by Sumida, Amy
“I zink ve should start tracing instead of using vehicles as often as possible,” Kirill took a sip of his vodka tonic. “Every time you drive, especially to club, you run risk of being followed home. Ve can’t have our home compromised. Even now, here,” he spread his hand out, “vat if a god is hiding and vaiting to follow us home?”
“He’d have to have followed us here to begin with,” Trevor frowned, clearly unsettled, “but I get your point. Alright, from now on we trace into the club and we’ll be extra careful if we go someplace we can’t trace to.”
“I think that’s wise,” I tried to thank Kirill for his discretion silently and he smiled wide at me. “Thank you, Kirill.”
“I have to say,” Trevor smiled his cocky half grin. “I’m glad you moved in. I’m sorry I drove you away for awhile but I’m happy you’re back.”
“Zank you,” Kirill clicked his glass to Trevor’s and I joined in. “Ve both vant same zing, after all.”
As I took a sip, my eyes focused on Kirill’s face. He gave me a look that wasn’t entirely innocent and lent a different meaning to his words. I swallowed hard as I studied him. The sun was slanting in just right, so that it hit his eyes and made them sparkle royal blue, like the Pacific on a clear day. My amaretto sour was sweet on my tongue and all I could think about was sharing the taste with him… intimately. I put the glass down and took a deep breath.
“Minn Elska,” Trevor’s hand was on my neck. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Just a little tired,” I smiled weakly.
“Yeah, I know,” he pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “You’ve been through so much but I promise everything’s going to be okay now.”
“I hope so,” I looked over his gorgeous face, trying to push away my attraction to Kirill. Trevor’s eyes were clear gold in the sun, outlined with black lashes, and they were filled with love for me. Did I deserve it? More and more I was thinking not but I latched on to it. I leaned in and kissed him, really kissed him, and I was relieved to feel that amazing connection between us.
Love sparked passionately, the butterflies racing through my belly in delight, and an overwhelming need for him zipped through my blood. I pulled away but only a of couple inches so I could look up at him, breathe him in, and bask in the strength of our love.
“Wow,” he whispered. “What was that for?”
“I just really missed you,” I sat back, secure in our connection again, until I looked over at Kirill.
His face was a study in desire, in longing, every line spoke of an ache for something he couldn’t have. He quickly composed it and looked away.
Shit, now I was hurting Kirill. I’d have to be more careful. I’d have to be… he was so beautiful, my Russian black lion. What the hell? Stop. Be calm. Think about Trevor. That’s right, look over at your Wolf Prince. He's amazing, there's no one like him, and there’s a bond between us that could never be severed.
“I missed you too, Minn Elska.”
Okay, deep breath, everything was fine. I was not a big slut. I could control myself. I’d just take one more look to be sure. Oh, crap, those eyes, that strong jaw, the way his brows tipped up at the outer edges.
Shit.
“Do you think we could go visit Vidar and Vali today?” Yes, that was it, a distraction, I needed a distraction.
“Sure,” Trevor sat back as the waitress put our food on the table.
My plate landed in front of me with a solid thud. I stared at the piece of prime rib, no not piece… slab. It must have been two inches thick and at least a foot across. I looked up at the waitress with wide eyes.
“Ahh,” she lifted a brow, “you’ve never had our prime rib before.”
“How the hell did you carry this all?” I looked around at the matching plates the men had ordered. “You must work out.”
“Honey, this is my workout,” she laughed as she walked away.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Hello,” I called out as I walked into the silver dining hall of Valaskjάlf. “Anyone here? Odin? Vidar? Vali?”
A thumping and squawking filtered in and I looked back at Trevor and Kirill but they just shrugged. In moments, the source of the noise came pouring into the hall from the door at the far right. Two ravens flew in and headed straight for us with two large, white wolves tailing them. I took a step back.
“Stop!” Thundered a voice from behind them and I was relieved to see Odin had joined the fray. The animals reared up and circled back, the two birds alighting on his shoulders as the wolves came to heel.
