Around 1500 BC
Three women.
No, make that four. Or was that a man? Luc lifted his head to eye the human using his thigh as a pillow but couldn’t tell the gender.
Oh well.
As much as Luc favored a pleasurable tumble between the sheets, he really needed to move. His father wanted to meet for a morning meal, and the climbing sun indicated that hour was fast approaching.
He stretched his arms and found a fifth mortal above his head. Nice breasts, supple waist. Ah yes, he had enjoyed her mouth around his cock. Her name, however, escaped him. She likely never even gave it. None of them did.
Luc sighed. All right. Time to dismantle the human pile.
He shifted subtly at first, dislodging the two brunettes from his abdomen, then the blond from his leg—male—and rolled over the dark-skinned woman who had snuggled into his side.
None of them woke.
Luc smirked. At least they were well satisfied. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Pulling on his signature blue robes, he tied it off with a bronze-laced sash, ran his fingers through his hair, and stepped outside. The sun warmed his exposed arms and neck and highlighted the coming day.
Gorgeous.
He padded barefoot along the path to his father’s current home and waited outside against a tree. A breeze from the nearby sea calmed the air, soothing Luc to his very soul. These were his favorite hours, the ones where no one disturbed them. Catering to the humans’ beliefs that he and his father were gods was cumbersome indeed, but necessary.
“Good morning,” his father greeted as he exited in a similar outfit. The humans commonly mistook them for twins because of their similar physical ages, long blond hair, and matching green eyes. Luc had about four inches on Aidan’s height, and his facial traits were graced by his mother’s beauty, but they could otherwise pass as brothers.
Their uncommon heights, charming looks, and supreme intelligence lent to their nicknames as the “Divine Twins.” The sapphire robes they always wore only added to their notoriety. They were worshipped, cherished, and frequently bedded by whoever was brave enough to ask. Not a bad life.
“Morning,” he returned. “Another beautiful one at that.”
“I’m not certain of that.” His father began walking, hands clasped behind his back. “One of the females told me something rather worrisome last night.”
Luc trailed along beside him, curious. “What was that?”
“That I was not the first god to grace her bed,” he murmured. “I know there are others like me, have met a few through the last few centuries, but the way she described him was unlike anyone I’ve encountered.” His emerald eyes lifted to his son. “The god who pleased her before me did not require blood.”
“Like me,” Luc inferred. “Interesting. Did you birth another son without knowing?”
Aidan shrugged. “Possibly, but he would be of this region. Her description of him, however, suggested otherwise.”
“Not blond?”
“Nor light eyed.” He stopped at the cliff’s edge to admire the icy waves crashing against the rocks below. “She described him as a mind reader with a penchant for enhancing emotion.”
“Neither of which is one of your abilities.” Unlike Luc, who had inherited Aidan’s gift of intelligence and strategy. “Assuming we’re right about our genetic traits, he could not belong to you or me.”
“Indeed.”
“His dual gifts—if she’s correct—and lack of dietary requirements indicate he’s a descendant, like me.”
Aidan nodded. “My thought as well.”
Luc observed a pair of humans in the distance attempting to catch their next meal with a spear in the frigid water. “I assume the woman gave you a location?”
“An estimate of one, yes.” He smirked as one of the mortals lost his balance. “They’ll never learn.”
“We’ve watched them evolve together for over two hundred years, Father. They continue to improve with each generation.”
“True. Perhaps one day they’ll develop a more effective weapon.”
“And use it on each other, no doubt,” Luc replied dryly. Mortals seemed to be hardwired for conflict. Even now the two males below seemed to be bickering over their failed attempts, blaming each other rather than working as a team. “Do you think they will ever learn?”
“Perhaps,” his father murmured. “But strategy is not a common trait.”
True. “Speaking of, I assume you have a plan for tracking down the other ‘god’?”
“I do.” He pulled a stick from a nearby tree and drew a map in the dirt. “The armor she mentioned was reminiscent of our time southwest of here, closer to the larger of oceans. It’s possible he’s ventured up from Babylon or descends from another of that origin.”
“A reasonable suspicion.” All the immortals they knew of seemed to come from that region, his father included.
Aidan pointed to a location on his makeshift map. “We’ll pick up a crew and transportation there and sail this direction”—his slender branch shifted left—“then land here and continue to the area she described.”
“That’s a long way for a female to travel alone.”
“Her parents traded her to a local tribe in exchange for bronze.”
“Which explains why she ended up in your bed,” Luc inferred. “A sacrifice.”
Aidan smirked. “Yes. Poor girl thought I meant to drink her dry.”
“Is that why she mentioned the other god?”
His father nodded. “She thought to seduce me into saving her life, claimed the other taught her several enticing tricks that I would enjoy more than her blood.”
“Did she prove herself correct?” Luc didn’t particularly enjoy discussing their sex lives, but this provided intellectual value.
“In more ways than one.” His emerald eyes glinted. “She’s not lying. Another exists.”
“Then we’ll find him.” A vow, not a request. If there was another like Luc in existence, they should meet. “He may provide answers.”
“Or introduce additional questions.”
“Either way, he’s valuable.”
“On that, we are of the same opinion.” Aidan glanced at the path that led to town. “Shall we indulge in a meal first?”
“That would be advisable,” Luc agreed. “We’ll need an ox or two, as well as a wagon.”
“Don’t fancy a long walk, then?”
“I was thinking for the women.” His lips curled in amusement. “Or did you intend to go without while we travel?”
His father chuckled. “I’m sure we can pick a few up along the way, but transportation may be prudent. We can trade it for a wooden boat at the water.”
Trading was unnecessary, as the people of this region revered them. All they needed to do was ask and the items were given. But they refused to abuse the power.
So they would trade, likely with someone less fortunate, and continue on their way.
“I’ve been bored,” Luc admitted as they started toward their favorite meal spot. “You should thank your female for me.”
Aidan grinned. “I shall, once we return. She’ll be sleeping for a while yet.”
“Then we leave at dusk.” Not a guess so much as a confirmation.
“Yes.”
“Perfect.” Luc added a little hop to his step. “An adventure, then.”
“Be careful what you wish for, Son. This could be a new beginning, and not all changes are good.”
“I welcome any at this point,” he murmured, meaning it. As much as he adored his immortality, it grew tiresome after decades of the same worship and treatment. His talent for remembering everything he read and saw meant there were very few new experiences left for him in his current lifestyle. He craved more knowledge and a challenge, something that would entertain him for a while longer.
Or eternity would become a very long existence, indeed.
