Page 41 of Sobek’s Joy

Rudy woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains and the pleasant weight of Sobek’s arm draped across his waist. For a second, he just lay there, blinking at the ceiling, waiting for his brain to catch up with his body. Then the memories hit.

His face flushed. They’d…yeah. They’d definitely done that multiple times. And then there was the claiming, the bite, the golden tattoo now glowing faintly on Sobek’s chest.

Rudy pressed a hand to his own shoulder, where Sobek had bitten him. It didn’t hurt, there was just a scar there that resembled teeth marks, although he could swear he felt something thrumming beneath the surface, like a heartbeat that wasn’t his own.

And speaking of heartbeats… Rudy froze. He could feel Sobek. Not just physically, though the god was plastered against his back like a very large, very warm blanket. But this was different…an awareness. A thread connecting them, humming with contentment, satisfaction, and something so deep and pure it made Rudy’s chest tighten.

Love. That’s what it was. Pure, overwhelming, unshakable love.

“Morning,” Sobek rumbled against his ear, his voice rough with sleep.

Rudy shivered, the sensation somehow more intense than it should’ve been. “Morning.”

Sobek’s lips brushed the nape of his neck. “How do you feel?”

“Different.” Rudy turned in Sobek’s arms, studying his face. “Good different. Like…stronger? More awake? More aware of you and everything else. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Sobek’s thumb traced lazy circles on Rudy’s hip. “That’s the bond. You’re immortal now, so your body’s adjusting.”

Rudy blinked. Right. He was immortal. That was going to take some getting used to. “Do I look different?”

“No.” Sobek’s gaze swept over him, lingering on his mouth. “You’re still perfect.”

Rudy snorted. “You’re biased.”

“Absolutely.”

Before Rudy could respond, the bedroom door burst open with a bang. Three small bodies launched themselves at the bed, shrieking and giggling, and suddenly Rudy’s peaceful morning was back to how things normally went.

Rose landed on Sobek’s back with a triumphant yell. Jack scrambled up from the foot of the bed, his hair sticking up in every direction. And Timothy - fully human-looking now, with no scales - climbed carefully onto Rudy’s side, his dark eyes wide and solemn.

“You’re still here,” Rose announced, bouncing on Sobek’s spine like he was a trampoline.

Sobek grunted. “I am.”

Jack crawled closer, peering at Rudy’s face. “You look happy.”

“I am happy,” Rudy said, ruffling Jack’s hair. “Very happy.”

Timothy didn’t say anything. He just stared at Rudy, then at Sobek, his little hands clutching the edge of the blanket. Rudy could see the worry etched into his expression, the question he was too afraid to ask.

Rudy’s heart squeezed. He reached out, pulling Timothy into his lap. “Hey. What’s wrong?”

Timothy bit his lip. His gaze flicked to Sobek, then back to Rudy. “Does this mean Sobek is staying forever now?”

The room went quiet. Even Rose stopped bouncing.

Rudy glanced at Sobek, who was watching Timothy with an expression so soft it made Rudy’s throat tight. Then Sobek sat up, carefully dislodging Rose, and leaned forward so he was at eye-level with Timothy.

“Yes,” Sobek said, his voice firm and steady. “I’m staying forever. I’m canceling my extended rental, moving into the house with you because you’re my family, and we’re going to be together forever.”

Rudy’s chest ached. He pressed a kiss to the top of Timothy’s head and added, “Forever, see? He’s not going anywhere, and neither am I.”

For a moment, Timothy just stared at them, his bottom lip trembling. Then his face crumpled, and he launched himself at Sobek, wrapping his arms around his neck and burying his face in his shoulder.

Sobek froze, his hands hovering uncertainly before settling on Timothy’s back. “It’s all right,” he murmured. “I’ve got you.”

Rose shrieked with joy, throwing her arms in the air. “Sobek’s staying. He’s staying.”