Page 25 of Looking for Seth

"I know. But sometimes I get the need to create, and this is where that need took me," I admitted, reaching behind me to where I'd placed the display box containing the knife. I held it out to him, trying to ignore the nervous racing of my heart. I hoped he liked it, but now that I was actually giving it to him, I was starting to second-guess the decision.

Seth took the box from me, letting his fingers brush against mine as he did. I had to assume that the gesture was purposeful, but I was too nervous to truly appreciate it. If he didn't like the knife, then it would feel as if he was rejecting me on some level.

I resisted the urge to snatch it back from him and announce that it was a mistake, but I didn't. I had to trust that this was a good gift.

He popped the catch and opened it, his eyes widening as he took in the blade beneath. "Menhit, it's beautiful." He ran a finger over the hilt and then onto the blade. "This must have taken you forever."

"Thank you," I whispered. "I don't know how accurate the set animal is, but I tried my best from the sources I had."

"Would you like to see?" he asked, looking up to meet my gaze.

I nodded, unable to say anything in response. I didn't need telling to know that his showing me his other form was an important step towards us having trust for one another.

He handed the knife box back to me and started stripping off his shirt. I knew I should look away, but I didn't think I was going to be capable of it.

And from the knowing smile on his face, it was purposeful.

"Won't your clothes shift with you?" I asked, knowing that a lot of gods had the ability to transform what they were wearing along with them.

"I like that shirt. I don't want to risk it," he admitted, shrugging it off and handing it to me, revealing every inch of his chiselled chest. Seth raised an eyebrow. "Like what you see?"

I nodded.

He let out a hearty chuckle. "I thought it was going to take you longer to admit it."

"You know you look good."

"All gods look good," he said, winking at me and confirming that he was saying the words on purpose.

"Not this good," I countered.

His satisfied smirk grew more intense. "Ready?"

"For?" My head was all in a spin considering his current state of undress.

"For me to shift," he reminded me. "That's what we were doing, right?"

"Oh, yes, please do."

He closed his eyes, and within seconds, he was replaced by a large dark form. I stepped closer, the awe inside me unrivalled by anything I'd ever experienced before.

He was slightly smaller than I would be if I were in my lioness form, but not by much, and it was clear that he'd be able to do a good job at outrunning me if he ever had to. He looked like a large black dog with a sleek coat and powerful legs, though his tail was alert, with three spikes coming off the end of it where there'd normally be a tuft, and his ears were triangular with the tops wider than the base.

"You look just like the wall carvings," I said.

He bobbed his head in what I assumed was a nod.

"Can I touch you?"

He repeated the motion.

Tentatively, I reached out and pressed a hand against his neck, feeling the silky soft fur there. "You're beautiful," I said, lost in everything about him. I'd never interacted with someone's shifted form this way, and it was surprisingly intimate.

In a blink of an eye, Seth transformed back, and my hand moved so it was resting on his bare chest. The steady beat of his heart and the heat of his skin distracted me from any other thoughts racing through my head.

He didn't say a word, which I assumed had to mean that he was caught up in the same moment I was.

Slowly, he reached out and touched my cheek, causing my breathing to hitch with anticipation.