Devi (4 page)

He picked it up and frowned at the slight warmth it held. It only lasted a few seconds, but he found it odd given how long it must have been on the floor. The delicate filigree chain was also unique. The entire thing seemed so large—important even—for being so fine-spun.

Rhodes placed the jewellery on his dresser and headed to the shower to get ready for work.

It was in his pocket as he headed out of the door—he was loath to leave it behind.

Chapter Three

Devi sat before a gilded pool and stared at her reflection. Her eyes were sad. And tired. Just like she was.

“What are you doing here?” a masculine voice said.

She lifted her gaze and spied the intruder. Well, not technically an intruder, but she’d wanted solace to try to figure things out.

“Set,” she replied with a slight nod of her head.

Most of the time, she made it a point to avoid the other gods, but when one was in their realm it was more than likely one would run into them.

“It’s been a while, Renpet.” He trailed his dark gaze over her body.

“A week, a decade, a century… What’s the difference to us? It’s naught but a blip of time.” She pushed herself to her feet. “Besides,
we
were never close.”

He smirked. “Still siding with the others over that whole death of Osiris thing?”

She narrowed her eyes in disapproval. “Killing a god is nothing to laugh about, Set.”

This time it was a nonchalant shrug. “He didn’t really die.”

“That the excuse you give for your actions?”

He prowled towards her, his eyes glinting. “I don’t give excuses—they’re for suckers and weaklings.”

“Which explains why you have no one.” She ambled past him, not wanting to remain near him any longer than necessary.

“Renpet?”

She peered over her shoulder at him, one eyebrow arched. “What?”

“How’s Colorado? It looks like a wonderful place.” He flashed a grin that was more a baring of teeth than anything, and vanished.

She was rooted to the spot, anger fresh and hot, coursing through her like a river. It took her a while to calm down and realise that the water in the pool was at a rolling boil. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and walked back to the water. She wasn’t an easy god to anger, but the thought of Rhodes being in danger from Set made her blood boil just as the water in the pool was.

“Don’t let him get to you,” said a velvety soft voice from behind her.

Devi turned and found herself facing a goddess she’d never seen before—one she’d only heard about. She was beautiful, with her long, flowing robe the colour of the darkening twilight. While it covered her from neck to bare feet, everything drew the eye to her femininity.

It didn’t happen often, but Devi found herself feeling slightly inferior to the woman before her. She had skin so dark that it shone like polished obsidian. Her robe shimmered when she approached, changing like the night sky as the stars emerged.

Dipping her head slightly in a show of respect, she said, “Amaunet.”

Amaunet’s eyes crinkled as her lips turned up in a smile. “Renpet.” She inclined her head. “Forgive me—I believe you go by Devi now.”

“I do.”

“Set likes to create fear and insecurity. If you allow it, he will get inside your head and make you crazy.”

“Thank you for the advice.”

Amaunet gestured with a heavily adorned hand and a pair of chaises appeared. The goddess flowed to one and sat with more grace than anyone had a right to. Then she looked back at Devi with serpentine eyes.

“Come sit, Devi. Tell me about you.”

Following the order, Devi sat on the other chaise, sinking into its plushness. The closest thing she could compare it to was sitting on a warm cloud. Buried in the comfort provided for her, she gave her attention to the regal woman at her side.

“By your expression I see you are a bit confused. Is it that you have lived among humans so long you have forgotten such comforts?”

“I suppose I have forgotten such things. I live in an apartment and drive a car. Not to mention that I have a job. I like it.” She grinned and shrugged. “But I am also confused. For so long mortals were…” She paused, unable to locate the right word. “Inconsequential. I watched them learn and grow. But the trade they learnt the best was how to kill one another with increasing swiftness and efficiency. They treat life with such carelessness—except for the children.”

“So you prefer the children.” It wasn’t a question.

Devi smiled. Children—especially babies—brought her a wonderful sense of peace. She longed for one of her own, but contented herself with being close to others’.

“Yes. So fresh and innocent. And trusting.”

