by Amy Sumida
Trevor was a prime piece of wolf flesh. At six-foot-six and built like a pro-wrestler, the Froekn Prince was the most impressive of all Fenrir's children. It was no wonder why Fenrir had wanted better for him than a human who would die, taking Trevor down with her. Sigh. It was not the night for morbid thoughts, better to focus back on the Prince.
He’d been growing his black hair out since we’d first been bonded, so it hung a little past his wide shoulders in loose, bad-boy waves, framing features a romance novelist would call chiseled. I called them perfect. He had that manly look I preferred. I don’t like pretty men, beautiful yes but not pretty. Yes, there’s a difference. I like men to look like men and Trevor, though not technically a man, looked all male.
His honey colored eyes could deepen to amber and they were striking, lined with thick black lashes. They were his one delicate attribute. Why was it always the men who got lashes like that? Although I guess I couldn’t complain anymore. I got some nice long ones when I'd absorbed Aphrodite’s magic.
Trevor got out of the limo first, then reached back and helped me out with a smooth movement. Immediately, people pressed in close and cameras flashed. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision and frowning in confusion. A new club opening in Hawaii shouldn’t cause so much of a stir. Why were all the cameras there?
Then I looked a little closer.
Some of the “news reporters” were a little too slick looking, even for television. There was a sheen about them that seemed off and their cameras flashed a strange blue. What the hell? The gods had their own reporters?
And soon they would all have a picture of the Godhunter. I almost groaned aloud.
“Mr. Fenrirson,” Pamela Young, one of our local news reporters and one of the actual human ones, pointed a microphone at Trevor. “What makes your club so different from the swarms of others we already have here in the islands?”
“This isn’t a place to go to if you like the music loud enough to burst your eardrums,” he put an arm around my waist as he talked. “We’re keeping it at a nice level so you can still have a conversation with someone. We’ve also tried to keep the interior unique and safe. If you get tired of dancing, have a seat on the grass and our surveillance system as well as our security team will see to it that you’re safe enough to relax.”
“The grass?” Pamela was wide-eyed, which was quite a feat for an Asian woman.
“Moonshine has an outdoor theme, there's grass and trees inside the club,” Trevor grinned his endearing lopsided grin. “We even have a waterfall.”
“Fascinating. It sounds like a place an older crowd might appreciate,” Pamela smiled and I smiled back. She had no idea how much older he was intending the crowd to be.
“We hope so,” Trevor steered me past her. “This is definitely not a place for the kiddies.”
“Thank you, Mr. Fenrirson,” Pamela turned back to the camera to finish her report.
“Prince VѐulfR,” one of the god reporters called, in a low tone. “How about a picture with your new Rouva?”
“Of course,” he angled me toward the man who I was now absolutely positive was a god and a blue flash went off. Yep, that picture was going to be passed around to all my enemies. I smiled big.
“How do you respond to rumors that this club was created to appease the Godhunter, who it's said has demanded the Froekn change their ways?” A young man with golden-blonde curls held out a shiny microphone. He had a casual suit jacket on over jeans and looked like he belonged on a college campus.
“What did you say?” I was about to go Godhunter on his ass but Trevor caught my arm.
“I'd say your information, as always, is only partly correct, Hermes,” Trevor smirked. “I did open this club because I knew how my new Rouva felt about the Froekn's... previous occupation, but it was not at her behest. I was influenced by a new perspective and decided to give my family the opportunity to try something different if they so wished. I was happily surprised to find that quite a few of my people wanted the change. So you see,” he pulled my limp body against his side, “Vervain has already become a good Rouva, without even lifting a finger.”
“You did this for me?” I whispered in amazement. His response was a quick wink.
“And what about reports that she has bewitched not only you but your father as well?” Hermes continued. Boy he was an annoying bastard, no wonder his daddy had made him a messenger. “That you are both in love with her?”
“Well, they're half right,” he was so cool under pressure. I wanted to shove that mic down Hermes' throat. “I'm in love with her but Dad just thinks of her like a daughter.”
