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

Fourty

One year later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I take a deep breath.

Let it out.

In. Out.

I go on next, and while I never thought I'd be chosen, the thought if all those people out there don't make me want to throw up.

I'm much too excited for that.

I scowl to myself. If I throw up, it will be the worst day of my life.

"Don't scowl!" My father whispers with a worried smile. "Don't forget what this day is, Lana."

I smile. It's not forced. The thought of what's waiting for me out there makes my nerves catch on fire.

The music starts. There's a rustling noise on the other side of the curtain, but I can't hear it over the sound of my heart pounding and blood rushing to my ears.

It's my turn.

I take another breath, slip my arm through my father's, shake off the sudden nerves, and as one we slowly march through the curtain. For a moment I think I see familiar faces, but then my eyes are drawn to the alter, and everything else falls away. Don't trip don't trip don't trip are the only coherent thoughts I can form, but even they slip away as his eyes catch mine.

Anubis.

He looks amazing, of course. He's wearing his traditional ceremonial clothes; the black and gold kilt and green and blue armbands. He kept his hair short, but it's covered with his gold headdress. He isn't wearing shoes.

I'm wearing ceremonial clothes, too. My dress took all year to make; sheer, hand-sewn gold cloth that shimmers in the light and a dozen or so underskirts of the same material in different metallic shades, including a nice cape. At first I had resisted the design; the only things not showing are my private areas. But the goddesses and my mother had persuaded me to just try it out; they'd even made a second, more modest one in case I absolutely hated it. But when I tried on the finished product I actually felt...good. Sexy, the women had called me, but I wouldn't take it that far. Like an actual woman.

Seeing Anubis's face as I walk down the aisle, I know it was worth it. He looks enchanted. Almost dazed.

My dress matches his ankh tattoo.

He smiles, and I can't take my eyes off of him.

I barely notice when my father lets go and moves to the side. I just keep moving forward until I'm standing in front of the god I love.

The minister begins to speak, but Anubis's words hold my attention, for my ears only. "You look amazing," he whispers. "Beautiful. Absolutely stunning--"
"You don't look too bad yourself," I tease. I don't think I can take any more compliments from someone clearly better-looking than I. "You look great. Wonderfully sexy."

Anubis smiles and takes my hands.

"Anubis, you may now say your vows," the minister says. My heart jumps.

Anubis bites his lip. He looks nervous, but his eyes don't leave mine. "Lana," he starts. "I have lived a very, very long life. I was around when humans learned to speak." He turns red. "But never in my thousands of years of life have I ever even seen a woman like you. You're smart and kind and caring and so beautiful. When I met you, I was surprised you didn't slam the door in my face. You looked nothing like the woman I'd seen on screen; the real live you is so much better.