Amaunet took a sip of a drink that materialised in her hand. “And this mortal, Rhodes Liatos—what about him?”

A flash of something dark and dangerous exploded inside her. While it took a moment to recognise it, Devi did. It was jealousy. Until she became bored with him, she wasn’t going to share him with anyone else—not even another goddess.

“He is mine.”

One finely arched brow rose as Amaunet stared at her over the rim of her glass. “I see.”

Devi’s watch beeped, saving her from articulating a response. The time told her she had to leave for work. Rising to her feet, Devi looked Amaunet full in the face and gave a bob of her head.

“Thank you for talking to me, but I must get to work.”

“One last thing, Renpet.”

Devi stiffened at the reuse of her true name. “Yes?”

“It is possible for gods and humans to fall in love.” She rose and took another drink. “So what one may believe to be a dalliance of which one will eventually tire could be the beginning of one’s everything. I hear that one knows when it’s love, even for us, with all our power and immortality. To be loved and to love seems even more important.”

Just like that she was gone, along with her chaises, leaving Devi alone by the pool with her thoughts. Love. She shook her head. No, surely she wasn’t in love. How could she be? She’d known Rhodes for little more than a day.

With a mere thought she transported herself back to her apartment and dressed for work. Car keys in hand, she hurried down the steps to her vehicle, returning called greetings from those she lived near. All the way to the hospital she mulled over Amaunet and her parting words.

She strode into the hospital to find January leaning against the counter with a clipboard in hand. Her friend looked up and gave her a smirk.

“What?”

“What nothing, girl—I want to hear about your date.”

Devi bit back a groan. She shouldn’t have told her friend about her run-in with Rhodes at the park, or how she had thought he would be calling her. “How do you know there was one?”

“You’re positively glowing,” January commented. She smacked her on the shoulder with the clipboard. “I have to go but you and me—lunch, so I get the details.” She waggled her eyebrows. “All of them. Every single hot-ass one.”

With a wave, Devi headed to her office. She grabbed her lab coat and stowed her keys, all the while laughing over January’s antics.

Woman must be crazy if she thinks I would tell her everything.

The day passed quickly and at lunch she and January caught a quick bite in January’s office. They had their food out between them on her desk, sharing.

“So he just showed up at your house? He didn’t even call first?”

A warm tingle set up shop in her belly as she recalled how it had been to see Rhodes walking out onto her patio. “Just showed up.” She ate a fry. “He didn’t come empty-handed, though—he brought flowers.”

“Flowers are always a nice touch. So, then what? He just said you’re coming out on a date with me?”

“He asked. And so I changed and we went out. Had a great dinner, then walked around for a while.”

January took a drink through her straw and stared at Devi with expectant eyes. When she didn’t say a word, January said, “Then what? I know—with the way you were staring at him—you didn’t let it go at that. You went to his place or he came to yours?”

Rolling her eyes, she sighed. She couldn’t win. “His.”

January smirked. “I knew it. So, tell me…how was he?”

Incredible. Amazing.

“He was… It was very nice.”

“Very nice? A movie is very nice. Come on—it had to be more than that.”

“It was,” Devi said.

“So?”

She sucked her lower lip into her mouth for a moment, then shook her head and rose from the chair. “Nope. Let me just say it was unlike anything I’ve ever known. But that’s all you’re getting for the moment, because some of us have rounds to make.” Scooping up the remains of her lunch, she threw them into the trash and headed for the door.

“Bitch,” January tossed after her.

“You know it. I’ll catch up with you later.” She patted the doorjamb and gave her friend a smile.

“I still want details!” January shouted after her.

“And I want a repeat,” she muttered. “Doesn’t mean either of us will get it.”

Wiping both January and Rhodes from her mind, she knocked on a door before pushing it open. “How are we doing in here today?” she asked with a smile for the young boy lying in the hospital bed.

Rhodes found himself thinking an awful lot about Devi during his workday. And it seemed that, every chance he got, the bracelet found its way into his hand. Like touching it kept him closer to the woman who had worn it.

