Osiris tilted his head, considering her, and then answered with a deadpan expression, “I don’t know. Grow out your hair and then cut it over and over again? Wax your wings, maybe? Fly up into the clouds and make rainbows?”
Her mouth gaped open. but then she noticed the telltale gleam in his eye and the tension she’d felt a moment before ebbed. He was teasing her. Just like he had when they were children. It was nice to know she hadn’t lost that part of him. If she couldn’t have Osiris in the way she longed to, at least there was a chance she could still keep her close friend.
Isis punched his arm. A gesture she’d made thousands of times when they were young. “Ruffian,” she said, her fond expression still tinged with sadness. “You know me better than that.”
“Ow!” he responded with an exaggerated rubbing of his bicep, both of them knowing it would take far more than her fist to hurt him.
“Besides,” Isis added, wanting to maintain the ease between them, “my hair is perfect just the way it is.”
Osiris laughed fleetingly and caught a strand of her hair between his fingers. “That it is,” he answered, his voice low and tender as his eyes lighted on her face. For the tiniest moment, she basked in the warmth of his gaze but it was quickly gone with the clearing of his throat. “Well, if you’re sure you want to take a look, help yourself.”
After spreading the papers out across the table, he shifted to the side to give her access to them and tried to ignore the brush of her wing against his arm. Osiris knew it would have been smarter to take a step back, to keep temptation far from his reach, but he liked the feel of her soft wings too much to force himself to move. When she exclaimed in excitement over his plans, he actually shifted closer, despite his reservations, peering over her shoulder to see what she was pointing at.
“What do you call it?” she asked.
“I’m thinking about calling it an aqueduct. It’s a way for mortals to bring water from lakes and rivers into villages. If they use one, the villagers can build farther away from the river so as not to risk destruction of their homes during flooding season. They will also be able to water crops from a distance. See here?”
He leaned over the table, enjoying the feel of her warm body next to his, and pointed out one section of his drawing. “This can open and close so they can access the water when they wish, and on this side”—Osiris pulled another drawing to the top of the pile—“they can add more sections or move them around depending on what they need the water for. What do you think?” he asked as he stood.
“What do I think? I think it’s brilliant, Osiris.” Cocking her head to peer up at his handsome face, she teased, “Are you sure you’re the one who came up with it?” He laughed as she turned back to his plans and ran her fingertip down the line. “What if you added a siphon?” she said as she tapped the paper. “If the water built up enough speed, it could potentially go over hills, maybe even mountains.”
“A siphon? I hadn’t considered that.” Osiris quickly scribbled some additional notes. The idea had potential. A lot of potential.
“Your mortals will be pleased,” Isis said as she straightened and placed a hand on his arm.
Osiris turned toward her and all thought of his new invention fled his mind. He felt something almost tangible pass between them then, something he had no name for. It ebbed and flowed in the space separating them, pulling him gently yet insistently forward. He shifted back, away from her, trying to gain control over his senses once more, and her hand slipped away. Though it was fleeting, he recognized the hint of doubt and sorrow in her eyes. Such an emotion had no place on the face of one as lovely and powerful as Isis. He placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll see you at the council meeting.” With that, Osiris squeezed her shoulders, gathered up his drawings, and left as quickly as his dignity allowed.
#
Seth stood in the shadows of the lattice screen where he’d been spying and watched Osiris leave, the plans for his latest scheme clutched in his brother’s overly large hands. Now that he considered it, everything about Osiris was large. His body. His overly developed muscles. His ego. His toothy, insipid grin. Actually, the only thing little about Osiris was his intellect. Well, that and perhaps his ambition. Seth snorted. Yes, the dolt aspired to nothing in life except helping mortals. What an absolute waste of time.
If Seth’s older brother possessed an ounce of astuteness, he would have noticed the way Isis was, for all intents and purposes, throwing herself at him. Idiot. He didn’t know a good thing when it practically pounded down the door and threw itself into his arms. Still, Osiris’s failure to see what was right in front of him would work in Seth’s favor. His quasi rejection of Isis would make her much more vulnerable. Yes. It was time for Seth to make a move on the delectable goddess.
Seth lifted his own fingers, comparing his long, lean, and almost delicate hands to Osiris’s as he considered his newfound power. He’d been practicing for weeks and hadn’t shared his gift with anyone. When he did show the council, he wanted to display his ability on his own terms. He enjoyed imagining the praise he’d get from Amun-Ra and the adoration of all the immortals, especially the females.
But there was one in particular he couldn’t wait to share his ability with. When Isis saw what he could do, he was certain she’d fall all over herself trying to gain his attention. She’d want to spend her every free moment with him, not the silly mortals she fawned over. Isis would give heed to his romantic overtures then. The awkward, tight smirk she’d given him before, followed by a rapid disappearance, along with the way her eyes always shifted from him to someone else, anyone else, would be a thing of the past.
Seth’s nostrils flared when he remembered how she’d run to Osiris just now. He’d been following her. Watching her. Waiting for the perfect time to reveal himself, his power, and his intentions to take her as his beloved. Unfortunately, it seemed Osiris was now another obstacle he’d have to overcome. But the god of agriculture was no match for him, he sneered. With a simple thought Seth could undo, unmake, every stupid invention Osiris used his peanut-sized brain to conjure. Perhaps someday he’d even risk unmaking the peanut.