The Love Game (Gods of the Universe: Book 1)

Nineteen

Something's not right.

I jerk awake and see a figure standing over my bed. "What the–"

"Shh," the figure says as I sit up. "It's just me."

I lean over and turn the lamp on, then squint at the figure next to me, surprised. "Horus?"

"I'm sorry if I scared you," he says quietly as I roll out of bed, disturbing Anukis. I don't care that I'm only wearing a large shirt and shorts.

"What in the name creation are you doing here?" I hiss.

Horus looks down at his feet. "I'm sorry you didn't like your birthday gift," he says. "I thought you'd like it--"

I shake my head, cutting him off. "That's not why I didn't accept your necklace," I say. "I thought it was beautiful. But it wasn't mine to have, Horus. Someone gave that gift to you, with you specifically in mind. I wouldn't feel right about taking it and knowing it was meant for you."

Horus frowns. "It doesn't matter to me, though," he says. "It was just a necklace some peasent offered up to me so I could bring plentiful hunting."

I can't think of anything to say that would make him understand why it'd be wrong to give me his necklace. "I guess you just don't understand. Maybe it's a mortal thing."

Horus nods. "That must be it."

I wait a bit before speaking again. "Is that all you came here to say?"

Horus' eyes widen. "Oh, no. I came to give you this." He reaches out and pulls a bottle of water from nowhere. "You look like you could use some water," he adds as he hands me the bottle.

I shake my head and unscrew the cap. "I won't even ask how you got this," I promise before taking a drink. "Thanks, I suppose."

I expect Horus to leave. Instead, he smiles, but it's not a comforting smile. It's not his charming smile, either. This smile makes me want to back away, hide in a corner where he can't find me. It's dangerous. "I want to keep you safe, Lana," Horus says softly.

I frown. "What do you mean?" I ask, louder than I probably should because I'm having a hard hearing myself.

"I want to keep you safe. Away from all the other gods, where no one can find you." I can't see now. This is getting scary. "You see, Lana, you're mine," Horus says as my knees buckle. He catches me right before I hit the carpet, hoisting me into his arms.

"What did you do?" I ask, but my words all blur together. "What have you done?"

"You must understand, Lana," Horus says. "I'm doing this because I love you, and I want to keep you safe. You're mine. No one else's." He looks past me and kicks at something. "Don't worry," he whispers as everything fades. "I'll keep you safe, Lana. I always take good care of my possessions."

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