Chapter Eight

Apollo was ready to play his most important role. He looked around, slightly unsettled at the thought that the spy was in the room with him and the others. It was hard to believe that one of the people who'd promised to fight Apophis was working for him instead.

Apollo couldn't help but look for her, but he couldn't see her. She was in the room, though. Set had confirmed it when Apollo had looked his way. Now, Apollo needed to do his part.

He cracked his knuckles and tilted his head to the right, then to the left. When he felt ready, he looked down to see that Barnaby was staring at him.

"You look like you're ready to start a fight," Barnaby said.

Apollo grinned. "If I were, I'd win it."

Barnaby shook his head, but he was smiling. "There's no need for you to start any kind of fight."

Because they both knew the biggest fight for them was looming on the horizon.

Apollo plastered a smile on his lips and tried to focus on his job. "I don't know. Fighting with Set isn't that bad." They weren't real fights, anyway.

"I bet the makeup sex is great."

Lance, who was never far from Barnaby, elbowed him. "You can't say that."

"Why not? Aren't you the least bit curious about how Set is in bed?"

Apollo wished he knew. "I wouldn't tell you even if I knew."

Lance and Barnaby stared. "You mean you don't know what he's like in bed?" Barnaby asked. "I thought for sure the two of you were fucking."

"Not for lack of trying on my part, but Set's very focused on the fight ahead. He's been dealing with Maahes, and that's taken a while." Apollo looked around, then leaned forward. "Plus, he and Ra are planning something."

Lance looked worried, but Barnaby's eyes sparkled as he leaned closer, too. Apollo felt a bit guilty at the thought of using these two, and he hoped they wouldn't be angry at him when they found out. He could talk to someone else, maybe one of the gods, but he felt closer to the humans. He would even consider them friends, which wasn't something he'd expected when he'd decided to get involved in this fight.

"Can you tell us what they're planning?" Barnaby asked.

"He shouldn't," Lance hissed. "We know there's a spy."

Apollo winked at him. "I doubt the spy is listening in. Besides, after Maahes, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't here at all."

Barnaby frowned, but Lance's focus was on Apollo. After a few seconds, his eyes widened, and Apollo winked.

"Besides, it's not that much of a secret," he explained. "Ra came to me to ask for advice since both of us are sun gods. He wanted to know if my pantheon had anything that would help him be stronger, so I told him about this temple where a lot of the gods in my pantheon go before a fight. I've never been because I don't need that kind of boost, but I've heard that it helps focus power. I don't know if it'll be useful, but Ra needs all the help he can get."

It was a lie. Nothing like that existed, and as far as Apollo knew, nothing could make a god more powerful. They'd needed a reason for Ra to be hanging out alone, and this worked as well as anything else would have.

"When is he going?" Lance asked.

Apollo was pretty sure Lance understood what Apollo was doing. He didn't know if Barnaby did, but that didn't matter. Apollo just needed to talk.

He was speaking loudly enough that he knew the spy would hear him, but not so loud that it would be clear something was up. He hoped the spy would fall for it, but at the same time, it made him wonder.

If the spy did fall for it, she would tell Apophis. What if Apophis decided to take Ra out while he was alone? They were doing this in the hope of neutralizing the spy after getting rid of Maahes, but Apophis might decide this was too good an opportunity. Maybe he wouldn't want to waste it and would choose to attack Ra.

The problem was that Ra couldn't bring every ally he had along with him. He and Set would be going, but that was it. They couldn't afford to have the spy realize it was a trap, which meant most people would have to stay behind. Apollo disliked the fact that he wouldn't be there to watch Set's back, but he told himself that Set didn't need him. He'd survived until now, after all. He was a powerful god. Even if Apophis attacked, Set could defend himself and Ra. Besides, he and Ra had managed to trap Apophis before. It wouldn't be easy, but Apollo was sure they could do it a second time, even if they were on their own.

But maybe he should follow Set, just in case.

"Soon. He wants to be ready when the fight starts."

"Where's the temple?" Barnaby asked.

"Where else can it be but in Greece? Other gods aren't supposed to go there, but no one will notice, and I thought it would be for the best to use all the help we can get."

"That doesn't sound like a great idea. What if one of the Greek gods realizes what's happening and tries to kick Ra's ass?"

Apollo patted Barnaby's shoulder. "Ra will be fine. He knows to be discreet, and even though my father doesn't want anything to do with what's happening with Apophis, I'm sure the others realize that something needs to be done. They won't intervene. I doubt anyone will notice something's happening, anyway. The temple is almost completely destroyed, and only very few people know it's there. It's why there aren't any tourists around."

