Devi Read Online Free PDF Page A

appeared. The goddess flowed to one and sat with more grace than anyone had a right to. Then she looked back at Devi with serpentine eyes.
    “Come sit, Devi. Tell me about you.”
    Following the order, Devi sat on the other chaise, sinking into its plushness. The closest thing she could compare it to was sitting on a warm cloud. Buried in the comfort provided for her, she gave her attention to the regal woman at her side.
    “By your expression I see you are a bit confused. Is it that you have lived among humans so long you have forgotten such comforts?”
    “I suppose I have forgotten such things. I live in an apartment and drive a car. Not to mention that I have a job. I like it.” She grinned and shrugged. “But I am also confused. For so long mortals were…” She paused, unable to locate the right word. “Inconsequential. I watched them learn and grow. But the trade they learnt the best was how to kill one another with increasing swiftness and efficiency. They treat life with such carelessness—except for the children.”
    “So you prefer the children.” It wasn’t a question.
    Devi smiled. Children—especially babies—brought her a wonderful sense of peace. She longed for one of her own, but contented herself with being close to others’.
    “Yes. So fresh and innocent. And trusting.”
    Amaunet took a sip of a drink that materialised in her hand. “And this mortal, Rhodes Liatos—what about him?”
    A flash of something dark and dangerous exploded inside her. While it took a moment to recognise it, Devi did. It was jealousy. Until she became bored with him, she wasn’t going to share him with anyone else—not even another goddess.
    “He is mine.”
    One finely arched brow rose as Amaunet stared at her over the rim of her glass. “I see.”
    Devi’s watch beeped, saving her from articulating a response. The time told her she had to leave for work. Rising to her feet, Devi looked Amaunet full in the face and gave a bob of her head.
    “Thank you for talking to me, but I must get to work.”
    “One last thing, Renpet.”
    Devi stiffened at the reuse of her true name. “Yes?”
    “It is possible for gods and humans to fall in love.” She rose and took another drink. “So what one may believe to be a dalliance of which one will eventually tire could be the beginning of one’s everything. I hear that one knows when it’s love, even for us, with all our power and immortality. To be loved and to love seems even more important.”
    Just like that she was gone, along with her chaises, leaving Devi alone by the pool with her thoughts. Love. She shook her head. No, surely she wasn’t in love. How could she be? She’d known Rhodes for little more than a day.
    With a mere thought she transported herself back to her apartment and dressed for work. Car keys in hand, she hurried down the steps to her vehicle, returning called greetings from those she lived near. All the way to the hospital she mulled over Amaunet and her parting words.
    She strode into the hospital to find January leaning against the counter with a clipboard in hand. Her friend looked up and gave her a smirk.
    “What?”
    “What nothing, girl—I want to hear about your date.”
    Devi bit back a groan. She shouldn’t have told her friend about her run-in with Rhodes at the park, or how she had thought he would be calling her. “How do you know there was one?”
    “You’re positively glowing,” January commented. She smacked her on the shoulder with the clipboard. “I have to go but you and me—lunch, so I get the details.” She waggled her eyebrows. “All of them. Every single hot-ass one.”
    With a wave, Devi headed to her office. She grabbed her lab coat and stowed her keys, all the while laughing over January’s antics.
    Woman must be crazy if she thinks I would tell her everything.
    The day passed quickly and at lunch she and January caught a quick bite in January’s office. They had their food out between them on her desk,