Outside the door.
Mikaela bent over, heaving violently.
Inside the door.
Lake watched Agatha's projected kill replay with keen interest, calm as a still lake.
Killing?
Heh.
Lake had even killed gods, and back then, he'd struck without so much as blinking. Killing a human now? It wouldn't stir his heart in the slightest.
A little while later.
Mikaela returned, wiping her lips, her face full of disbelief. She lowered her voice and said, "Christ Jesus, you killed someone."
Lake smiled. "Mikaela, you should start changing that habit now. Christ Jesus is just something you mortals made up. If you're going to use an exclamation, try switching to 'the stars.' After all, the stars are real, and you'll one day ascend to godhood under their light!"
Mikaela blinked, then snapped back to reality, her expression incredulous. "This isn't the time for that. My God, you killed someone."
Lake shrugged. "So?"
Mikaela froze, thrown off by his response.
Right.
He killed someone. So what?
Even if he wasn't a god right now—though he could be knocked out with a single bat—he was still an alien. If an alien killed an Earthling, what laws would apply? America had all sorts of laws, but there didn't seem to be one about what to do if an alien or god killed a human.
But…
Mikaela repeated, "You killed someone."
"Yes, I killed someone. But why? A god might ignore any mortal, but none would overlook someone who dares to offend them. Usually, a kinder god might dish out a symbolic punishment, but in the realm of gods, there aren't many kind ones left. As for why—gods wage wars too, and divine wars are a hundred, a thousand, a million times more brutal than your petty squabbles."
Lake's tone was light and steady. "So here's the question: Did this little black guy disrespect me? Of course he did—otherwise, he wouldn't have followed us from the restaurant all the way here. Second, did he have ill intent? Obviously, yes. If I ignored him, he'd definitely find a chance to strike hard. Third, did he deserve to die? Naturally, he did. He stalked a god and harbored malice toward one. If that doesn't warrant death, then what does?"
Back in Valoran's early days, Lake had a fiery temper.
But after Valoran's first united attempt to summon the Star-Forger Dragon King to take him down failed, and he gained the domain of the stars, Lake entered a period of self-restraint. During that time, he set these three questions for himself. Before acting, he'd ask them—after all, as a god, he couldn't just lash out at every disagreement like before, right?
Mikaela pressed a hand to her forehead. "Ken's uncle is with 98K. Sure, his uncle doesn't like him, but once he finds out Ken's dead, he'll definitely come for revenge."
Lake said, "He won't find a body."
Mikaela clutched her forehead. "That's not the point. Benjamin definitely knows Ken came here to watch us. It's only a matter of time before Ken's uncle finds out. You've screwed me over. You can just leave, but they'll come after me."
Lake smiled. "Then come with me."
Mikaela looked up at Lake.
Lake said, "What? Don't tell me you're attached to this urban-rural dump? I don't think you are. So come with me. I could use someone to talk to around here anyway. Plus, I promised to bless you into godhood. Stick with me—it'd be a hassle if I had to fish your soul out of the underworld here to make you a god later."
Mikaela shook her head with a dazed laugh. "So you're saying not only are you promising me godhood, but you're also planning to take me under your wing?"
Lake's lips curved upward. "'Take under my wing' isn't quite right. I think 'nurture' fits better."
Keeping a future goddess as a mistress?
Nurturing a future goddess?
Lake leaned toward the latter. The word "nurture" sounded dozens of times better than the former.
Sure, Lake didn't put much stock in first-time romance, but if he could avoid it, he'd rather do so.
And…
Keeping Mikaela by his side would help with his cover. At the very least, no one from Valoran—whichever of them showed up—would ever guess that he, the Miracle of Valoran, would be living with a mortal.
Mikaela's lips slowly curved into a smile. "Nurture?"
Lake said, "If you don't like that word either, you can pick one. As long as you're fine with it. You're my subordinate god, after all. Come with me—you can teach me some Earth customs or unspoken rules I've forgotten, and I can start teaching you how gods think and act. That way, when you become a god, you won't be so lost."
Mikaela's face lit up with her vixen-like smile. "You like me?"
Lake didn't quite get why she asked that, but after a moment's thought, he nodded. "You're a mortal now, but you'll become a goddess. A goddess is worthy of my affection."
The words fell.
Mikaela's expression shifted instantly. "You're clearly just coveting my body."
Lake's face didn't change. "I've had that thought, but what I want is the you after you become a goddess, not the you right now."
Mikaela was speechless.
He was a god, the Lord of the Stars, the God of Miracles. Expecting a god to be devoted? Come on. Male gods were still men, and their desires were on another level. "Promiscuous" didn't even fit a male god properly. Even that Time God, Kieran, had a youth filled with romantic escapades across the cosmos.
Then one day, out of nowhere, that old time geezer must've eaten something off because he seemed to have an epiphany. Not only did he stop maintaining his youth, but he also opened a school and started a grand career in education.
Lake had only one comment on that: Kieran's brain had clearly gone haywire.
Mikaela's expression flickered unpredictably.
Lake stood with his hands in his pockets, his sharp brows striking, his golden hair and blue eyes far beyond what the word "handsome" could capture.
After a long pause.
Mikaela's tone was calm. "You're very honest."
Lake smiled. "Honesty might be one of the few virtues I have as a god."
Mikaela gave a dry laugh. "That's not a compliment."
Was it a compliment?
No.
Back at the restaurant, Lake had regaled her with tales of his romantic exploits in Valoran. After learning he'd been with so many goddesses, her worldview was already teetering. Now, hearing him admit he coveted her, she had an endless stream of retorts on the tip of her tongue—but couldn't get them out.
Lake's expression remained steady. "I know. So, what do you think? Will you come with me, my future goddess?"
As he spoke.
Lake extended his right hand toward Mikaela across from him.
The afternoon sunlight poured in.
Lake stood bathed in golden light.
Like a god.
A towering, majestic male god.