Osiris, page 3
He closed his eyes against the thought of running his hands through her blonde hair and exploring her mouth with his.
No. Protection. She needed his protection, not his cock.
A knock sounded on his office door a moment before Morgan walked in. Black splattered the front of her clothes. She’d swapped the dress she wore to speed dating for leather pants and jacket.
Her lip turned up in a sneer. “Jackals,” she snapped. “Who the hell thought it’d be a great idea to give pharaohs control over jackals?”
“Not mine.” Osiris shook his head. “I’m not even sure if it’s an ability all pharaohs had. Could just be him. Any of that dried blood yours?”
She shook her head. “No. Luckily, I’m able to heal most of the wounds pretty quick. Thanks to being a shifter.”
“Yeah, but I bet your kitty form doesn’t offer a lot against the dogs.” He sat with his legs straddling the back of his chair.
Morgan laughed. “It does when I need to escape them.”
“You left Tanya at speed dating.”
“Honestly, I expected to come here find her in your bed, well satisfied.” Morgan shrugged a shoulder. “Didn’t think you two would be back at the cafe.”
He snorted. “Took her out for a steak and wine, and then I brought her back. She didn’t seem to be interested in sex tonight.”
“Did you bore her with talk of work and shadows all dinner?” Morgan raised a brow. “Look, I know it’s been a couple centuries since you’ve last wooed a woman…”
“It has not been that long since I’ve gotten laid,” he countered.
“I said wooed, not seduced. But Tanya isn’t going to just fall over herself at your offer of protection and a job. She’s pretty fucking independent.” She crossed her arms.
Osiris rubbed his eyes. “She didn’t flat out refuse me. She said she’d think about it.”
“That’s a no in Tanya's language. She’s just too polite to tell you no outright.” Morgan smirked. “You’re going to have to try harder. She’s human, one that barely accepts that people like us exist. She won’t give in to your godly whims.”
He didn’t want to work at this. He just wanted the woman to accept his protection so that he could worry about Nebu.
“Did you at least offer to take her home?”
Osiris nodded. “I offered, she declined. Said she was going to go to work and have a couple drinks with her coworkers for her birthday.”
Morgan snorted. “Yeah, she’s got some good peeps there. She’ll have a good time. Some friend I am, missing her birthday celebration.” She shook her head. “I’m heading home. Let me know if you need something. I’ll be back out tomorrow night.”
Osiris nodded. “Thanks, Morgan.” He stood from his chair. “Your parents would be proud of you.”
She gave him a small smile. “Yeah, well… I think they’d be pretty disappointed about where I ended up.” She walked out of the office.
He had to disagree. She might have thought she failed by having to become his hunter, but she was kicking ass at what she did, and she cared more than she let people see.
A moment later, a message came through…
Morgan: She works at Howls, if you want to join her.
He chuckled and put his phone away. Maybe he would join her for a drink. See her on her turf.
“Another shot for the birthday girl!” Scottie called, and a few people around cheered.
Turned out that Scottie was expecting her tonight, Morgan had told him she was going to make sure Tanya got there tonight.
There was a half-eaten cake on the bar and a line of empty upside-down shot glasses in front of Tanya, who reached out to take the next shot from Scottie. “I am drunk.” She slurred a little and laughed. She wasn’t completely gone and wasn’t quite to where she’d throw up from the room spinning.
But she was really drunk. Slowing down would be a good idea. Some water would be a great idea.
As if appearing by magic, she found a glass of water at her elbow, and Scottie winked at her.
“Drink some water. We’ll give the shots a break after that one.”
She laughed and down the shot. The liquid no longer burned, or she didn’t care. It didn’t matter. Her people surrounded her. She turned on her stool and started sipping the water.
Scottie smiled at her. “You doing okay there, Princess?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t call me that.”
“I’ve called you that since the first day you walked into this bar.”
She crossed her arms on the wooden top of the bar and placed her chin on it. “You ever feel like there’s a lot more to this world than we know?”
“Are we talking literally or philosophically? I’m not up for a philosophical discussion tonight.”
“Me either.” She frowned. “I mean like, there are other things than human.”
Scottie’s eyes flashed at that. “You’ve been watching too many movies, princess. There are no aliens.”
“Nooooo,” she drew out the word. “Like gods, and creepy shadows… and…”
“Drink your water,” he urged. “You’re losing your mind. And the guys at the pool table are looking at you like they’re going to buy you another round.”
“No, no more for a bit,” she muttered, disappointed at him cutting down what she was trying to say.
Which was what exactly?
That she met a god tonight? Osiris had certainly looked like a god. His deliciously dark skin and his devious stare. The way he set his sharp jaw when he was trying to think of the right thing to say.
Had it not included supernatural discussions, she might have invited him to come and have a drink with her.
Of course, she didn’t really want him to see her drunk. Yeah, sobering up would be a great idea right about now.
Then maybe she could call him.
Nope. That was a horrible idea that drunk Tanya had. She drank some more water.
“Princess?” Scottie asked, and she rolled her eyes up to look at him. “You’re thinking about drunk texting that guy, aren’t you?”