“Got some new pets, did we?” I walked cautiously forward.
“Vervain!” He swept me up into a big hug, the birds flying off to find a more stable perch. “I was so relieved to hear you were free.”
“That’s an understatement,” Vidar smoothly took me from his father and hugged me tight. He pressed a kiss to my forehead before setting me back down and handing me over to Vali for the same treatment. “Father spoke to every god he knows to try and find a way to free you. He was like a madman, muttering to himself, barely eating, locking himself in your room with his books. When he finally gave up, it was even worse than when you died. He just started to drink and wouldn’t stop till he passed out, then he’d wake up in the afternoon and start all over again. Please don’t ever get kidnapped again, Mother.”
“Yes, Son,” I smiled sadly at him, then looked over at Odin who was petting his wolves intently.
“Thank you for trying to help me, Odin.”
“Don’t thank me,” he lifted his face and it was lined and sad. “I was useless. All my magic and I couldn’t do a thing to save you.”
“But still you tried,” I patted his arm, “so thank you.”
“Vervain,” he shot a look at Trevor and I knew he was thinking of the sex. Oh damn, that amazing sex. I felt my arms break out in chills.
“I’m okay now, Odin,” I stared hard at him. “Anubis’ control is gone, he can’t make me do anything I wouldn’t normally do, anymore.”
“Oh,” he had a horrible crushed look in his eye. Shit, I couldn’t seem to get through the day without hurting everyone I cared about. “That’s wonderful.”
I went back into his arms and kissed his cheek. “Please understand,” I whispered. “We’ll talk more about it later, okay?”
“Okay,” he kissed my cheek back.
“So who are these guys?” I brightened my tone as I waved to the two wolves.
“You remember Geri and Freki,” he gestured at each wolf. Freki had just a little spot of black on his left ear. “I’ve always had them, as well as Hugin and Munin, my ravens.”
“Oh,” I felt a memory slip in, one of Sabine’s.
Presents falling from the sky, brought in by flapping black wings, and careful eyes guarding me wherever I went. They had been my friends as well. I bent down and looked at the wolves. They cocked their heads as they sniffed the air around me, then Freki launched himself at me, yipping happily, Geri followed shortly after and I was covered in excited wolves.
“They remember you,” Odin’s voice was thick with emotion and I chickened out. I kept my gaze on the wolves.
“They’re so beautiful, more beautiful than I remember,” I stroked the thick fur and accepted the affectionate licks. “Grace and Fur Face,” I laughed. “That's right, we talked about them before.”
A squawk and the sound of wings made me look up. The ravens were circling, something bright held in one of their claws. Munin, I don’t know how I knew the difference but I did, dropped the shiny object right into my hands. It was a heavy gold chain with an emerald on it, the size of my big toe.
“Great Googli Moogli!” I sat back on the ground and held up the necklace.
“Hey,” Odin shouted up at the birds. “Find your own presents, I already gave her that.”
“I’m sorry,” I stared up at him. “When did you give this to me?”
“In another life,” he smiled gently as he helped me to my feet. The wolves pressed clo
se and the birds squawked their disdain to Odin. “You may have it now, if you like. The ravens obviously want you to have it. I have a whole collection of jewels that belonged to you but I didn’t think the time was right to give them back.”
“I agree,” Trevor took the necklace from me and held it out to Odin.
I was just about to protest, when Hugin swept in and took the necklace back, squawking up a storm. He dove at Trevor, making my poor wolf put an arm up and recoil. Then he dropped the necklace back into my hands.
“Fine,” Trevor held up his hands, “she can have the damn thing.”
I laughed and put the chain over my head. “That’s what you get for trying to part me from jewelry. It’s not like Odin was giving me a love token.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Trevor grimaced, “at one time it was.”
“Okay,” I took his hand, “your distress is noted. I wonder why they want me to have it so badly.” I held the gem up again and it sparkled at me. I felt it then, a tingling along my skin, the brush of magic. “It’s enchanted.”
