Page 88 of Monsters in Love: Lost in the Underworld

Anubis raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not quite understanding the full extent of my enthusiasm. “A tour? I have duties to attend to, and the trials are the primary focus.”

I flashed him a playful smile and elbowed him. “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun! You can show me the highlights of your domain. And besides, it might be a nice break from the monotony of judgment and trials. Consider it a chance to unwind and… share a bit of your world with me.”

Anubis looked thoughtful for a moment, his gaze lingering on me as I tried to bat my lashes. It felt silly, but with a guy like Anubis, one could never be too sure he was getting the obvious message of my interest.

“Very well. I suppose a brief tour wouldn’t be entirely out of the question. There are areas of Duat that are rarely seen by the living.”

My heart skipped a beat at his agreement, and I tried to keep my excitement in check. “Great! I’m really looking forward to it. I promise I won’t be a nuisance.”

He gave a curt nod and began to lead me through the labyrinthine halls of Duat, his demeanor as composed as ever. As we walked, he pointed out various features with the same detached professionalism he had shown throughout the trials. He reminded me of that guy in the commercials for eye drops to cure dry eyes.

“This is the Chamber of Reflections,” Anubis explained, gesturing to a room filled with shimmering, eerie mirrors. “It is where souls confront their past deeds and their consequences.”

I tilted my head, admiring the reflections that seemed to twist and shimmer with their own enigmatic light. “Wow, that sounds intense. So, is it like a cosmic reality show where you get to judge everyone’s worst moments?”

Anubis’s eyes flickered with what might have been amusement—or maybe it was just an artifact of the shadows. “Not exactly. It is more of a personal revelation.”

“Sounds like a lot of fun,” I said with a smirk. “Or, you know, the kind of thing that makes for a great dinner conversation.”

I wagged my eyebrows but Anubis continued, seemingly unaffected by the emotional weight of his explanations. “And over here is the River of Shadows, where lost souls drift before their final judgment.”

My gosh, what would it take for this guy to just… I don’t know, throw me down right here and kiss me?

But, I held back, telling myself that I was probably moving too fast for a deity like him. I followed his lead, my eyes widening at the dark, flowing river that seemed to whisper secrets as it moved. “This place is incredible. Do you have a tour guide uniform or a fancy hat for these excursions? Because I think you’re rocking the ‘mysterious and imposing’ look quite well.”

Anubis glanced at me, his expression remaining neutral but with a hint of curiosity. “It is my duty to oversee these realms. It is a solemn responsibility.”

Right over his head.

I grinned, trying to keep the mood light. “Well, you’re definitely making it less solemn and more, I don’t know, ‘mysteriously charming.’”

By the time we reached a serene garden of luminous flowers and whispering winds, Anubis paused, seemingly content with the tour. “This is the Garden of Eternal Rest. It is a place where souls find peace before their final transition.”

I took a deep breath, inhaling the ethereal scent of the flowers. “It’s beautiful. Thanks for the personal tour, Anubis. I didn’t expect to get the VIP treatment in the underworld.”

Anubis nodded, his gaze softening slightly. “I’m glad you could see more of Duat. It is not often that someone takes an interest in the intricacies of this realm.”

I couldn’t help but smile, feeling a strange sense of fulfillment. “Well, I’ve enjoyed every moment. It’s not every day you get a personal tour of the underworld. Next time, though, maybe we can do dinner before heading to the cosmic trials?”

Anubis gave a small, almost imperceptible smile in return. “I’ll keep that in mind. Though there is not much to eat in a place filled with the dead.”

“Oh, right, right. It’s not like you guys keep the cannibals or anything. You don’t right? Because I’m sure there are plenty of them out there, even in this day in time.”

Anubis’s ears flattened and I bit my lip, wondering what it signified. Was he upset? Was I rambling too much? Were my jokes too morbid?

“You are a strange female…” he finally let out, his tone much lower than before, sending butterflies into my stomach. What would it feel like to hear him whisper my name while I felt his hard body beneath his obsidian fur…

I opened my mouth to say something witty to kill the awkward moment when Anubis suddenly pulled me against him, and kissed me.

Mara

I hadn't exactly plannedon kissing a jackal in my lifetime, but that certainly didn’t stop me from giving it a go. Anubis’s fur felt surprisingly soft beneath my fingertips, and the warmth of his breath against my lips was both unexpected and exhilarating.

The best part? The sound of his tail wagging behind him.

The kiss was a blend of strange sensations: the coolness of his otherworldly essence mingling with the warmth of our sharedbreath. It was unlike any kiss I’d ever experienced, a mix of ancient mystery and raw, undeniable attraction.

Perhaps he was feeling the same tension I had been since our initial meeting.

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