You’re pulling out the godly guns for that animal.”
“That animal as you call him is one of my mates.” Ra didn’t care if he could be heard over the other side of the harbor. He’d never been so enraged. “You dared to lay your hands on him – the mate of Ra. Tell me why I shouldn’t banish you for all times.”
“Because you won’t,” Seth sneered. “Because I know you. I’ve protected your sorry ass for more centuries than you can count. You never fight anybody. You hide away from conflict every chance you get. You don’t care enough to get involved. Even when your face was removed from the pyramids and your whole identity was merged into the likes of Amun, Atum, and Horakhty, you sat back and did nothing, always claiming that people had the right to their own beliefs and there was nothing you could do. You always said there was nothing you could do.”
“And I was right, there was nothing I could do about it. People believe what they want to believe, and that has always been their right. This isn’t about ancient history,” Ra took a step closer, his whole body shaking with the urge to smite. “This is about you. Your disrespect. Your insistence my precious mate kisses the ground while what – you kick him? My mates are not toys. They are my promise. They are my gift from the Fates for the countless centuries I’ve spent alone. They are my chance for a family – a true family complete with children if the Fates are willing. And you will respect that and them.”
There was a flutter of noise to the side and Ra’s bond with his mates let him know Kirill had finally arrived. Fortunately, the vampire didn’t try and interfere, but hurried over to Arvyn.
Seth laughed, an annoyingly mocking sound. “What are you going to do if I don’t? I’ve protected you from harm for all this time, and what do you do? You go and mate with that animal… that dog who is only using you. You can’t even take care of yourself, leaving me no choice but to rescue you.”
Chapter Twenty-One
This was bad, really bad. Seth was right in that Ra wasn’t a physically demonstrative person. He’d never had a fight, he’d never needed to, but Arvyn was hurt, Kirill was looking mutinous in the corner with him, and Ra knew in his heart his mates deserved he fight for them the way they would for him.
“This room’s too small. We’ll take it outside.” Ra blew out a long breath before turning to where his mates were. Arvyn was on his feet which was a good sign, although he wasn’t fully upright. “Please, Kirill, stay here. Take care of Arvyn for us both. This won’t take long.” Because Seth is going to freaking do me some major damage and then laugh as he disappears ready to fight another day.
“Ra?” Kirill looked between Ra and Seth, torn.
“Kirill, please.” Ra kept his voice soft. “The powers a god uses during a fight could kill you both. You’ll be safe in this house; you have my word. Trust me.”
Kirill swallowed hard, and then nodded. Arvyn gave him a thumbs up, even though he winced as he did it. Determined to give his mates space to heal – Kirill from his shock from earlier, and Arvyn from his meeting with the wall – Ra turned to Seth. “Outside, now.”
“You actually mean it. You’re going to fight me?” Seth’s eyes couldn’t get any wider.
“You dared to lay a hand on my mate. When I beat you, and I will, you will be forced to show my precious men the respect they so rightly deserve forevermore.”
“I don’t believe it.” Seth shook his head. “Fine, if that’s the way you want to go, what am I meant to do with them?” He pointed to the two vampires he’d brought back from Osiris’s realm, both of them bound in what looked like spiderweb, with large gags in their mouths.
“They are Kirill’s to do with as he pleases. You are mine. Outside.” Ra didn’t dare look at his mates again. He knew, if he did, they’d see and feel the insecurities bubbling up inside of him. Instead, he followed Seth out, ducking under the doorway to get through, and prayed that his power wouldn’t desert him in his hour of need.
The air was chilly, a lot chillier than his beloved deserts, or the ambient temperatures of his own