We went back to the RV.

  Nevah was leaning against the vehicle. The ivory man spread his arms wide as we approached. “All hail the victorious team, back from their successful hunt!” His gaze swept over us, then settled on Miel. “How’d they do?”

  The Scarlet bristled. “I don’t remember answering to you.”

  “Come on!” He winked at her as he reached out and grabbed my shoulder, pulling me in for a firm side hug before I knew what was happening. “This is my favorite great-grandchild! Give me some deets!”

  My heart hammered in my ears as I fought to keep the disappointment off my face. Either he didn’t know or he was playing along. Either way, it wasn’t the reunion that I’d fantasized about all those nights in the Temple orphanage.

  “They performed well.” Miel folded her arms in front of her.

  “You can do better than that!” Nevah grinned. “Hearing a lovely person such as yourself speak is music to my ears.”

  “She’s married.” Ether cut in front of her mother.

  “And so are you, my lovely little flower.” Nevah reached out to touch her face.

  Irritation bubbled inside me at his shamelessness. “Hey!” I grabbed his arm. “Maybe ask before you try to touch someone.”

  Nakten gasped.

  His eyebrows arched as he looked at me. There was a hint of amusement in the corners of his lips and I could feel just how flimsy of a chance I had at stopping him if he decided to overpower me.

  “I knew there was a reason you’re my favorite!” The old God let out a deep laugh. “Of course you’d want to protect your wife’s honor!” His grin broadened into a full smile. “And while those things mean little to me, I do respect my lineage.” He effortlessly lowered his arm and winked at me. “Don’t want to cross the streams, if you know what I mean.”

  I shook my head. “What do you want?”

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  “The same thing everyone wants. Love!” Nevah laughed. “Okay, maybe I just want to spread love, but that’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I mean, what are you doing here?” I gestured at Nakten. “You brought her, which means you knew we’d be here and that we’d need her to get into the Dungeon.”

  “And isn’t she a beauty?” The ivory man slid behind the Anubis woman and moved his hands over her body, his fingers never touching her skin but too close for my liking. “I’ve been with a lot of women and I can tell you, she’s going to be a firecracker in—”

  “NEVAH!” I clapped my hands. “Focus!”

  Nakten looked like she was about to faint.

  “You don’t have a sense of self-preservation, do you?” The perverted man sighed, then chuckled. “Or maybe you know exactly how far you can push things.”

  “No, I know that if you wanted to kill us, there’s nothing we could do to stop it, so there’s no reason for me to tiptoe around you when you’re standing in front of me.” I folded my arms. “Why are you here and what do you want?”

  My ears popped as a privacy bubble snapped in place around us.

  “First, I’d like to congratulate you on your nuptials.” His brown eyes lingered on Ether. “Been a long time since I’ve seen a Gibborim awakened to a God class without taking a Mantle of the Gods.”

  Nakten’s eyes widened as she looked between Ether and me. “You…” She coughed as she tried to formulate her question.

  “You do realize that she’s literally the enemy?” I glared at the man who we believed was my father. “What are Votic and the Primus going to do when they figure out that she’s a God class too?”

  “Nothing!” Nevah winked at me. “First, they’re never going to know as long as you can keep things quiet, which I’m not sure how long that’s going to last, but still.” He held up his hand for a high-five.

  I glared at his hand. “The minute she gets a chance, she’s going to tattle to her father.” I shook my head. “It’s bad enough that the Primus knows about Rix, not to mention Aeraelly sent Lunatics to kill us too!” I pointed at the Anubis woman. “But now you just told her that Ether is an awakened Gibborim!”

  He looked at his hand, which I had left hanging. “I hear you, but it’s actually a lot better than what you’re thinking.” He lowered his hand. “I’ve taken care of everything. As long as you abide by the treaty I’ve made, the Primus won’t touch you or your team. No one else will be allowed to take the Mantle of Gar and you can take your mother’s Mantle whenever you like.” He waffled his head. “Personally, I’d wait a long time, because this treaty only lasts until you do, but as far as the Primus are concerned, the city is yours.”

  “There’s no way.” Miel growled. “The Primus would never agree to that.”

  “And yet they did.” Nevah grinned. “I know your brother didn’t have the best luck with staking a claim on a godless city, but the Primus will honor this deal as long as Votic is at the helm, but…” He slipped between Nakten and me, grabbing our hands and putting them together. “Only if she’s in your harem.”

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