Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,15

letting one droplet of blood fall onto the pendant. Thanks to his powers it was quickly absorbed. The spot where the blood had fallen glowed. Perfect.

Hiding the amulet in his palm, Zeus strode across the room and down the long hallway to his computer room. Ignoring his workers, all hunched over their screens, he shut himself off in his main office, his personal screens lighting up as he approached.

Just thinking about Paulie had the man appearing on his screens, but the tiger shifter wasn’t alone. What the fuck? Ra! Zeus glowered at what he was seeing. Paulie didn’t look happy, but he wasn’t cringing in fear either – in fact, he seemed to be listening to what Ra was saying. But he was in his bed, the covers up around him and Ra was right next to it. The only thing that stopped Zeus smashing his screens and Ra’s image completely was that the demon Cass and his wolfy mate Wes were also in the frame.

What the hell are you doing with my mate, you bastard godling? Zeus’s grip on the pendant tightened to the point of pain.

/~/~/~/~/

Gods glowed. Of course, Paulie hadn’t seen enough of them to make a definitive conclusion about all of them, but when the seemingly young man appeared with Cass and introduced himself, Paulie could see the glow of the huge sun crown in the man’s aura. Because he could see that he had no problem accepting the man was who he said he was – Ra, sun god of Ancient Egypt and father of everything.

What he didn’t understand was why did an ancient Egyptian god want anything to do with him? They had a passing resemblance to each other – Paulie could see Ra’s nose was similar to his, and they had the same shaped lips. But he didn’t have any sudden hopes that Ra was his missing father and had come to claim him after all this time.

“You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here.” Ra sat in the chair Wes got for him.

Paulie was actually wondering if he should get out of bed, but now Ra was sitting that would look odd too. “I er…” Paulie stumbled over his words. “Cass and Wes explained I came to the notice of some higher beings when they saved me nine months ago. But you’re not him, are you? You’re not the one who watches me.”

“Someone’s been watching you all this time?” Wes shared a quick look with Cass and then hurried around the bed. “Paulie, why didn’t you tell us? Stalking is serious business. Have you felt someone watching you all this time? Have they approached you at all? Is that why you don’t feel safe here?”

Paulie shrugged, fighting the urge to disappear under the covers. He did not like being the center of attention. “It’s not like that. It’s just, I feel a presence most days. I don’t know who it is, I’ve never seen anyone hanging around, but it’s almost comforting. This being, whoever it is, it’s like, they’re just there, you know. Ugh. It’s hard to explain, but I never felt threatened by it. The feeling was a bit like…you.” He waved at Ra who seemed amused by something. “The power you have. I can see it. I can feel it. I can see your…” he waved his hand over his own head indicating Ra’s interesting head gear.

“That’s fascinating.” Ra’s smile got wider. “Do you see or feel other types of powers when you’re out and about. Like, what do you sense about the wolf and demon here?”

“They’re in love.” Paulie felt his cheeks heat up as he looked at his friends. “You guys have like this… it’s a thread, in pure gold and it joins you together. Cass is like this being of fire, and reds and blacks, while Wes is reds and browns and greens, and I can see his wolf clearly. But the thread joining you two is bright gold. It’s thicker than last time when I saw you two but just as shiny.”

“We’ve been with each other for longer now, our bond is probably more settled,” Wes said.

“And more intense,” Cass added with a wink. “So, this being that watches you, what does your tiger feel about it? Don’t shifter animal halves warn you if someone is around, or if you’re in danger?”

“Mine doesn’t, although he probably would as a rule.” Paulie rubbed his chest. “He doesn’t get to come out much; it’s not like I can shift