The Viper's Heart by Lisa Oliver

Author:Lisa Oliver
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay erotic romance, angels and demons, lisa oliver, true mates, balance series
Publisher: Lisa Oliver

Chapter Twelve

Raziel tried to calm his breathing; not an easy thing to do when he was being bracketed by demon heat. He and Botis cleaned themselves up, shared a meal and then Botis tried to tempt him back to bed. The guy was perpetually horny, which Raziel didn’t see as a bad thing. But Lucifer turning up in their bedroom wasn’t something he wanted happening again, and instead he’d settled for a seat on the couch, Botis behind him.

“Now what is it exactly you’re trying to find, because if you want me scanning the whole of Gilgamesh’s life, then we’ll be here all night?” Raziel wiggled. Nope. Didn’t help. There was still a sizable lump nudging his back despite the jeans they were both wearing.

“According to the legend, after Enkidu’s death, Gilgamesh was worried about his own mortality and went searching for the one pair of humans granted immortality by the gods,” Botis said. “Utnapishtim and his wife were favored because of their part in the great flood. Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh he would give him the secret if the guy could stay awake for seven days and nights; which of course he couldn’t do, and honestly it was a mean trick because the immortality had been given by the gods; it was hardly a secret he could share. That could be why his wife persuaded Utnapishtim to give Gilgamesh a gift; one that would make him young again. Of course, Gilgamesh lost it, but it’s the gift I want to find.”

“I’ve studied the various translations,” Raziel said thoughtfully. “Some called it a potion, some said it was a plant sourced at the bottom of the sea; the ‘Plant of Heartbeat’. Some texts said it would make Gilgamesh look young, while others called it a revitalizing tonic. Either way, it wasn’t a gift of immortality; no plant can do that. Have you talked to Utnapishtim? Surely, he could tell you what it was?”

“Utnapishtim’s human, for all his lack of dying. He and his wife run a bistro in Portland, Oregon of all places. It was the first place I went, but he won’t talk to demons.”

Raziel wondered if they’d talk to angels, but he felt that might be unfair to Botis. Instead he settled back against Botis’s chest and closed his eyes. The gift of Utnapishtim to Gilgamesh, he instructed his mind and a kaleidoscope of images blurred and then settled for him to see.

Gilgamesh was heading home. He’d failed his task and failed his people. The weight of failure felt heavy on his soul. Not for the first time he missed Enkidu; the one man who’d given him a life of purpose and meaning.

“I want you to take this,” Utnapishtim said. “It won’t make you immortal, but it is the closest thing on earth to the fountain of youth.” He held out a small earthenware jar.

Gilgamesh was humbled; he didn’t deserve such a gift, but he bowed low, accepting with thanks, grateful he had something to return to his people.

The

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