“Cool.” Candy now looked completely satisfied.
Dani laid back down, and looked up at what seemed to be a very nervous Marduk. “I’ve never cut into a woman before,” he told her. “That’s always been left up to the priestesses. Or you.” He tried to smile.
“Look at it this way,” Dani attempted a joke. “If I yell, it will get you ready for all the screaming Tess is going be doing during childbirth.”
Marduk gave a wry smile. He positioned the knife over Dani’s skin, and he made the first slice. Dani twitched and bit the inside of her mouth to keep from crying out. The burn was horrific.
She found herself groping for Huxley’s hand, and felt his solid grip, which would help her cope.
Candy came to Marduk’s side. “I’m going to hold you down, Dani.”
Dani-Lee gave a nod. She already twitched in anticipation of the next step. Marduk made room and Candy scooted close to put one hand on Dani’s arm, and the other up near her neck. “This should do it.”
Marduk made the cuts fast and sure, but still Dani cried out. Her body involuntarily attempted to move away from the pain. It was a good thing Candy was strong and not squeamish.
“Done,” Marduk declared. “Can you move, Dani?”
She’d done everything she could not to pass out. It would do no good if she lost consciousness and bled out without completing the transfer. She sat up shakily, refusing to look at her open shoulder even as the warm blood pumped out of her. Dani turned and held out her hand for the knife. When she received it from Marduk, she willed her tremors to steady, ignored her own pain, and did what she had to do.
She positioned the blade and severed the talisman in two with one quick movement. Huxley arched up in the bed, but made no noise.
Dani had to hurry. She feared to weaken. She saw stars and things blinked, wonky around the edges of her vision. She dropped the knife and plunged her fingers into the freshly bleeding cavity.
Her hand faltered and withdrew as she fell back. Marduk caught her.
“Try again, Dani. You can do it.” If Dani passed out now, both she and Huxley would die. She couldn’t let that happen.
Dani sat up straighter and put her hand back in the open wound. This time, her fingers closed around the half-amulet, and she removed it. She became strangely detached as she looked at her own shoulder, seeing it laying open. Whose operation did she perform, anyway? She couldn’t remember prepping the patient. What procedure she was doing? She froze with indecision.
“Put the thing you’re holding into the hole.” Suddenly, Candy’s face moved right up into hers. The agent tapped an imperative finger on her cheek.
“Right,” Dani mumbled. She looked. Half an amulet lay in her hand. Oh yeah. She needed to put it in.
Dani raised it up and gently placed it in the space created in her shoulder. She tipped it up a little. She rotated it to the left. There. That was it, wasn’t it? She’d done this operation before. She started to ask for sutures when she felt herself sliding into darkness. Her last thought? I hope someone else can close up.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I’m all right. I’m fine.” Dani sat up and brushed away the hands that tried to support her. “Huxley?” She had to know if he survived. But suddenly, without asking, the answer became apparent. The connection between the two of them had been established, and at least for a while—until they learned to control it—his physical and mental feelings would be hers, and vice versa.
Dani’s eyes traveled around the many faces in front of her. The ones’ who had been invisible seemed as familiar as the ones she’d been able to see all along. She searched for Huxley. He was on his feet next to both of his sisters.
“How long was I out?” she asked, a little disconcerted that she’d lost consciousness. Happily, she’d somehow managed to complete the procedure and—she looked down at her shoulder and then back to his—they had both healed.
“Not long. A few minutes,” Candy assured her.
Dani-Lee shook her head in bewilderment. It had all happened so fast. She was now and forevermore Huxley’s Chosen. She hoped he didn’t regret it.
I don’t, my love. The words popped into her head and her mouth dropped open. Huxley had just spoken to her. He did the mind-speak thing the gods always told her about. Unbelievably cool.
Huxley, is that you? she sent out tentatively.
Yes, and everyone else too. Lenore’s voice invaded her head, laughing. Until you learn to get a handle on things, and figure out how to send shit where you want, you need to keep things G-rated, because everybody’s going to hear you.
