“You all takemylast name.”
“Deal,” Jupiter easily agrees.
“Deal,” Sunny says.
“Of course you agree, her last name means ‘of the sun’,” Merc snarks. “But deal.”
“Deal,” Neptune throws in.
“Deal,” Pluto adds.
“Deal,” Mars and Saturn say at the same time.
Everyone turns to me, the rebellious brother who needs to be independent at all costs.
I cup our goddess’ face between my hands and stare into her magnificent teal eyes.
“Deal,” I declare, before sealing it with a kiss.
EPILOGUE
UNIVERSE
I behold the perfect pink form of the goddess Venus floating before me. Slowly, she wakes up and looks around. Even though she’s been here before, I know she does not recognize the place yet.
“Where am I?” she rasps.
“You’re dead,” I say, my voice echoing all around us.
I see her wince as she realizes where she’s at.
“Dead?DEAD?!How the hell did I die?!”
“You choked on a grape,” I supply helpfully.
“Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me. Are you telling me I waited sixty-two years to eat another freaking grape and Isuffocatedon its sweet deliciousness?!”
“Pretty much.”
“Ugh,” she mutters in disgust. “The guys arenevergoing to let me live this down.”
I chuckle because she’s right.
“Hey, I have a body this time!” she suddenly points out. “And look, I have my powers back!”
She waves her hand and an impressive teal penis appears where she once had a vagina.
“Last time, in the totality of your combined powers, you merged yourself with me. Besides, you can take the soul out of the human, but it would appear I can’t take the human out of you.”
“Nope,” she mutters distractedly, as she plays with her newly fashioned cock. “What about the others? Will I have to wait long for them?”
“No, remember time moves differently here. They will live out the rest of their lives on Earth for a few more years, devastated by your death, and they will rejoin us here.”
“I have to wait a few years-”
Shouts catch her attention as eight hulking men come into view, their godhoods and forms fully restored.
“Zahra!” Sun yells, running to her and pulling her into his arms.