli, and the Keeper of Vengeance remained utterly unperturbed by the gathering storm in Bish’s countenance. For such an easy-going guy, he could be frightening when pushed.
Karmen had pushed him. A kernel of pride exploded within Cipher. Damn, she was good.
“We want a boon, you smug overbearing asshole,” Bish ground out, and Váli cocked his head.
“Why didn’t you say so in the first place?” Váli’s entire demeanor changed as he linked his fingers behind his head and slid down into a lazy position.
“Wha—?” Bish cut himself off and spun on his heels, growling under his breath. When he had composed himself enough to turn back, he stalked toward Váli with a snarl on his lips.
“Let me get this straight, Váli. You don’t want to straight up seek vengeance for the wrong she dealt me, but you’re willing to provide a boon, which will inevitably end in you seeking vengeance for me.”
Váli was better than Cipher had given him credit for. Bish looked like he was ready to forego revenge on Karmen and clap a little murder and mayhem over Vengeance’s ears.
The corner of Váli’s lips twitched in dark amusement as he studied Bish. “What’s your point?”
“Ahh!”
Sitting up, Cipher braced his elbows on his knees and covered his mouth with one hand to hide his mirth. It wouldn’t do for Bish to see Cipher laughing at him. The man of darkness would make his life hell for days. Regardless of how humans correlated sin to hell, it wasn’t his preferred way to spend his time.
“I think what Bish is trying to say is, he’d like to get a boon, and in exchange, will provide one favor at a time of your choice. We all know how you like to collect your favors.” Cipher picked up his tumbler and rotated it in his hands, watching the golden liquid slosh gently in the cup.
“I’m dying of curiosity. What’s this boon you’re requesting?”
Bish exhaled a heavy sigh and dropped into the other lounge chair beside Váli. “I’d like to exact revenge. The very worst you’re willing to provide.”
“That’s nice, but a series of unfortunate events that eventually lead to death is the harshest penalty I carry out. Not to break your heart, but I wouldn’t do that to Karmen. Not to mention, you’re the Keeper of Death, not me.” He pointed a finger at Bish. “What’s your next idea?”
After a beat of glaring, Bish shook his head as if he had no idea what to do with Váli. “I don’t want to kill her. But I want her to suffer for what she did. What are your boundaries? Then we can decide a punishment from there. You have my word I’ll owe you a favor of equal payment.” Bish spoke slowly, as if that alone would make Váli agreeable.
Ha! Bish didn’t know Vengeance like Cipher did. Nothing was ever so simple. That was okay. Cipher was quite enjoying the conversation.
“Well, I’d say a no torture, pain, or blood. Anything outside of that is fair game. Within reason.”
“I can work with that.” Bish nodded enthusiastically. “I was thinking something that would really piss that Keeper off. She took something that was rightfully mine. And I want to do the same for her.”
“Something or someone?” Váli tilted his head thoughtfully.
Bish remained silent, not willing to give up his secret.
“The details aren’t important.” Cipher took a sip of his Nectar and waved a long, elegant hand.
“Oh, but I disagree. I take my grace very seriously, and details are what determine the perfect vengeance. If she took someone from you, it would require a more severe act than a simple thing.”
“Someone,” Bish gritted through his teeth.
Váli dropped his gaze to the pool and zoned out for several minutes.
“Váli,” Bish called, snapping in front of his face.
The other Keeper shoved his hand away and sneered. “I’m fucking thinking. Give me a minute, all right?”
Downing the last of his Nectar, Cipher sauntered over to the bar and refilled his glass. Whatever the nature of this favor, he would turn it around to his benefit. He’d already thought of several potential outcomes and ways to circumvent them. Or at least how to take advantage.
Oh, the possibilities, Cipher mused as he returned to his chair.
“All right. I think I’ve got it.” Váli looked from Bish to Cipher, then back again. His smile was nothing short of evil.
“So you’ll do it?” Suspicion edged Bish’s tone, not that Cipher could blame him. Váli hadn’t touched his drink, nor had he relaxed his guard. If anything, his taciturn expression hadn’t softened at all, though his countenance had darkened. The wicked grin on his lips didn’t bode well either.
Cipher didn’t think Váli was on their side for an instant. But a Keeper’s boon had to be fulfilled once granted.
“I have questions for you,” Váli said, his tone biting, even if his words were not.
“Of course you do,” Bish drawled. The last thing the Keeper of Death wanted to do was answer questions—especially about Dahlia. The new Keeper of Fate intrigued Cipher from her inception. She was all any of the Keepers gossiped about. Judgment, Justice, and Punishment worked overtime to keep the others away while she found her wings.
Still, Cipher wouldn’t mind a conversation with her. Not that Tarus, that fucker, would let him within breathing distance. What was he going to do? Steal her away? Give him some credit. It would totally be her choice, and right now, his interest was merely academic.
That, and she was beautiful. Nothing wrong with admiring beauty.
Rising, he went to the bar to refill his Nectar. He brought the bottle back to refill Bish’s glass, though Váli had yet to touch his. Grumpy bastard probably wouldn’t either. He wasn’t a big drinker.
Come to think of it, the only times he’d ever seen Váli take a drink was when he was with Karmen. Filing that little piece of information away, Cipher added a generous measure to his glass and then Bish’s.
“Who did she take away?”
Bish just stared at him. “Seriously? That is your question.”
“It’s one of them,” Váli told him, the corners of his wicked grin turning up a fraction higher. “Problem there, Bish?”
Whirling, Bish glared at him. “I told you he was a terrible idea.”
“Now, now,” Cipher said, raising his hands in an attempt to both soothe and wave Bish off before he blew this chance for them. Their best opportunity—well, Cipher’s best opportunity—lay in utilizing Váli to get him access to Karmen, while effectively neutering Bish so Cipher could play the hero. It wasn’t a role he often embraced, but Karmen pushed him and it was time he pushed back.