Anshar’s hands came up to rest his thumbs just underneath Lenore’s bust line.
Or maybe R, she purred.
“Okay. This is just a little too weird.” Candy interjected. “And maybe the instruction manual should come later, when Dani is feeling back to normal.”
“I agree on the lessons,” said Dani, “But I’m fine now. Really I am,” she groused. “Can I get up?”
The gods eased back from her bed, and Huxley supported her as she swung her legs over the side. No dizziness, no nausea. As a matter of fact, she felt better than ever.
She looked around and took stock of the room. Her eyes instantly pooled with tears. For months and months, she’d only been able to see some of the gods. At first it had just been Marduk and Enlil, then Dagon had poofed in. More recently she’d been able to meet Enten and Lahar, but now seven new faces surrounded her. Why was it they all looked so handsome…and huge?
“Hi,” she greeted them shyly. How silly. They’d all been aware of her since day one, and she’d spent untold hours talking to them. One sided, of course. But it was startling to suddenly be able to see them all.
“You must be Ishkur.” Huxley helped her over to the god with the graying hair who had spent a great deal of his incorporeal time with her. Dani closed in for a hug. Huxley let go and Ishkur lifted her off her feet.
Welcome to the club, Doc, he said, with gusto. It’s about time I’m able to get in a clinch with you.
“Just watch the hands, Ishkur,” Huxley joked. He seemed to be beaming with pride that his Chosen had already been accepted by this bunch. Dani smirked. It also seemed like he didn’t have the innate don’t-touch-my-woman caveman thing that she’d seen the other gods sport. That boded well because, being the group’s physician, the time would come when she’d have to see all of them in various states of nakedness. When the picture of Enlil’s backside came to mind, a low growl rose in Huxley’s throat. Okay. Maybe she’d spoken too soon about the possessive thing.
Can you guess at the rest of the guys? Ishkur’s slightly lined face showed the cutest dimples to the sides of his mouth. If she didn’t love Huxley, she could definitely have gone for him. Scrumptious. Whoops. Nasty grumbles from Huxley who stood, glued to her side. She planted a kiss on his cheek.
Dani looked around. The only one absent was Shamash, who still worked hard in the Underworld. She hoped he wouldn’t be sad he missed the festivities.
She did a slow perusal. The dark-skinned man, completely bald, and sporting a hot-pink tank top that showed off spectacular arms, looked like a pumped up and much warmer version of Enten, whom she’d always considered jacked. It was hard to believe there remained leeway on a body for any more muscle. It had to be Enten’s brother.
“And you’re Emesh.” Dani went right in for a hug, loving the fact she could not only see them but touch them all as well.
“God of summer at your service, sweetie,” Emesh’s voice flowed like smooth honey.
Another suavely dark male took her hand as soon as Emesh let her go. He bent over and kissed it warmly. So very pleased to finally have our presence known to you, m’lady. He raised sea-green eyes to Dani’s, and she realized this had to be Absu, the god who had a tough time leaving the old English behind.
“Glad to see you too, Absu.” She let a smile spread over her face.
One by one, the other three gods approached
and she gave them all hugs and kisses. She distinguished Dumuzi, Ninurta, and Kulla instantly, despite never having seen them before. They’d all become her invisible friends, and now she was blessed, knowing what they looked like.
Candy was the only one left out, and Dani could see she was a little peeved.
She approached the agent. “I want to thank you, Candy, for keeping me still during the operation. I really appreciate it.”
Candy looked instantly uncomfortable with the attention, and her voice turned gruff, “No problem.” She looked Dani up and down. “Just glad you don’t look green anymore.” She shuffled a little. “Oh, and congrats on the goddess thing.” Her eyes travelled around the room. “You know, it’s pretty fucking weird to watch someone invisible picking you up over there. Friggin’ ghost ballet,” she groused.
“It takes some getting used to,” Dani concurred. “But I’ll give you some coping tips. It’s kind of like having a bunch of best friends to complain to, but without any disagreements seeing as they can’t talk back.” Candy had to see the advantages in that.
