Page 78 of Immortal Sun

Sorry, I must have crashed after accidentally falling into the water last night. I need to tell Daggon and Kratos “thank you”.

Apep Kaos

Kratos already filled me in. Glad you’re okay. The water does tend to take a lot out of people. Don’t worry about it, just take it easy this morning.

I smile at the text.

Me

Thank you for being so kind.

Apep Kaos

Well, you’re new, it’s my job to be welcoming. I’ll stop by with some fresh food for your lunch later. Still researching Jake’s latest whereabouts, but I feel we are getting closer, hang in there.

Tears fill my eyes. At least Apep’s normal and actually treating me like a human and not running around kissing me or claiming to be a god.

Me

Thank you. Seriously.

He sends me an emoji back of a smiley face with a halo. I respond with a heart and throw myself onto the bed. “Ughhhh.”

The jingle from the anklet fills the tense quiet room like a ticking time bomb. I’m almost afraid to move. The ringing of the bell isn’t normal, it resonates weird, as if it echoes across a large sea, through the forests, and down Puget Sound; it’s not a normal bell. And if I was braver, I’d probably go downstairs, march right up to Cyrus and demand an explanation but right now I’m barely surviving trying to figure out the last twelve hours of my life.

Nothing makes sense anymore and I’ve only been here a few days.

Bast jumps up next to my head and sniffs my hair, then starts licking my arm.

Why does my skin feel so dry?

My stomach chooses that perfect moment to growl. I don’t know Cyrus’s morning routine. Every day has had its own nightmares and surprises, but maybe I’ll get lucky and he won’t be in the kitchen first thing. I don’t think I can deal with more dreams and revelations.

I put on a pair of flip flops, a sweatshirt, and keep my sweatpants on. Then I open my bedroom door. Like a kid sneaking out, I look up and down the hall. The coast is clear. I quickly make my way from the guest house down the path and into the kitchen then come to a screeching halt.

Cyrus is in front of the fridge, completely shirtless and in nothing but black silk pajama pants.

He looks like the god he claimed to be in my dream standing in front of a freaking microwave pulling out a mug. I give my head a shake. I’m definitely losing it and reading into the stories and myths way too much. Plus, other than the bell on my ankle, everything is normal this morning, right? No water, no gods, no monsters, no fire lining the water and creating a bridge. Hah, that was a stretch of the imagination even for me.

“You were tired,” he says, all nonchalant and without turning around.

“Yeah, I had a rough night’s sleep,” I snap, maybe saying it in a way that sounds disrespectful but at this point, I’m done. “I had some nightmare about a tiny man claiming to be a god.”

He hits his coffee mug against the counter, spilling half his cup before righting it. He cleans up the mess then leans against the counter; muscles flex in his biceps as he grips the granite.

It’s been three days, and I feel like someone ran me over with a truck and asked me to say “thank you” afterwards. I hold my head between my hands and try to focus while Cyrus drinks his coffee and goes back to being calm. Maybe if I don’t make eye contact, I’ll be able to focus on something other than his muscles.

“I see you got your gift.” He turns and looks down at my right ankle even though I have sweats on I swear he can see through them, to the bell. “Has a nice little ring to it.”

I glare. “It’s creepy that you put this on me last night. I’m assuming you brought me to bed, right?”

“You passed out.” He shrugs and takes another slow sip of coffee. “I figured you’d rather sleep in bed than on the sacrificial slab downstairs.”

“Sacrificial slab, why does it seem normal that you’d own something like that?”

“I like history.” He grins. “And I didn’t put the jewelry on you, nor can I take it off. Then again, you probably already know that.”

My temper begins to rise, I wouldn’t normally yell at my host, but all things considered, I think I deserve a free pass. “Take it off.”

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