Moli nodded and dusted her hands together. She glanced back at the Triad. “Banjimus, Dedria and Tolimain, we did it!”

  And Moli sounded so happy and excited. She bounced on her toes, clapping before she ran over to the Triad.

  The kiss the four deities shared was not an innocent one.

  Andilun turned his head, feeling that it would be wrong to keep staring.

  Matt had turned away too—and sobbed before slapping a hand over his mouth.

  Andilun started to ask him what was wrong, but then he saw them, too—Enanaoke and Kinoega, gruesome in form as they had been dashed against the volcano floor.

  He had not thought to ever see a dead god, much less the two he had actually liked at one point in time. His heart broke and he held Matt closer. “Do not look,” he advised, urging Matt to turn in his arms.

  Before Andilun could say another word, Moli was there, extending her hands towards the dead gods.

  Andilun and Matt were lowered to the ground. Andilun was in a state of shock as he watched Enanaoke and Kinoega’s bodies knit back together.

  Then they were not dead anymore.

  Moli had raised the dead. She giggled and waved at Enanaoke and Kinoega as they sat up, confusion very clear in their expressions. Moli floated over to Enanaoke. She bent enough to cup his chin. “Stop blaming yourself. I was meant to be what I am.” Then she kissed him, and it looked to Andilun like a not-so-innocent kiss.

  The Triad didn’t protest. Moli ended the kiss before vanishing then reappearing with Banjimus, Dedria and Tolimain, all of whom looked at her with raw adoration.

  Moli touched each one of them, Banjimus on the left cheek, Dedria on the right and Tolimain on the forehead. “We have punished them long enough. It is time to forgive.”

  “They would have let us kill you,” Tolimain growled.

  “But you never intended to do any such thing,” Moli replied. “Not to me. You knew who I was. What I am.”

  Andilun bit his lip as he stared. Matt nudged him. “Can you explain that?”

  But it was Moli who appeared before them, her smile still innocent, her eyes clear of foul deeds. “What I am, dear Matthew, is The True One, who wields a power unlike any other. I maintain the balance of good and evil, with good having a better percentage. Evil has a place in this world, as much as I wish it were not so.” She touched Matt then, placing her palm over his heart.

  Andilun felt Matt shiver, felt his body grow warm.

  “You have a good heart, Matthew,” Moli said. “You are Andilun’s other half.” Then her smile turned borderline wicked. “Some of us need more than a half.”

  Andilun assumed she was referencing herself and her three lovers.

  “And you, Andilun.” Moli startled him by leaning over Matt, and kissing Andilun high on his left cheek. “You are more than a mere man. You are blessed by The True One. Do not ever forget that.”

  Andilun could hardly swallow. He was touched so deeply and his body was undergoing changes inside, ones he knew were converting him from a mortal to something more. “Matt?” he rasped, because he could not live without his soulmate.

  Moli nodded. She kissed Matt’s lips—an innocent kiss, but Matt went taut before shuddering, his body temperature increasing.

  “It will be more difficult for him, but he will come through this, as will you.” Moli zipped out of sight before reappearing with her lovers.

  Matt shuddered harder. “W-what’s h-happening?”

  Andilun experienced a milder shiver himself. “We are changing. Moli is The True One, and she has blessed us both.”

  “What does that mean?” Matt stuttered.

  Andilun held him tighter. “I do not know, only that what she is doing is a gift, not a curse.”

  “Okay. Okay.” Matt grasped his hand. “I trust you.”

  “And I love you.” Andilun twined his fingers with Matt’s. “Always.”

  Matt’s eyes glistened with tears. “I love you, too. Always.”

  Epilogue

  In the week since the battle between good and evil, as I thought of it—I mean, what else was it?—I’d struggled to wrap my mind around what had happened. Not just that terrifying confrontation, but the entire necessity for me to revise my way of thinking. I’d been taught that gods and goddesses weren’t real, were myths and legends. There was only one god, and according to the church of my youth, that god wouldn’t have cared for me at all. Now, I do know that not all of Christianity is that way, but being born and raised in a small town, in my small town, there wasn’t much diversity. It wasn’t until I was almost an adult that I really understood how different the world was, and that was a comforting revelation to me.

