The Next Day - Miach's POV

Over the past few years, I've grown accustomed to Luke's quirks and have learned a great deal about the modern world.

Had it not been for his endearing, near constant babbling, I'm certain my adjustment would have been as clumsy as a babe's first attempts to walk.

So yes, I was familiar with many concepts such as holidays, pop culture, and the endless series of advances humans had made when it came to 'technology.' They are too clever for their own good. Often producing things such as 'nukes' before they truly grasped the consequences of their actions.

"Miach, help me." Luke whines like pup begging for a treat. "I've been looking for this rare drop for hours."

And then there were silly, pleasant diversions such as video games. I've noticed the powerful thrall these inventions held over humans - particularly youths. 

"Oh, alright." I shake my head, sneaking up behind him. "I'll indulge you but you really shouldn't use magic to cheat in a damn game."

I waste no time in resting my head against his shoulder. A quick blink - the tiniest fraction of magic and my sweetheart had his rare item.  A fancy set of armor that would satisfy even Lugh's incessant need for pageantry.

"Hey, I'm not cheating. They're the ones that should have dropped it by now. The success rate is brutal." Luke pouts.

I feign disdain, inspecting my fingernails as if I had wasn't entirely certain if I was satisfied with my nonexistent manicure. "If you say so. We both know you'll ask again soon enough."

Luke just grins at me, turning around to wrap his arms around my neck. "Yeah and you'll humor me but still you know, it's not fair. You know almost everything about me and I know almost nothing about you other than you're the most Scorpio Celtic God that I've ever met."

I raise an eyebrow at that. Luke had insisted on teaching me about the astrology. "I'll choose to take that as a compliment and even if it was a disguised insult, it's accurate enough. I was born on Samhain."

That makes me a Scorpio, apparently.

"See? I should have known that already. I totally missed your birthday." Luke huffs as if that was some major offense.

"You've missed quite a few of my birthdays actually but if you insist you can celebrate next year. You have a nice arse. I rather like the idea of you wearing a kilt." If he wishes to mark the day of my birthday - I may as well enjoy myself.

Luke's face turns an alluring shade of red. I think that's the main difference between the two of them. My human could blush. My smith never had. Ruadan had no sense of shame. "Miach. I'm serious. Come on. Tell me something about your life. I've searched everywhere online and I've found almost nothing."

His point is a valid one and Luke is my High Priest. If I was going to bare my soul to anyone, it should be him. "Aye, I'll tell you what you want to know. Morrigan used Dian to ensure she bore a child with powerful healing magic. She's never claimed me officially. Doing so would have meant I'd substantial claim to the throne. She may be as manipulative bitch at times but she's not heartless. The woman had no wish to throw me to the wolves at court. Naturally, Morrigan discarded Dian after she'd achieved her desired goal - there was no love between them and apparently, his performance during their tryst was," I couldn't help but smirk, "middling at best."

"What about Dian was he always such a jealous prick?" Fascination and wariness shines in Luke's beautiful eyes. He's well aware that he's treading on dangerous ground but like a curious kitten, he can't resist asking more questions.

"When I was a boy, we were as close bees and flowers. He got on well enough with my other half-siblings but he favored me." I mistakenly had assumed the attention he heaped upon me was love but it was nothing more than ambition. "I excelled in the healing arts and that brought him even more prestige. My gifts were merely an extension of his talent until I surpassed him."

"Your other siblings? I've heard of Airmed. I mean, you two were really close from what I was able to cobble together but there wasn't much on the others." Luke trails off in an awkward fashion.

I couldn't blame him. Family is a complicated subject for any immortal.

"Aye, we were. She is a sweet lass. Far too kind and soft-spoken for Father to pay much mind to but every hall was a happier place for presence." I couldn't help but smile at the memories of my half-sister. "After my death, she collected every healing herb in the world and placed them on my grave. It was her intention to use the power still in my grave soil to rid the world of every ailment. Father disapproved of her mourning me and scattered them all to the wind."

It was thanks to that 'prick' as Luke called him that disease still torments humanity and gods alike. Then again, perhaps in hindsight Dian's loathsome personality had merely protected the balance between life and death.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. Was there...were you ever happy back then?" Luke's gaze is apologetic.

It warms my heart that he cares so much and loosens my lips. "I loved the Emerald Isle and Scotland. Everything was so beautiful and free about my home. Magic unchecked in the very land, sea, and air there. I spent many a day lost in merriment and studying medicine. I liked being able to help people and I had people I cared about. Three in particular, Airmid, Meche, and my smith."

Something clicks for Luke. I can tell because his nose is scrunching up like a child who had smelled sweets nearby. "Meche...is your half-brother, right? They list Morrigan as his mother but no father."

"Aye. I adored him as much as Airmid. He was gifted. Dragons adored him and he had the soul of an artist - the seasons themselves were his favorite paint. Crops and the weather itself were his to command." I didn't see any point in hiding the matter from him. "He's the only child Morrigan ever bore out of love. His father's identity would have been far too dangerous to reveal during that era. And of course, like me, Dian murdered him for being too talented."

