Dark Star

by Amy Sumida

  I blinked. Kirill and I had fallen in love with each other in the strangest of circumstances. In fact, Faerie had flat-out admitted that all of my men had been chosen for me; picked for their magic and power. Led to me to use those skills to protect, support, and help me to become what the Realms needed me to be. What Fate needed me to be. Wait; was it Faerie or Al who had said that? Everything was getting so fuzzy. Never mind; it didn't matter who had said it only that it had been said. And if it were true, if all of them had been manipulated into loving me, did that invalidate what we felt for each other? Was our love a lie? An elaborate hoax? A joke?

  Just relax and sip your champagne, Vervain. I have this under control. You don't have to do anything but enjoy yourself and allow me to flow through you. Wish it and it shall be.

  “I don't have to do anything,” I murmured, slipping back into my bliss. “I like the sound of that.”

  Chapter Ten

  I spent the day enjoying life, just as Star suggested. I lounged in my royal penthouse, eating chocolates as I soaked in the free-standing tub. A view of Bahrain stretched out far below me, beyond my wall of windows. It was like bathing in the sky. Then I danced over the polished marble floor in the massive living room as I sang out loud and off-key, my voice echoing up to the vaulted ceiling. I napped in both of the bedrooms just to decide which bed I liked better and decided on the one in the master bedroom; it had a blue velvet headboard as high as the bed was long. Then I laid on the couches that were more like daybeds and watched movies on the flat-screen TV. I had lunch brought up to me and dined on expensive china. It was lovely but by the time dinner rolled around, I'd decided that I'd had enough of solitude.

  I called for my driver and met him downstairs, in front of the hotel. I wanted a meal that went with my surroundings. When in Rome and all that. Give me some cultural cuisine, please. The driver recommended the Takht Jamsheed; a Persian restaurant in the Gulf hotel. I wasn't disappointed. With the grand atmosphere, the attentive staff, the soft music, and the amazing food, all of my senses were pleased.

  Gleaming pendant chandeliers dripped from the ceiling, imperial vases stood proud on pedestals, and weaponry hung on the walls like artwork. My waiter spoke English and gave me helpful suggestions on entrees without being too pushy. Most importantly, the food was amazing; soaked in spices and honey. I savored every morsel. Oh, and the coffee was perfect. It was strange to be dining alone, but I still enjoyed my meal as I people-watched.

  Little did I know that I was being watched in return.

  “A new goddess in town,” a masculine voice purred. “How exciting.”

  I looked up from my dessert to find a devilishly handsome man standing before my table. No, not standing; posing. Midnight hair and desert-dark skin made his silver eyes seem to glow. The long lashes that framed those pale orbs softened his sharp stare into something more sensual. Full lips twisted up at the corners into a mischievous smile and the shadow of a beard added to that hint of bad boy. He smoothed his tailored suit as he looked me over. Then he suddenly straightened and his eyes widened.

  “Ya khabar abyad! You're a moon goddess!” he exclaimed.

  “Would you care to shout that a bit louder?” I asked dryly.

  “Sorry.” He chuckled. “You startled me. I sensed that you were one of us, but I didn't recognize your magic until I got within range.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “And you're a moon god.”

  “That's right.” He extended his hand. “I'm Sin, Moon God of the Babylonians.”

  “A Babylonian moon god,” I murmured as I shook his hand.

  How interesting, Star noted.

  Indeed, I agreed.

  Out loud, I said, “Your name is Sin?”

  “Technically, it's pronounced 'Seen' but the ladies tend to like Sin better so I go with that.” He winked at me.

  “Why don't you have a seat, Sin?” I offered. “I'm Vervain.”

  “Vervain?” He asked as he sat. “I'm not familiar with a goddess of that name. Wait.” He sat up straight. “You're not her, are you? The human hunter turned goddess?”

  “I was the Godhunter,” I admitted. “But I'm so much more now.”

  His silver eyes glittered. “That you are. So, what are you doing in Bahrain, Vervain?”

  “I'm thinking about moving here,” I said casually. “I need a change.”

  “I heard that you were married to like twenty men.” He lifted a brow at me.

  “Six, actually. Six husbands and one boyfriend; all of whom I left this morning. Well, maybe not Arach, but I'm done with the rest of them.”

  His eyes widened again. “You just left them? Why?”

  “They weren't being supportive.” I sipped my champagne.

  “In what way?” He leaned forward onto his forearms and regarded me intensely. “What was so important to you that you'd leave them over it?”

  “Oh, you know; world domination. The usual,” I said flippantly.

  Sin gaped at me a second before he burst into laughter. “You had me going for a second there.”

  I shrugged and let him believe that I was joking. “What do you do for fun around here?”

  “What kind of fun are you looking for?” His voice dropped into suggestive tones.

  “I just left six men, I'm not ready for that kind of entertainment yet.”

