Page 9 of Looking for Seth

He hurried over and brushed his back against my legs, purring loudly and giving me the urge to pick him up. I knew better, and stuck to taking a single photo. It wasn't the best, but it would be enough for Seth to get a good sense of him.

"I’m going to visit Bastet." I gestured to the cattery that backed onto the oasis. It was a recent addition, but one I was pleased with, especially as it meant my friend was closer by. "Want to come with me?"

Hiss.

"You like Bastet," I reminded him. He’d told me multiple times of his affection towards the cat goddess, and yet he seemed to dislike the mere idea of going inside.

"All right, fine." I shook my head, rather amused by the whole interaction. Rufflebum was never going to be a pet cat, but that didn't change the amount of affection I felt for him.

He hurried off back into the trees, clearly done with me for now. He’d be back when he felt like, the same as any independent cat. I had no idea where he’d come from, but he’d been here longer than Bastet’s sanctuary had.

I pulled open the back door and stepped inside to be assaulted by the loud meows of dozens of cats. Bastet seemed to think that they responded like this because they could sense the lioness inside me, but I was pretty sure it was simply because they liked the attention and saw me as two extra hands that could be used to stroke them.

The low rumble of voices came from the other room, and for a moment I considered turning around. If Ptah was here, then I should make myself scarce and leave my friend to what would surely be an afternoon she didn’t need me for.

A laugh sounded, revealing that it wasn’t Ptah in the other room, but a woman I didn’t recognise. I sat down on one of Bastet’s sofas, only managing thirty seconds before Jemima climbed on my lap and curled into a ball. I absent-mindedly stroked the cat. She’d always been one of the more affectionate ones, but since coming to the god realm, she appeared to be getting even more so. Something about the air here seemed to agree with her.

I pulled out my phone to send the photo to Seth.

I hit send, hoping it wouldn't be too long until I'd get a response.

The reply came almost straight away, which wasn't too surprising.

My heart skipped a beat as I considered what this could mean. I wanted to go on a date with Seth even more than I had before, but it had the added complication of meaning he'd discover who I was, and that I knew who he was too. There'd be no way of hiding that I was a goddess if we met in person, he'd be able to sense it the moment we were in the same room.

Which could also mean that it was the perfect way to make the reveal.

It was the truth, even if things were complicated. He could be relieved when he found out that I wasn't Merry the human, but Menhit the goddess. Or he could be angrier than he'd ever been before.

But it was worth the risk. I needed to know if we connected in person the same way that we connected online. Because if we did, it felt like this could be something truly special.

I pushed the thought aside. I needed to focus on one thing at a time.

Now there was a question I didn't have an answer to. If he was angry, then it would probably be better for us to be surrounded by other gods who had the power to counteract his.

And there was one place that had an abundance of gods in attendance every Wednesday evening.

The message was sent before I could consider if it was a good idea. Perhaps I should tell him the truth before we met in person and he discovered a room full of people he was trying to avoid.

I sighed with relief. That was a good sign. Perhaps he wasn't aware that there were Jinx events held there, and that there would be other gods present. Or he did know, and he wouldn't be bothered that I was a goddess after all.

Jealousy rose its ugly head inside me at the mere idea, but I knew I had to persuade him some time.

Which was true. By being at speed dating, I could also ask Bastet and Ptah to come as backup. That would be reassuring in case it all went awry. But I had to keep faith that it wouldn't and that I wasn't imagining the connection the two of us had.