Set by Alessa Thorn

11

Walking through the gardens towards the house, Ayla couldn't keep the smile off her face. She was surprised she remembered how to flirt and that she found herself doing it easily with Set. It seemed beyond her level of boldness to attempt it with someone like him.

In the past few days, she had been shot at and more scared than she had ever been in her life. Flirting didn't seem so frightening anymore.

Set was used to being the one in control of every situation and interaction, so her flirting back seemed to throw him off balance. Ayla smiled because she kind of liked seeing him flustered for once.

Set was a walking contradiction, and her time spent that day in the village only made it more apparent. Every single person she talked to admired him greatly.

Only Isoba and Miryam seemed to know exactly who he was, but the rest were happy to treat him as their resident mercenary and benefactor.

Ayla didn't like complicated, and he most certainly was that. Yet, she couldn't help trying to befriend the devil himself. The whole idea of it seemed to confuse him, which kind of delighted her.

"Dinner is at sundown," Set called after her, and her smile widened.

The gardens, like the house itself, were beautiful and peaceful. The longer Ayla spent in Naqada, the more she realized this wasn't just a home but a sanctuary.

Ayla made her way back to her bedroom and was careful not to track dirt through the house. It felt immense, and Set had hinted at there being crypts beneath her. She was naturally curious but wasn't game enough to go exploring without his permission.

He probably has the whole place booby-trapped. Ayla grinned. It was definitely something she could see Set doing.

Ayla had a long shower and braided her hair, pinning it up in a crown around her head. It was going to be a warm night, so she pulled on another cotton dress to avoid sweating. She wasn't one to sit about and do nothing, so she decided she would go and help Set cook.

Ayla pulled open her door just as Set was lifting his hand to knock. He had showered and changed into a deep burgundy shirt. Ayla didn't know what was about that particular color that made him look so damn good.

It's the color of blood, her subconscious prompted unhelpfully.

"Planning on barging in on me again?" she asked.

Set held out a tall glass for her. "I was bringing you this. If you were in the bath, it was going to be a pleasant bonus."

"You know, I don't think I've ever had someone fuss over me as much as you do," Ayla commented, taking the frosted glass and sipping. It was cold beer, but the best she had ever tasted.

"It's not fussing. It's being a good host."

"But you said that I wasn't your guest."

"Maybe I changed my mind," he replied. "Were you coming to see me?"

"I was going to offer to help."

Set laughed. "After you told me how bad you are at cooking, I think I'll settle for your company while I do it."

"I can do that. This beer is...I don't know how to describe it. I can taste honey, and I think dates? I usually don't like beer," Ayla said, having another mouthful as they walked.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"You brewed it? What am I saying? Of course you did."

Set's smile turned a little bashful. "I've had the time to get good at things, Ayla. If you don't keep learning new things, you just go mad from the amount of time passing."

"Okay, but if you tell me you crochet too, you're going to ruin your tough mercenary reputation," Ayla teased.

"Rest easy. I don't know how to crochet." Set pulled out a bar stool for her at the kitchen counter. "I like things with a more practical application. I grow a garden because I like to cook, and I cook because I like to eat. I don't usually cook for other people, but I did promise you a decent meal when we were in Aswan."

"Yes, you did," Ayla replied. "Did you hear anything from Abasi today?"

"No, and I'm seriously starting to doubt his efficacy," Set said as he started to move about the kitchen. "As I said this morning, I don't like the idea of leaving you here, but I might have to."

"What are you planning on doing?" Ayla knew the answer but felt the need to ask anyway.

"Taking down Moussa and asking him myself who the hell tipped him off to your existence. I want to hear it from his lips and no one else's. I have a bad feeling about all of this mess. Something felt off right from the beginning."

"You don't trust Abasi?"

"I don't trust anyone when it comes to you," Set replied, eyes flashing with golden power.

"When a god gives his protection, it's a bond until the person is safe. I'll make you safe, Ayla, even if I have to burn Cairo to the ground."

The beer turned uneasily in Ayla's stomach.

"Let's hope it won't come to that. I shouldn't have brought it up and ruined your mood."

"You didn't ruin anything, Ayla. I was stating a fact. You can ask me anything."

"Okay, why do you hate Osiris so much?"

Set flinched. "You aim straight for the nuts, you know that?"

"You did say—"

"Yeah, I know." Set poured himself more of the reddish beer and drained half a glass. "I'm going to need at least another six of these before I talk about him."

"Well, drink up then."

"Why do you want to know so badly?"

Ayla made a small sound of frustration. "Set, you're an actual god. We are sitting in an ancient temple dedicated to you. I grew up with stories about you. Of course I'm going to ask which ones are real and which ones aren't."

"Most of the stories are bullshit."

"Then why not use the opportunity to correct them?" Ayla said sweetly.

Set raised a brow at her before his shoulders slumped. "Damn, I hate it that I can't say no to you when you look at me like that. I'm eating first."

"I can wait until then."

"But if I'm going to tell you a horrible story, you need to tell me one too. Trust goes both ways." Set topped up her glass. "You first."

"You play dirty."

"I am a trickster god," Set said, shooting her a wink.

Ayla really didn't like sharing personal things, but he was right. Trust did go both ways. She blew out a long breath and had another mouthful of beer for courage.

"My mother knew she was dying and didn't tell me," she said quickly, ripping it off like a band-aid. Set didn't reply, just began to cook couscous and slice up vegetables.

Ayla told him about getting the job with Panacea, her mother sending her off and pretending that she was in remission. How they had chatted like nothing was wrong, and the whole time Amara had been in palliative care, hooked up to machines to monitor her slow, painful death.

