Page 17 of Hex You

“That is understandable. As I have never had a girlfriend, I, too, would like to take it slow—though I very much enjoyed our kiss.”

“Wait, you’ve never had a girlfriend?” Looking at Khenti—strong, super hot, and an authentically nice guy—Mercy was shocked by his words.

Not appearing shy or ashamed of his inexperience, Khenti shrugged nonchalantly. “As you are already aware, it often ends badly when mortals and gods, or demi-gods, are lovers. Mortal parents warned their daughters about me; none were willing to cross their parents—not that I blamed them. And when I became Gate Guardian I was too busy focusing on the impossible task of making my father proud to have time for much else. So, it is good to be here with you—getting to know you—learning to care for you. I understand and appreciate taking it slow.”

“You are a fantastic change from the guys in my realm,” said Mercy.

“Jax seems nice,” Khenti said.

“Yeah, he’s very nice. But he’s also like a brother to me.”

“Ah, I understand. And I am not like a brother to you.” Khenti’s eyes glittered in the greenhouse lights.

“Not at all.” Mercy wanted to kiss him again, but she didn’t. She wouldn’t. Not right away. Slow meant slow—and the fiasco with Kirk still had her confidence shaken.

Khenti continued to hold her gaze as he took her hand gently in his and lifted it to his lips. He kissed it and smiled. “I am glad you do not feel as if I am your brother. Very glad.” He did not release her hand. Instead, he threaded his fingers with hers and remained so close to her that Mercy could feel the heat of his skin.

Her stomach flip-flopped and she had to clear her throat before she spoke. “W-would you like to see my mother’s grave?”

“Yes, very much.”

Hand in hand, Khenti and Mercy walked slowly through the Goode family cemetery. When they came to Abigail’s grave Mercy touched her fingers to her lips, and then pressed them to the grave marker—a large stone owl that was Athena’s symbol.

“I love you and miss you so much, Abigail,” she whispered.

Surprising her, Khenti also pressed his fingers to his lips and then to the owl and murmured, “Rest peacefully, Abigail Goode, and know your daughter is safe and cherished.”

Mercy blinked quickly to keep her tears from falling and squeezed Khenti’s hand.

Behind and above them, the sound of a window opening was jarring in the silent night. Then Xena’s voice echoed around them. “Kittens! The room is ready! It is late! I shall take my bath with my cannabis treats now and bid you good night! Come to bed now, kittens!”

“Xena!” Mercy yell-whispered up at the open window and the mane of untamable hair silhouetted there. “Shh! You’ll wake the dead!”

“Oh, silly kitten! The dead do not need to sleep!” Xena shouted. “Now come to bed!”

“We better go inside. She won’t leave us alone until we do,” said Mercy.

“She would make an excellent goddess,” Khenti said as they made their way from the cemetery to the back door.

“Yeah, but do not tell—”

“Of course I would be an excellent goddess!” Xena shouted from the window before slamming it shut.

Just inside the house, Mercy said, “Don’t let her bully you tomorrow. Remember, if Amphitrite has people gossiping about us it’s best we keep a super low profile—and Xena is what we callextrain this world.”

“No low profile?”

“She doesn’t understand the meaning of the word—literally,” said Mercy.

“So, no hunting in town?” Khenti asked.

“No! Actually, not hunting at all would be best! I’ll encourage her to hunt in her cat form, and I’ll show you how to binge Netflix. That’ll keep you both busy while Hunter and I are at school.”

“That is for the best. My khopesh would make a mess of a bird,” Khenti said as he grabbed Jax’s borrowed clothes and they headed upstairs.

“I like messy birds!” Xena’s voice came from down the hallway and Abigail’s open bedroom door.

Mercy opened her mouth just as Hunter stuck her head out of her bedroom door and at the same time the twins shouted, “GO TO BED, CAT!” Then together they laughed as Xena slammed the door closed.