by Amy Sumida
Contents
The Black Lion
More Books by Amy Sumida
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter One
Grammar Giggles
Pronunciation Guide
About the Author
The Black Lion
Amy Sumida
Copyright © 2019 Amy Sumida
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9798623441997
Legal Notice
This book is copyright protected. It is only for personal use. You cannot amend, distribute, sell, use, quote, or paraphrase any part of the content within this book without the consent of the author or copyright owner. Legal action will be pursued if this is breached.
More Books by Amy Sumida
The Godhunter Series(in order)
Godhunter
Of Gods and Wolves
Oathbreaker
Marked by Death
Green Tea and Black Death
A Taste for Blood
The Tainted Web
Series Split:
These books can be read together or separately
Harvest of the Gods & A Fey Harvest
Into the Void & Out of the Darkness
Perchance to Die
Tracing Thunder
Light as a Feather
Rain or Monkeyshine
Blood Bound
Eye of Re
My Soul to Take
As the Crow Flies
Cry Werewolf
Pride Before a Fall
Monsoons and Monsters
Blessed Death
In the Nyx of Time
Let Sleeping Demons Lie
The Lion, the Witch, and the Werewolf
Hear No Evil
Dark Star
Destiny Descending
(The Black Lion)
Beyond the Godhunter
A Darker Element
Out of the Blue
The Twilight Court Series
Fairy-Struck
Pixie-Led
Raven-Mocking
Here there be Dragons
Witchbane
Elf-Shot
Fairy Rings and Dragon Kings
Black-Market Magic
Etched in Stone
—Completed Series—
The Spellsinger Series
The Last Lullaby
A Symphony of Sirens
A Harmony of Hearts
Primeval Prelude
A Ballad of Blood
A Deadly Duet
Macabre Melody
Aria of the Gods
Anthem of Ashes
A Chorus of Cats
Doppelganger Dirge
Spectra
Spectra: A Cynical Superhero
A Gray Area
A Compression of Colors
Blue Murder
Code Red
With Flying Colors
Fairy Tales
Happily Harem After Vol 1
Including:
The Four Clever Brothers
Wild Wonderland
Pan's Promise
Beauty and the Beasts
The Little Glass Slipper
Happily Harem After Vol 2
Including:
Awakened Beauty
White as Snow
Codename: Goldilocks
Twisted
Historical Romance
Enchantress
Erotica
An Unseelie Understanding
Pronunciation Guide at the back of the book.
Chapter One
“I have something important to ask everyone,” Kirill announced in his stern, Russian accent.
We were having coffee and tea in the little kitchen area of our suite on the top floor of the recently restored Pride Palace. I'd made a few upgrades when I rebuilt (with territory magic) and the mahogany kitchen table we were gathered around held all of us comfortably with room to spare. It was also a bit prettier than the last one, with carvings of lion heads at the top of the legs. Lesya and Vero, my children by Kirill and Trevor respectively, were downstairs, playing in the mini palace (I'd built them a palace instead of a fort) with Zariel so it was only my men and me enjoying a relatively quiet moment. All of my men except for Arach, of course, who was at home in the Fire Kingdom of Faerie with our twin sons, Brevyn and Rian.
A breeze scented with golden grass and clear sky blew in through the open arch that led to the balcony, carrying the faint sounds of playing children. I couldn't see the plains of Pride Territory, ringed by steep mountains, or the placid lake with the Viking longship docked in its center, but I knew they were there and that knowledge settled my soul. I'd nearly lost it all a few months ago; my home, my magic, my lions, my children, and my lovers. Pride Territory had been utterly transformed, erasing the Intare as if we'd never stepped paw there. We'd gotten it back and putting everything to rights had been surprisingly easy; a hell of a lot easier than it had been to reclaim the territory. But losing it had left me with a new appreciation for this place and a deep gratitude for being able to call it my home.
It was a rare day off for everyone. No Angel college for Azrael, Re didn't have any pressing matters to attend in Aaru, Ty was running Moonshine for Trevor, Odin was good on the Asgard front, the Intare didn't need Kirill or me for anything, and Viper was too new to this life to have any responsibilities yet. As far as godhunting went, things had been quiet in the God Realm. Surprisingly quiet considering the near-extinction of a pantheon.
“What is it?” Odin asked Kirill in concern.
“Nothing bad.” Kirill held up a calming hand.
After barely surviving the Mesopotamians, we were all still a little jumpy.
“I vant to take Lesya to Russia,” Kirill looked from the men to me. “Vith Vervain, of course. So our daughter can see vhere she comes from; her roots. I zink she's old enough now to appreciate and understa
nd.”
“I think that's a great idea.” I looked at the other men. “If it's okay with all of you?”
“How long were you thinking about going for?” Azrael asked.
“Maybe veek, maybe two.” Kirill shrugged. “Vhatever you can give me.”
“I think we can manage on our own for a couple of weeks,” Trevor said. “It's not as if we need bottles anymore; Vero is eating solid food now. You guys okay with two weeks?”
The other men nodded.
“Zank you.” Kirill's smile was glorious. “I vill make arrangements.”
“Are we going to Moscow?” I asked as he stood up.
