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But before I could question him any further, Reyes asked, "And ould you help us?"

"Why else? I want hi into a snarl "Even , you’ll listen to what I have to say There’s only one way to bring him down We can’t risk the reaper because of your pride"

I started thinking back to when I’d first arrived at the gaht The Dealer didn’t seem the least bit surprised when I walked in Surely he kneho I was thee this?"

He lifted one shoulder "I sih a few connections I have He was desperate enough to do it"

I released Zeus, pulling out the knife and holding it toward him as steady as I could Which wasn’t very steady I was shaking And I had to pee

"You’re still on ood people And you stole that body you’re living in"

"I didn’t steal anything I was born on Earth, just like the prince"

I gaped at Reyes "He can do that?"

After a long hesitation, he nodded "It’s a complicated process, but yes"

"Wow, okay, but you’ve still stolen souls"

He shrugged helplessly "Man cannot live on bread alone And I steal nothing Whatever I take has been handed over to h price for the souls I take"

"Not high enough"

"You forget, they co what they want in return It’s a win–win" When I only glared, he added, "I aenda"

"I want Mr Joyce’s soul returned to hienuine enjoy to hi

"And then," I continued, lettingto take this dagger, push it into your heart, and watch you die"

"Well, then, that’s not a very good incentive for ht down I’m sorry, but it has to be done"

"I believe you," he said, surprised "I think you are sorry, even if just barely What if I only bargained for the souls of bad people? You know, murderers and child molesters and people who cut in line at the theater snack counter"

There was a thought I could live with Well, not the snack-counter thing, but … "You could be like the dereed

"But how ood souls do you have to compensate for?"