“You sure about that, buddy?” Gil said, getting up and fiddling in his pockets. Oh, right. Damien had found him a change of clothes. Denim everything, of course. “Don’t tell us you’re gonna walk again. You’re totally smashed. Thunder god or no, can’t have you going home alone like that. Come on. I’ll drive you home.”
“Appreciate the offer, fanks, but no.” Thor squeezed his fists and his eyes shut, then grunted. The redness of his cheeks faded instantly, the blush washing out of his skin as quickly as the alcohol somehow left his system.
“See?” he said, sober as anything. “I’m fine. I’ll walk. I like walks.”
I nudged Asher, leaning in to stage whisper. “Five bucks says he’s only pretending because he actually flies once he’s out of sight.”
Thor pinched the air in front of his mouth, pulling horizontally. “My lips are sealed. Rest assured that I don’t use my powers willy-nilly in front of any nosy humans.”
Asher laughed. “You’ve got no room to talk about responsible use of your powers. That stunt you pulled in the woods, the bolt of lightning from the heavens? You two looked like the cover of a death metal album.”
“So what you’re saying is that we looked badass,” I said.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Fine,” Asher said, folding his arms. In a mumble, he added: “It was kind of awesome.”
“I can take awesome,” Thor said. “I like awesome. Anyway, I’m heading off. Damien’s letting me take home some leftovers. Good grub.”
“Yeah.” I patted my stomach. “The eating’s good, I have to admit. But it’d be nice if blood was just as easy to find around here.”
Thor looked around, like he was checking for anyone listening, then scratched the back of his neck. “I mean, if you’re really hard up, I don’t see the harm in – you know.”
I sprang to my feet, ramrod straight. I dumped my plate in Asher’s lap, ribs and potatoes and whatever else completely forgotten. His blood was already a temptation to me when he was masquerading as Roth. But now that I knew he was a god? If you want to talk rare and exotic blood, there’s little that can be rarer. And he was offering it to me freely?
“Name the time and the place and I’m there.”
“Whoa, relax. I’ll – I’ll be in touch.”
I nodded, doing my best to stay calm. I thought about my crystal phials, so, so very glad that I brought my extraction kit with me. Nurse Sterling, reporting for duty.
“Whatever you’re comfortable with,” I said, sitting down again, crossing my legs to look all unbothered and cool. “Nibble on the neck, done. You more comfortable with needles? Also done. Whatever suits your fancy. I prefer biting, myself. Gives it a more personal touch.”
There was a sudden reddening in Thor’s cheeks that, again, faded a little too quickly. “Whatever. I just need you to know this is a one-time thing.”
I waggled my eyebrows. “Sometimes one-night things are the most enjoyable.”
He frowned. “I said one-time, not one-night, and you know that.”
I folded my hands behind my head, ran my tongue across the rim of my teeth, and grinned. “I fail to see the difference.”
The god laughed, shook his head, and walked away. “Pervert,” he called over his shoulder.
“Take a shower first,” I called back. “No shower, no service.”
Gil chuckled. “Get a room.”
Asher groaned. “Now I feel like I’m the one who needs a shower. I’m not even sure what the two of you are talking about anymore.”
“Me neither. Either way, I have a feeling it’s going to be a hell of a lot of fun.”
“It’s funny,” Gil said. “How none of us detected Thor’s essence. For that matter, Asher, didn’t you sense Uriah’s presence under the floorboards?”
Asher shrugged. “I bet it’s the same answer for both. They’re good at hiding their signatures. If you’re a god who just wants to blend into human society, then learning how to dampen your energies so no one can sniff you out is a pretty good trick. And if you’re a dead guy’s specter hanging on for a ritual resurrection kickstarted by your fruit-peddling descendant, then well – same thing.”
I looked up into the clouds, at the moon, now gleaming silver again. “I wonder if Olivia got away, or if that demon got her. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing her again.” I curled my fingers, cracked my knuckles. If or when she came back, I’d have one or two choice things to say to her.