by Amy Sumida
“If they know what she can do, then they should be scared of her,” Trevor reasoned. “This should mean the end of the God War.”
“You and I both know that Gods don't work like that.” Qaus shook his head. “Some might cower and head for cover, but most will want revenge for being humiliated. They'll want Vervain dead so she won't be able to do this again.”
“Why are you here?” I asked Qaus wearily. “You wanted in when I was trying to rule the world, but why would you come to me now when I'm back to being myself?”
“Because I like you, Vervain. You impressed me; both with your magical strength and the strength of your convictions. Evil or not, those traits don't change. You were good to me, even when you were bad. So, I've come to warn you. They'll be hunting you now, Godhunter.”
“Who?” Trevor demanded. “Who's after my wife?”
“To start, the Mesopotamians. She hurt them the worst. They want blood.”
“If that's what they want, we'll give it to them,” Trevor growled. “We'll tear them to pieces and drown them in it.”
“Then you'd best call in your allies.” Qaus grimaced. “The Mesopotamians are a rather large group.”
“Close to a thousand, if not more,” I murmured.
A chill went through me. I thought I'd weathered the storm. I'd gone too far this time but, somehow, I'd managed to make it back, and I thought I had fixed all the damage I'd done. I should have known better; I always end up paying a price. This time, I thought that price was Toby—he left me when I brought Viper home—but now, it was looking as if Toby was only the beginning.
“We'll be fine.” Trevor pulled me against his side and kissed my forehead. “You fought yourself and won. This will be nothing compared to that.”
“Thank you for the warning, Qaus.” I stepped out of Trevor's embrace to offer my hand to the other god once more.
Qaus shook it this time. “You're welcome, Vervain. I wish you luck with them.”
“That's it? You're just leaving?” Trevor asked in surprise.
“This isn't my fight, Wolf Prince,” Qaus said firmly. “I may like your wife, but I'm not about to die for her.”
“We appreciate the warning.” I glanced chidingly at Trevor. Then I frowned. “How did you get here, by the way? I re-warded the palace not too long ago.”
“I went to Moonshine. Everyone knows that's the easiest way to reach the Godhunter.”
“Ty texted. I traced there and fetched him,” Trevor added.
“Maybe we should close the club for a little while,” I suggested gently.
Trevor scowled at me.
“I'll just leave you to it then,” Qaus murmured as he stepped past us.
“Qaus,” I called after him, “are you going to be okay? They might come after you too.”
“I'll be fine, Vervain.” Qaus winked at me. “I know how to make myself scarce.”
With that, the Weather God strode into the tracing room and gave us a demonstration of how quickly he could do just that.
Trevor turned to me. “You want to close the club?”
“Just for a little while.” I sighed. “I'm tired of fighting.”
“Oh, here we go.” He rolled his golden wolf eyes.
“What?” I growled.
“You say that after every battle.”
“Well, it's true after every battle.”
“And then you go and fight anyway.”
“Not this time!” I snapped and headed for the front doors. “You always want me to stay here when I'm in danger. Well, you have your wish, Honey-Eyes. I'm gonna pass on this fight.”
“You're gonna pass?” Trevor asked in shock. “An entire pantheon is after you, and you're gonna pass?”
“Why aren't you happy about that?” I turned on my heels to face him.
“Because we can't do nothing,” he argued. “Yes, I want you to stay at Pride Palace until we fix this, but that doesn't mean that I want to just hide here and do nothing.”
“Oh, so I have to hide but the rest of you get to go out there and risk your lives?” I countered.
“Yes, that's why you have us,” he snarled.
“Is that why I have you?” I lifted my brows at him. “Because I can't fight my own battles? I need you big, strong men to fight for me, huh?”
“You know what I mean,” Trevor's voice started dropping into werewolf range; rumbly and growly and terribly sexy when we weren't arguing. Dang it, it was sexy when we were arguing too.
“No. We're sitting this one out.” I slashed my hand down decisively. “All of us. The club is half yours so if you want to risk our employees by keeping it open, fine, that's on you. But we're not fighting the Mesopotamians. This will blow over. They'll get tired of hunting me. Trust me; I know all about getting tired of a hunt. They'll go back to their lives when they realize I'm not a threat.”
“That's bullshit!”
“Vhat's bullshit?” Kirill asked as he stepped out of the elevator to my right.
Odin and Azrael followed Kirill out of the gilded, cage elevator and over to us.
“The Mesopotamians are after Vervain, but she just wants to hide here and wait them out.” Trevor waved his hands at me in exasperation.
The other men looked at each other and then at me.
“Waiting isn't such a bad idea,” Odin said in a reasonable tone. “Whether we fight or not, we should wait for the Mesopotamians to show their hand before we go barreling into battle.”
I tried not to grin.
“I'm not suggesting that we barrel into anything,” Trevor snapped. “I just think we should call the God Squad and talk about this. Maybe send some Intare out to spy on the Mesopotamians. We need to be prepared.”
