Chapter Six

Apollo was annoyed. He wanted to focus on seducing Set after the kisses they'd shared, but he couldn't, because they had to catch the fucking spy. That meant he'd have to wait to get into Set's pants, and he disliked that.

He'd finally broken through Set's armored shell. Set was letting him in, and Apollo didn't want to let anyone ruin that, especially not the spy.

He looked around Nu's living room. Would people attending the meeting notice if he dragged Set out? For a moment, he tried to convince himself that no one would, but he realized Barnaby and Lance were staring at him. They were on the other side of the room, but when he caught them staring, they quickly rushed to his side. They sat next to him, and Barnaby leaned in.

"You know who the spy is?"

Apollo pouted. "Do we really have to talk about that? The spy bores me."

Lance blinked. "The spy bores you? They betrayed us and could have gotten all of us killed, and they bore you?"

"Set kissed me."

Both Lance and Barnaby stared. Apollo felt smug that they were so shocked, although he wondered if he should be. Hadn't they known this would happen? Had they thought that Set would continue resisting Apollo's charms? That he could have resisted them?

Lance patted Apollo's knee. "That's great. The two of you are together, then?"

Apollo groaned. "I don't know. He just kissed me and told me we'd talk later, but we haven't talked yet, and now I'm overthinking this. If he kissed me, it's because he wanted to, right? Because he wants me?"

"I'm sure he does."

"But if you're not sure, we could come up with a plan to help you with that," Barnaby offered. "I mean, now probably isn't the best moment to do this, but I'm sure Set will need time to rest. You could help distract him."

"I can do that. I don't need a plan, though. My natural charm will take care of it."

Barnaby snorted. "Maybe you should remind your natural charm that Set wants to strangle you on a regular basis."

Apollo grinned. "But that's part of my natural charm."

"Just go for it," Lance said. "The next time the two of you are alone, kiss him and tell him you want him."

He made it sound so easy, and maybe it was. Things between Apollo and Set had been complicated since the beginning, but Apollo felt they were finally getting somewhere. Maybe they didn't have to be complicated anymore. Maybe talking to Set would be enough.

And if it wasn't, Apollo could just kiss Set again.

"Where is he, anyway?" Lance asked.

"He went back to Maahes."

They'd gotten the answers they needed yesterday, but Set had been convinced that Maahes could tell them more, so he'd insisted with Ra that they wait to do anything. He wanted more time alone with Maahes, which was what he was doing today. Apollo had stayed behind this time. He already knew what was happening, and he didn't need to be anywhere near it.

"Do you think we could go there?" Barnaby asked.

Apollo frowned. "Why would you want to do that?"

Barnaby shrugged. "I'm curious."

"As curious as you might be, that's not a place for you."

Barnaby frowned. "Because I'm human?"

"It has nothing to do with that. It's not a place for me, either, and I'm a god. It's just not something most people should see or deal with."

Barnaby slowly nodded. "But Set is there."

"You have to remember who he is. He's not a danger to you or anyone here, but he can be dangerous. Violence is in his nature, even though deep inside, he's a purring pussy cat."

Lance laughed. "That's not how I would describe him."

But it was how Apollo would describe Set. He didn't think Barnaby and Lance had ever been allowed to see how Set was in a private setting, but he had. He knew that Set enjoyed soft pajamas and that he hated socks. He knew that Set drank tea every evening after dinner to help him sleep better. He might be the god of violence, but there was a soft center to him that Apollo wanted to protect.

He also wanted more people to see it, because that way they'd finally realize that Set wasn't as dangerous as everyone thought, but that wasn't something he could do. If Set wanted people to know him better, he'd have to let them in.

"Gods are complicated," he said. " People are complicated, and gods are people, even though sometimes that's easy to forget. Set might be the god of violence, but that's not all he is. At the same time, I don't think this is something easy for humans to accept."

Barnaby shrugged. "I'm aware that some people don't deserve to live. I have no problems with Set killing Maahes if that's what he needs to do to protect everyone."

Apollo stared at him. He didn't know much about Barnaby and Lance, did he? He just knew they were nice and that they were dead, but he had no idea how they'd died. From the sound of it, Barnaby's end hadn't been easy.

But it also hadn't been the end. He was here now, and from what Apollo could see, he was happy. He was in love with an Egyptian god and had a bright future—as soon as Apophis was taken care of, anyway.

Apollo would never berate Set for what he was doing. He'd seen and done a lot over the thousands of years he'd been alive, and he understood that sometimes, death was the only path ahead. He'd need to make sure that Set knew he understood and that he wouldn't hold this against him. Set was doing what was necessary to keep humanity and the gods safe. The only people who might resent him for that were people who didn't know what they were talking about.

