“Since you are so uncomfortable with the company at this party, would you care to visit your second home?” Miranda fluttered her lashes at Seth.
He reared back ever so slightly. “What?”
Miranda slowly, carefully unsheathed Bob. Immortals nearby stilled or turned toward us as the Blade of Bane glinted under the shimmering cosmos hovering just overhead.
If she’d drawn it any faster, or in any other fashion, it would have signaled a threat. The gods would have lashed out in anger or fear, causing a chain reaction that would have been catastrophic. But this woman knew how to comport herself, even among ancient immortals.
“Oh, what’s that, Bob? You want another taste of Set?” she asked out loud, also using his ancient name. Seth’s face further twisted and soured at her familiarity with him.
“Oh no, right, I see.” She nodded, responding to the blade none of the rest of us could hear before leaning toward Xander. “Bob says Seth tasted like cheap gas station sushi and he’d rather not.” She shrugged, sheathing Bob once again. “Oh, well.”
A small titter of laughter rippled through the gathered crowd. Seth twisted around with violent promise, silencing the laughter though the smiles of amusement remained.
I can’t believe I ever thought Miranda might not be able to handle this party.
Taking advantage of the moment of distraction, I finally allowed myself to look at Aaron. My breath was ripped unceremoniously from my lungs. Even amongst gods and immortals, he was the most gorgeous creature in creation. His blond hair fell in loose waves as always, but the heat emanating from his eyes froze me to the spot.
Without words, they spoke.
I didn’t want to come. He made me.
With a slight tilt of my head, I responded silently.
I know.
His cheeks tinged red as he touched the collar around his neck. Again, my anger flashed hot and bright. Aaron was not an animal to be chained up.
I’d rather see him step onto that wire far above the Strip of his own free will, rather than see him locked up and kept like a pet.
Aaron’s face hardened into something brittle. The moment passed quickly, but the damage lingered, etched into the set of his mouth and the way he no longer met anyone’s eyes. I could see his humiliation and a small part of him actively die as Seth forced him to play his role of blood-bonded slave out in public.
Bile churned its way up my throat, but I fought it back down along with my anger.
I didn’t know if Seth was deliberately baiting me with Aaron, but either way, I couldn’t let him get to me.
“You don’t belong here,” Seth hissed at Xander.
At least I wasn’t the only one losing the grip on their composure.
“Xander, Miranda!” An excited squeal broke through as Bianca rushed forward. A swirling confection of pink cosmos entered our little group as Bianca openly hugged Xander then Miranda. The blonde oracle goddess with beautiful, delicate features, once known as Hathor, knew exactly what she was doing as she warmly welcomed the mortals.
In her wake followed the lazy stride of a tall Black man with one brown eye and the other glowing bright. Fallon used to be known as Horus, the sky god, and tonight the power he held was unleashed and on display.
Fallon glared at Seth with open disdain as Bianca just barely held herself back from flinging her arms around me. Instead, she straightened before dropping into a deep curtsy.
“Thoth.” She set a hand over her heart. “My gratitude, my loyalty, my power to the one who wields the power of souls. TheGod of the Dead.Heri ib.i, her khet.k.” She finished in the old language.
Above my heart, under your authority.
Fallon continued to stare at Seth coldly, silently letting him know his presence wasn’t welcome before dropping into a deep bow before me.
Xander and Miranda barely paused before doing the same. It created a ripple effect. I twisted to watch as the rest of the gods all around began to dip in the same deference, the old words murmured in respect.
Turning back, I found Aaron gazing at me with that lopsided smile that made my heart skip a few beats before tripping all over itself. He looked at me like he was not only in awe, but like he was proud. Something I never thought I needed from another being, but I drank it up like water from an oasis.
Aaron slowly began to bow.
“No,” Seth ground out. Aaron’s body stopped cold, going stiff. His eyes widened a moment in either surprise, pain, or both.
