twenty-one times. If you’re going to make fun of me get the number right.”
“I was trying to be nice ”—Candace stressed the word—“and not point out that you’ve been wasting your twenty-one days matching wits with a god. One who is very determined.” Candace sighed. “It reminds me of how Talios was with me. A determined Egyptian god is very inventive.”
The knowing smile on Candace’s face made Lainey laugh. “He is that. But I don’t see Talios being as stubborn as Taber.”
“Don’t let that calm exterior fool you. He’s as sneaky as his brother. Those two are quite a pair when they put their mind to mischief.”
“Do tell.” Lainey curled her legs under her.
Candace glanced around.
“Sula went outside earlier,” Lainey told her.
Sula was Talios’ falcon. She was very friendly and as gentle as Klu. Both birds were friends and went off together often.
“Good. She’s a tattle tale and tells Talios on me,” Candace said.
“You do know we’re both weird that we can converse with animals and actually understand what they are saying.” Lainey shook her head. “Hell, we’re weird to even be involved with Egyptian gods.”
“Is there a point to your statement?”
“Nope. Just pointing out the strangeness that has become our lives.”
“I wonder how I got so lucky.” Candace chuckled. “Then Talios reminds me he’s too much of a luscious man to pass up.”
“No way does he say that!” Lainey couldn’t believe such words would come from Talios. Taber yes, but not his more silent brother.
“Uh huh. He sure did.” Candace smiled ruefully. “I called him that once in that moment.”
“What—” Lainey stopped then snickered loudly. “Oh, that one.”
“Yes.” Candace cleared her throat. “Anyway. About the mischief-making Ellis brothers. Talios was jealous of this man at my job and well, although he realised it was foolish, he still felt he had to do something. He’s kinda possessive.”
“Taber seems to be that way, too.” Lainey nodded. “What did he do?”
“Not he. They . Talios, with Taber’s help, decided to go to the lab and well…bring the bones we put together in the shape of a dinosaur and a raptor to life. They made them speak to the man telling him that I was off-limits, except as a friend.”
Lainey stared at her in disbelief then her lips twitched and she laughed until tears rolled down her face.
Candace was laughing too, even as she said, “It’s not funny. To this day my friend swears he must have been really tired or something. He avoids the two displays and when I have to do anything with them I have to get someone else.” Candace shook her head. “Talios and Taber still tell the story and use a projected visual to show it.”
“They what?” Lainey asked.
“Like this.” Candace lifted her hand and a ball appeared, then floated in the middle of the room spreading out like a screen.
Lainey sat up gasping. The wavering object replayed from the time she’d arrived to Candace’s house to how she sat now. Awed, Lainey glanced at Candace.
“You really are like them.”
“Yes. I love Talios and want to be with him forever.” She made a swipe motion of her hand and the screen disappeared. “How about you and Taber?”
“I—” Lainey stopped, feeling a weird sensation then she faded.
When she returned to shape she put her hands on her hips and glared at Taber. “We’re going to talk about you moving me when I’m in the middle of something. Among other things you’ve been doing.”
“I need your help. The animals are all agitated. When we brought the new ones in a newer employee made a mistake and put one of the animals in the wrong enclosure. Both animals were hurt badly as they fought before anyone could realise what was happening. I’m sorry, Lainey. I was at the airstrip unloading the rest and didn’t realise what was happening.” Taber’s expression was grim.
Lainey’s heart pounded and she clenched her hands
“I was trying to be nice ”—Candace stressed the word—“and not point out that you’ve been wasting your twenty-one days matching wits with a god. One who is very determined.” Candace sighed. “It reminds me of how Talios was with me. A determined Egyptian god is very inventive.”
The knowing smile on Candace’s face made Lainey laugh. “He is that. But I don’t see Talios being as stubborn as Taber.”
“Don’t let that calm exterior fool you. He’s as sneaky as his brother. Those two are quite a pair when they put their mind to mischief.”
“Do tell.” Lainey curled her legs under her.
Candace glanced around.
“Sula went outside earlier,” Lainey told her.
Sula was Talios’ falcon. She was very friendly and as gentle as Klu. Both birds were friends and went off together often.
“Good. She’s a tattle tale and tells Talios on me,” Candace said.
“You do know we’re both weird that we can converse with animals and actually understand what they are saying.” Lainey shook her head. “Hell, we’re weird to even be involved with Egyptian gods.”
“Is there a point to your statement?”
“Nope. Just pointing out the strangeness that has become our lives.”
“I wonder how I got so lucky.” Candace chuckled. “Then Talios reminds me he’s too much of a luscious man to pass up.”
“No way does he say that!” Lainey couldn’t believe such words would come from Talios. Taber yes, but not his more silent brother.
“Uh huh. He sure did.” Candace smiled ruefully. “I called him that once in that moment.”
“What—” Lainey stopped then snickered loudly. “Oh, that one.”
“Yes.” Candace cleared her throat. “Anyway. About the mischief-making Ellis brothers. Talios was jealous of this man at my job and well, although he realised it was foolish, he still felt he had to do something. He’s kinda possessive.”
“Taber seems to be that way, too.” Lainey nodded. “What did he do?”
“Not he. They . Talios, with Taber’s help, decided to go to the lab and well…bring the bones we put together in the shape of a dinosaur and a raptor to life. They made them speak to the man telling him that I was off-limits, except as a friend.”
Lainey stared at her in disbelief then her lips twitched and she laughed until tears rolled down her face.
Candace was laughing too, even as she said, “It’s not funny. To this day my friend swears he must have been really tired or something. He avoids the two displays and when I have to do anything with them I have to get someone else.” Candace shook her head. “Talios and Taber still tell the story and use a projected visual to show it.”
“They what?” Lainey asked.
“Like this.” Candace lifted her hand and a ball appeared, then floated in the middle of the room spreading out like a screen.
Lainey sat up gasping. The wavering object replayed from the time she’d arrived to Candace’s house to how she sat now. Awed, Lainey glanced at Candace.
“You really are like them.”
“Yes. I love Talios and want to be with him forever.” She made a swipe motion of her hand and the screen disappeared. “How about you and Taber?”
“I—” Lainey stopped, feeling a weird sensation then she faded.
When she returned to shape she put her hands on her hips and glared at Taber. “We’re going to talk about you moving me when I’m in the middle of something. Among other things you’ve been doing.”
“I need your help. The animals are all agitated. When we brought the new ones in a newer employee made a mistake and put one of the animals in the wrong enclosure. Both animals were hurt badly as they fought before anyone could realise what was happening. I’m sorry, Lainey. I was at the airstrip unloading the rest and didn’t realise what was happening.” Taber’s expression was grim.
Lainey’s heart pounded and she clenched her hands
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