“Yeah, well, I won’t be around long enough to find out,” she said to the room at large. “I need to be on my way before my boss has a coronary trying to find me.”
“Too late.” Enlil clearly delighted in the look his word’s evoked on Candy’s face. “They’re already here, and so are you until they give up and leave.”
“What? Why didn’t anybody tell me? I can’t stay, you prick,” she exploded. “I have a job to hold down and,” She approached him and raised a finger, tapping none too gently on his sternum. “Somebody has to get that old wicked-witch Worthington off Huxley’s back.”
Huxley’s eyes actually lit up and he turned to Dani. “What do you say, Chosen of mine. Would you be up for a road trip to Maine? The quick way?”
She gave him a tentative nod, and over the next few minutes, Huxley disappeared and appeared again several times. Dani observed and wondered what he was up to.
“Yup,” he said, finally popping back in and settling down. “I’ve got this.”
Everyone in the room waited for an explanation.
“The first time I willed myself to the witches’ cottage, but I ended up in the gym.” He got a few jeers and “newbies” over that.
“The second time, I aimed for Wollaston Beach, but somehow ended up at Nantasket Beach instead.” He was given a lot more leeway on this one. Dani guessed that must be an easy mistake to make. “Third time was a charm. I tried for my dad’s house in Maine, and nailed it. I did it two more times to make sure. Now I’m a pro.”
The gods made sure to give him a lot of shit, but in truth, Marduk allowed that Huxley had taken to their mode of travel a lot quicker than most.
“And now, if you keep a tight grip on Dani, she should be able to travel piggyback with you until she gets her own skills honed,” Marduk assured the pair. “So when will you head to Mrs. Worthington’s?”
“How about now?” Huxley quirked an eyebrow at Dani. “Sound all right?” he asked.
“Let me change into some jeans and grab my coat,” she replied, and feeling impish, she willed herself to her bedroom. Much to her astonishment, it worked. Awesome. She’d always been a quick study.
Within minutes, she popped back into the infirmary to a loud round of applause. It warmed her heart. “Thank you all. Thank you.” She reached over to Huxley and took his arm, saying sotto-voce, “but you better not let me go, or I might end up in Lick Skillet, Tennessee.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” He took her into his arms and projected into her head, Bangor, Maine. Within seconds, they stood in the street outside of what she assumed was the dreaded Worthington’s house.
“Oops. One minute, Dani.” Huxley disappeared and Dani found herself standing alone in the snow-covered street. What was he doing?
****
The gods started to break up as Huxley misted back in. “Wait,” he called out to get their attention.
“Huxley?” Enlil responded first.
“Yeah. I need one of you to come back with me. I don’t know how to do the mind-suck thing yet, so I’ll either not take enough from the bitch, or I’ll leave her blathering and drooling in her shoes, which might not be a bad idea come to think of it.” He put a devilish look on his face.
Enlil shut him down. “It is a bad idea. Believe me. As gods, if we do something that drastic without damned good reason, we’re supposed to become the victim’s keeper until they die. I don’t think you want to go that route with your old tormentor.”
“Gods no,” Huxley expounded, then made spitting noises like he’d eaten something disgusting. “It’s settled. You have to help me.”
“Okay. Lay on, MacDuff.” Enlil joined Huxley, and they disappeared to the north.
Dani was tapping her foot impatiently by the time they got back, and looked curiously at Enlil. “We needed some help, why?” she asked Huxley, then put a hand on Enlil’s crossed arms. “Not that I’m unhappy to see you,” she assured the god. “It’s just that I might want a little honeymoon once we were through with the super bitch.”
Enlil laughed. “I won’t stay long.” He looked at Huxley. “Hux just wanted to make sure her brain got wiped clean correctly.”
Dani nodded her understanding. “Got it.”
The trio marched up to the door and Huxley knocked. The maid who opened it looked very surprised.
“Mister Huxley,” she said, trying to mask her features as she looked at him and his friends. “Does the misses know that you’re coming?”
