Gray nodded.
“Shit,” I mumbled.
“And we’d like you to come too.”
I walked straight into the lab door and Gray barked out a laugh. Once I’d recovered, I bit the insides of my cheeks and opened the door before walking through it.
“Why would he want me there?” I asked.
“I might have put in a few words.”
“Gray! Why?”
“You want proof so I thought I would give you proof.”
He had me there, although we’d already been banking away proof slowly as the results from analysis trickled in.
Gray preyed on the silence between us. “Scared, Scott?”
He knew how to bait me.
“Absolutely not,” I said.
“Prove it.”
We walked into Gareth’s office to find Hunter was already there. The meeting lasted a full two hours as I was briefed on where and when and how and why.
Originally it was just Gareth who would go to witness the tradition, but Hunter worried about the sanity of a mortal in Elysia alone and decided that it would be better for someone else to accompany him. Gray volunteered me, and with Gareth and Hunter’s approval, it was done. Insanity loved company.
In two days’ time, the hosting would be reversed. Gareth would stay with Hunter and Larkin, and I’d live with Gray. All that was left to do was wait for the weekend.
When Saturday arrived, Gray took us to the institute, and I shook as we stood on the ground floor. Whether it was from the nerves or the four cups of coffee, I couldn’t tell.
“Stop fidgeting,” Gray hissed.
“I can’t help it.”
He rolled his eyes in response.
Slowly, we were joined by other Gods and Gareth as they gathered to return home.
The Gods pressed together and I felt Gray’s hands on my hips, pressing up behind me. I subtly reached for one of his hands to pull it away, but he had an iron grip. I glanced around, only to have Ignacio catch my eye and wink, setting my cheeks aflame.
I don’t know who started the process or how long it took, but there was a blinding mix of colours and a heady rush that I’d never experienced before. When the light dimmed and my eyes adjusted, Gray removed his hands from me. The other Gods left in bursts of their aura, glad to be home.
“Come on then, Scott. Don’t be shy.” Gray patted me on the ass, and I swatted him before taking in the view.
It wasn’t all clouds like people depicted paradise as, but it was beautiful enough to take my breath away and make my eyes sting with tears.
We stood in a park filled with the most vibrant colours that I was incapable of describing. Trees full of green leaves and flowers in bloom. Something inside of me tugged, as if there was a distant familiarity to it.
Gray placed a gentle hand on the small of my back. “Welcome to Elysia. As much as I’d love to leave you standing here, I’d very much like to go home and I’d be a terrible host if I didn’t take you with me. So, shall we?”
I turned my head and noticed that he seemed more relaxed in this environment.
“Of course.” I nodded.
The black surrounded us, and the scent of bonfires and books calmed me. When Gray’s aura disappeared, we were outside a large gothic mansion on top of a cliff. The beauty of it was in stark contrast to the park we’d just been in. It was darker, moodier, and fit Gray to a tee.
