The Love Test (Gods of the Universe: Book 2)

Thirty-Five

I wake up with a scream, scared and exhausted.

Then Raijin is there, picking me up off what I assume is a bed and clutching me tightly in his arms. "Oh, Ruby," he murmurs. "I was so scared."

I hold him just as tight, trying so hard not to cry. "How do you think I felt?" I whisper, digging my fingers through his soft hair. I can't believe I forgot how soft his hair is.

Raijin pulls away a bit, his eyes searching my face. "Will you tell me what happened?" He asks. "What did he do?"

He means Apophis.

I tears my eyes from his. "I can't. You'll hate me."

"That's impossible." I make a noise that barely resembles a laugh. "I'm serious, Ruby."

And suddenly I can't hold it in anymore. I take a shuddering breath and say, "Those massacres on TV, Raijin, that was all-"

"Apophis," he interjects. "That was Apophis. Not you."

I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut. The guilt is pressing into my chest, crushing my ribs and now I feel like screaming. "It was me," I force out. "I didn't stop him. I was-"

"Ruby, listen to me." He takes my face, his touch reaching through me like a blanket, warding away the guilt and horror. "Look at me, love."

My eyes open of their own accord at the term of affection Raijin uses. Oh my stars.

"I could never hate you," he whispers, tucking stray hairs behind my ear. "Especially when none of this was your fault. Believe me, Ruby." I'm lost in his eyes, and his scent hits my nose as he leans closer. His aura, a dark grey-blue, tinges the edge of my vision, and I distractedly wonder what happened to the orange. Then Raijin takes a breath. "I-"

The door opens with a bang. I jerk back instinctively, sending an ache through my spine and ribs. "Is she awake?" A deep voice demands. Raijin mutters something in Japanese, making me laugh. "I'll take that as a yes."

Raijin sighs and gathers me in his arms again. "Ruby, this is Lord Anubis, god of death and the Egyptian underworld."

I crane my neck to see the intruder. He lingers in the doorway clad in a yellow tank and cutoff jeans, an eyebrow raised and a smirk on his face. "Hey," I call before turning back to Raijin with a frown. "So...what happened?" I ask tentatively. "When you came."

He holds my face gently and searches my eyes again. "You don't remember?"

Of course, as soon as he says that, everything comes back in a torrent of pain.

"Ah. That." I shudder, pressing my face into his neck. Then I start to hyperventilate at images of fire and mutilated bodies fill my mind. "Yeah, okay. Yikes."

Raijin rubs my back. "It's okay. I'm right here. Anubis, could you give us a minute?" He tells the god sharply.

"Sorry," a new voice chimes, this one female. "No can do. There are some creatures about thirty miles from here, closing in fast. We have to move."

I turn around to see Anubis wrapping his arm around a pale girl with short, jet black hair wearing a blue tank top tucked into black cloth shorts. She gives me a smile and a little wave. "Hey. I'm Lana."

I study her orange aura and give her a tight smile in return. "Ruby," I respond.

She nods. "I seriously know how you guys feel, but Horus is packing everything up. Take a few more minutes, then come help, alright?" She drags Anubis out of the room before either of us can answer.