Page 49

Yesterday, magic had been a bit of fun.

Today, he was walking along the buckled road with Pan. The actual god Pan, who had kissed him and told him how glorious he was as he offered to serve him, a human. No one had ever praised him like that. He was a disappointment, a nuisance, not trying hard enough, or being deliberately difficult.

David and Meredith had never said those things to his face. For them, it was enough that he worked at the pub, did a bit of study, and helped around the house. Would they still feel the same if he continued to help the mythologicals?

Some countries were talking about keeping them separate from humans. And while the European Union said they would be treated as refugees, they hadn’t said what that meant.

No one knew what it meant.

Noah shook his head. “I figured it wasn’t the right time to tell them.” That sounded like a logical answer, but it wasn’t the truth either. He didn’t know why he lied. Maybe because he liked sharing a secret with a god.

Pan lifted one eyebrow. “I do not think that was the reason.”

“What makes you say that?” Noah’s boots scrunched over broken glass. Someone had broken into an abandoned car that had been unable to cross the foot-wide gap in the road. Noah peered into the crack before jumping over.

It was like walking through the set of a post-apocalyptic movie. Or being sucked into a game where his character’s quest was to find a lost dragon. Thinking of the situation as something other than his new reality made it a bit easier to deal with. He wasn’t smart and brave…but the character he played could be. And the character had enough magic for a god to find him interesting.

“Because it doesn’t feel like the truth.” Pan jumped over the gap.

“How do things feel like the truth?”

He tilted his head and gave Noah that look as if he could see into him and pick apart the pieces. It was disconcerting, yet he wanted someone to actually see him and understand him.

And care.

He didn’t know if all three were possible. After all, his parents cared, but they didn’t see him or understand him. His friends understood him…but they didn’t really see him. He was simply the needed third member of their tiny coven.

“They just do. I can tell the difference between a request from the heart and one done for show.” Pan’s lips curved in a dangerous smile, and his words were as sharp as a scalpel. “The ones done for show are the most fun to fulfill because they don’t really want it.”

Note to self: do not piss off Pan.

“So why did you lie? I expected you to tell them the truth.”

Noah adjusted the backpack. “You didn’t correct me.”

“Perhaps I wanted to find out how far you’d let this lie travel.”

“Give me enough rope, and I’ll hang myself?”

Pan stopped walking. “Why would I let that happen?”

“It’s a phrase, meaning I’ll get myself in trouble.”

Pan nodded. “Perhaps. Though I will not let anything happen to you. You’re under my protection.”

“Uh-huh.” Those words weren’t worth the breath they took to say. “Says the god without magic who doesn’t want his own people to find out about him.”

Pan’s expression hardened as he glared at Noah as he walked past. “This is temporary.”

Noah flung out his hand. “Is it? This is going to take years to fix. You want to be known as Silas the incubus, and I am happy to play along for the moment, but at some point, you’re going to have to face your people. They are going to need someone.”

“That is Lord Feryn’s job.”

“That doesn’t mean he’s going to do it or that he’s capable.”

Pan shoved his hands into the borrowed coat’s pockets. “He needs time to adjust.” He flicked a glance at Noah. “I am not a city ruler. While I have met plenty, I don’t know where to begin with all the negotiations.”

“Then why did you accept the ring?”