Chapter 17 #3
“And it will be an enjoyable game, and I will cooperate with you and your accomplices in this, of course. The game will pave the way for better things, which makes it worth my while to play. So no, Crystal, you have done all you need for me at this point. Your plan to lure other divine into your domain and meddle with them is a wise one, though. I recommend you target Ra and his beloved goddess first. You might even be able to extend the time they can spend together; right now, they are limited to where Ra’s light shines.
The moon is a reflection of that same light, so there is no reason they cannot be together whenever either sun or moon are in the sky.
That is not something I can do, but it is well within your abilities, especially as you have chosen to step foot on that path.
There are many little things that you can bring closer to the balance. ”
I raised a brow. “The Egyptian sun god?”
“Yes, him. My grandson’s wife is Ra’s daughter.”
Ah, that explained a few things.
Above all, Hugh was a family man.
If Hugh wanted me to make some key adjustments to his family, I would be a gleeful participant. “Very well. We’ll lure Ra to my place first. I will need to do some thinking about these weaves, though. Yours is a far different beast than your son’s.”
“Of course. We are separate beings. I may have created him, but he is not doomed to reside within my shadow. That is why I created him. Set fates is boring. And that is why the Fates suffered so. They wished for the one thing they could not have: free will.”
“Those poor women,” I murmured.
“Yes. That is why I showed them the mercy humanity had not. Some of the Greek and Roman divine do not mind how locked they are into their portfolios, but the Fates did. Their existence was a mistake I allowed because of free will. Their eternal rest is a choice I made because free will isn’t a promise I gave just to my children.
It was a freedom I offered to even myself.
And I apologize for that, Lucifer. I used you then. ”
The Devil snorted, and then he burst into laughter. “You are apologizing to me because you kicked my rebellious ass out and told me to grow up?”
“Well, I was a little rude about it.”
“I wouldn’t have listened if you hadn’t been at least a little rude about it,” Lucifer countered.
“You two need therapy, and so help me, if I have to be the therapist, I’m going to be pissed.”
“You’re going to have to be the therapist,” the Devil informed me. “I laugh at most everyone else. You? I know better.”
“I know better as well. Perhaps a horse from us both for the inconvenience?”
“I am never saying no to a horse,” I replied in a solemn tone.
“I know.”
“Another horse? You already stole Zenzi. She has made it clear she will insert her hooves in my ass if I even think about coming around here and demanding she go home without a damned good reason. Nooky is a temporary but damned good reason, but that’s it.
She’s going to be raising devilish foals here, and they’re going to learn all sorts of bad habits and probably take over. ”
“I’m not seeing the problem with this. Now, if we’re done with the potential risks to the entire world, I need to go find pie.”
“You will not have to go far. One of your guests has borrowed one of your kitchens and valiantly wages war against a premade crust and filling, doing his best to learn how to make a pie. It will be edible, although that is as far as his first attempt goes. Unfortunately, your other kitchens have likewise been taken over by dragons, and they all attempt to learn how to bake pies so they might offer you one. Isaac is making you a pie as well, but only because he fears his will be the only one that is tasty. His fears are unfortunately grounded in the truth. There will be many barely edible pies and only one tasty one.”
What a mess. However, as I appreciated the effort and loved pie, I allowed myself to laugh over the insanity. “Please tell me they are not single dragons!”
Lucifer snickered. “One dragon is single and searching, and Yuless started the pie problem; my darling did warn him he would be ending his stint as a male if he did not at least try to bake you a pie.”
I adored everything about Darlene. “Hey, Lucifer. Do you think Darlene will want to come to the Iroquois Stakes?”
“We already have our tickets for the race, and many of my brothers will be in attendance.”
“I will likewise be in attendance, although I will be masking my presence quite thoroughly. I did purchase a ticket, however, and I got mine next to my son to annoy him.”
Lucifer sighed. “Seriously?”
“Annoying you is one of my greatest joys as a father.”
“Very well. Lucifer, if my trailer doesn’t have enough space for all the horses that need to come, you’re driving the second trailer.”
“I can do that. Just make certain you make the appropriate arrangements for lodging should you need to bring extra horses.”
I nodded. “Then it’s settled. We’re going to the races. And Lucifer? So help me, if that stallion makes it to the slaughter market without being plucked to safety, I’ll practice laying curses on you.”
“Noted.”