  But I hadn’t ever thought broadly enough, hadn’t pushed against the boundaries of what most people believe. I was shamed when I faced the fact that I hadn’t thought much differently than the people I’d considered small-minded from my past.

  Because there was more out there in the world, in the universe, than I could comprehend. At least I’d keep trying, though. No more belief that I knew it all regarding religions, the afterlife, gods, goddesses. I might have more of a clue now than I used to in several matters, but I also knew less, because there was so much more in existence.

  I’d think myself in circles about it if I wasn’t careful. And with Andilun having been whisked off by Kinoega—not for the usual reasons Kinoega took people away—I was less capable of shutting off my brain. Andilun had only been gone two days, but it felt like longer.

  “You’d think the gods could have poofed him there and back in the blink of an eye. Control time and all that. Maybe I’m being punished.” I glared out of the window at the clear blue sky. The sun seemed brighter than usual, and my eyes stung so that I had to turn away.

  And when I did so, I let out a yelp because Azuni had appeared at some point when I’d been looking away.

  The goddess smirked, her full lips curling up on one side before she laughed.

  I was only a little bit intimidated. I arched an eyebrow and canted one hip. “Ha ha. Very funny. Are you just trying to kill me?”

  Azuni mimicked my arched eyebrow, but I’m certain mine didn’t look nearly as snarky as hers. “Would I not simply send Kinoega for you then?”

  “Is he your servant?” I retorted, anger sparking in me, though I wasn’t sure why.

  “You are very outspoken for a mortal.” Azuni gestured at me. “Are you not afraid of me?”

  “Kinda, but I’ve never been good at being a kiss-up. Plus, I want my boyfriend back. I’ve been through a traumatic experience. So has he. Keeping us apart is cruel and I think y’all have been cruel enough already, don’t you?” Yes, I had apparently grown a pair of brass balls at some point over the past week.

  “He is your soul mate,” Azuni said, and she could not have looked any haughtier. “Boyfriend. You are not twelve, nor are you fully mortal. Moli has made certain of that. You and Andilun shall have many thousands of years together, unless…”

  “Thousands? Many thousands?” I plopped down onto my ass right there on the floor. The hotel room had nice, thick carpeting, but I was still jarred. Although, that could have been more from the words Azuni had spoken than the physical impact of ass to floor.

  “Of course, you can be killed,” Azuni continued. She sighed and squatted in front of me. “Not easily. Not by normal means.”

  I shook my head, too overwhelmed to speak. I might have squeaked, which was the extent of my abilities to vocalize at that moment.

  “Beheading will send you to the next life. Having your heart cut out, that too will expedite your reincarnation process. However, the next life will be as this one. Long, very long.”

  I gulped, then sputtered, feeling my face heat with embarrassment as Azuni watched me with what sure looked like amusement, if I read her expression right.

  “You and Andilun are blessed, unlike us. We gods and goddesses will never be reincarnated. It was why we have fought so hard to be remembered. To be forgotten means we will exist no more. But”—she gestured as if shooing away a fly—“that is not your concern. Moli’s blessing will endure throughout time.”

  I could not grasp that. It was too much. “I—I—” I was trembling, and if I hadn’t known I couldn’t just keel over, I’d have thought I was having a heart attack. My chest was tight and my pulse racing.

  “What have you done to my love?”

  Andilun! I gasped even as I reached for him. I was never going to get used to people—gods, whatever—popping in and out of thin air.

  Andilun looked amazing, healthy and glowing—although the glow could have been due to something that had been done to him.

  He tugged me up and into his arms, then kissed me soundly.

  Maybe his glow was just because he was happy to see me.

  I clung to him, fingers over his sculpted shoulders, moving closer to him until we were chest-to-chest.

  I forgot about Azuni, and confusion, and the terror of the past and future. I lost myself in Andilun, his kiss chasing off everything that had preyed on my peace of mind.

