“You’ll trap me and make me think you really care about me. You’ll tell me you’ll always protect me, and everything you do will be for my benefit. But you’ll only be using me,” he cried, tears suddenly trailing down his cheeks. “You'll make me do things against my will, then throw me away!”
Anubis pulled Star into his arms, holding him close when he tried to pull away. “I would never do that to you. I don’t need to use you for anything, Star. There’s nothing in this world I cannot claim with my own might, baby boy.”
He calmed down, but he was still crying. “I want to believe you. But in the end, you will still hurt me like he did. Even after so long, I’m still hurt. But even with the pain I carry, I didn't mean to do it; I hurt him,” he whimpered. “I didn't want to k...” Star's words were so low, that even with perfect hearing, Anubis didn't hear the rest of his words.
“What did you do, baby? Tell me.” When Anubis did not get an answer, he gently pulled Star back and saw that he was sleeping. Sighing, he stood with Star in his arms and then carried him over to the bed as Star's words rang in his mind. Anubis sat on the bed next to Star, watching him as he slept. “Who hurt you, Star? And what did you do to them?”
Besides a few select family members, Anubis had never been invested in the lives of humans and their pain. Yet, with Star, he wanted to heal him and make things better. Other than the doubts plaguing Anubis, it now explained that the walls between him and Star might take a while to bring down, and he just needed to give him time. Leaning down, he gently kissed Star's forehead.
“Sleep tight,” he said, then left the room and headed to Thor's, knowing his friend would be there. Although the man had many homes, he enjoyed staying at the club. Anubis entered without knocking just as Thor came out of the bathroom.
“Hey, what are you doing in here? I thought you'd stay in the room with your redhead.”
“Nah, I think it would be better if he didn't know I was here.”
Thor's brows furrowed. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. Do me a favor. I’m headed home, so take care of him in the morning for me.”
Thor nodded. “Of course. Are you sure you don't want him to know you were here?”
“I am.” Anubis teleported back home and summoned one of his loyal jackals.
“Master, what can this humble servant do for you?”
“Bring me the life story of every Star Rueng that exists,” he ordered.
“My lord, I...” Mammon started but stopped when Anubis glared at him. “I will do as you wish.”
“Do not let my father find out.”
“Yes.” Mammon disappeared, and Anubis sat on the couch, running Star's words through his mind. Most would think Star was talking off the cuff about death, but for Anubis, a god who dealt with death, it was never a joking subject to him if Star had died and come back to life; that meant nothing in the scheme of things. But if he was reincarnated, there was always a sacrifice to get his second chance at life. And other than Hades, one of the other gods who could grant that opportunity would be Osiris, his father.
For the past few months, his father and mothers had been harping on him to find a lover, and just when he thought they had given up, Star showed up. If his family were behind everything, he would not let them off the hook as easily as he'd done the last time they meddled in his life. Anubis did not understand his family's desire to butt into his love life. He had never moaned and groaned that he was lonely. He had a rich and fulfilling life.
Anubis scrubbed his face roughly in annoyance at his parents and the uncertainty surrounding his attraction to Star. He hated the doubts he felt in his heart when he thought about Star, but he needed to know the truth. And until he got the information on Star, there wasn’t anything that he could do. Although he wanted to intervene in Star’s life, he couldn’t unless the man asked for his help. Yet, with what he heard tonight, there were so many questions surrounding Star, and his fascination with the man only drew more of Anubis's interest, to the point of distraction.
And with that thought, Anubis realized he might need to rescind his earlier thought and hold off on pursuing Star. He couldn’t let the man become an obsession when he still questioned if Star was his forever one.
* * *
Star groaned,unsticking his heavy eyelids one at a time. His vision was blurred as he tried to figure out exactly where he was, but it was difficult since a herd of elephants was trampling all over his skull, not to mention whoever or whatever contraption was twisting his stomach into knots. Through the thundering of loud feet marching across his head, Star heard a knock at the door. He closed his eyes and muttered a soft response, hoping the person on the other side heard him.
"I'm glad to see you're awake,” came a baritone voice that vibrated through his every nerve, causing Star to open his eyes quickly.
He hissed, clutching the side of his head and groaning in pain, vowing he'd never drink with Chase again. Star heard a deep chuckle and looked toward the sound, spotting a handsome man with shoulder-length blond hair and striking blue eyes. He was holding a silver tray with a glass filled with a dark green blob that made Star's stomach twist and turn violently just looking at it.
“I bet you're feeling like shit right now,” the guy said.
No fucking shit,Star wanted to say, but instead, he said, “You could say that.”
“That kind of happens when you drink a whole bottle of Dragon Fire Whiskey. Here, drink this. I promise you'll feel better.” He put the tray with the green blob in front of Star, and from the smell alone, Star almost upchucked but held it back long enough to ask.
“What is it, death and decay?”
The man chuckled. “Trust me, it doesn't taste as bad as it smells.”
“Who are you? And how do I know you're not trying to hurt me? Where's Chase?” Star rattled off suddenly, remembering his friend. He didn't feel like he was in direct danger, since he was still in the bedroom he and Chase magicked into the night before.
