Chapter 9
Night had descended upon the Balitang household. The ladies were asleep (Elsren and Petranne had been sent to bed much earlier) and the servants were doing the last chores of the day. Aly wondered whether or not she should go up to bed, or just roll out the mat she kept in her office. She had not decided yet when a voice behind her said "You didn't use my gift, Aly. My heart is breaking into a thousand pieces!"
"I wasn't in the mood to play your game, Kyprioth." Aly turned and again saw Kyprioth in his "raka warrior" body. He had chosen his form well. Aly couldn't help glancing at his well muscled body. She focused her eyes on his face.
"Maybe it wasn't a game." Kyprioth offered, leaning casually against the wall. He crossed his feet at the ankles, the picture of a man at ease. His relaxed posture did not consciously put Aly at ease, Kyprioth had kissed her twice now, but she found herself mirroring his easy stance and did feel some of the stress of the day leave her body.
"Maybe pigs fly." Aly retorted.
Kyprioth laughed lightly at that, a deep, melodic laugh. Aly chuckled as well, but kept her eyes trained on the god, watching him warily. Letting her guard down in front of such a dangerous immortal would be very bad.
"Tell me this, Kyprioth. Why are you taking such an interest in me?" Aly asked, running her finger's through her hair. It was an inch longer than chin length.
"Because, Alianne, you are," Kyprioth paused searching for the right words, "Astounding. Brilliant and beautiful. You are a wonderful liar, an amazing prankster, and a brilliantly evil plotter. You are a Queen among tricksters, Aly."
Aly just stared at Kyprioth, flabbergasted. Never in her life had she heard such insanity before. Sure, young men and boys had always flocked around her, vying for her attention. Aly had always had her pick of men. She had even had a few female admirers that she had toyed with. Such complements were not new to Aly, not new at all. But that Kyprioth thought those things about her... it was to much. She didn't believe him.
"You see, Aly, we gods live the same life over and over for eternity doomed to fight the same battle time after time. Gods are stuck in an endless time loop. We are not like mortals who are flexible and capable of change. So, when something new comes our way we want to do everything we can to never let it go. You are something new to me, Alianne. Do you understand now?" Kyprioth moved forward and took Aly's hands in his.
"I think so." Aly said in a small voice. Kyprioth leaned forward and pressed his lips to Aly's and Aly let him.