“Me too! Hold on!” Nox said, startling Nelson. He handed Nelson his glass and hurried into their glass lodge and shouted that he’d be right back. True to his word, Nox appeared a few moments later, breathless and blushing. “Sorry! Go ahead.”
“Okay…” Nelson reached into the pocket of his robe and removed the bag.
A gasped“Wow!”burst from Nox as soon as Nelson placed it on his palm. He fanned his eyes with his other hand; they had puddled with tears and his nose was running. “Somethingbigand beautiful is in here.” he pulled the cord free and his chest heaved and Nox was shaking as he took the bracelets out. “You’reso goodat magick!” he said, crying as he kissed Nelson.
“I… They’re just pebbles,” Nelson mumbled but Nox shook his head.
“It’s our entire trip, every magickal moment in beads and created just for me. Thank you!” He kissed Nelson and his lips tasted like tears and laughter.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“They’re beautiful.Thank you.”Nox slipped something in Nelson’s palm and closed his hand around it.
“What’s this?” Nelson unwrapped the tissue paper and laughed tenderly at the small, copper harp. It was about the size of Nelson’s thumbnail and attached to a chain and a clasp to secure his ties.
“I had it made while we were in New Zealand. We agreed not to buy each other serious gifts but I had a feeling you were planning something special. I wanted to be ready so I had this Celtic harp made.”
“What’s this green stone?” It didn’t look like anything he had seen on their travels.
“It’s a piece of Connemara Marble that my dad gave me,” Nox said as he pointed at the pin. “It was my granddad’s and he said his nan gave it to him. I had Merlin look at it once and he said it’sold,old.”
“Are you sure, Nox?” Nelson started to hand it back but Nox pushed his hands away.
“There isn’t a word that could properly express how sure I am ofyou. There are pieces of me that are older than that stone and they were made from the same pillar that holds those shoulders and your spine straight, Nelson.” Nox made an exasperated sound as he cradled Nelson’s cheeks. “I would build temples for you, Nelson, yet you blush over a single stone.”
“I don’t want temples, just you.” Nelson had seen men forfeit their integrity and their dignity due to their blind thirst for power and what it had cost them.
“Not even a little one?” Nox pouted. “All gods should have a temple. I have Coudersport.”
“I’m not a god,” Nelson returned but frowned as he considered the lore and his origin story. Looking back, he could see several parallels with classical mythology but still wasn’t convinced. “I know I’m part of you and that I can channel you. That doesn’t make me a god.”
“Um…” Nox’s gaze swept upwards. “I respect that you don’t want to get into specifics but how many times did you heal yourself while you were at the cabin with Dùbhghlas? And it wasyouwho killed the valkyrie with your hands and feet tied, correct?” he verified and cut Nelson off before he could answer. “You, a man with no magickal abilities, managed to summonthe Badband rally her to our cause long before I set fire to my bleeding palm. What can we deduce from that?”
“Maybe,”Nelson conceded and reached for Nox, hoping to end the conversation.
“Wait.” Nox held him off with a hard stare. “We are halves of the same entity. Youcan’tdeny that.”
Nelson flailed a hand. “Fine. We share a connection and I saw and remembered several things that convinced me that I was made to be with you.”
“So if we’re two halves of thesameentity and I am a god…” Nox gestured for Nelson to finish the thought.
“That would mean that I’m one too,” he added with a shrug. “Fine. What does that mean for me? What am I supposed to do about it?”
“Who knows?” Nox held up his hands. “If anything like us has existed before, all the texts were destroyed, so we get to make up our own rules. I’ve spent my whole life afraid that something big and terrible was controlling my destiny. But I’ve finally realized thatI am a godand so are you.Weare in control and I’m choosing peace and love. I’m choosing to have a good, long life with you.”
“I like that. The rest scares me and I don’t want it, but I’ll take a thousand years with you and be grateful for every damn moment.”
“Every moment?” Nox asked doubtfully.
“Everymoment.” Nelson had never put words to this particular instinct before, but he’d felt it from the very beginning. “I’ve even come to appreciate the awful, heartbreaking moments because I know I was supposed to find those missing girls and catch Walter Forsythe. It had to be me and I had to go through hell to find them, I’m just glad I didn’t have to do it alone and that I was blessed to have you by my side the whole time.”
Nox was crying as he nodded. “Me too.” He sniffed hard, taking a deep breath and flashing Nelson a sly grin. “What about the times when I was a colossal pain in your ass?”
“I’m grateful for those too.” Nelson laughed softly as he kissed Nox. “I have a much better understanding of what hostages go through.”
Nox’s jaw fell on an offended gasp. “Hey, now!”
“I’m joking,” Nelson said, then winced. “There have been a few times when I felt…hostage-adjacent, but I was always willing and there was never anywhere else I’d rather be. No matter what happens and no matter how bad it gets, I’ll always want to be right by your side.”