Apollo caught movement with the corner of his eye. He didn't turn to see who was skulking by, but he didn't have to. He was sure it was the spy.

He leaned even closer to Barnaby and Lance to give them more details about where the temple was and when Ra would be going. He could tell Tefnut was there, listening to them, so he focused on Barnaby and Lance instead.

Lance shook his head. "It feels like you shouldn't tell us all of this."

"It's fine. I trust you, and I know you won't tell anyone."

"I swear we won't," Barnaby said.

Lance kept glancing in the direction of the spy. Apollo didn't know if he was aware of who it was, but he needed to distract him before Tefnut realized something was up. To distract Lance, he swung an arm around Lance's shoulders and pulled him toward Set, who was on the other side of the room, talking to Ra. "Come on. I miss my boo."

Lance's cheeks flushed. "He's going to kill you if he hears you call him that."

"I can't wait for it to happen," Barnaby said gleefully.

They were effectively distracted. Apollo risked a glance behind them as they moved. Though he'd been told who the spy was, he wasn't sure he could recognize her, but he did. She was just another goddess and looked like she belonged in this room, but her gaze was shifty, almost as if she was trying to find a reason to leave.

Probably to tell Apophis what she'd just heard.

Apollo still wasn't a hundred percent comfortable with this plan, but he'd played his role. Hopefully, he wouldn't regret having a hand in this. They didn't know if Apophis himself would try to attack Ra, and while Apollo didn't think so, he still couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he did.

"Here's my boo," he exclaimed when they reached Set and Ra.

Ra looked amused, but Set's gaze was intense. He looked from Apollo to Lance and Barnaby, and Apollo could see the question he wasn't asking in his expression. He quickly nodded, then grinned wider. "Barnaby was wondering what you're like in bed. I had to tell him that, unfortunately, I don't know."

Barnaby spluttered and turned so red that Apollo laughed. "I promise that's not what I said," Barnaby quickly explained.

"Isn't it? I could have sworn that was what you were asking."

Barnaby elbowed Apollo in the ribs. Apollo loved that Barnaby and Lance didn't seem to care that he was a god and treated him like they did everyone else.

It made him feel like he was part of something, maybe even a family. It wasn't something he was used to. His family was a mess, and that hadn't changed over thousands of years. It probably never would.

But maybe it didn't matter because it looked like Apollo had found a better one.

* * * *

Set was amused, but he didn't know how to behave. Why was Apollo talking about how Set was in bed when they hadn't gotten that far yet?

He looked down at the two humans. Barnaby looked like he wanted to run, and Set wondered if he was afraid of him. He wouldn't be surprised. Set was the one who always projected the impression of being angry and not accepting people teasing him. He'd done so because he wanted to be left alone, but that had changed since Apollo had barged into his life.

A lot had changed since Apollo had decided that he and Set were supposed to be together. It was overwhelming, but Set was surprised to realize that he wouldn't have it any other way.

At least it looked like Apollo had managed to get the information that Ra would be alone in a temple in Greece to the spy. Set had noticed Tefnut hovering close to Apollo earlier, but he'd tried not to stare in case she realized what was happening. This was supposed to be a trap for her and maybe for Apophis. It wouldn't do any good if she understood something was up.

Apollo was still talking with Barnaby, who kept slapping his shoulder as if instead of a powerful god, he was one of Barnaby's friends. Lance kept looking from one to the other, clearly amused. They were all distracted, so Set leaned toward Ra. "I think she heard them," he murmured.

Ra was good at controlling his expression, which was a relief. Set knew how hurt he was by what was happening, and he understood. He wished he could take the pain away from his great-grandfather, but there was nothing anyone could do. Tefnut had made her choice.

Set tried to imagine what it would be like to find out that one of his children had betrayed him like this. He had four, but like with most gods, he wasn't close to them. Maybe it was time to change that, or at least it would be time to do so when this war was over. He wasn't sure what Apollo would think of him wanting to get to know his kids, but it was something to think about.

Ra nodded. "Good."

"I'm really sorry."

Ra shook his head. "Don't be. You had nothing to do with her decision, and like always, when I need you, you're standing by me, ready to help. I know you like your reputation of being a monster because it keeps people away, but you never were one."

The conversation was making Set uncomfortable. He'd tried so hard to keep everyone away for thousands of years that he didn't know what to do now that he couldn't anymore. He'd chosen his side, but even more, he'd opened up to people in a way he hadn't before. He might not have if Apollo hadn't barged into his life, but there was no getting out of this anymore.