“Nope, Dora, and let’s keep it that way. I’d like this to be a total surprise.” He looked over the maid’s shoulder to see if Miranda lurked.
“She’ll be angry with me for letting you in unannounced,” she said. Which translated to, “The cunt will have my head and my job if anyone disturbs her without first being granted an audience.”
“Don’t worry, Dora, she won’t even remember we’ve been here.” And with a little mind manipulation of the malleable maid by Enlil, the trio walked through the door.
Hux figured that Worthington would be out back in her study, and sure enough—as they approached the door—her voice raised, speaking on the phone.
“And if you don’t do this for me, mayor, the donations from me and my friends toward your next campaign will be less than significant.”
Huxley opened the door, indicating that Dani and Enlil should hang back. Miranda Worthington’s head came up and she slowly drawled the next words, “Listen, Amos, I’ll have to get back to you. Something has come up.” She set the phone back in its cradle.
“Well, well. See who’s come back into the fold.” Mrs. Worthington glanced at Huxley’s expensive-looking new clothes, and probably his new-found air of confidence. Her face got even more unpleasant than usual. “Working for someone new?” she questioned, jealousy written all over her pinched face.
“Working for myself,” Huxley answered, walking slowly toward her desk. “And not happy that you’re sending people to find me.”
She laughed evilly at that. “That’s a shame, my dear.” She pinned him with a lustful stare. “Because you belong to me, or don’t you remember our deal?”
“Our deal was that you retained your rights to me until my loan was paid, and as you well know, my debt to you has been paid in full,” Huxley reminded her.
“That might be true, Huxley.” She looked him up and down lasciviously. “But there’s the matter of you disappearing for eight months before your loan actually got paid.” She got up and came around the desk. “If you read the fine print on our agreement, those months still belong to me.”
Huxley barked out a laugh, standing his ground as she and her lavender and talcum powder smell came closer. “I’d like to see you try to make that stand up in a court of law.”
She actually smirked. “It depends on who one has in one’s pocket, now doesn’t it? But let’s not quibble, my dear.” She put out a hand and ran it lightly across Huxl
ey’s chest. “I’ve missed you.”
It was all he could do not to move away from her touch. Instead, he did something Miranda didn’t expect. He actually took her by that trailing hand and drew her to his side, turning them both toward the door.
“I’m actually here so you can meet some very special people, Miranda,” Hux announced, and it pleased him that she suddenly looked uncomfortable. “I’ve told them all about you, and they’ve been anxious to make your acquaintance.”
The woman’s whole demeanor changed, and Hux knew what she thought. In her arrogance, she assumed that Huxley had brought her some new “employees.”
“I’d love to meet some friends of yours.” She beamed.
“Enlil?” Huxley called. The wind god breezed into the room in all of his enormous and hunky glory, and as Huxley figured, Miranda Worthington was struck speechless. He comprehended what she saw…besides dollar signs. Looking at Enlil was almost like seeing Huxley’s twin. Yeah, the god stood a little broader, a little more seasoned, but the hair appeared the same. Tess likened it to amber and spun flax.
Perhaps Enlil’s beads and braids went a little over the top, but Huxley understood that wouldn’t stop her. She eyed him like a new and impressive specimen.
Miranda held out a hand. “Charmed to meet you. Enlil did you say?” She looked back and forth between Huxley and the newcomer. “You must be brothers.” She shook her head incredulously. “Two of you,” she said cheekily. “The mind boggles at the magic the pair of you might perform together.”
Enlil chose to ignore the second half of her statement. “A distant relation, madam.” Enlil put on his haughtiest old-world accent. The one he’d told Hux had been known to melt the hearts of young women back in the day. “But Huxley, let’s not keep your other surprise waiting.”
Huxley smiled at the anticipation in Miranda’s face. Clearly she panted over the idea of one more stud.
“Dani-Lee?” he called out.
Miranda Worthington’s eyes’ narrowed, and as she got her first look at Dani, Huxley knew what the older woman saw. A stunning, long-legged redhead striding into the room, all confidence and beauty.
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