Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,4
was, and just as sharp. “I keep an eye on all mortal affairs, as well as the situations so many of our kin find themselves in. I also run the communication center and answering service for those gods who can’t be bothered to learn how to use a phone or have their own email.” He frowned at Ra as he said the last bit, “and I’m still required to settle disputes among the gods, which keeps me busy. In other words, tell me what you want so I can get on with my business.”
Ra huffed. “You’re just no fun anymore, Zeus. When was the last time you mingled among mortals?”
“Nineteen seventeen, I think. Yes, I think it was then.” Zeus shrugged. “I can’t think why I went now, but it wasn’t enjoyable.”
“You are such a snob.” Ra planted himself in front of Zeus’s chair. “You hide yourself up here – barely anyone sees you anymore. You haven’t seen Sei’s twins or been anywhere near Hades since he got pregnant. Shit, I bet you haven’t even met his mate and Ali is adorable.”
“My brothers are mated to shifters.” Zeus glanced at his black screens.
“Mating’s not contagious.” Ra held the arms of Zeus’s chair. “I want you to come out with me.”
“I’m not visiting your damn pyramids again. I know enough about your history to last me a dozen lifetimes and I’m not getting sand up my bum-crack.”
“I was just teasing you about that last time. No, this is different. Zeus,” Ra drew out his name in a whine. “I want to try riding a motorbike, but it’s no fun doing it alone. Come with me.”
Zeus curled up his lip and hid his shudder. “I thought all bikers were loners. Well, except those guys who ride around in gangs. Isn’t that the point – enjoying the feel of the wind in your hair, and bugs in your teeth?”
“UGH! You’re impossible, do you know that?” Ra swung on Zeus’s chair arms causing him to spin around. “It was your nephew Nereus who told me about riding motorbikes. That pack he’s in all do it. You can’t tell me you haven’t watched them doing it, because you’re always nosing in on what the others are doing. He said it’s so liberating – like flying, but there’s no one with one of those wretched phones out recording you doing it.”
“Ugh, yourself.” Zeus stilled his chair and hefted a bigger lightening bolt this time. “Ride with Nereus and his mates if that’s what you want to do.”
“They all have kids now. Everyone is having kids. Well, everyone except Silvanus and Artemas of course, but they spend most of their time visiting offspring or secreting themselves off in Silvanus’ hideaway. Come on Zeus, baby. As two of the older non-mated gods it’s up to us to show the younger ones what they’re missing in the fun stakes.”
“I’m busy.” Zeus turned back to his screens, and this time he turned them on, after making sure his godly cameras were pointed elsewhere before he did it. As the screens flickered to life, they were now all showing various scenes from around the world. “Look at that.” Zeus waved at the screen in the bottom corner. The room pictured was made of stone, and its only occupant was an older looking man with messy gray hair who was pacing the floor muttering to himself. “Thoth isn’t any saner than when you locked him away in your library.”
A flicker of sadness flashed over Ra’s face as he glanced at the pointed-out screen. “He hasn’t been there very long.” Ra sighed. “You know how it is with gods. The older they are, the longer it takes them to learn anything, and yet, if they don’t try to adapt to the modern world… He’s already showing signs of the insanity we’re warned about. But I had to do something – you know that. What Thoth did to Artemas was beyond cruel. Hell, you saw it yourself I’m sure. I’m surprised you didn’t intervene in that mess a lot earlier.”
“I was waiting for Sei to do something, but he was too caught up in the son of Fenrir, so it took a while. But you and Sei worked it out in the end.” Zeus looked over the other screens. His heart skipped a beat when he noticed a shock of black hair and elfin features cross one of the middle screens. Look away, he warned himself. But nothing on any of the other screens