Apollo was like a koala. He was clinging to Set, and Set was pretty sure he wouldn't let go unless he didn't have a choice.

It was a lot, especially for a god who'd been on his own for so long. Since Apollo was distracted with Barnaby and Lance, Set stepped away. They'd been having another meeting, which was why everyone was gathered today, but with nothing new to talk about, it had quickly devolved into what looked like a party. Small groups had formed, and people were talking about Apophis and what he was doing in the human realm. They were getting ready to fight him, and Set could almost see the tension in the room.

Everyone was afraid. The fact that they were gods didn't mean they couldn't be killed, and when it came to Apophis, there was a big chance they would be. Set didn't want to think about it because it would be useless, but others probably couldn't avoid doing so.

Tefnut was nowhere to be seen, and Set hoped it was because she was already planning her next move. She'd have to tell Apophis about this, but he probably wouldn't come out himself. Killing Ra was what Apophis was ultimately aiming for, but not like this. Not when he was alone visiting an isolated temple where no one in the human realm would see them.

What Apophis wanted more was glory. He wanted people to bow down to him and be afraid of him. If he was going to kill Ra, he'd do so in a very public way.

That didn't mean he wouldn't try to hurt Ra before then, though. He might ask his spy to prove herself to him, or he might send her ahead, not caring if Ra killed her. Apophis wasn't known for caring about people, not even about the people who worked for him. Tefnut would regret allying with him.

But it was too late to go back.

Set was relieved when he left the big room. The noise of the many voices softened instantly when the door closed behind him, and he sucked in a breath. He was sure Apollo would quickly notice he wasn't there anymore, which meant he couldn't go home. Instead, he decided to walk through the gardens. He needed some time alone, something Apollo wasn't eager to give him. It was almost as if he thought that Set would run if he wasn't in his sight.

Sometimes, that was tempting. Set had no idea how to deal with the many feelings Apollo created in him, but being alone for a while helped. By the time he returned to his rooms, he felt better. He didn't think he was ready to face Apollo, but he couldn't avoid it for much longer.

When he walked into his living area, he paused and listened. He couldn't hear anything, which was odd because he'd expected Apollo to be home by now. Had he stayed behind, maybe with Barnaby and Lance?

Whatever the case, Set was relieved. He moved toward the hallway that would lead him to his bedroom. As he walked past the couch, Apollo suddenly sat up, startling him. Set would never admit it, but he squeaked in surprise.

He scowled at Apollo. "What do you think you're doing?"

Apollo grinned.

Set didn't think there was ever a moment in which Apollo wasn't smiling, except maybe when he was sleeping.

"I was waiting for you."

"Hiding on the couch?"

"I wasn't hiding. I knew you'd try to avoid me, so I thought that making sure you couldn't see me would help."

"That's the definition of hiding."

Apollo shrugged. "Whatever. I might be hiding, but you're avoiding me."

Set suddenly felt the urgent need to go to his room. "I have things to do, Apollo."

"Sure. Go do them. But when this is over and you return from the temple, we'll talk."

Set disliked the feeling that he was running away, but that was what he was doing. He was running from Apollo.

He decided that the best way to keep the other god away was to shift. He didn't often do it, but the feelings would be less overwhelming if he was in his animal form. He would be able to hide better, too, which would come in handy when Apollo came to look for him.

Set only waited until his bedroom door was open to shift. His clothes shifted with him.

He wasn't a real animal like most of the other gods in his pantheon. His animal looked like some of the real ones, but not quite. He was some kind of dog, but once again, not quite a dog.

What he was didn't matter. He crawled under the bed, knowing it was ridiculous and that most people would laugh in his face if they ever found him in this position. Apollo probably would, too—but then he'd crawl under the bed with him. The more ridiculous something was, the more Apollo liked it.

Set slumped on the floor and curled into a tight ball. His tail brushed against his nose, and he buried his face against it.

He disliked feeling so unsettled, and it had come at the worst possible moment. He was supposed to focus on Apophis and finding a way to defeat him once and for all, but instead, he could only think of Apollo and what he'd said just now.

They would talk once this thing with the temple was over. What did he want to talk about? Set could imagine all too well, and he wasn't looking forward to it. He liked Apollo, but he didn't know how to tell him that. He wasn't even sure he could. What if Apollo rejected him?

He softly snorted. Apollo wouldn't reject him. He'd already made his interest in Set clear, and he wouldn't back down.

Set wasn't sure how he felt about that.