“But isn't Thor involved with this woman?” Hermes pushed the mic even closer and I saw a gold emblem of spread wings on the handle.
“Yes,” Trevor said simply. “You can love someone and not make love to them. You, above all people, should know that.”
“Yes,” he nodded as his eyes narrowed and he lowered the microphone. “I do know about that, all about love and loss. Your new Rouva took one of those loves away from me. I can smell Aphrodite’s power on her,” he hissed.
“What you too?” My mouth fell open. “How many men was that woman with?”
“We have a son together,” Hermes ignored the insult. “She was a true goddess, beautiful, magnificent, beautiful...”
“Yeah, we got that she was a looker,” I rolled my eyes.
“... and now you wear her magic like a trophy, you murderess!”
I looked over my shoulder to see the human reporters starting to take an interest in what was happening but then some Froekn bouncers slid between us, effectively blocking the view.
“She was trying to kill me,” I hissed back at Hermes.
“Because you're the Godhunter,” he snarled. “She was defending her people.”
“She was defending her claim to another god,” I stepped away from Trevor. “She didn't care about the rest of you, she just cared that Huitzilopochtli wanted me instead of her.”
“You're a filthy human,” Hermes scoffed, “a pale comparison to a goddess like her. There is no way Huitzilopochtli would prefer you over the magnificent Aphrodite.”
“Enough,” Trevor had finally gotten mad. “Insult my Rouva once more, messenger boy, and you'll find out firsthand that this wolf is far from tamed.”
“You're a fool,” Hermes pointed his finger at Trevor and blue flashes went off from all the other god reporter's cameras. “She'll destroy you too.”
“Oh,” Trevor grinned evilly, “but what a way to go.”
Before Hermes could say another word, Trevor turned me around and the bouncer slid smoothly behind us. We were ushered into the club amidst more flashing lights.
“Well, that was unsettling.” I sighed.
“Don't concern yourself with it,” Trevor guided me through the entry room. “Heralds aren't allowed into the club.”
“Excuse me?” I stopped him. “Heralds? What's a herald?”
“Heralds,” he waved behind us, “news announcers. In the God Realm, we refer to them as heralds.”
“So wait,” I shook my head, “are you telling me you guys have your own news network? Your own broadcast stations? TVs?”
“Not as you do,” he frowned. “I wish we did. I bet we could make some amazing movies but no, we only communicate things of great importance. There are only a few chosen gods deemed neutral enough to relay notable events to the rest of us. They record things they believe other gods would like to know and then send their messages to us magically.”
“So you do have TVs.” I had an image of Hermes sitting behind a news desk with a big photo of me and Trevor pasted on a screen behind his head. Neutral, my ass.
“No,” he laughed. “Every god is different, we each have our own receptacle to collect the messages in and play them back later for us.”
“Receptacle?”
“Yeah, like father has a mirror.”
“A mirror?” My eyes got wide. “Does he have to
say something to activate the magic?”
“Of course,” Trevor frowned a little.
“Is it Mirror, Mirror on the wall?” I giggled, thinking of Fenrir flipping back his hair and asking who the fairest of them all was. “Oh please say it is.”
“Did you just compare my father to the wicked queen in Snow White?”
“Uh, yeah,” I gave him my of course I did look.
“You are unbelievable,” he chuckled. “Don't ever say that to his face.”
“Well I'm not suicidal,” I grimaced, thinking about all the other things I'd said to Fenrir. Maybe I was suicidal. “Hey, back to those Harold people.”
“Heralds,” Trevor laughed harder, “with an E and and A.”
“Yeah, those guys,” I rolled my eyes. “So you think Hermes is gonna influence popular god opinion about me?”
“Seriously?” He raised his brows. “You're worried about what other gods think?”
“Not worried about what they think exactly,” I shrugged. “I just don't want a whole bunch of angry gods gunning for me.”