She sat up straight and shook her head. “Not anymore I’m not.” She shrugged. “Another glass of water and then I’m ready for another round.”
He refilled her water glass. “Morgan driving you home tonight?”
“No, she had something come up. I’ll call a taxi here soon. It’s not too late. There are plenty of people on the streets, and this last round will be my last.” She’d make sure she sobered up enough that the world stopped spinning before she left. Just in case.
A shiver crawled down her back and suddenly she felt hot and like the bar was closing in on her. “On second thought, I think I’m done drinking,” she muttered. She didn’t like that feeling.
At all.
She took a few deep breaths, and someone sat down next to her and placed a hand on her back. She looked up, expecting one of her coworkers, or even Osiris, not one of the men from the pool table.
He smiled at her. “Heard it was your birthday.”
She laughed. “Yeah, in case you couldn’t tell from the cake and Scottie calling for shots for the birthday girl.”
“Let me buy you a drink?” he offered.
She frowned. She’d just talked herself into not drinking anymore, but maybe just a cocktail, something she could sip on while they talked. “Sure.”
The guy looked at Scottie. “What’s her poison?”
Scottie grinned and turned around to make a drink for me. I found it odd that he didn’t protest, but when I took a sip of the amber liquid he handed me, I found it tasted nothing of alcohol and completely of ginger ale.
Scottie was a fucking angel to do that for me. I smiled at him and then turned to the guy. “Thanks for the drink.”
“Happy birthday. I’m AJ.”
“Tanya. I haven’t seen you in here before.”
He nodded. “Some friends and I are just visiting. Thought it’d be fun to check out the local scene, have some drinks before we head out at the end of the week.”
“Well, welcome,” she said, trying to think of something else to say, but words still seemed hard. “Sooooo….” She drawled out, but then stopped when she thought she saw something move in the shadows.
She hadn’t drunk that much, had she? The room was still spinning slightly, but she wasn’t seeing anything else.
“You want to step outside? Get some fresh air?”
Those words…
She looked up and saw Chad instead of the guy from the pool table. His voice rang in her head. “You want to step outside?”
Slipping off the stole, she took a deep breath. “Um, excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”
Standing up had been a bad idea. She really had drunk too much. She stumbled on her way to the break room. Not the bathroom.
There was a couch in the break room. She could lay there and close her eyes until this passed.
She almost fell, and Scottie was there in an instant. “Princess?”
“I need to get home.” She looked at him and swore his eyes were snake like. “I need to get safe.”
Scottie nodded. “I’m going to call Morgan.”
“I…” she nodded. “I need Morgan.”
Scottie got her into the break room and on the couch with a glass of cold water. Sitting back down had been a good idea, and he propped the back door open to let some cold air in.
He pushed some strands of loose hair behind her ear. “I need to just make sure Chloe has the bar handled, okay?”
She tried to fathom why he was asking her if it was okay. She paused. “Yeah, yeah, that’s fine.”
Something was not fine about the situation though, but as long as she sat there on the couch with her water, she was okay, even if she wasn’t really thinking clearly. Scottie kissed her cheek and then walked out of the break room.
Tanya leaned her head back on the couch, letting the breeze from the open door roll over her.
It was going to be okay. She was safe at Howls. Morgan was going to come get her, and she’d go home. Safe.
Except Morgan was hunting tonight.
The lights in the outside alley flickered, and Tanya’s breath caught in her throat. Shadows slinked over the opening, looking like stretched out dogs as they approached. The lights in the room flickered out.
She had to be dreaming. This couldn’t be happening again. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she opened her mouth to scream as the shadows lunged forward.
Osiris stood at the front of Howls, debating over going inside or not. What he could see through the windows of the front, the bar was busy, and chances were that Tanya was having fun celebrating with her coworkers.
An ear-piercing scream sounded from the bar.
Tanya.
He rushed to the back of the bar where he swore the scream came from and found the alleyway pitch black. But he was a god. That wouldn’t stop him. Someone had propped the back door of the building open. He rushed in to find Tanya curled up on the couch, jackals prowling up to her.
Osiris materialized an iron dagger and went after the beasts. He sliced the first one, and it burst into a pile of black dust. Shadow jackals, not Nebo’s real ones. He let out a relieved sigh, because the shadows were easier to deal with.
The other two turned to face him, leaving Tanya alone. He sliced through them easily and then sent the knife back to his realm and rushed to her.
“Tanya?”
“I need Morgan. I need to go home.” She glanced up at him, eyes wide and unfocused. There was a small slice on her cheek, blood dripping from it. “They aren’t shadows.” Her whole body shook. “Osiris. They aren’t shadows.”
He pulled her shaking body to his chest and ran his hand over her hair. “I know, Tanya. I know,” he whispered.
A man came skidding back into the break room. “Tanya, a customer said…” His eyes narrowed on Osiris. “Who are you? You’re not allowed back here.”
Tanya pushed away. “Scottie… it’s..it’s okay. He came to help me. He’s friends with Morgan.”
Osiris nodded. “Morgan sent me.” The lie fell easily from his tongue. But if Tanya had asked for Morgan earlier, there was a chance that Scottie had called her.
