Page 67 of Sobek’s Joy

/~/~/~/~/

Two hours later, Sobek stood in the nursery doorway watching controlled chaos unfold - “controlled” being a generous assessment.

Rose had paint smeared from her elbows to her fingertips, splatters decorating her face like war paint. She stood on a step stool, carefully finger painting a black panther on one wall, tongue poking out in concentration. Jack worked slowly on an adjacent wall, brush strokes forming a gray wolf mid-leap. Timothy knelt on spread newspapers, painting what appeared to be a crocodile family in a pond - two large crocodiles and one small hatchling.

Rudy supervised from a chair Sobek had conjured, feet propped up, eating pickle spears dipped in peanut butter.

“That combination cannot taste good,” Sobek said.

“It’s delicious.” Rudy crunched another bite, making a satisfied noise. “Salty, sweet, and sour. Perfect.”

Sobek’s crocodile side preened at providing what his mate needed, regardless of how bizarre the craving. Over the past week, Rudy had requested strawberries with hot sauce, ice cream on pizza, and yesterday’s truly baffling combination of chocolate cake with sardines.

Sobek had provided everything without comment. His mate was growing their child. Rudy could eat literal garbage if it made him happy.

“Dad, look.” Rose gestured proudly at her panther. “I gave her spots like mine.”

Rudy leaned forward to examine the painting. “She’s beautiful, sweetheart. Very fierce.”

“She’s protecting the family.” Rose added more black paint to the panther’s outstretched claws. “Like I’ll protect the baby.”

“We all will,” Jack added without looking up from his wolf. He’d given the animal golden eyes - eyes that were just like Sobek’s. “Nobody’s going to hurt them. Ever.”

Timothy remained silent, focused entirely on his crocodile family. He’d painted the larger crocodiles facing outward, a protective stance, while the small hatchling swam safely between them.

Sobek’s heart seemed to swell even though he knew that was impossible. These children understood family, understood protection, in ways most adults never would. They’d lost their first families to violence and cruelty. They’d found each other and Rudy through chance and a helping hand from the Fates. And now they were building something new together, something stronger precisely because they knew how fragile happiness could be.

“I think that wall’s done,” Rudy said, pointing to the space beside Jack’s wolf. “Sobek, you should add something. So the baby has art from everyone.”

Sobek blinked. “I’m not the artistic type.”

“Neither am I, but I’ll be painting too once you conjure me a really long brush, so I don’t have to get up.” Rudy grinned. “Come on. This is a family project.”

Rose thrust a paintbrush at him. “Do a crocodile. A big one.”

“But I already did crocodiles,” Timothy protested.

“Then Papa can do something else.” Jack tilted his head. “What about the lotus flower from your claiming mark?”

Sobek glanced down at his chest where the golden lotus remained visible beneath his shirt. The flower that symbolized his bond with Rudy, their eternal connection.

“That’s perfect,” Rudy said softly, meeting Sobek’s eyes. “So the baby knows we’re all bound together.”

Sobek took the offered paintbrush, magic steadying his hand as he approached the one bare wall space. He’d manifested palaces, commanded the Nile, and bent reality itself to his will for as long as he could remember. Surely, it wouldn’t be that difficult to paint one flower.

He started with the center, building outward in careful strokes. It wouldn’t be as detailed as his magical claiming mark, but it was recognizable. The lotus flower was a symbol of rebirth and eternal life, which was totally appropriate for the child who would be born immortal, blessed by the bond between a god and his precious mate.

Rose climbed down from her stool and pressed against his side, watching. “It’s pretty.”

“Very pretty,” Jack agreed.

Timothy abandoned his crocodile painting and joined them, all three children clustered around Sobek as he finished the lotus. When he stepped back, Rose immediately grabbed a different brush and added small golden stars around the flower.

“For magic,” she explained. “Because Papa’s magic.”

Jack added silver swirls connecting the lotus to his wolf. Timothy painted a tiny hatchling at the flower’s base.

“Now they’re all connected,” Timothy said with satisfaction. “See? The baby’s in the middle, and we’re all around them, keeping them safe.”