Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,20

mind. You can use your hands too if it helps.”

Paulie pushed out as he was told, with his hands and mind. Then he quickly pulled his hands back into his chest again. Wes and Cass were buried under pillows, just as he’d imagined it. His eyes widened in horror, but Ra was slapping his knee laughing hard.

“What the…?” Cass sat up, biffing pillows away left and right. “One would’ve been nice, two maybe. But a mountain of them? Wes, babe, Wes, are you under there?” He burrowed himself under one side of the mound, at the same time Wes crawled out from the other side.

“What happened to Cass?” Wes was all wide-eyed and bushy-haired.

“He went looking for you.” Ra pointed at the pillows, cracking up with laughter. “Oh, my gods, Paulie, that was classic. I haven’t laughed like that in ages.”

“Paulie did this?” Wes gave him the thumbs up. “Maybe think a bit smaller or fewer next time.” He turned back to the pillows. “Cass? Cass, babe, stay where you are, I’ll find you. We can make a fort.” He disappeared into the fluff.

“I’m so sorry.” Paulie was horrified. “I was thinking about a mountain of them, but it was just a joke. I swear I was just thinking pillows when I pushed like you said.”

“It’s freaking awesome.” Ra wiped at his eyes. “I haven’t laughed so much in decades. But see. You learned a lesson too. Thanks to your godly powers even your jokes can come to life.”

“Yes, well I think I’ll keep my hands and thoughts separate from now on.” Paulie frowned. “Who’s that?” He nodded his head in the direction of a ruggedly handsome man who wore a robe similar to Ra’s. But the scowl was a direct contrast to Ra’s friendly face, and the man was sporting a bruise and a cut along one side of his jaw.

“That’s Seth, my protector. He’s a good guy.” Ra didn’t seem worried. “Although someone’s been roughing him up. I wonder who he pissed off this time.” He raised his voice. “Seth, who’s ruffled your feathers?”

“That fucking maggot-infested-brain, blond curled, arrogant, thunder storming…”

“Zeus is here?” Ra beamed.

Somehow, Paulie got the impression Ra had been expecting him. But surely… Oh my gods, another god? Paulie wished he could shrink in on himself, and then, thinking about what happened with the pillows, quickly shoved that thought out of his head.

“Yes, he is, in the process of throwing thunderbolts around your waiting room. He’s not happy at you warding him out of this… this… what the fuck is this place anyway?” Seth looked like anger was his default setting. “Have you got a thing for grass all of a sudden?”

“My new young friend is a tiger shifter. I thought he’d be comfortable here. And under there are two more new friends,” Ra added quickly as Seth scowled at the pillow mountain. “They saved young Paulie and helped get him off the streets. So, be nice.”

“Look, I don’t give a shit who you screw on your own time…” Seth started angrily.

“He didn’t!” Paulie was horrified a stranger he’d just met would think that.

“I wouldn’t,” Ra stressed. “Paulie, it’s okay. Seth just has his mind in the gutter half the time. He doesn’t understand the basic concepts of friendship with lesser mortals and him and Zeus have always butted heads. Seth has always been very protective of me. Now, Seth, go and tell Zeus he can come in here if he behaves himself.”

“He doesn’t want to come in here.” Seth mimicked a whine. “He wants you out there.”

“Oh, well if you have to go…” Paulie jumped up and looked around. “Can you flicky me back to my apartment please? I really should be studying anyway.”

“Sit down, Paulie. I don’t have to be anywhere.” Ra cocked his head as though listening for something. “Can you hear that banging? Ah, there it is.”

Paulie could hear it. It sounded like a thunderstorm had erupted in a trashcan.

“Zeus is trying to break down the wards.” Ra chuckled. “It’s okay, he does this when he can’t get his own way.”

“Who is this Zeus exactly?” Paulie asked cautiously. “Is he like you, or…”

“He’s like me but for the Greek pantheon.”

“The Greek father of all things?” Paulie gulped. That sounded important.

“Yep, but it’s okay.” Ra’s hand hovered in the air and then after another huge crash, he pushed the air, just slightly, but there was a thump, a roar, and a rumble followed by a crack of lightening that flashed across the