Epilogue

Mara

It didn't take me long to get used to Duat.

The half-formed bodies with missing pieces were another story.

"So who killed you?" I asked one of the floating spirits with an awkward form.

"The Night Butcher."

Huh. I liked that. Good name choice for a serial killer.

After Amon's sentencing, things had taken a turn for the better. All his hubbub was for protocol in front of the others so they didn't assume he was playing favorites. But I knew the real deal because Anubis was my favorite deity too. I mean, it helped that he found every opportunity to punish me in delicious ways.

After the discovery of my abilities, Amon sentenced me to an eternity chained to my master of punishment. I pretended to argue, but I saw a few of the others roll their eyes.

What could I say? I lived to entertain.

Anubis and I had weathered the storm of divine wrath, and our penance had turned into a sort of cosmic bonding experience. And let me tell you, nothing says "growth" like a few months of shared trials and tribulations. We had both been required to mend our ways and respect the sacred boundaries we'd once stomped over like rowdy tourists.

That was why I was tasked to help see the newly dead to their trials with my partner in crime, Nubi. He hated the pet name but it wasn't his decision.

"Well, we might as well get this over with then. Come on." Anubis pinched my butt and I yelped. I turned toward him with a scowl. "What was that for?"

"I suppose we should get you to the Hall of Two Truths," he said coldly to the spirit as if reading from a boring textbook. "It's where the souls are judged."

Protocol. Right. Right.

We led the spirit to the Hall of Two Truths, where the weight of divine judgment would soon befall him. The Hall, with its ancient, shadowed corridors and enigmatic scales, was the place where souls faced their trials alone, stripped of worldly comforts and confronted with their deepest truths.

As the spirit entered, the massive stone doors of the Hall creaked shut behind him, and I could almost hear the collective breath of Duat holding in anticipation. His fate was now sealed within those hallowed walls, and our part in his journey was complete.

With the spirit out of sight, I turned to Nubi, my mood lightened. Grabbing his hand, I gave it a playful swing.

Anubis looked at me with that familiar mix of exasperation and affection, the kind of look that suggested he was still trying to figure out how he'd ended up in this romantic comedy with me.

"I never imagined," he said with a long-suffering sigh, "that a series of missteps would lead to something so… right."

I shot him a teasing grin. "Well, isn't that just the hallmark moment we didn't know we needed? Here we are, proving that even gods and troublemakers can end up with a happily-ever-after."

Anubis's lips quirked in what could only be described as a reserved smirk. "Yes, well, if this is a romance, I'd prefer it had fewer divine melodramas and more peace and quiet."

I laughed, nudging him playfully as we made our way toward another randomly placed column. "Oh, come on. Admit it—life's a lot more interesting with a bit of cosmic chaos. You'd miss it if it were gone."

I elbowed him playfully before wagging my eyebrows.

"Do I get a chance to win a fabulous prize, or is it just a lifelong subscription to the Underworld Gazette?" It was something I mentioned the first time I arrived here, the memory of how this all started making me snicker.

Anubis gave me a sidelong glance, a hint of playful annoyance in his eyes. "I suppose you think you've made my life more… colorful?"

"Absolutely," I said with a wink. "It's like you went from starring in a solemn epic to headlining your very own romantic dramedy."

Anubis shoved me against the column and my eyes widened. "Mara, I never knew color existed beyond the monotony of my duties, not until I stumbled upon a little mortal female desecrating my temple."

If he wasn't holding me up, I would have melted into a puddle from swooning.

"Are you trying to tell me you like me, big guy?" I teased.

A low rumble came from his chest as he pressed his very hard and wet erection against me.

"You drive my desires to the brink of madness. How am I supposed to focus on what is necessary here, when all I can think about is how well your pussy takes my cock?"

I blinked a few times, trying to comprehend his words through my lust. "I-I guess we'll just have to fix that, won't we?"

With a growl, he lifted me until my legs wrapped around his hips, his cock trapped between us, torturing us both.

We both watched as he thrust himself between us until a bead of precum leaked from his slit. My mouth formed a little ‘o' when he swiped it with a finger and ran it along my lower lip, his eyes darkening as he mentally commanded me to taste him.

I darted my tongue out while keeping my eyes on the beast before me, knowing how much he liked me submitting in all ways to his authority over me.

His tail wagged as he slammed his lips on mine before throwing one of my legs over his shoulder to slip his massive cock inside of me. He swallowed my gasp, nipping at my lips as he began thrusting between my legs, my pussy still a bit sore from our earlier tryst between escorting spirits.

The beads on his cock in addition to being folded like a taco drove my pleasure up faster than I could anticipate. Anubis, attuned to my body, knew I was close so he covered my mouth with a knowing grin.

His arrogance made my pussy spasm to the point of pain and pleasure as he continued to drive himself into me until he howled, locking himself inside of me with his knot.

I nipped his palm as he panted beside me, telling him to uncover my mouth.

He licked the shell of my ear as I berated him. "If you didn't want me to make any noise, why did you howl?"

He chuckled, pushing himself further inside of me before letting my legs slide down to his hips. "Because I wanted everyone to hear me punish you. I can't let them know how much you crave my knot inside of you."

I gasped in mock offense, placing my hands on his chest. "Who said I want you that badly, huh?"

He nipped my neck and I laughed before he shifted his hips, making me moan. I leaned in closer, my smile widening. "Admit it, you'd be bored without me."

He gave me a lop-sided grin, clearly both amused and slightly annoyed. "I'd prefer fewer cosmic crises, but I suppose I'll manage."

"Hey!" I pouted.

"I assure you, little mortal, as long as I keep your womb full, you'll manage as well."