done.”
Kirill felt Ra shiver and hoped that was in anticipation. But Ra’s invitation to talk also still rang in his mind, and after forking up a large mouthful of lasagna, Kirill wondered how to start.
“I’ve been trying to work out,” he said after he’d swallowed, “how Yakov was able to get away with using his father’s ID for so long. He was nowhere near as old as his father had been when the man disappeared. But I didn’t pick up anything in the way he acted, or in his power levels around others in my coven, to suggest he was as young as he was. I mean, shit, he was barely a hundred years old. How the hell did he con me like that, or anyone else in the coven for that matter?”
“Your kind are what us furry ones call understated, my dear mate.” Arvyn chuckled. “Shifters always know how powerful or not another shifter is from the moment they meet. Our animal halves either want to belly up or start posturing for dominance. Vampires, and apparently cute ancient gods, aren’t like that.”
“How do you mean?” Damn, this food is good. Kirill scooped up more.
“Meh.” Arvyn waved his fork around. “Remember, I’m just the baby in this relationship, so it’s not like I know a lot. I’m only fifty-four and yes, I’m an alpha. I was born that way. But I have met a few vampires in my travels, none as old as you,” he added while Kirill swallowed the urge to growl.
“How do vampires come across when you meet them, Arvyn?” Ra asked. “And how does that compare to when you met me?”
Arvyn chewed for a moment before answering. Over half his plate was already empty and Kirill worked on his own plate. “Most vamps look human to the naked eye,” Arvyn said. “If you discount flawless complexions and very little body fat, but I guess that’s got to do with your diet.”
Kirill nodded, his mouth too full to answer.
“Shifters get a vibe from vamps,” Arvyn explained. “It’s like, I know you’re a predator. I’ve had enough experience with vamps to know that your claws are lethal if you engage that handy dandy poison tip aspect your kind employ, but in a typical interaction, a shifter has no true idea of how old a vampire might be, or how powerful. It’s only if you get angry, or feel threatened – then, wow, it’s like your power emerges like a cloud, much like my furry side does to protect me.”
“Which is what you meant by vampires being understated. As a rule, they come across like anyone else.” Ra nodded. “How does that compare with me, or someone like Zeus?”
Arvyn wrinkled his nose, in what Kirill thought was a cute gesture. “Bearing in mind you and Zeus are the only two gods I’ve ever met, that I’m aware of, I’d say it’s slightly different again. I mean, I look at you, and I see cute and sexy. My animal half didn’t see you or Zeus as a threat, not that I’ve actually met him, only seen him for like all of two minutes. I didn’t get a vibe from either of you regarding power or being a predator.”
“Probably, because we don’t come across like that as a rule. We can appear as human as the next person.” Setting his plate on the coffee table, Ra sat back, a mug of something that smelled like warm cider appearing in his hands.
“Our power is used to make a point, usually at boring meetings gods hold once in a blue moon, like the one held recently when Thor’s mate Orin was found to be the gods’ keeper. A story for another time,” Ra added quickly. “In the ancient past I only ever expended my power against one of my own who was getting pushy. Nowadays, my reputation as the Father of Everything in my pantheon is enough to get people to listen to me. It’s those reputations that are really important among our kind. Gods are truly immortal, so it’s not like we can go around killing each other despite what folk tales might say. Among mortal beings, just a fraction of my power would be overwhelming to most and I’ve never had a wish to hurt anyone.” A flash of sadness crossed Ra’s face and disappeared just as quickly. Kirill wondered what that was about.
“With us around, you’ll never have to,” Arvyn said brightly, scraping his plate clean and pushing it aside. “Have