After work, he hurried out to his Jeep and climbed in. Dave halted him with a wave before he could pull out of the parking space. With a muttered curse, he shifted into neutral and set the parking brake before lowering the window.

“What’s up, Dave?”

“You want to go grab a beer, man?”

“Sorry, not today. I have an appointment.”

Dave waggled his eyebrows. “Date?”

“Not quite. I’m off to the college to meet with a professor there.”

“Really? All right. If you change your mind, I’ll be at The Bistro.” He smiled. “See you later, man.”

“Thanks.” Rhodes released the brake and shifted into reverse, then backed swiftly out of the spot and, with a wave, drove off.

Twenty minutes later, he strode through a building on campus, his shoes making almost no noise on the floor. Eyes on the door numbers, he paused before the one he was looking for and rapped sharply on the wood.

“Enter,” a feminine voice called out.

He found himself in a small room with one window, high up towards the ceiling, to offer a bit of light. The shelves were crammed with books and items he couldn’t even begin to identify. In the centre of the room was a desk, also piled high, and behind it sat a woman hunched over an open book.

“Just place it on the chair,” she said, without looking up.

“Excuse me, ma’am. I have an appointment with Dr Ziambe.”

She lifted her head and peered at him from behind round glasses. She pushed them up with her index finger and glanced at the clock. “Darn it. I’m sorry. I lost track of time.” She stood and offered her hand. “I’m Dr Ziambe—or Allie.”

Not quite what he’d expected. She was tall and thin, with blonde hair and sharp, green eyes. Her hair was gathered back in a tight bun and she was wearing a brown pant suit.

“Rhodes Liatos. Thank you for seeing me.”

“No problem.” She closed the book and gestured for him to take the only other free chair in the room. “Now, I believe on the phone you said something about hieroglyphics.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He removed the bracelet from his pocket and handed it over, placing it on the recently closed book as he drew the chair closer to the desk. “I would love to know what it means.
If
it means anything.” He knew he could have asked Devi when he returned it but he was curious and wanted to know now.

“Exquisite craftsmanship,” she murmured, more to herself than to him, as she retook her seat and adjusted the light to shine more directly upon the jewellery.

He sat in silence while she stared at the bracelet and deciphered the glyphs. Each second of time that passed, he wanted it back in his possession. When she finally lifted her gaze back to his, he could see confusion in her eyes.

“Well?” he asked.

“Where did you get this?” She looked back at the chain as she worked over each link in a meticulous fashion.

“It belongs to a friend of mine.”

“Amazing. Do you know where your friend got it?” She stared at him again.

“No. Do you know what it says?”

She blinked a few times. “Yes. Yes, I know. The name in the cartouche is Renpet. Now, I’m not a mythologist, but I can direct you to one. He should still be here.”

“Mythologist?”

“Yes. What little I know about her—Renpet, that is—is that she was a goddess. Not a very well-known one, but a goddess nonetheless.”

Why is she wearing a bracelet with a goddess’ name on it?

“Who is the guy you said could give me more info on her?”

She picked up the phone and dialled a number. “Parker? Hey, it’s Allie. I have a gentleman here who has some questions for you about a goddess. Can you come down here? Thanks.” She hung up and held the bracelet back up to the light. “He’s on his way.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem. This is just amazing.” She continued to observe the bracelet from all angles.

“What is?”

“This bracelet. It’s absolutely flawless. There are no tool marks, no welds on the chain, nothing like that. The inlay around the cartouche is just…there. It’s as if it was carved out of one piece of gold. And it’s cold to the touch. After all this time it should have warmed up to my hand, just from my touching it. It hasn’t. It remains cool to the touch.”

That was news to him. It never failed to feel hot against his own skin—a feeling he longed for again. He ignored the desire to have it back in his possession and watched Allie continue to marvel over it.

The door behind him opened and he turned as a large bear of a man stepped into the room. His blue eyes twinkled and his moustache moved as he grinned. “Hey, Allie.”

“Hi, Parker. This is Rhodes.”

The men shook hands and Parker made his way back around the desk with surprising grace for a man of his size. “What do we have?” he asked, leaning over Allie.