And if they tried to go anywhere near Set, Apollo would make sure they'd regret it.

* * * *

Set stared at Maahes. After spending two days in Nu's back shed, the minor god was in bad shape. He slumped against the chair, his black hair covering part of his face. He'd bitten his lip so hard that it was bleeding, and the air smelled of sweat and copper.

He had no hands now. Set had taken the second one, and that had worked. He was pretty sure that Maahes had told him everything he knew about Apophis and his plans. Taking his second hand had been the straw that broke the camel's back, or in this case, Maahes's spirit. He was utterly broken. He was breathing hard, and he'd stopped trying to free himself. His detached hand was on the floor in front of him, but he was avoiding looking at it.

Set was tempted to push it closer so that he couldn't.

"I told you that you'd tell me everything," he said.

Maahes bared his teeth. "You're a monster."

Set smiled coldly. "You're right. I am a monster, but nowhere near as bad as Apophis. What did you think you were going to get, allying with him? Power? Wealth? You're a god, for fuck's sake."

"I'm a minor god," Maahes snapped, lunging forward. He was still tied up, so he didn't get far. He growled and pulled on the ties that held his arms to the chair.

"I'm aware of that."

"No, you're not. You don't know what it's like to be a minor god, a god no one remembers and cares about. Not even my own pantheon remembered I existed until I allied with Apophis. He's the only one who did, and I don't regret giving him what he needed."

Set frowned. Maahes was right when he said that Set wasn't a minor god and couldn't understand what that was like, but he knew minor gods. He just had to look at his allies, like Qebui and Sed. Qebui was the god of the North wind, for fuck's sake. Who cared about the North wind?

The two of them were very minor, but they'd never had a problem with that. They'd helped when they could, and they'd chosen the right side. Major gods like Set and Ra had noticed them because they were helpful and wanted to do the right thing.

And here was Maahes, having lost both of his hands and soon his life because he'd chosen the wrong side. No one would have cared that he was a minor god if he'd been allied with them, and they would have tried to save him if he needed help. What would Apophis do? Even if he did notice that Maahes was missing, he wouldn't come for him. He wouldn't want revenge for his ally. He couldn't care less about Maahes or anyone else. The only person Apophis cared about was Apophis.

Set opened his mouth to tell Maahes that, but in the blink of an eye, Maahes was on his feet. It took Set a few seconds to realize that, somehow, he'd gotten free of the ties.

Maahes threw himself at Set, and Set acted instinctively, raising both of his hands together and making a sword appear in his hold. Maahes was rushing toward him, and he didn't have time to stop or even slow down. He threw himself onto the sword, and it moved through him like butter.

Maahes's eyes widened. He flailed his arms, spurting blood everywhere, before lowering them as if he wanted to grab the sword that was sticking out of his stomach. He didn't have fingers to grab onto anything, though.

Blood dribbled from his mouth as he stared at Set. Even though Maahes had done nothing but create trouble and hurt people, Set felt sorry for him. He'd wanted to be seen, and when the wrong god had given him attention, he'd fallen for it.

Set withdrew his sword from Maahes's body. Maahes dropped to the floor, rolling on his back. Blood spread under his chest, and Set briefly wondered if they'd be able to get all of it out of the floor.

He crouched next to Maahes. "I'll make it quick."

Maahes smiled. His teeth were red now. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I'm not as cruel as Apophis."

Maahes laughed. "You'll see how cruel he is soon. He'll kill all of you and avenge my death."

Set highly doubted that. Apophis would try to kill them, but it wouldn't be to avenge Maahes. No, no one would be avenging Maahes's death.

He got to his feet and swung his sword. There was one last gurgle, then silence.

Set sucked in a breath. His sword vanished, and he pressed his hands against his eyes. He was tired, but this still wasn't over. Before he could have his happily ever after—if he could ever have one, considering the god he was—they still had to defeat one major enemy.

Apophis.

They had more information about him and his plans now, but it still wouldn't be easy. The thought of what awaited them was scary, even to Set. He and Ra had defeated Apophis once before, and he was sure they could do it again, but there was a little voice at the back of his mind that wondered.

Things were different now. It wasn't only that thousands of years had passed and Apophis was probably stronger than he ever had been. It was also that Set had someone he cared about.

Apollo was right in the middle of this fight, and Set already knew it would be useless to try to convince him to go back to his pantheon. Apollo wouldn't stay out of the fight. When they faced Apophis, he'd stand right next to Set, and he'd fight alongside him. He might even die.

Set grunted. Things had been much easier when he didn't care about anyone. He didn't have to worry about them getting hurt or dying. Now, he had Apollo, but also the others. He didn't want anyone to get hurt, but that was impossible. They were about to fight Apophis, and they were bound to lose someone.

But who?