"You're a jerk, Damian!" she said, glaring at him before running away.
"You better run, woman," he growled, irritated by her response.
His gaze followed her until she disappeared into the house, and he shook his head. He let her get away with so much! She had no idea how his world operated! He didn't understand the ins and outs of their blood bond, but he knew how much she rocked his world when she drank from him earlier.
In a different time, he'd simply command her to take her place at his side and in his bed as his mate and slake his heated blood whenever he felt the need. The ancient kings-his father and brother included-had regularly taken Oracles as their queens. He began to understand why and couldn't help but feel frustrated at having to find a way to win her instead of command her.
His phone dinged, and he pulled it out to see the odd text message.
Ikir, may I enter your home?
He gazed at the message, puzzled, before he realized who it was and typed a response.
At your risk, Watcher.
"I knocked this time, ikir."
He turned to see the small man with bright green eyes that glowed in the moonlight. Damian crossed his arms and leaned against the wall around the trickling fountain at his back.
"I admit, this technology makes it much easier for me to communicate," the Watcher said, gazing at his phone.
Damian raised an eyebrow, not about to humor the otherworldly harbinger of bad news.
"I hope you don't spend enough time here to learn to use too much technology," he said pointedly. "What's up, Watcher?"
"The Grey God is coming."
"The what?"
"I had to wait until you found your Oracle to tell you. I do apologize," the Watcher said. "If you hadn't found her, he wouldn't come. But now he will."
"What the fuck does that mean?"
"To contain the, uh, coaching being done, the Original Beings are ordaining a new god to act as a sort of referee here on earth who will have the ability to bridge the physical and divine worlds."
"Y'all pissed really them off this time, didn't you?" Damian said.
"Yes, ikir, I think we did."
"What is this Grey God?"
"I can't tell you, but you must be on the lookout for him. You have to protect him," the Watcher said.
"Didn't your Original friends give him god-powers?"
"It's hard to explain." Damian waited. The Watcher returned his gaze to his phone, reading a text. "Fascinating."
"You gonna try to explain?" Damian prompted.
"No, ikir."
He studied the small man infatuated with his phone. He'd hoped never to see the Watcher again.