"...I'm surprised that Morrigan keeps letting that murderer off the hook. That's TWO of her sons he's slaughtered now." Luke's rage is a living, breathing entity all its own. I half expect it to transform into one of Meche's dragons.

"Oh, she didn't. Mother made certain everyone knew that he butchered the two of us. Dian was able to somewhat save his honor by claiming the three dragons in Meche's hearts would have devoured Ireland. Yes, he had three hearts." I'd heard three heartbeats whenever I examined him. "She also endeavors to scare his worshipers away whenever the opportunity arises."

Luke looks somewhat pacified by that last part. "Well, good. I can't believe people would follow him in the first place but what about the smith?"

"Ruadan is a special. The son of Brigid and Bres. Bres was granted kingship after the first war against the Fomorians. The man is half Tuatha De Danann and half Fomorian. Everyone thought he would be the best-suited to lead. The least biased among us. They were wrong."

There was no masking the sadness in my voice. How, I wish they had been right. "Bres was beautiful, intelligent, and strong but he was also young. He was also damn lucky. He and Brigid are a love match. History paints him as a villain but I cannot blame him for being unable to ignore the horrors that were inflicted upon the Fomorians. He was...not a particularly benevolent king as far as the Tuatha De Danann are concerned and they revolted. However, he did teach Lugh about agriculture and the humans were better off for it."

"I know. I've read about it." Luke nods, his fingertips trailing the path along my jaw.

His touch brings comfort. "As for Brigid, she's best known for being a goddess of healing, poetry, and smithing but there's almost nothing she doesn't excel in. She taught Ruadan her craft and he was both the most gifted and mischievous smith I'd ever met. He was Beltane incarnate - so full of life, warmth, and far too clever for his own good."

Just like Luke.

Luke pauses, I could see the wheels in his mind turning faster than any horseless carriage known as a car. "You loved him."

"Aye but he died during the second war against the Fomorians. Ruadan sided with his father. I believe he was simply after information but he and Goibhniu ended up coming to blows. Ruadan was injured and didn't survive long afterwards." And I had been unable to do a damn thing about it as it happened at the same time as my own temporary death. "Brigid was beside herself. Her grief so powerful that our queen invented the practice known as keening. It was also the thing that ended the bloodshed."

"Meche and Ruadan both died." Luke watches me with wary eyes.

"Aye." I know where this is going and I didn't care for it one bit. Hope was a cruel mistress.

"Wouldn't they come back like you did?" My sweetheart's words were as cautious as wise, old traveler's.

The question is a fair one but I know that he doesn't wish to upset me. To reopen old wounds. He only wants to help me.

"Perhaps but death is a complicated affair among our kind." I pause, uncertain how best to articulate exactly how complicated. "Sometimes when we die, it's only a matter of hours before we rise again. And then there are others who are reincarnated. Macha for instance, Mother's sister - one of them anyway, has incarnated at least four or five times."

"Oh. I see. Well, would you be able to tell if you met them again?" He embraces me, his touch as tender as a lover - though we had yet to have a proper kiss. Let alone the more interesting improper variety of intimacies that can take place between lovers. "If you met them in this life?"

"I might or I might not. Some gods are reborn with their memories, abilities, and even mannerism somewhat intact." I frown. It wasn't as though the idea had never occurred to me. "Others have no idea that they were once divine."

"I hope you find them one day." Luke's smile was the picture of sincerity. Were Cailleach to ever see it, I imagine she'd fall asleep for centuries. It was so warm. Not even the snow and ice could withstand it. "In the meantime, you should at least try to find Airmed. I imagine she'll kick your arse, if she finds you first."

"I'll think about it and you're right." I couldn't help but chuckle. My sister was a sweet thing but she could be quite fiery whenever the situation called for it. So could Meche for that matter. "She would and I suppose I deserve it. I should have done that sooner. You're just very distracting."

His blush lets me know that my flirtation hadn't gone unnoticed.

Ruadan and Luke were so similar and yet so different. Two sides the of the same enchanting coin.

I love them both more than words could say.

Chapter 9 Word Count According to Wattpad: 1922.

Total Word Count According to Wattpad: 13,191.

Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to weigh in on the following questions if you'd like to indulge me:

What did you think about our 'slice of life' chapter? Anime fans will know what I mean.

How did you feel about Miach's backstory and his family tree? We introduced a few new characters officially and some additional details were added about those who have been referenced before?

This chapter is dedicated to AliKatMeow. If you love supernatural lgbt romance stories with a healthy dose of a murder mystery thrown in, please check out her story, Secrets of the Amulet | ONC 2023. Personally, I think it's a hidden gem that is flying way under the radar. Maybe you guys would be so kind as to help me get her a few more comments? ;)