I knew it.I felt as though I’d known it all along, even if I wanted to fight it in the beginning. I’d been curled up into a tight ball, but she opened me up like a night-blooming water lily under the nourishing moonlight.
That was why he let her live. The first time I brought her to him, he looked into my mind. I could feel him, but I didn’t know what he’d found. He’d only said, “I see.”
Indeed, he did before me.
I wondered if he knew Vivien saw me as a child and promised to walk with me in this life. Had it all been a destiny he’d known, or perhaps even designed? I could never tell with him.
“And your gift…” Osiris said to her, trailing off. Again, the thrum of some magic brushed against my skin as it filled the room.
Her words came out in a whisper. “I just want them to have the same chance as me.”
“So be it,” Osiris said.
Suddenly he was over by the water, though I didn’t see him move. His hand rose, and over his open palm a glowing blue ankh appeared. “But you shall be their shepherd. Prevent the war between sekhors and gods. Keep the balance. Seek out your fellow sekhors and guide them into harmony and ethical existence. And if they cannot abide by the truce…” Osiris crushed his hand into a fist and the ankh disappeared into wisps of smoke. “You do what must be done.”
Vivien swallowed hard and nodded slowly.
Osiris didn’t move toward us, but an invisible force pulled my hand until it joined with Vivien’s.
“As Anubis serves this world,” he said to Vivien, “so shall you.”
My fingers interlaced with Vivien’s and as I caught her sea-glass eyes, I fell into them. Osiris’s voice seemed far away now. “Allow me a wedding gift…”
The ground dropped out from under me, and nothing existed except the two of us. The surroundings blurred, but I heard footsteps across a marble floor, the chatter of people. I inhaled the familiar scent of freshly opened lilies and dark roast coffee.
We were back in the lobby of Sinopolis. My employees were bustling about, guests checking in with their luggage or heading out to dinner. The cracks in the building, miraculously erased away.
A line formed between Vivien’s brows, her lips parted in wonder at the cacophony we were suddenly amidst.
“What a wedding present,” she said in a low voice.
I was thankful she didn’t notice the wicked smile I did my best to suppress. My hotel being restored was generous, yes, but that wasn’t Osiris’s gift. If Vivien tapped inward, she would discover his wedding present to us, but she was too lost in wonder.
I decided to leave it as a surprise.
“So you’re shepherd of the souls, and I’m shepherd of the sekhors,” she said with a thoughtful frown.
I wrapped my arms around her, dipping down to catch her lips in a kiss. “As long as you are by my side, I’ll readily and willingly face whatever comes.”
“Even if it’s a wedding?” she asked, her eyebrows creeping up, tone uncertain.
I grinned at her. “Absolutely. Are you up for it?”
A twinkle entered her eye as I blatantly challenged her.
“You betcha, buttercup,” she shot back.
Epilogue
VIVIEN
Miranda stepped into the room, wearing a slinky black dress, holding deep purple lilies in one hand.
We were in the elegant, royal suite at Isis’s hotel since Grim and I were getting married in her ballroom in front of every god and supernatural creature. And my two best human friends, of course. I asked if Jamal could come, but Miranda wanted him to stay away from all the immortal heavy hitters, and I couldn’t blame her. But the reception would be held at Wolf Town, and Jamal would celebrate with us then. That little dude already promised me a dance.
Miranda’s sleeveless gown highlighted her incredibly shapely shoulders and arms. Her brown skin was dewy and the smoky makeup accentuated her catlike eyes. The purple lipstick on her full lips took her from wow to holy-wow-I-might-be-gay-for-this.
“Whoa, hot mama,” I exclaimed.