“Okay, Tanya needs to go home. She’s had too much to drink. I’ll call Morgan and let her know you came. You’re not leaving with Tanya until Morgan confirms she sent you.”
This man was protective of Tanya, and Osiris appreciated it. Tanya tucked herself back against him, her fists balled in his shirt like she was scared he was going to disappear. He rubbed her back, waiting for Scottie to give him the okay to take her home.
“Morgan said take Tanya to her house.”
Osiris nodded. “Thank you.” He slowly stood with Tanya in his arms. “Can you stand?”
She uncurled her legs as he helped her stand.
“Good girl,” he whispered. “We’re going to Morgan’s now.”
“Okay.” Her voice shook, and he noticed she hadn’t opened her eyes yet.
Scottie came up and pressed a kiss to Tanya’s head. “Text me when you’re at Morgan’s. Okay?”
She nodded and mumbled something. Osiris pried her off him. “Open your eyes. We’re going to walk out the back door.”
“No. They’re out there,” she hissed, but she opened her eyes and look up at him. Horror filled her hazel eyes as she blinked at him.
Osiris cupped her cheek with his hand. “The lights are back. They aren’t there.”
She turned toward the still opened door. “Okay.” She bit her lip and walked with him to the door. Once they were out of Scottie’s view, Osiris took her hand. “We’re traveling to Morgan’s my way.”
“Morgan’s hunting,” she muttered, her eyes darting up and down the alley.
“I know.” He squeezed her hand, and the world disappeared around them.
They reappeared in the foyer of Morgan’s house. Little black cat statues sitting on either side of the doorway greeted them, bringing a smile to his face. His shifter had a sense of humor.
Tanya took a step forward and swayed. Osiris grabbed her arm. “Woah there, come on, let’s get you laid down.”
“I need to go to the bathroom. I’m going to be sick.”
Osiris picked her up, cradling her against his body, and took her straight to the bathroom down the hall.
She clamored out of his arms and kneeled in front of the toilet, emptying her stomach.
He pulled back her hair and rubbed her back. He could have left her there alone, dealing with the consequences of her drunk night, but he couldn’t bring himself to walk out.
She put her head against the toilet. “They are real.” She glanced up at him. “So you’re actually a god?”
He chuckled. “Yes, and those jackals are the servants of the pharaoh who’s targeting you.”
Tanya put a hand on her cheek. “Its claw got me.”
“And once you’re done throwing up, we’ll get that cleaned.” He stood up.
She closed her eyes. “I think I’m done.” She stood slowly. “Scottie must have made the drinks strong tonight. I shouldn’t be this drunk.”
Osiris said nothing as he helped her to Morgan’s guest room. “We’re going to lay you down.”
She flopped on the bed. “Why were you at the bar?”
He grabbed an extra blanket from the closet and put it on her. “Because I was going to come have a drink with you. I heard you scream.”
She closed her eyes. “What would have happened if you weren’t there?”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. He wanted to give her a comforting lie, but he couldn’t. That wasn’t his style. He was the king of the Egyptian underworld, the Eternal Lord. He did not give comforting lies. “I don’t know. They probably would have dragged you to him.”
She closed her eyes. “Thank you for protecting me.”
Now was not the time to push her to take his deal. Right now, he needed to make sure she stayed safe.
Her breathing evened out, and he went to find Morgan’s first aid kit so he could clean and patch the cut on her face. Nebo’s actual jackals carried poison in their claws and teeth, but luckily the shadow ones just materialized enough to cause damage.
He came back to find her curled up and shaking. Sweat beaded across her brow as she whimpered.
“Tanya?”
“Don’t leave me, please,” she muttered, reaching out for him. Her eyes were still closed, but her face was pinched in pain or fear. He wasn’t sure.
He kneeled by her and put a hand on hers. “I’m right here.”
She calmed and relaxed, her body uncurling a little. He went to work cleaning the slash on her cheek and putting a bandage on it. She’d let out an occasional whimper and reach for him.
“She’s dreaming about her ex.” Morgan’s voice came from behind him. “He left her in an alleyway, after drawing her out there. She begged him to stay as the shadows closed in on her.”
“What happened?” Osiris looked down at the sleeping woman.
“I destroyed the shadows, and we became friends.”
He snorted. “I feel like there is so much more than that, Morgan.”
“You’ll have to ask her. A lot of it is personal. She’s still healing mentally from his betrayal. She drank way too much tonight. I got the list from Scottie.”
Osiris stood, but Tanya clung to his hand, and he looked at Morgan helplessly. “I need to go.”
“No, you don’t. You need to stay here with her.” She laughed. “I have to go shower and get the jackal blood off me. So I can’t babysit.” She flipped her braid. “Besides, you’re the one who rescued her tonight.”
He let out a long sigh as Tanya tried to snuggle his arm. “What do I do?”
Morgan grinned. “Snuggle her. She wants to feel safe.”
He glanced at Tanya, whose eyes were half opened right now. “Snuggle? She’s not even aware.”
Morgan nodded. “Good luck.” She walked out of the room, leaving Osiris with a half asleep, very drunk Tanya clinging to his arm.
CHAPTER 3
