Page 76 of Sett and his King
I helped him down onto the office chair and let him cry. I knew that was what he needed. He didn't need me to talk him down, or whisper sweet nothings. Sometimes, all one needed was a good, cathartic cry.
The minutes passed like hours and a little while later he was all cried out and back to his normal self. And Fenrir's dad and his man were here.
We came out of the office to an empty cafe and a single table occupied by a tall, buff man and a small ginger-haired guy.
"Loki!" I said and reached out to him.
Even if I hadn't had the clue from him being Fenrir's dad, the undeniable green eye and gold eye would have given it away.
He rose to greet me and I took him in my arms. He patted my back with the force of a god and I gave as good as I got.
"I was sorry to hear about Ra," he said and let go.
"Thank you." I nodded.
There was nothing much else I could say to that. No words would ever be sufficient to describe the loss.
"This is my boyfriend, Tomasz." He gestured toward the ginger man who wasn't much taller when he stood and shook my hand.
"Thank you for coming," I said and Loki glanced at Drew with distaste.
"Why don't we all take a seat and we can tell you what's happening," I said.
Loki huffed but both he and his boyfriend sat down, the latter with a genuine smile. Fenrir grabbed a seat from the next table over and sat between his father and me.
Everyone turned to Drew who cowered under the scrutiny. So I decided to tell them all a story.
My story.
And how my story had become Drew's.
"Oh my god, Drew! You poor, poor thing. Both of you. I'm so sorry!" Tomasz said and reached across the table to grab Drew's hands.
Drew shook his head and pulled his hands back.
"Don't. I…I don't deserve it," he said.
"What are you talking about?" Tomasz asked.
Drew glanced at Fenrir, at Loki and looked at his lap when he talked next.
"I've been a lie since you met me. I don't deserve your sympathies."
"What do you mean?" Tomasz asked.
"The…the first night I met you, in Soho. It was all a setup. Horus ordered me to get close. To find a way, any way to become your friend. To infiltrate your circle."
"What? Why would he do that?"
Drew bit his lip and cracked his knuckles instead of answering, until I grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.
He cast a glance my way and sighed.
"Because. He needed an in with Mother Red Cap. He knew she was in the business of awakening gods but he also knew she wouldn't accept anyone who didn't come recommended. My job was to get close, to become a friend so that…so that when I came asking for help, you'd send me to her."
Tomasz gasped and covered his mouth with his hand.
"I'm so sorry, Tomasz!"