  Oh, why not? Star whined. He's hot as... well, as hot as sin!

  Yes, very funny. All kinds of jokes with his name.

  Don't tell me that you aren't enjoying it. It's as if the Universe handed him to you on a silver platter—one that matches those stunning eyes—and said; Here, have a sex toy to play with.

  Did you do this? I asked suspiciously.

  No; I wish I had. Or that I could. I have a harder time affecting Gods. Their resistance is stronger than humans.

  Good to know.

  “How about a few drinks to start and then we can see where to go from there?” Sin offered. “A friend of mine owns a nightclub; there's always a good time to be had at Sikaru.”

  “What perfect timing you have.” I lifted my empty glass. “I happen to need another drink.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Sin drove a black Maserati. Of course, he did.

  “Do you often troll hotel restaurants for tourists to seduce?” I asked as we pulled up to the curb.

  Lights gleamed off the chrome columns that framed the entrance to Sikaru; a very popular nightclub from the looks of it. A line of people waited to get through the silver double doors but a burly bouncer stood in their way. No sound thumped out of the entrance, most of the noise came from the possible patrons who avidly spoke and flirted with each other as they waited hopefully for the coveted nod that meant they had passed muster.

  “I was not trolling,” Sin protested before he jumped out.

  I watched him in the rearview mirror as he passed behind the car. He waved the valet away from my door and opened it himself. After helping me out, he tossed the keys to the young man and continued our conversation as he escorted me straight to the entrance, bypassing the line.

  “I happened to be walking through the hotel and felt a pull,” Sin said as he nodded to the bouncer instead of waiting for the bouncer to nod to him. “Now I know it was your moon magic calling to mine but at the time, I simply sensed another god and was curious.”

  The bouncer rushed forward to open the door for us. I lifted a brow at the guy, but he was too busy bowing to us to notice. We strode into a foyer; just a dark, empty room with another pair of double doors at the opposite end. The thud of music vibrated out through them.

  “No line for you?”

  “I told you; my friend owns this place.” Sin smirked and undid the top button of his collared shirt with his free hand. “As if I'd go anywhere that I had to wait in a line. I do not wait in lines.”

  I laughed boisterously and it caught me by surprise. I was usually the one making people laugh like that, not the other way around. It made me pause and take stock
of myself. How much had I changed in the last 24 hours?

  Change is good, remember? Star reminded me.

  “You all right?” Sin peered at me as he opened the left door, silver eyes flashing in the sudden sweep of dancing lights.

  “Fine,” I lifted my voice over the slam of the music and glanced around.

  A large rectangle, the club stretched out to our right with the bar a little way down from the entrance. At the far end of the room, a stage took up most of the width with a dancing area in front of it but there was no live music playing. Instead, a DJ dominated the stage with an expanse of equipment before him that seemed a bit excessive for his job. He was swarthy, dressed in flashy clothes, and had a set of headphones on that only covered one ear. He waved at the crowd and danced as if he were the one who had composed the music he played. And the club patrons ate it up. They cheered and danced and shouted up at him as if he were a rock star.

  I rolled my eyes but stopped with my stare elevated. The ceiling went up two stories, showcasing a wrought-iron balcony that stretched the length of the opposite wall. People leaned against the railing up there, watching the crowd below with the air of the elite. Possibly more elite than the humans suspected.

  “Are those gods?” I nodded up to the balcony.

  Sin laughed. “The upper level is our club, but we like to check out the humans. You know; choose our next plaything.”

  “Lovely.” I grimaced. “My nightclub in Hawaii has a similar set up with an upper floor for VIPs, but we oath all gods before they enter the club.”

  “You have a nightclub?” Sin asked with interest. “In Hawaii? And you oath gods before they go in? What do you oath them to do?”

  “It's more what we oath them not to do; magic. No magic is allowed on the premises. Except for my family and me, of course. Ownership has its perks.”

  “That it does.” A woman stepped into our path. Skin like the slick part of an acorn, thick raven hair down to mid-back, and dark brown eyes. She was curvy and around my height with an exotic look that I suppose wasn't so exotic in Bahrain.

  “Ninka.” Sin moved forward to kiss her cheek. “This is Vervain, a brand new friend of mine and a fellow moon god. Vervain, this is Ninkasi, Goddess of Beer and Alcohol.”

  “Nice to meet you. I like your place.”

  “Thank you. Welcome to Sikaru, Vervain.” She shook my hand. “Would you care to join me upstairs?”

  “We'd be delighted,” Sin answered for us.

  Ninkasi led us past a couple of bouncers and into a small elevator.

  “So, you're a bar-owner as well?” She asked after the doors had shut.

  “Partially. I own a place with my husband. It's called Moonshine.”

  “You're married?” Ninkasi looked from me to Sin and back in surprise.

  “Separated,” Sin clarified with a wink at her. “You know I'm not that much of a scoundrel.”

