Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 313(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Her head tilts to the side. “You don’t look like a god.”
I’ve never been more offended in my entire existence. “What are gods supposed to look like, I wonder?”
“Bigger.” She nods her head. “And don’t they glow? Why don’t you glow?”
“Why don’t you glow?” Where has my intelligence escaped to?
“I’m human,” she says in a duh voice. “And if you’re a god, why are you here? What’s your purpose?”
I’ve never had to actually explain myself to someone in all my years of existence, and this measly human needs proof? No, she is demanding proof.
I snap my fingers and twist my wrist to the right. The blinds instantly open, and the coffee maker turns on.
She bursts out laughing. “Wow, cool parlor trick.”
“What’s that? What’s a parlor trick? Tarek never showed me those!” Do I need to know them to be relevant? So many questions, and she’s still laughing.
She leans forward. “That’s easily manipulated. I want to see something unique, O’ God of the Sky. Wow, I can’t believe I’m having this conversation. Oh damn, maybe I died in the poop bathroom!”
“You’re alive, trust me. The poop bathroom was saved by my powers, and I have limited power now that I’m in this timeline, so I can’t suddenly do what I’ve always done, but I can do this,” I tether myself to her and jerk her forward. She slams against my chest, her hands spread against my T-shirt. “How’s that?”
“Your heartbeat,” she whispers, her fingers drumming against my chest in a perfect cadence. “It’s so fast.”
“All gods have faster heartbeats, we live longer, we’re faster, we’re created differently than humans.”
“Are you calling me lazy?”
“I’m calling you weak, but lazy works too.”
She shoves my chest.
I don’t even move.
“Let me guess, you’re really strong too?”
I nod. “I thought it was obvious.”
“And arrogant, lucky me.”
“Stay here tonight,” I say again. “And I’ll make you breakfast in the morning.”
She huffs out a breath. “So what? You’re a god, he’s a werewolf, and I’m guessing the other dude was like a vampire or something?”
“Male siren, vampire, archangel, goddess, fairy…” I shrug. “Take your pick, we’re all from different races, but we work together to make sure humanity survives.”
This time her mouth really does stay open in shock. I almost close it when she lets out a shriek. “This can’t be real! I just haven’t slept in days! You know that’s how it works, right? This stupid insomnia paired with nightmares. I’m off my sleep meds; yup, that’s what this is. I just can’t seem to snap out of it. Hurry up, pinch me, or hit me.”
“I don’t hit women, I don’t pinch them unless it’s their nipples or ass, and I highly doubt you’re in the mood for that. Why don’t you go take a shower, and I’ll grab you some fresh clothes?”
“Are you cleaning me to eat me?”
I grin and lean down. “Do you want me to eat you?”
Her eyes flash.
Interesting.
A rush of lust punches me in the chest and travels south.
“No. Never.”
“Liar.” I tug her earlobe. “But you’re cute when you lie, so I’ll let it slide.”
“Ughhhh!’ She starts off in the wrong direction to the bathroom, then turns around and walks back.
“I knew where I was going.”
I nod. “I believe you.”
The bathroom door slams.
And I’m left smiling and thanking Timber for forcing my hand.
CHAPTER TEN
人を信じよ、しかし、その百倍も自らを信じよ
Hito o shinjiyo, shikashi, sono hyaku-bai mo mizukara o shinjiyo
Believe in people, but believe in yourself a hundred times more.
~Osamu Tezuka, Japanese manga artist and animator
Kit
Weirdest night of my life.
With the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in the absolute strangest circumstances I’ve ever been in.
I pinch the skin on my arm again. Nope, still awake, still here. Spending the night with a god. I tried to play it cool, but internally I was dying with curiosity and wonder.
People worshipped him for good reason, didn’t they?
And more importantly, why did they stop?
I splash water onto my face, try to get myself under control, then grab my hair tie and pull my hair back. When I stare at myself in the mirror, I feel lost, like I should know who I am but have no clue where I started or where I will eventually end. I’m like this empty thing. My brown eyes stare back at me, clueless, and my brown hair, with its shots of red on the bottom, lay there against my chest. I wonder what would happen if I had powers… powers I could make come alive and help me. I want power. Why am I hungry for it? Why does it seem like the next best thing other than just acceptance but pulling in every source of energy I have?
I open my hands, my palms sting. Yes. This feels right. But also so wrong. I feel like I’m going to puke. My hands grip the porcelain countertop. What just happened?