“Vervain, you hunt gods,” he shook his head. “Hermes could swear you're a saint and it wouldn't matter one bit. They'd still hate you. We can't all fall for your charm and beauty.”
“Har har,” I huffed and finally took a good look around the sparkling white entryway. There was a line of gods waiting for passage through the special VIP room he had set up.
The entire club was warded, so anyone with strong magical abilities had to be sworn in with an employee in the VIP room before being allowed in. There was an additional door next to the public entrance which let them into the club. Normal people just saw a line of VIPs but actually they were gods waiting to make an oath to harm none while on the premises.
The club would be an area of truce. Good, bad, and in between, they could all come and party together without killing each other… hopefully.
Above the doorway to the VIP room was a sign which read: For all our Divinely Special Patrons. Trevor had made sure the god world knew his policy but if some other magic wielder showed up and tried to get in without being oathed, they’d be stuck at the door where the bouncer on guard would immediately “recognize” our VIP and direct them to the oathing room.
“Oh my god,” I stopped short when we got inside the club. It really was amazing what he’d done with an old warehouse off of Nimitz.
“Not exactly,” Trevor grinned, “but my dad is one.”
“Trevor, it's beautiful.”
It was an indoor forest. Ahead of me was a dance floor of tough but soft vinyl in dark green. It was mostly an open space, but there were also a few trees rising out of it majestically, their branches brushing the ceiling. People were already dancing around them and instead of the trees being obstacles, they added an intriguing touch of privacy. I’m sure no one felt like they were being watched, which was a good thing, since everyone was.
There was a full moon hanging from a ceiling painted to look like the night sky and dusted with little sparkling star lights. The moon housed some Atlantean security cameras. Top of the line and donated to Trevor by Fenrir, I'd been told.
Those cameras could spot not only hidden weapons but hidden intentions. When someone used magic or experienced strong emotions, their aura changed and the cameras could detect it. They were actually able to see if someone was about to start a fight… or get lucky. Security by moonlight.
“Thank you, you don't know how happy it makes me to see that look on your face.” Trevor steered me around a pond fed by an impressive waterfall, falling from the upper floor.
The gentle sound of rushing water melded with the music spilling out of ingeniously hidden speakers. Real plants grew from sunken moats around the walls, the bases of the fake trees, around boulders, and in other assorted nooks, lending their fragrance to the illusion. Even the AC blew gently around us, ebbing and flowing like a natural breeze.
“Did you really do all this for me?” I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat. “Tell me you didn't.”
“I can't,” he'd subtly led me to a private nook beside the waterfall. “I hate lying to you.”
“Trevor,” I shook my head.
The wolf inside me, the part of Trevor's soul he'd given to me in the Binding, jumped and danced at my accelerated heartbeat. I tried to tamp it down by thinking of Thor. He never would have agreed to me accompanying Trevor on his big night, if he'd known Trevor was going to use it as a chance to romance me. I like to think that I wouldn't have agreed either but I try to never lie to myself.
“Don't look at me like that, Minn Elska,” the endearment made something ache in my chest. Salt in the open wound of my heart. “I did this to make you happy, to make you proud of me. You hate how the Froekn are paid assassins for the gods. This way, you can be proud of, and fully embrace, your new family.”
“Yes, I hate it,” I bit my lip, “but I don't want you, or them, to feel like you have to change for me. I would never ask that of any of you.”
“I know,” he grinned and took my face in his hands to lay a quick kiss on my lips. “It just makes me love you more.”
I nearly groaned. Trevor had taken to pronouncing his love for me openly, ever since the Yule party. No matter who was present and whenever he got the chance. Now it was going to be on GNN, the Gods News Network.
His cavalier behavior was pushing Thor to the edge. I'd had to get creative in bed, to coerce my lover to even let me escort Trevor tonight. Thor had put up with a lot and I didn't blame him for his frustration. I would have been a raving lunatic by now.
“It is preferable to their previous vocation,” I smiled because it was hard not to, when Trevor looked at me with his heart in his eyes. I smiled even more when I saw TryggulfR making his way over to us. I'd recently found out that he went by the name Ty, when he was among us humans.