"I never thought she would lie to me like that," Ayla confessed. "We had only ever had each other, and I felt like it was the worst kind of betrayal. Instead of grieving for her, all I could be was angry. I still am. I haven't been home to Alexandria since I buried her because I'm afraid I'll get there and just start screaming."

"Maybe you need to. Nothing wrong with a good scream occasionally," Set said. He placed fish into the pan. "Grief is like love. It is different for everyone. There used to be rituals in place to help not only the dead, but the living. Grieving was given its proper respect. Now everyone seems to think you should start getting over it as soon as they are buried. It's not how it works. It's okay for you to be angry."

"Feels pointless to be angry at the dead," Ayla said, staring at the wet rings her glass was leaving.

A warm hand rested on her lower back, and she looked up at Set's understanding face.

"It's not pointless. You're entitled to feel however you want about it. You loved her, and her final act hurt you, even though she thought she was doing the right thing," he said.

Ayla swallowed the lump in her throat. "Like keeping me from Kader was the right thing? Even though she knew I'd be alone once she was gone?"

"Keeping you from Kader was probably the best thing she ever did. It protected you, even if it hurt you. I've known you for less than a week, and even I want to protect you from him."

Ayla fought the urge to lean into his warm body, to wrap her arms around him, and cry her eyes out. "If you feel that way about him, why do you work for him?"

Set tucked a loose curl of hair behind her ear. "After this job, I'm not going to be working for Kader anymore."

"Really? Why?"

Set stepped away from her and went to turn the frying fish. "Because you said that you're going to come up with an alternative occupation, remember?"

Ayla swallowed down a laugh. "Yeah, that was me. I suppose I better get thinking."

"You better, Doc. I'm counting on you."

* * *

They ateoutside beside the river. Set had a low table and sitting cushions arranged next to a broad set of stairs leading into the clear Nile. Ayla ate fragrantly spiced couscous, fried fish, salads, and fruits until she was almost bursting.

"You can cook for me whenever you like," she groaned happily, lying down on the cushions.

"You're easy to please."

"That's right, just feed me and tell me I'm pretty," she joked.

"You are beautiful, not pretty," Set replied, and she turned her head to smile at him.

"That's sweet, but you're not getting out of telling me why you hate Osiris."

Set groaned, pulled his hair out of its band, and ran his hands through it. Ayla was tipsy enough that she openly stared at the flex of his muscular biceps. She didn't even look away when he caught her staring.

"You know, I can think of at least four other things we could do right now than talk about Osiris," he said huskily.

"Don't use your sexy voice on me. It won't work," Ayla replied stubbornly, flat out lying.

The warmth left Set's golden eyes. "I hate Osiris because he seduced my wife."

"I thought Nephthys dressed up as Isis to try and seduce Osiris."

"She played her part, certainly, but there were no disguises." Set leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table and cradling his beer.

"He always resented I was created before him, and that I was stronger than him. I know the stories make out that we were all siblings, but it wasn't really like that. We were created from ether and power; we shared no womb. There were only the four of us in the beginning. I came first, so I felt responsible for all of us. We were all so different, designed to balance each other out. But I was always the strongest, the one meant to protect the others. Osiris didn't like that. He wanted whatever I had. That included Nephthys. It didn't matter that I loved her, that she was the one to soothe the storm in me and keep me balanced. He wanted her, and that was it."

Ayla sat up, her playful mood vanishing at the genuine pain in Set's voice. She wanted to reach for him but didn't dare.

"Osiris started to visit her when I wasn't around," Set continued. "One thing led to another, and I caught them together. I lost my temper and killed him. I was always the better fighter, and maybe he thought I'd let him get away with it like I let him get away with every other slight against me. I cut his head off in a single blow. Nephthys fled in the carnage, which was lucky because I probably would've killed her too. I threw his body parts into the river for the crocodiles." Set drained his beer and refilled both of their glasses.

"Isis found out what happened, and instead of being angry, she wanted the cheating bastard back. That's why she put him back together and used her power to restore his Ka and magic. The only good thing that came out of it all was that Osiris was now stuck in Duat and...and that Anubis was born."

Ayla took a careful sip of her drink. "So he really was Osiris's bastard?"

"Yes. Nephthys didn't want him, so Isis took care of him. I wouldn't kill a child, no matter how angry I was. They kept him away from me anyway." Set let out a tired sigh. "I haven't seen Anubis in centuries. I like him, though. He's slow to anger and has a calm presence that rubs off on whoever he's around. You remind me of him in that way."

Ayla smiled. "I don't think I've been accused of calming anyone."

"You're easy for me to be around. To talk to. It's dangerous." Ayla raised a brow, but he wasn't teasing. He seriously believed she was a danger to him. Ayla brushed her hand over the back of his.

"I'd never tell anyone your secrets, Set. I feel privileged that you'd tell me at all."

"Well, you told me some of your secrets. It seemed fair." The corner of his mouth kicked up into a small smile. It wasn't the dazzling, charming smile he brought out when he was flirting with her. This one was genuine, and she had the urge to lean forward and kiss it.

Set got to his feet, breaking the spell. "You want to go for a swim?"

"What? Right now?"

"Yes, right now. It's hot, and a swim is nice on a clear night." He walked to the steps and pulled off his shirt, tossing it to one side. Ayla swallowed hard.

"What about crocodiles?"

"I'll protect you." He reached for his pants, and Ayla quickly looked down, blushing furiously. There was a splash of water, and she risked glancing up. Set was already up to his shoulders, watching her with gleaming eyes.

"Come on, Ayla. I promise I won't even look when you strip off."

Ayla summoned her courage and got to her feet. "Okay, but if I see one crocodile, I'm using you as bait."