“Yes,” Odin smiled approvingly. “I knew you’d pick up on it. Sabine adored it but she never figured out what its magic was for exactly. She just said that she knew she’d need it one day.”
“But she never used it?” The tingling was joined by gooseflesh and a shiver went down my spine.
“Not in a magical way,” Odin frowned, his eye wrinkling and looking inward. “Maybe its time has finally come.”
“That’s just freaky,” I dropped it down my top, “but who am I to argue with myself?”
The emerald settled between my breasts, covered by the black cotton of my sleeveless dress. It was warm, not the normal cool stones usually are at first, and I had a disturbing sensation that it was alive and just as happy to see me as the animals were. Ridiculous, I was a witch so I knew you could imbue inanimate things with energy and sometimes energy felt a lot like life but it wasn’t. The stone wasn’t alive.
It pulsed once, strongly, and I jumped.
“What’s wrong?” Trevor shot wide eyes to me and I realized how skittish he’d become. The thing with Anubis had emotionally scarred him.
“I’m fine,” I kissed his cheek. “The stone sent out a pulse and it just startled me.”
“It pulsed?” Odin stared at my chest like he could see it through the fabric. “What kind of pulse? Did you think something, do something that could have activated it?”
“All I thought was that it was warm and seemed alive but that it was a ridiculous notion because I know it’s not.” I felt another shiver as I watched Odin’s carefully blank face. “What? What did I do?”
“I don’t know,” Odin ran a hand through his long brown hair. It was a gesture Thor did a lot too and the resemblance between father and son made my heart ache. I’d loved one man in a past life and his son in this one. Well actually, thanks to Anubis, I guess I had loved both of them this time around. It was all a little too redneck for me.
“Well then, let’s not worry about it,” I started walking to the congregation of chairs in front of the huge fire on the right side of the hall. “I’ve survived hell and I’m not going to worry needlessly right now.”
The wolves followed at my heels, leaving the men to stare at each other with their own concerns raging between them. I took a big comfy chair, disregarding the loveseat because that was just asking for trouble, and the wolves sat at my feet. Hugin and Munin alighted on the back of my chair and I was shocked to find that it didn’t bother me. I’m not usually much of a bird lover… probably the whole cat thing.
The men finally joined me, Odin handing out mugs he filled from the ever-present pot of mead over the fire. Trevor took the chair closest to me, Kirill stretched out on the loveseat, Vidar and Odin sat across the fire from me, and Vali sprawled on the ground.
“I’ve begun practicing the intermediate levels of god magic,” I smiled at Odin’s happy face. “I can make myself invisible now.”
“That’s wonderful,” he lifted his mug and I clicked it. “You know you’re welcome to study any of my books, whenever you like.”
“Thank you,” I smiled at him, excited at the prospect, and the wolves settled down to lie across my feet. They felt warm and soft, a heartbeat wrapped in fur. The smell of wolf musk and the comfort they were giving me, made me feel right at home, like I'd sat there like that a million times before. “I’ve got a ways to go with the book I have first though,”
“Of course,” Odin settled back into his chair and took in the scene of his animals surrounding me with their love. “Everything in its time.”
“Why haven’t I met these guys before?” I reached down and stroked Geri.
“They spend a lot of time outdoors,” he shrugged. “They are wild at heart and it’s their hearts I love. I’d never try to domesticate them.”
“They stay out of love,” I transferred my hand to Freki, so he didn’t feel left out.
“Love and friendship,” Odin smiled, “maybe even adventure. My magic attracted them originally and then they just kept coming back. Of course it helps that I can transform into their shapes and commune with them. I think they’ve missed you. They may try to follow you home.”
“They’re wonderful but I already have one wolf, one lion, and one tough kitty,” I looked over at Trevor and he smiled, it was good to see that smile. “I don’t think the cats would be too happy with two more wolves, and the ravens might lose some tail feathers.”
The birds ruffled up behind me, as if the very thought of a cat taking even a single plume off their graceful forms, offended them. I leaned back and cooed at them until they settled.