“Being prepared isn't a bad idea either,” Odin agreed.
I grimaced.
“If you want to keep an eye on things, I'm fine with that, Trevor.” I headed out to the veranda. “I'll even meet with the Squad. But I don't want anyone attacking the Mesopotamians; not on my behalf at least.”
“Vervain!” Trevor growled.
“I've got too much to lose, Honey-Eyes. We all do,” I stopped to whisper it over my shoulder. “No more fighting unless we're forced to. It's time for the Godhunter to take a vacation.”
Trevor sighed deeply. “All right, Minn Elska.”
Chapter Two
Later that evening, I was reading an erotic novel called An Unseelie Understanding—a book about a human woman who willingly becomes a fairy king's sex slave to save her sister's life— in the library's sitting room. I was just getting into a thigh-clenching scene involving a merman when Viper, who was sprawled on the couch beside me, started chuckling.
“This is why I hate reading with other people,” I muttered as I shut my book.
I had hopes that the book might give me some inspiration that I could put to immediate use with Viper, but he was ruining the mood.
“You have to hear this.” Viper slid a sexy grin my way. “It's ancient smut.”
“Excuse me?” I glanced at my book. What were the odds that we were both reading erotica? Then I considered my life and realized that the odds were pretty good. “You're reading ancient smut?”
“I thought I was researching our enemies but this stuff is wild.” He held up a book with the title; Inanna, Queen of Heaven and Earth; Her stories and hymns from Sumer.
“Inanna?” I took the book from him. “Inanna... oh, this is Ishtar. Oh, my Gods, she was Anu's consort.”
“Oops.” Viper gave me a comical expression of we-screwed-that-up. “That's the guy you killed, right? Turned him into ash, if I remember correctly.”
“He was the first Mesopotamian I killed.” I nodded as I started skimming the page he'd been reading. A shocked sound of mirth shot out of me. “What the hell is this?”
“Told you.” Viper smirked. “Come on, baby”—he nestled closer and pulled me on his lap—read it to me. I know it's not bedtime, but I think this warrants an exception. Please.” He batte
d his lashes at me.
I glanced at him and chuckled. “I don't know if I can.”
“I promise to make it worth your while.” He waggled his brows at me.
I squished my face at him.
He started stroking my inner thigh.
“Plow my vulva, man of my heart,” I read dramatically.
Viper started laughing so hard that he made no sound, just shook uncontrollably while his mouth opened and shut like a dying fish.
I had to go on. “Who will plow my vulva? Who will plow my high field? Who will plow my wet ground?”
“Oh, this is my line!” Viper angled the book toward him. “I will, for at the King's lap stands the rising cedar!”
“He has sprouted, he has burgeoned!” I cried, really getting into it. “He is lettuce planted by the water. He is the one my womb loves best. My honey-man, my honey-man sweetens me always.” I gestured grandly as I went on, “My lord, the honey-man of the Gods, he is the one my womb loves best. His hand is honey, his foot is honey, he sweetens me always.”
We both crumpled into fits of laughter like a couple of teenagers.
“I thought I was your honey-man,” Trevor drawled from the doorway. He leaned against the frame, watching us with an amused look.
I glanced over at Trevor, my laughter subsiding into a giggle. “Oh, you are, baby. These aren't my words; I'm just reading one of Inanna's hymns.”
“Inanna?” Trevor pushed off the door frame and strode over. “What book is that?”
I handed Trevor the book, and he flipped it to read the cover then scanned some of the pages. His eyes widened as he read, “Make your milk sweet and thick?” He handed the book back to me. “I think I've read enough.”
“I particularly enjoyed the passage where she asks him to fill her holy churn with his honey cheese,” Viper added.
“Ewww.” I crawled off Viper's lap. “Way to ruin a mood. Again.”
“Aw, you don't want my honey cheese?” Viper teased as he reached for me.
“That sounds like an STD.” I pushed him away. “Keep your honey cheese to yourself!”
Trevor chortled as he helped me escape Viper's grasping hands. “You heard her, Star-Lord, keep that cheese in your pants.”
“Star-Lord!” I shrieked in revelation. “That's perfect for him; he kinda has the same personality.”
“Right?” Trevor grinned at me. “I thought you'd approve.”
“It's Star God, thank you.” Viper grinned as he got up. “And Vervain happens to love my cheese.”
“Please, stop.” I held my hands up between the men. “I beg of you.”
“Only if you let me plow your high field.” Viper scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder. He hurried from the room before Trevor could stop him.
“Goddamn snakes!” Trevor growled and gave chase. “Put her down, Viper, we've got a meeting to get to.”
“What meeting?” Viper stopped and turned to face Trevor, swinging my face in the opposite direction.
“Hey!” I protested.
Viper put me down, sliding me along his muscular chest. I may have pressed my palms over the hard expanse of it as I went. And shivered.
