Page 19 of Immortal Sun

“You meanthe cat?”I point.

“His name is Bast, inside joke,” he clarifies, looking way out at the sea, a smirk on his lips like I amuse him as the waves crashing against the rocks in a rhythmic cadence that almost sounds like music. “And I think he prefers it to Cat.”

“Cat is a normal cat name, more normal than a God of the Underworld.”

“He’s not normal.” His only answer before turning around, giving me his muscled back.

I start to follow him and Bast back in when a small squirrel runs up the tree, stops and holds something out to me.

I laugh. “Is your squirrel also not normal? I mean he’s holding out a nut to me right now. Seems very proud of it, like he’s the squirrel from?—”

“Like he’s the squirrel fromIce Age?” Cyrus stops in his tracks and looks over his shoulder. “It’s cute how you think you’re so special that a squirrel who collects nuts would give you one.”

I laugh. “I feel like I owe him a gift too.”

Cyrus is in front of me in an instant, Bast at his side. “No.” It comes out threatening, dark. “Don’t ever exchange any sort of…gifts with Rat.”

“I meant the squirrel.”

“His name is Rat.”

“I think you have a naming problem.”

Cyrus grabs my wrist then drops it. “Some creatures just choose their own names, however stupid.”

“And you? Did you choose your name?”

His lips twitch. “And if I did?”

I scrunch up my nose. “It was just a question.”

“I’ve been called so many names I’ve almost lost count, Cyrus just seems…more kind, approachable.”

My eyebrows soar skyward. “Approachable?”

The way his eyes look me up and down sends heat through my body as he leans in and rasps. “What? Am I intimidating?”

“You’re huge.” My laugh is awkward and my voice sounds weak. “I mean you’re so tall, of course you are.”

His smile falters a bit. “So they say, so they say…”

“I should go get ready for the day I’m sure you have a lot to teach me.”

Cyrus nods his head. “Not everything can be taught with words, Cleo. Enjoy your morning, I’ll meet you soon.” He walks back into the bar but stops and presses his hand against one small brick. It has a sad looking tree etched in it in chalk. He lowers his head and shudders.

When I follow him I can’t help myself. I do the same thing. I reach out and press my hand against it. There’s nothing specifically special about it but when I press my hand against it, my breath catches. For a few short seconds I feel a sense of peace and belonging, like maybe Jakes disappearing led me here for a purpose.

I don’t dare hope, and yet when I walk through that door.

I do.

CHAPTER 7

CYRUS

“Empty words are evil.” -Homer, The Odyssey

I’m annoyed.

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