He shook his head, though I could see the conflict in his eyes. “He is no different than these insignificant fools,” he gestured to the other cultists.

“He is to me,” I insisted, though my voice was tiny. “He’s… he’s like my brother!”

Or at least he was… But I tried not to dwell on those thoughts as I pleaded with Riley. “To me, he’s family…” Surely Riley could not deny the importance of family after tonight.

He studied me uncertainly, and a very long moment passed, but then the glow in his eyes began to fade and I felt the tension seep from his frame. He gave a dismissive nod and glanced away. “The human authorities will deal with him when they arrive for the rest.”

I exhaled the last of my anxiety and threw my arms around him in gratitude. His arms encircled me automatically, our bodies molding against each other.

“Soooo…” Neil’s voice abolished our moment again. “You really did give a mortal your heart. Yeah, smart move there.”

“She is my heart,” Riley corrected him vehemently.

Neil gave a consenting shrug and an indulgent smile. “Weeeelllll, one of three, at least, eh Octoboy?”

What did he mean by that?

I stiffened, but as Riley’s arms tightened around me, I was too distracted by the strength of his embrace to ask.

“Stop it, Neil,” Riley said, though his voice sounded too weary to hold any real frustration.

“Alright, alright,” Neil chuckled, then he winked at me. “Just kidding, peaches. You’re his one and only.”

A thrill coursed through me at the thought of it.

“But the question is,” Neil asked Riley, “what will you do now? You’ve still got a sacred duty, you know. Your house at R’lyeh is waiting. Or… will you devote yourself to this mortal instead?”

A stone hand gripped my heart and I looked up at Riley’s face in alarm. What did Neil mean? Was it possible that Riley had to give up his godhood to stay with me? I knew our love would change what he did, that was the prophecy after all. But I didn’t realize it would change who he was. Could he really let that go after eons of existence? There was no way I was worth that.

I saw a dark cloud descend over Riley’s perfect features, and his arms slipped from me as he took a step back. I began to shake.

“To choose?” He hesitated, his flawless eyelids drooping as his gaze slid from me to look past Neil. He slowly scanned the ruined place where we stood. I recalled what he’d said to me in the driveway earlier about having to slumber. He looked more tired now than ever before. Regardless of whether or not he wanted to, could he even go on, being so drained of his powers?

Neil cocked his head expectantly. I had stopped breathing altogether.