  He tasted so good, spicy and rich, a hint of something sweet on his tongue. And he was warm, his body hard in all the places I craved it to be, his cock rigid, pushing against the loin cloth he still wore.

  “I am enjoying this exhibition, but perhaps you would both prefer privacy?”

  I stiffened upon hearing Azuni’s voice, but Andilun didn’t. He held me in his arms, gentling the kiss until he was peppering them along my jaw and cheek.

  “I have missed you,” Andilun murmured. “So very much.”

  “Same. Why did Kinoega take you away?” I asked, tipping my head back.

  Andilun caressed my cheek. “Many gods insisted upon meeting with me. There were apologies and pleas. Apologies for having wronged me and their people from long ago. Pleas to remember them. I grew angry at being kept away from you and promised that I would believe. I will not make a promise for you.”

  “But…” I frowned. “I believe.”

  The crack of thunder shook the building and nearly made me piss myself.

  “Jesus!” I glared up at the ceiling as if I could see the deities up there. “I can take it back if you’re going to scare the shit out of me!”

  “That is unkind,” Azuni said, but she laughed and snapped her fingers. I looked over in time to see her husband appear.

  Vanusiti dipped his head. “I did not mean to frighten you. We merely wanted to thank you.”

  “FYI, loud, sudden sounds do not show me any gratitude,” I muttered. “I appreciate fine chocolate and glorious sunsets.”

  Vanusiti nodded. “Then you shall have them.”

  “Wait! I didn’t mean—” I stopped. Vanusiti and Azuni had poofed right the fuck away.

  “That’s annoying.” I glanced at Andilun. “Why did Azuni even come here? She told me we’re kind of immortal, unless someone beheads us or rips out our hearts.” I couldn’t repress a shudder. “Jeez. Are there going to be people…or…or other things, trying to do that to us?”

  “No, I do not think so.” Andilun tugged me closer. “She came because she likes you, and she is fascinated by you. Humans always feared and revered the gods. You are…”

  “Irreverent?” I offered. “I mean, I know what they are, as far as my mind can grasp them, at least, but they aren’t perfect. They screwed up and hurt a lot of people. It’s hard to just blindly worship them.”

  “And they do know that. You are not the only one who sees the gods and goddesses as they are,” Andilun said. “I am not blind to their imperfections as I once was.”

  “So they had better all be very grateful we believe in them,” I surmised. “It’s not like I couldn’t believe in them. I’ve seen them.”

  “Yes, but to believe is more than just seeing. It is having faith, choosing, in our case, to extend our trust to them, or some of our trust,” Andilun explained. “To know they are real is not enough. There must be respect as well. The gods do not expect this from you in an instant, but they are all hopeful you will see that they can learn from their mistakes. They do not want to be renounced.”

  “Renounced?” Huh. “That would be bad for them.” Then, if I’d have been a cartoon character, a lightbulb would have gone off in my brain as I had an epiphany. “By keeping us alive for, oh, ever, they’re ensuring their own lives.”

  Andilun nodded. “Yes. You and I can, should be tire of living in this mortal plane, move to the immortal one, or, Kinoega informed me, we can request to be made mortal again and live out the rest of our days as any human would.”

  “What…what would happen to the deities then?” I might have been irked with them, but I didn’t want any of them to die.

  “They will have time, if we are reincarnated, to win us over. We will always be in touch with them. We will not forget.” Andilun kissed my forehead.

  “Moli set the memories of the gods here.” He tapped his temple. “Our free will is intact, though. We will not forget what the gods did, good or bad. And should we have children…”

  My stomach went fizzy, as if I’d chugged a can of soda pop. “Children?” I blinked a few times, trying to figure that one out. “Children, how?”

  Andilun hitched one shoulder up in a shrug. “Many ways. It is not impossible for you or I to bear a child in the immortal realm.”

  “What?” I shouted, then covered my mouth with one hand. “Mmph armph—”

  Andilun grasped my wrist and lowered my hand. “Now speak.”

  I was shaking again. “I can’t even. One of us have a child? How? We don’t have the parts!”

