Xander’s relaxed grin twisted into a snarl, shoulders tensing and flexing. “You won’t be going anywhere near Aten.”
I resisted the urge to fight him. I knew by now that both of us were equally stubborn. If I wanted information, I’d have to take a different tactic.
“Fine,” I lied. “But I still want to know. If I’m to be blamed for bringing back the biggest, baddest god of them all, what exactly has everyone shaking in their boots?”
Xander circled the pool table, examining the lineup of balls, his face still arranged in a grim expression. “He’s not the biggest or baddest, he’s just...”
He trailed off, and I mentally filled in for him, “...the one who killed me.”
That did put me on guard. The thought of Xander burning under Aten’s power made me queasy anytime I thought about it.
“You should listen to him,” Bob advised. He was fastened back to my hip and thankfully hadn’t said anything about our detour.
I spoke to him with my mind.It’s my duty, my responsibility to put the cat—er, the sun god—back in the bag. No matter what either of you think, it is what it is.
Xander picked up where he left off, “He’s a sadistic bastard. Greedy, twisted, and I wouldn’t let him within a thousand-foot radius of you if I could help it.”
“So how was he killed?” I asked again, bringing my point back around even as I took another shot at a solid-colored ball. It sunk into the corner pocket. A smug grin curved up on one side of my face. I batted my eyelashes at him expectantly.
Xander shook his head, the unkempt hair swinging over his eyes with the movement. “I don’t know. When I emerged from the cradle, I was out of my mind for I don’t know how long. Grim and Timothy were able to sequester me for a time, but eventually they realized I was too close to the seas to be trusted. Egypt suffered floods and storms unlike any other until they moved to a place far from any open body of water.”
“You’re the reason all the gods are in Nevada?” I completed for him, the awe in my voice evident to my own ears. Xander was the very reason everyone had to pack up and move to a desert in North America.
I lined up another shot but missed. To realize the beast the Grim Reaper kept in the basement of his hotel all these years wasthe reason the gods resided in Las Vegas now was mind-blowing. From what I understood, most of the gods were not aware of what Grim had kept locked away, or ratherwho. They simply knew the portal to the Afterlife and the hub of all human souls was here, so they had to be here as well.
Osiris forbade them all from taking worshippers a long time ago because gods had become too powerful, domineering, and cruel. They could only stay powerful if they were near the well of souls that Grim reaped from this world.
I doubted Grim would love that I knew all this, but give Vivien a moisturizing face mask, some sliced cucumbers for her eyes, and two dozen pink frosted cupcakes at girls' night and she would spill anything.
Xander nodded. “Eventually, I came somewhat to my senses and Grim explained that because of my sacrifice the other gods were moved to action, and they took Aten out. But not without great cost. Many were slain and sent back to the cradle of life. And of those, I believe few, if any, have reemerged.” He bent over and his stick met the white ball with a loud crack. Three striped balls fell into two separate pockets.
“I still get another truth,” I pointed out before he got ahead of himself.
That sly grin returned, making my heart flutter. It was that, or maybe the way his ass looked as he bent over to take his shot.
Xander shook his head. “Nuh, uh. You asked if I’m why the gods are in Vegas. That’s your second truth. And if you keep pouting like that—” He slid closer to me, eyes still coolly scanning the pool table, though I could feel the heat of his body seep into my side. “—I’m going to kiss and lick that expression right of your gorgeous fucking face.”
His words hit my spine like an electric shock, and I forgot to breathe. Sweat broke out between my breasts as my skin tingled and ached in anticipation.
I picked up my beer and took a generous swallow, trying to cool down.
“Truth or dare, sweetheart,” he posed casually, rubbing the chalk on the end of his stick.
I never knew what a loaded question that could be until this moment.
“Dare,” I said, trying to be nonchalant, but my insides quaked. I set my hip against the pool table, pretending to be unaffected. Pretending I wasn’t anticipating him taking advantage of me.
How did he do that? A moment ago I was all consumed with pumping him for information, and now I wanted him to pump me in other ways. Again.
Xander took my pool cue and set both of them aside, turning to face me. “I dare you to close your eyes and not open them again until I tell you.”
I frowned.
A spark glimmered in his eyes in response. “Ah, I knew you wouldn’t do it.”
My frown only deepened. I thought he was going to dare me to kiss him or something. Instantly, my hackles rose at the suggestion. We were in a crowded bar, well, semi-crowded. I wasn’t super familiar with my surroundings, and it felt wrong to submit to Xander’s dare.
He tilted his head. “I can almost see the smoke coming out of your ears from overthinking this.”