“Greetings Rouva,” TryggulfR rubbed his face along the side of mine.
“I can’t wait till Fenrir finds a mate, so you can stop calling me your Queen,” I looked around and relaxed even more when I didn’t see UnnúlfR. “You’re alone?”
“UnnúlfR’s around here somewhere,” TryggulfR grinned. “Don’t worry, big brother’s in a good mood tonight.”
“The only one I’d be worried about, would be him,” I smiled back. “Cause I’d have to kick his ass all over again, if he ruined Trevor’s big night.”
“No ass kicking tonight, Minn Elska,” Trevor nuzzled my ear and shivers raced down my spine.
“Stop working the Binding,” I pushed him back. “Thor will be here any minute.”
“I’d never use the Binding against you,” he said softly. “What you feel for me is all you, Vervain.”
“Then it's even more important that you stop touching me so much,” I looked away from his steady gaze. “It's hard enough to make this situation work without adding fuel to the fire.”
“I'd never pressure you into anything you didn't want,” he backed away. “Do you feel threatened by me? Unsafe?”
“No,” I sighed. “Not threatened but you are dangerous for me. I feel like an alcoholic who has to constantly cozy up to a bottle of Jack Daniels. Maybe I should start calling you JD,” I laughed to try and alleviate the tension.
Ty was looking away while he waited for us, valiantly trying to give us some privacy, but I knew his werewolf hearing was picking up every word.
“Call me whatever you want, Lady Hunter,” Trevor kissed my hand before leading me to the stairs beside the waterfall. “As long as you keep calling.”
The upper level was reserved for VIPs so there was another Froekn guarding the bottom of the stairs. He let us by with a half bow and I smiled at him. I think his name was Joseph but I wasn't sure. I’d met so many werewolves lately.
“Now, do you think you could leave the ass-kicking to the bouncers tonight?” Trevor escorted me to a couch, cleverly disguised as a little hill.
“I guess so.” I sat down and was happy to find the “grass” t
o be comfortable. It was washable too, according to Trevor.
“Thank you,” I saw him shoot a slightly pained look over his shoulder at Ty. So I elbowed him and let him feel some genuine pain. I’m nothing if not accommodating.
On our right, a stream poured out of the wall and over some rocks before flowing down to the waterfall, gurgling happily as it went. A railing covered in ivy rose up to discreetly keep people away from the water without taking away from its beauty. Small trees and flowering plants were strewn about, making the open balcony into a hanging garden. I reached over to gently stroke the delicate petals of an orchid affixed to a tree just behind our seat.
“Behind there,” Trevor pointed to the wall across the stream from us, “is the upper level of a running track I built inside the walls. It follows the perimeter along the ground floor but we had to take it up over the entryway so it could remain continuous.”
“A track?” My eyes widened. “For the Froekn to run?”
“Yeah,” he was shiny with happiness and I couldn't help but think it was a good look for him. “The entrance is in the Wild Room, reserved for VIPs of course,” he winked at me. “The room looks even more like a forest than out here. They can change to wolf and be totally free in there and when they feel the need to run, they can use the track. I lined the track with plants so it would feel like we were running through the woods. Except in there we don't have to worry about gods attacking us or humans spotting us. I've used it a bunch of times already.”
“It sounds wonderful,” I squeezed his hand, an odd sense of pride filling me.
Trevor had known nothing but killing his entire life, for him to make a turn around like this was mind boggling to me. Of course, being an assassin had paid extremely well and opening the club was no financial hardship for him, but to handle the business end of it and do it successfully... I was impressed.
I got up and walked to the edge of the balcony to check out the downstairs from a bird’s-eye view. Trees “grew” thicker around the walls but people were wandering through them, lounging on the flat topped boulders and grassy patches found there. Werewolf waitresses flowed through the crowd, expertly taking orders and delivering drinks. Sharp reflexes and enhanced hearing were going to come in handy for them.