  She grimaced.

  “I'm aware,” I said meaningfully to her. “And it's not happening.”

  Ninkasi laughed. “I like you.”

  “Aware of what?” Sin frowned at us.

  “Of your game, you man-whore,” Ninkasi declared as the elevator dinged and opened on the second floor.

  “I am not a man-whore,” Sin protested. “As I just mentioned; I have standards. No men, no one under eighteen, and no married women.”

  Ninkasi and I laughed as we strode out together.

  “I'm not a man-whore.” Sin hurried after us. “At least, I don't mean to be. I can't help it; my name is Sin.”

  “I married a man like him. I can spot one from twenty yards,” I said to Ninkasi as she led us through a collection of round tables and over to a curtained booth along the far wall. The curtains were swept back but gave the illusion of privacy.

  Gods watched us curiously as we passed, and Ninkasi ignored them. She went straight to the empty booth, doubtless reserved for her, and slid across the leather seat. I took a glance around before I joined her. Solid doors on my right blocked off the balcony I'd spotted from below, softening the music and making it much easier to have a conversation.

  “You married a man-whore?” Ninkasi asked in surprise.

  “He reformed for me.” I slid onto the seat beside her.

  “Ask her how many husbands she has,” Sin prompted Ninkasi as he took the bench across from us.

  Ninkasi just looked at me with a lifted brow.

  “Six,” I admitted. “And one boyfriend. It's a lioness thing.”

  “Fascinating. Which one did you leave?”

  “All but one,” I whispered. “I'm not sure if I can salvage the last marriage; that's still up in the air.”

  Something sharpened inside me with those words. Sharpened and struck. I breathed deeply through the pain as Ninkasi's eyes widened.

  “You left six out of seven? When?”

  “This morning.”

  “Holy shit.” She gaped at me for a second and then lifted a hand and snapped her fingers. “Tequila! Three glasses.”

  I chuckled as a waitress hurried to fill a tray with a bottle of tequila, three shot glasses, salt, and a bowl of limes before she scampered over.

  “I'm fine. Really,” I said.

  “Fine or not, celebration or sorrow, leaving six men—possibly seven—calls for shots,” Ninkasi declared.

  “Fair enough.” I grinned as I accepted a glass from her.

  “So, you don't allow Gods to perform magic in your club,” Ninkasi mused. “That's a good idea.”

  “It's safer that way. For everyone.”

  “How do you oath them before they get inside?” She shot back her drink and angled herself to lean against the wall so she could face me and Sin both.

  “We have a foyer much larger than yours with two entrances branching off it. We separate the gods from the humans there and direct them to the VIP entrance,” I explained. They get oathed in an antechamber before they're allowed through. We also set up a booth in the parking lot because we had some trouble happen just outside our club.”

  “Interesting,” she murmured. “I wouldn't have to deal with a parking lot, all I'd need to do is set up a room off the foyer. Thanks for the idea.”

  “No problem.” I lifted my glass to her in salute. “Thanks for being so welcoming.”

  “Perhaps too welcoming.” A man slid onto the seat beside Sin, crowding Sin toward the wall.

  I'd noticed him earlier; handsome in a stoic way. He had a jaw that looked as if it could cut glass, sardonic lips, and a pair of dark eyes that had flashed with fire when they first spotted me. I knew his magic immediately; I've known enough sun gods to recognize one. He, like Sin and Ninkasi and everyone else in the room, for that matter, had the exotic look of the region, and I had a feeling that they were all a part of the same Pantheon.

  They are, Star confirmed. You've just landed in the middle of a Mesopotamian playground.

  You did this, I accused with a hint of amusement.

  I promise you; I did not. I think Fate may be trying to wrestle its way back into your life.

  Interesting. Even when I scorn it, it wants me.

  Fate must be a man. Star chuckled.

  “You should be more careful of who you entertain, Ninka,” the new guy went on.

  “Have I offended you somehow?” I asked casually.

  “Your blood offends me,” he narrowed his eyes at me. “Your very existence offends me.”

  “What the fuck, Marduk?” Sin gaped at the other man.

  “Marduk?” I asked and then laughed. I muttered to myself, “Fate is a man. A mischievous man.”

  “Indeed, it is,” Ninkasi agreed as she refilled my glass. “Mischievous and horny. Fate always wants to fuck with you.”

  “Do I know you?” Marduk lifted a scornful brow at me.

  “You sure are acting as if you do,” I shot back.

  “I may not know who you are, but I know what you are, Dragon,” he growled.

  “You're a dragon?” Sin and
Ninkasi both asked at once. Neither sounded afraid or offended. In fact, they both seemed eager.

  “Fools!” Marduk hissed. “Do you have any idea what a dragon could do to Bahrain?”

  “Bask in the heat and sleep the day away like a cat?” I offered. “I love the sun. Although, I'll make an exception for you, Sun God.”