Chapter Six

Torrent and I came out of the Aether mentally exhausted if not physically. But this was still the beginning of our investigation. Thankfully, the Squad hadnt waited for us. Theyd gone on to the other heavens to investigate while Re stayed behind to let us know. I strode down the marble steps and then onto the golden street as my exhaustion evaporated and a smile spread across my face.

There was Re, in all his sun god glory, sprawled upon a fucking (I can swear in my head) chaise lounge with a glass of something bubbly in his hand. He had the three top buttons of his shirt undone so his spectacular chest could catch the light. Not that the rest of him wasnt just as spectacular. And golden. His skin gleamed as if sprinkled with gold dust, highlights brought his dark hair to life, and his eyes—half-lidded and long-lashed—shone like polished doubloons. Against the backdrop of the gold cobblestones, it was almost too much. Oh, who am I kidding? Re is always too much no matter where he is, but in the best way possible.

Around him fluttered Angels, their graceful hands hovering over that amazing skin—the dark, desert color beneath enhancing the brightness of the golden sheen. Men and women alike were gathered around Re, offering him little tidbits of food from golden platters (not silver, mind you) and fanning him. Fucking fanning him like a sultan. Or Scarlett OHara.

“Ah, here she is!” Re declared as he got up, passing his glass to one of the Angels. “My beautiful wife!”

The Angels pouted and turned their jealous stares my way. I pulled off my gas mask. They frowned, and I knew exactly why. I was pretty, maybe even beautiful thanks to Aphrodites magic. But I wasnt beautiful enough for a god like Re to label me as such. But their frowns vanished as soon as Re strode past them. He was nearly as scrumptious from the back as he was from the front. Okay, he was glorious from all angles. And he had dressed well, as usual, in a deep blue shirt that enhanced his golden self and body-skimming black pants. Casual but classic. Understated. So the clothing wouldnt distract you from his beauty. He also had a great ass. Thats what most of the Angels focused on while he walked up to me.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my amusement brightening the words.

“What do you mean?” Re asked innocently.

I looked pointedly at his entourage, still waiting to see if hed return.

“Oh, them.” He shrugged. “Well, you were taking so long that I got tired of standing and sat down on the curb. One of them spotted me and asked why someone like me would be sitting on a curb. Then more Angels came over, and you can see how it went.” He waved his hand in a rolling motion.

“Wow!” Torrent exclaimed. “Can I have a canape?” He went over to the Angels and helped himself before they could refuse him.

I chuckled and followed. As they gaped at Torrent, I hooked my gas mask over my arm, took Res abandoned glass from the hand of a stunning blonde woman, and sipped. “This is pretty good.” I went to another Angel who was holding a second tray of treats and picked a strawberry tart. “Thanks, Im famished.” I took a bite, then looked around as I chewed. “Hey, have any of you seen anything odd lately?”

“Odd?” one of the men finally recovered. “As in the Godhunter walking our streets wearing a gas mask?”

“Is this odd, though?” I cocked my head at him and waved at myself. “Or is this odd?” I waved at the chaise, then at them.

He flushed.

The blonde woman asked, “How odd? And why do you ask?”

“It doesnt have to be extremely weird,” I said as I plopped onto the chaise. “Could be anything that caught your attention. And Im asking because things have been going missing around here. Pranks are being played on your new king.”

“The Ark,” another of them said to the rest. “I told you I saw them moving it through the streets. And I heard things have been going missing.”

“Someone stole the Ark?”

“No,” I hurriedly said. “They moved it into the desert. A bad prank.”

“A prank against Jesus?” A dark-haired woman asked, her wings pulling in tightly to her back. “Why would anyone do that?”

“Were all overjoyed to have him on the throne,” a man said. “Araboth is brighter. Its . . . home now. Finally, its our home. We dont have to be afraid of what Jehovah might ask of us or if his deeds will bring down the fury of Lucifer or other gods. And Jesus has power over all the Heavens now. Heaven and Hell are united.”

“Are you sure everyone feels like that?” Torr asked around a mouthful of cream puff. Then he groaned. “Where did you get these? Is there an Angel bakery around here?”

“I made them,” a female Angel said proudly.

“Well done, you!” Torrent said and took another. “Youre a master of your craft! You should sell these.”

“Ive been thinking about opening a shop.”

“You absolutely should.”

“To answer your first question,” the man said with a frown at Torr, “I cant imagine that there would be anyone who . . .” he trailed off.

“There!” Re pointed at him. “Who did you just think of?”

The mans face went slack as he experienced the full force of Res attention.

I snapped my fingers in front of his face. “Focus! Who did you just think of?”

He blinked and looked at me. Or, more importantly, away from Re. “Well, Jehovah had his supporters.”

“Arent they dead?” I asked.

The man shrugged. “Who knows what lies in the hearts of Angels?”

“I was hoping you did,” I said dryly. “Thats why I asked.”

He grimaced at me.

“Come now.” Re put his arm around the man, sliding it between his wings and under his long, ebony hair. He gave me a quelling glance as he steered the guy away from me. “You must have some inkling, some teensy tiny thought about who may be harboring ill will toward your new king. Dont you want to help Jesus? I do. Hes a very good friend of mine and my brother-in-law. I know he would appreciate anything you might have to offer.”

I hadnt thought of Jesus being brother-in-law to my other husbands. The idea made me grin. Family can be funny, especially when you have one like mine.

“Well, uh, theres, uh.” The man stared at Re, then swallowed, his Adams apple bobbing.

I shook my head and ate a cream puff. Then I flinched and looked at the Angel who made them. “These are good! Better than that. Theyre amazing! Open your bakery, and I dont care where it is, Ill be a regular customer.”

“Thank you.” She grinned and held the tray out to me.

“Dont mind if I do,” I murmured as I took another cream puff. “What is that? Cardamon?”

“Yes. And rosewater.”

“Rosewater! Wow. Youve got the mixture just right so that its floral but not soapy.”

Re cleared his throat.

I turned to look at him. “Yes?”

“Weve got a name.” He looked at the cream puffs. “If youre done eating, La-la.”

I made a face at him, stuck the entire cream puff in my mouth, then grabbed another.

Re chuckled, then leaned over and licked some cream from my lips. “Delicious.”

One of the women fainted, feathers everywhere.