  “Or both of us,” Andilun added. “And it is possible in the other realm. Do not discount the power of the gods.”

  “Oh, holy hell,” I rasped. “I can’t imagine. Would I have a vagina? Would you? How would that—I don’t know anything about vaginas, Andilun!”

  Andilun chuckled, the raspy sound calming me as he embraced me. “This is not something we must worry about now, or ever, if it is stressful for you. The gods could also gift us with a child or…or more than one. They could take from you and from me and make us a family.”

  I think I passed out. One minute, I was in Andilun’s arms, the next, I was on the bed, Andilun bent over me, concern etched in his features.

  It took me a couple of tries, but I finally spoke. “Shouldn’t that be impossible? Passing out?”

  Andilun shook his head. “No. It is not, or you would not have done so. We do not have to ever have children if it is so distressing for you—”

  “No!” I could tell from the disappointment in his eyes that he wanted a family, and I was not opposed to kids. I did have concerns, however. “It’s not that. It’s the whole idea of either being pregnant or…or having babies made out of us. This is all a lot to take in.”

  I sat up and placed my hand over Andilun’s heart, feeling the steady thrum of it under my palm. His skin was so warm, I wanted to rub all over him, but now wasn’t the time. “What happens? Do any kids we might have grow up, and grow old, and we watch them…d-die?”

  “No.” Andilun paled even as he answered. “No. They will be blessed, as we are.”

  “So we all live forever?” That seemed like it could be a mess, something impossible to hide. “People will realize we don’t age or die. That will not bode well for us.”

  “People will not realize, because the gods will make them incapable of seeing that we do not change,” Andilun explained. “And when necessary, people will simply forget what could cause us harm. It is an intrusive thing the gods will do, but they have promised they will not cause any harm for people. And perhaps we can gain new believers, though I am not a priest.”

  “Neither am I.” My head was spinning with all this new information to process. “Immortal. Kids. Gods and goddesses and bears, oh my.”

  “Bears?” Andilun frowned. “What do bears have to do with any of this?”

  I laughed, aware that I sounded like I was on the verge of hysteria. But I was happy, excited and eager to explore eternity with Andilun. “I’ll explain some other time, when the movie is on or I can rent it. Meanwhile…”

  I reached for Andilun’s loin cloth.

  Andilun sucked in a sharp breath. “Meanwhile?”

  “I’ve had enough thinking. Make love to me, honey. I want your cock so deep inside of me it feels like you’ll never leave.” I had the cloth off and tossed aside before I finished speaking.

  “I will never leave you,” Andilun promised. “Never.”

  Pressing Matt down onto the bed, Andilun could not believe how lucky he was. No. Blessed. I—we—are blessed. “I never thought I would have this. A man I love, a future with him, perhaps a family.”

  “You’ve got it all. Except the lube. It’s on the dresser.” Matt shimmied out of his pants, then he began tugging off his shirt. “Lube, honey. I want you to fuck me hard, so lots of lube.”

  “Yes.” Andilun had to grip his own shaft and squeeze before he ended up coming just from the pleasure of Matt’s words. “Lubricant. It is—” He scrambled off the bed, releasing his dick as he stood. “Yes!”

  Andilun darted to the dresser and picked up the bottle of lube. He opened it and turned back to Matt—and nearly whimpered.

  Matt was nude and spread-eagled on the bed, one hand between his legs as he touched his hole. “Come on,” he urged.

  Andilun swallowed, his throat dry and his cock so hard he could not draw a deep breath. He made it to the bed in a sort of lust-filled daze.

  “Get your fingers wet,” Matt said. “Stretch me for your cock.”

  Andilun was glad Matt was instructing him what to do, because he seemed incapable of acting on his own. He poured some of the viscous fluid onto his palm, then rubbed his fingers through it.

  “And your dick, slick it up too,” Matt advised.

  Andilun did whimper when he touched himself, his hand gliding over his rigid flesh with ease as he coated it.

  Then he knelt on the bed and scooted up between Matt’s legs.

  “Yes,” Matt hissed, pulling his knees to his chest, opening himself up in a way that stole Andilun’s wits.