Page 13 of Until the End of Ever
“Curious girl, hm?” The vendor handed the second wrap to Gideon. “There are various words for it. I like the northerners’ idea of seeing the link between the worlds as one tree with various branches, linking us all. That cave up the road is a tiny twig. Your Highvale is a branch. It’s useful, to live close enough to feel if something’s going on. Now eat. Tell old Mack if he’s chosen a fitting profession.”
Thus prompted, I tentatively bit into the souvlaki. I was starving but uneasy, not sure what to make of Mack.
The second bite wasn’t as polite. Never had I tasted anything so delicious. Not only did it dance on my tongue with amillion impossible flavors, it also spread electrifying warmth and strength all through my body and mind.
“It’s the most delectable thing in the world.”
The entity disguised as a man smile. “This world, maybe. And now we drink.”
Instead of plastic cups or cheap, slightly dirty glasses, he placed four intricately carved goblets on his counter. I had very little doubt that they were made of solid gold. He was done posing as anything but what he was.
I watched him pour the fizzy drink, slice lemon, and place mint in each goblet before adding a little ouzo.
“To your health!” he toasted, lifting his own goblet.
Fuck it. He’d either poisoned us or he hadn’t. I grabbed my goblet and lifted it. “To the gods.”
That earned me a broad grin.
The drink tasted like springtime, happiness and laughter wrapped in music. I gulped it down greedily, only stopping to bite into more street food. I wasn’t even polite, gorging on the delights. I wasn’t alone there. Gideon was done in less than two minutes.
“Is it bad that I wanna eat the other two?” he grumbled, eyeing the paper bag.
I might be completely sated, but I was equally tempted all the same. It had been that good.
“We can’t,” Lucian stated. “I’m not even certain it’d be safe to have that much ambrosia for us—you, especially.”
“That was fuckingambrosia?” Gideon asked Mack.
I should have known. No normal food was this magical.
The old man shrugged. “Maybe a smidge of seasoning on top. It’s not often I can share the good stuff. Human tourists would blow up. But you can handle a little fire, yes?”
I noticed then that the old man’s eyes were too blue—too bright, when they looked at Gideon, seeing beyond flesh. “Thank you, Mack. You honor us.”
The pupils fixed on me next, as he grinned again. “Yes well, never hurts to befriend good people on the road, does it? And when the time comes, you won’t forget your friend Mack. Give him a little warning before the world’s on fire, eh?”
“Should we expect the world to be on fire anytime soon?” Lucian asked.
“Maybe, maybe not.” Mack shrugged. “Funny signs, and I’m not the best at reading them. But I’d appreciate a word if it comes to that.”
“For the feast you offered us, I’ll certainly send word.” Lucian wrapped his arm around my shoulders and started to walk away, waving. “Good day to you.”
Everything in his demeanor seemed open and friendly, but his hand clutched my shoulder, tight, his strain apparent, and he walked so fast I had to half jog to keep up, until Mack was out of view.
Gideon, with his stupidly long legs, didn’t have any issue following.
“What exactly happened?” I whispered.
“We were tested,” he replied, voice low. “That much ambrosia and nectarwouldhave killed mortals. He could have murdered us. And the fact we were fine…well, I doubt Mack has made friends with just us over the years. There will be talk about it.”
It was all I could do not to glance back behind my shoulders. “I’m not sure I want to see the temples. I don’t think I could handle a third visitor in as many hours.”
Lucian nodded his agreement. “Nor I. But let’s just say, we can’t afford to come all this way andnotpay our respects. Spurning the gods is never wise.”
I didn’t argue. Besides, we were in a gorgeous city.
Quiet on a Monday morning, the town blended vestiges of the ancient world with beautiful Mediterranean architecture; roofs flatter than most mountain towns, showing that they hardly saw any snow though they were high in the mountains, light facades painted creams and yellows.
