Page 70 of Sobek’s Joy

“Wow. Thank you so much for that observation.”

“I meant it as a compliment. You’re growing new life. It’s...” Horus’s voice trailed off, and for just a moment, the arrogant god looked unbearably lonely. “It’s a gift.”

Rudy’s irritation evaporated. He reached across the table and poked Horus’s arm. “Your mate’s out there somewhere. The Fates wouldn’t have given everyone else their person and left you hanging. I’m told that they never leave a thread untied.”

“It’s been thousands of years.”

“So? Sobek waited thousands of years for me.” Rudy gestured at his mate, who was watching the exchange with his usual quiet intensity. “Good things are worth waiting for, even if they come with three chaos gremlins and a lottery win.”

“You won the lottery?” Horus asked.

“Five million dollars. It’s how I bought this house, and then I found these kids, and met this grump.” Rudy smiled at Sobek. “Best investment ever.”

Horus conjured a massive, wrapped box and set it on the floor. “I got this for the baby when they arrive.”

“What is it?” Rudy asked suspiciously.

“A crib made from Lebanese cedar and inlaid with gold. It has built-in protection wards and will grow with the child until they’re old enough for a regular bed.”

“Aww…” Rudy’s heart melted. Horus did try. “That’s actually really thoughtful.”

“I’m the king of Egypt. Of course it’s thoughtful.” Horus stood, but his usual arrogance seemed muted. “I should go.”

“Stay for dessert,” Rudy offered. “Sobek made chocolate cake.”

“I have matters to attend to.”

“You have an empty palace to go back to.” Rudy struggled to his feet, one hand braced on the table, the other supporting his belly. “Stay. Have some cake. Let Rose show you the nursery mural. She’s been adding to it and she’s very proud of her painting skills.”

Horus looked at the children, then at Rudy’s earnest expression, and something in his face cracked just slightly. “Fine. But only because the child needs to understand proper artistic technique, and I can help with that.”

“Obviously,” Rudy agreed, catching Sobek’s amused expression.

After cake - which Horus critiqued extensively while eating three slices - and a tour of the nursery where Rose explained every brushstroke in exhaustive detail, Horus finally departed in another flash of gold light.

“He’s so lonely,” Rudy said, settling onto the couch with considerable effort. His back ached, his feet were swollen, and the baby was doing what felt like gymnastics against his ribs.

“He is.” Sobek sat beside him and immediately pulled Rudy’s feet into his lap, beginning to massage them with strong, careful hands. “But his mate will appear when the Fates decree it.”

“I hope it’s soon. Nobody should be that lonely.”

The children climbed onto the couch, arranging themselves in their usual chaotic pile. Rose sprawled across Sobek’s lap, Jack wedged himself between Rudy and the armrest, and Timothy carefully positioned himself against Rudy’s side, his small hand resting on the swell of Rudy’s belly.

“Baby’s moving,” Timothy announced.

“Yeah, they do that.” Rudy stroked Timothy’s hair. “A lot. Especially at night when I’m trying to sleep.”

Sobek’s hand joined Timothy’s on Rudy’s stomach, his palm warm through the fabric of Rudy’s shirt. The baby kicked, a solid thump against Rudy’s ribs that made him wince and smile simultaneously.

“I can’t believe how strong they are,” Sobek murmured, wonder threading through his voice despite having felt these movements a hundred times before. “Just like their father.”

“Which father?” Jack asked. “You’re both fathers.”

“Both of us,” Sobek confirmed. “They’ll have Rudy’s stubbornness and my...what do I have?”

“An ability to brood dramatically,” Rudy supplied. “And you do know how to fix things, and you can cook. But I think what you’re the best at is taking care of all of us even when we’re being impossible.”

“You’re never impossible.”