Chapter Twenty Seven
Tristan
It was over.
The thought that we wouldn’t be looking over our shoulder for someone or something to come after us was bizarre to consider, but it was true. I stood there, holding Callista in my arms, and no one was trying to get her.
“Thank you.” I looked up to my mother’s face, and then to Isis’s. They teamed up and did the impossible.
“It was never an option to simply play dead. And now that everything is over, we expect lots of time with them. They were such a joy to watch.” Aphrodite clasped her hands together in joy and Isis agreed with her.
“Yes, they are darling.”
“Babe.” Ares walked up to Aphrodite, not even waiting for a hello from her before his lips crashed against hers. She moaned against him, and then pushed him back so she could breathe a little more.
“Sorry,” she smiled mischievously. Ares looked a little irritated, but that was probably normal for him.
“I better go see Osiris, stay in touch.” Isis waved then shimmered out of our sight.
“I’m going to go to. All this battle nonsense has me all worked up.” She eyed Ares, who grabbed her and they both left together. I totally tried not to think about the fact that she was my mother, and the goddess of sex. Shea and Ares were probably already going at it in the seconds they had been gone.
“That was something.” Tristan shook his head before wrapping his free arm around me, thus hugging his family. We talked to the babes, and told them how everything was going to be fine now, and we how much we loved them. They smiled and laughed. Callista kept feeling safe in her soul, which was perfect, because she was. They both were, thanks to their sneaky operation to get Ra. The doctor had said they were smart babes.
“So I guess things are going to be good for a while now.” Leander strode up to us with that goofy grin on his face.
“Seems so.” I was happy, and I was even more happy that Leander was still with me. He was my brother, and I’d be lost without him in my life.
“Well, I’ve got a woman to get back to. Might be needing your help soon in making that little muse my wife.” He winked, and then leaned in for a hug. I kissed his cheek, and whispered in his ear.
“You keep her bare foot and in the kitchen, ya hear?” I repeated his words to me, that he said back when I was sick, and Tristan was making me soup in the very beginning of our present courtship. He chuckled and took a step back. He and Tristan nodded at each other goodbye. It was cute. I knew their bond was very strong, after everything they had been through: taking care of me, trying to find me when I was taken, and then working together to keep me and the babes alive. They were brothers, as well, a thought that made my soul warm with love. He gave us one last wave then left to go see Lacey. I couldn’t wait to see when they would be getting married. They deserved it. Hell, they had been through so much, being our friends. We needed to come up with a way to really thank them for everything. They would probably refuse anything we’d give them, but we’d do it anyway.
I felt Tristan’s eyes on me. He knew I was up to something, but just shook his head and laughed.
“Well, you know how to throw one hell of a party.” Set was the next one to come to say goodbye.
“Cute babies. When they get a little older, and don’t shit in a diaper, I’ll watch them for ya. We’ll have all kinds of fun.” He winked then disappeared. I looked up to Tristan with narrowing eyes.
“He is not watching them.” His kind of fun and my kind of fun were probably two very different types of fun. Tristan just grinned and said nothing. Boys. He was probably going to be with Set, encouraging our babies to do dangerous things like mountain climb at three years old or swim with sharks or something, since they weren’t regular mortals.
Ra finished talking with Horus, and then flashed out in a beam of light. We’d said thank you and goodbye to the demigods that had stayed to wish us luck on our new life. We were indebted to them, and should they need us, we would help. The rest of the dead, Tristan would deal with. But it was his thing, so Horus and I took the babies inside while he did his job.
“You are an extraordinary woman, Thalia.” He sat on the couch, dirtying it up with the blood and dirt that was on him. I felt bad for whoever owned this cabin, and winced at what the landscaping must look like. My legs started to shake from fatigue, but I didn’t want to ruin the poor people’s furniture anymore.
“Sit, Thalia, before you lose all of your strength.” Horus held onto Ren, and patted the cushion next to him. In for a penny and all that. I walked over and plopped on the couch. Callista was moving her arms around, her fingers trying to play with my braids.
“I can’t believe it’s finally over.”
“I can see why that would be a hard concept for you to grasp. But, you and Anubis are now free to live your lives.” He spoke the words to Ren, but was obviously talking to me. He was enamored with my son, who seemed to be very interested in his uncle, as well.
“He likes you a lot,” I said, the sentiment making him turn his head towards me.
“Been a long time since someone has smiled like this at me.” He went back to playing with Ren. I felt conflicting emotions coming from him—it almost seemed like he wasn’t used to feelings like this.
“I’m not, I had a rough childhood, and even after I came into power of my own, I have been fighting with my family. Set hated me, and Anubis always felt shunned because of me. Then he hated me after I helped Osiris take him away from your wedding. It took a while, but we made amends, and Set and I just sort of ignored each other. I’ve never belonged.” My heart ached for him. My hand reached out and touched his.
“Well, you’re part of our family. And Ren is going to need his uncle around. You’re always welcome with us.” I smiled, and he just nodded. Feeling elated, and still a little uncomfortable, Horus offered to watch over the babes while I cleaned up and showered. I didn’t want the evidence of that battle on me any longer.
The water felt like heaven on my skin, and with my head under the water’s spray, I watched as blood and dirt circled the drain. This day, hell, this whole pregnancy, was burned into my brain. I would never forget what we had been through, no matter how long I lived. My fingers took out the braids in my hair, and pumped some shampoo into the matted mess on my head. Another’s fingers replaced mine in my hair, startling me.