“Good, you’re here,” I looked up to see Horus walking toward us.
He’d helped defend Odin in the last battle and Odin had told him he’d always be welcome in his home because of it. I just hadn’t realized a free pass meant he could stride in unannounced… like me.
“Horus,” Odin stood and gestured to a seat. “Welcome.”
“I have a friend I’d like to bring through your wards as well,” Horus gestured back toward the tracing room. “Lady Ma’at.”
“Ma’at? I’d love to see her. Do you mind?” I turned to look at Odin. “She’s the one who got me out and told me about the Grayel.”
“Then of course she's welcome.” Odin went to adjust his wards, Horus in tow.
They were back in a few minutes with Ma’at between them. She looked as lovely as ever but there were dark smudges beneath her eyes and lines of strain around her mouth. I stood and went to her, upsetting the wolves, who got up and followed me.
“Ma’at, what is it?” I hugged her. “Did he hurt you? Did he find out about you helping me?”
“No, no,” she stroked my arm. “He actually suspects Thoth of helping you.”
“Thoth?” I laughed.
“Yes, Thoth is not overly fond of you,” Ma’at spread her hands and I led her toward a seat. “But that is precisely why he’d want you gone. I openly cared for you. I see now that it would never occur to Anubis to free something you love.”
“Yeah, he’s more the if you love something make sure it doesn’t get away type.” I took my seat and Odin seated his guests before getting them both mugs of mead.
Ma’at smiled but her eyes stayed sad. “Yes, my little brother has a twisted sense of love.”
“Brother? He’s your brother?” The wolves perked up and looked at me with cocked heads. I comforted them automatically. “But you set me free.”
“Just because he’s my brother, doesn’t mean I have to approve of, or stand behind, everything he does.” She sipped her mead and raised a brow, “Very delicious.” Odin made a quick head bow in acknowledgment. “I am the Goddess of Justice after all and justice does not allow family ties to bind her.”
“Well, I’m grateful for that,” I swallowed hard as I contemplated where I’d be if not for the goddess.
“As are we all,” Odin waved a hand around the group. “I can never thank
you enough, Lady Ma’at. I lost her once and now, because of you and your wisdom, I may never have to lose her again.”
“Yes, now you’re one of us,” she nodded to me serenely.
“But you don’t look so good,” I let my face show my concern.
“I don’t regret freeing you, Vervain,” Ma’at’s face changed, her eyes became earnest. “What I do regret, is what it’s done to my brother. I knew he loved you. I knew he hoped for a new life with you. But I thought this experience would teach him about what it means to love. I thought he’d realize that keeping you was wrong, that loving someone meant wanting the best for them, even if it wasn’t the best for you. He hasn’t learned that.”
“It’s only been a couple of weeks, Ma’at,” I shivered, thinking of what Anubis might do in a rage. “It takes time to heal a broken heart.”
“Yes, it does,” her hands were twisting nervously around her mug. “And I still have hope that he’ll come around but I fear that he’s sunk further into his darkness. He barely speaks, only leaves his room when he has souls to judge, and he’s... cruel to them.”
“Are you saying that he’s judging unfairly?” I had a vision of Ammut eating the hearts of innocents and shuddered.
“No, not unfairly,” she stared into her mug. “You must understand how serious our responsibilities are. We are judges of the soul, we handle the most precious piece of humanity and decide whether it’s worthy or not. There must be compassion in our work, or the souls will suffer. Anubis was once compassionate but the years made him reserved. Now, he's just cruel. He sees you in every woman and Trevor in every man. He hurts them when he removes their souls and handles them carelessly.”
“You’re here because you think I can do something about it.” My voice fell heavy between us, a rock sinking to the bottom of the ocean.
“I’d like you to talk to him.”
“No, absolutely not,” Trevor leaned over and took my hand. “You’re never going near him again.”
“Great, I’ve traded one domineering male for another,” I smiled away the harshness of my words. “I can’t hide from Anubis forever.”
