"Oh hell no," Talon said, laughing.
"I figured as much." The Morrigan stepped back. "Well, I'm sure the two of you have a lot to do. Like plan a wedding. Go make lots of babies." She took their hands into hers and then pressed them together. "I expect a large number of great-grandkids from you two."
The Morrigan vanished, leaving them to stare at each other in wonderment.
Sunshine licked her lips as she stared up at him. She couldn't believe everything that had happened tonight.
Most of all, she couldn't believe she had Talon for her own. "So what's our first course of action?"
That familiar look came into his amber eyes. "Try to make a baby?"
She laughed at him. "Sounds good, but it'll probably take us the rest of the night to get back to your cabin."
"True, but your loft isn't that far away..."
Sunshine smiled. "No, it isn't."
He kissed her hand and then led her from the room.
They left the building and blended into the monstrous crowd of Mardi Gras celebrants who were heading home. Sunshine's heart was light as they walked hand in hand, until they reached the street.
Gasping, she pulled Talon back as a giant float narrowly missed him. Then she burst out laughing. "What is it with you and the Mardi Gras floats?"
"It's not the floats, love, it's you. Whenever you're around, everything else fades from my notice."
She bit her lip impishly. "You keep talking like that and I'll definitely take you home, lock you up, and throw away the key."
"That's fine with me, just make sure you're naked when you do it."
Zarek watched as Talon and Sunshine vanished into the crowd. He was happy for Sunshine, but he couldn't understand what the two of them felt for one another.
He'd never known any kind of love.
"Fuck it," he snarled, limping away from the building. He needed to get back to his townhouse.
"Dionysus will be coming for you."
He paused at the sound of Acheron's voice behind him. "So?"
Ash sighed as he drew near. "Can we not have a truce?"
Zarek scoffed at the thought. "Why? Mutual disdain suits us so well."
"Z, I'm too tired for this. Give me something to use with Artemis. Something that will make her want to give you another chance."
Zarek laughed bitterly. "Yeah, right. After what I saw in there you don't honestly expect me to believe that she pulls your chain, do you? How stupid do I look?"
"Things aren't always what they seem."
Maybe, but Zarek wasn't willing to give on this. He'd screwed himself royally tonight. The moment he had turned on the gods, he'd known they would make him pay.
Not that he cared.
Let them come for him.
"Look," he said, turning his back to Acheron, "I'm tired and hungry, and I just want to lie down until my injuries heal, okay?"
"Okay."