“I texted the God Squad,” Trevor explained. “They're downstairs waiting for you, Minn Elska.”
“You texted them?” I blinked at Trevor.
“You said you'd meet with them if I did,” he reminded me.
“It hasn't even been twenty-four hours,” I whined.
“They're here. Do you want me to send them away?” Trevor gave me a stern look.
“No,” I huffed and headed for the elevator. “I'm going.”
“I'll come too,” Viper offered and took my hand.
“You just want to make sure she gets a load of your snake cheese later,” Trevor said with a smirk.
“You're damn straight, honey-man,” Viper shot back.
“No more cheese talk!” I pointed at both of them. “You're going to ruin the food for me, and I happen to love cheese.”
“Oh, I know you do,” Trevor's smirk widened.
I groaned and punched the button for the first floor.
“Who's the Star-Lord?” Viper whispered to me.
“Oh, we're watching Guardians of the Galaxy tonight,” I declared. “That's definitely a movie you need to see.”
Chapter Three
Now that I was a mother, I had to know where my children were before I did anything. Fortunately, I already knew that Lesya and Vero were both with Samantha. Sam's my savior. She has a little girl too—the first Intare child born—and she likes having the other kids visit. I had made an apartment for Sam, her husband Fallon, and their daughter Zariel in the palace so they could have some privacy. The other lions have their own bedrooms but share common areas. Common areas like the dining hall that I was just stepping into.
My God friends waited at the dining table for us. Thor usually sat at the head of the table since he had started the team, but he was taking a break from the Squad. Ever since Thrud, Thor's daughter, betrayed him and we killed her, Thor has been MIA. He feels guilty for what Thrud did to us, but he's also a father mourning his child. A part of me had thought that Thor might show up for this. But I shouldn't have been surprised; Thor didn't come back when I went evil, why would he return now that I was better?
The head of the table was taken by Odin instead, as if the father were holding the son's place. Despite Thor's absence, everyone else was there; Huitzilopochtli (I call him Blue, it just makes things easier) the Aztec God of War and the Sun sat beside his wife, Eztli, Goddess of the Blood Moon. Both of them bear the proud, dark looks of their people; Blue because the Aztec magic changed his appearance and Eztli because she is an Aztec. Down the table from them sat another sun god and moon goddess couple: Horus, the Egyptian God of the Sun, War, and Protection wore one of his usual outfits—tailored pants with a button-down shirt—while Hecate, Horus' wife, the Greek Goddess of Magic, Crossroads, the Moon, Ghosts, and Necromancy wore her usual Goth getup of black lace and heavy makeup.
Beside Hekate were her fellow Greeks; Persephone, Hades, and Artemis, but Pan, the Greek God of the Wild, sat between Horus and Blue. The randy, horned god was Horus' best friend, although neither of them would admit it out loud. Persephone and Hades, the Lord and Lady of the Greek Underworld, looked chic as usual. Sephy had her long, dark hair pulled back in a ponytail to show off her sweet face, and Hades wore a suit even nicer than Horus', although he topped it with a pair of designer sunglasses. This was a kindness to the rest of us; no one wanted to stare into the fires of Hades whenever they spoke to him.
Then, next to Hades, Artemis, the Greek Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon, held hands with her honey, Torrent, God of the Internet. Torr is the first god I know of who was created by another god instead of being born. The second created god I know is Viper. I had made Viper myself; pulled his soul from the Void and into a body I formed with my Trinity Star's magic. But that was when I was evil and my star had no limits. I can't make people anymore. Not that I'd want to, even if I could.
The last couple in the row was Sarasvati and her husband, Brahma. They're both Hindu Gods of Knowledge and Speech, but they have a few other things under their belts. Sara's also the Goddess of Music and the Creative Arts while Brahma is the Creator God. They make a very handsome couple with their matching, glossy, black hair and chocolate eyes and then the contrast of their skin tones; Brahma's being deeply tanned and Sara's more fair.
Across the table from them was another Hindu goddess; Karni Mata, the Goddess of Rats. Yes, rats; deal with it. Her golden-brown skin seemed to glow against the cape of silken, snowy hair that flowed around her shoulders, but despite her beauty, Karni could be difficult to look at. It was her eyes; they were completely black from lid to lid. Her boyfriend, however, had a pair of the most beautiful turquoise eyes I'd ever seen, full of serenity. Teharon is the Mohawk God of Healing, and he's saved my life more than a few times.
Next to Teharon sat his grandp
arents; Estsanatlehi, the Navajo Goddess of Change, and her husband, Tsohanoai, the Navajo God of the Sun. I call them Mrs. E and Mr. T so I don't embarrass myself by butchering their names. They also happen to be Toby's parents, and my stomach clenched when I spotted them there. The ache of Toby's abandonment was still fresh, especially since I knew there was no hope for a reunion. It was truly over. We had tried and tried, but Toby simply wanted a different life, one I couldn't give him, and I couldn't blame him for that.