“Nyet. Saint Petersburg and maybe Alūksne, Latvia; zat's vhere my mother vas raised.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “Sounds lovely.”
“I'll let you know ven I have reservations.” Kirill headed out of the room, likely to the library, where we had a few computers attached to the vein of Internet that Torrent had linked to our territory.
“Russia and Latvia,” Trevor murmured. “Better you than I.”
“It'll be fun,” I protested.
“And cold.” Re shivered dramatically.
I rolled my eyes.
“And Russian,” Azrael added. Then he looked at Trevor. “Aren't the Vilkacis in Latvia?”
“Yep.”
“Is your brother still dating your ex-stepmother?” Re grinned as he asked.
“Yes.” Trevor sighed deeply.
“Your brother is dating a woman who was your stepmom?” Viper asked in horror. “She slept with your father before your brother?”
“Vejasmate was married to my father a long time ago,” Trevor explained. “Now, she has her own werewolf pack; the Vilkacis.”
“She only has the pack because Fenrir cursed her to bear wolf babies,” Azrael whispered to Viper.
“Your dad cursed your stepmom?!” Viper's brilliant green snake eyes went wider.
“He thought she was abandoning her child,” Trevor huffed. “He was understandably angry. But they're friends now. UnnúlfR admitted that he was the one who forced Vejasmate into leaving; she didn't abandon her son.”
“Who was the son?” Viper asked.
“Ty,” I said.
“Ty's mother is dating your brother? His brother?” Viper made a choking sound that couldn't decide whether it wanted to be amused or horrified. “Which brother?”
“UnnúlfR,” I answered again because Trevor was too busy grimacing.
“The one who made her leave? Whoa, this is twisted.” Viper blinked. “I don't think I know UnnúlfR.”
“You haven't met him yet,” I confirmed.
“Yeah, because he's been too busy screwing Ty's mom in Latvia,” Re said gleefully.
Trevor got up with his mug of coffee and left the room.
“Aw, come on!” Re called after him. “Was it something we said?”
“You're all children,” I huffed.
“I'm only seven months—” Viper started to say.
“Stop referring to your age.” I pointed at him. “It's different with you; you were created as a fully matured man.”
“Well, I wouldn't call him mature.” Re rolled his golden eyes.
Odin sighed deeply and stood up. “We're Gods; our relationships aren't the same as with humans. A woman being with a father and then his son is not shocking.”
“It's not?” Viper asked.
“I was with Thor before Odin,” I said. “At least, in this life.”
“Oh.” Viper's expression blanked. He blinked. His eyes went wide. “Oh! Right!” In a bright tone, he declared, “Nope, not at all shocking.”
“Well, I've never dated a mother then her daughter,” Re drawled in a way that said this fact alone made it shocking. Which it kinda did.
Odin turned his back on Re and walked away.
“Now look what you've done,” Azrael said to Re as he waved at Odin's departing form. “You sent the last grown-up out of the room.”
“Excellent! How about we do something naughty and very immature, Lala?” Re waggled his brows at me.
I sighed, stood up, and followed the grown-ups.
“Damn it! What did I tell you about timing?” Azrael snapped at Re.
“I thought that was perfectly timed,” Re whined.
“Sure, like a bomb,” Azrael grumbled.
Chapter Two
“Vhat are you packing?” Kirill frowned at my swimsuit.
“You said there was a lake in Alūksne,” I said in a duh tone.
“Vervain”—he paused to chuckle—“it's February; Latvia vill be very cold. Lake may not be frozen but it vill be freezing.”
“Really? But it's February. Springtime.”
“You zink like you still live in Hawaii. I suppose Pride Territory fosters zat vith Africa's temperatures.” He shook his head. “February is still cold in many places; Russia and Latvia included.”
“I... well, Re said it would be cold, but I thought he was messing with me... oh, farfegnugen!”
I started yanking clothes out of my suitcase and strewing them across the massive bed in irritation. It had taken me a long time to decide on outfits. This was going to be my first vacation lasting longer than a few days since my honeymoon with Re, and I'd been looking forward to wearing pretty things.
Kirill grinned as he plopped onto the foot of the bed, his long legs sprawled out across the steps of the quartz crystal platform. “You're a dragon, Tima. You can varm yourself. Bring dresses if you vant. Ve just von't be going swimming.”
“Yeah, but I'll look strange to the humans. Besides, it'll be more fun to snuggle up and share body heat,” I winked at him.
“Now, you understand vhy I didn't plan our trip for Summer.” He grinned broadly and laid down on his side, propped on an elbow.
Kirill always looks fantastic, but I particularly enjoy seeing him on a bed. Any bed will do, but I'd revamped our bed with the rebuild and now, the crystal columns were carved in swirls like enormous unicorn horns. Golden arches connected them above us, meeting over the center of the bed in a wreath of flowers formed of precious jewels. I'd been changing the color of the silk that draped the columns and swirled around the gold arches but today, they happened to match Kirill's eyes.
“We can visit more than once, you know. This doesn't have to be a one-time deal.”
Kirill's expression went soft but serious. “How long ago did you offer to take me to Russia?”
I grimaced. That had been when I'd first met Kirill, and I'd never come through on the offer. “Years.”
“Da.” He grinned to lessen the blow. “Our life is full. It's hard to say ven or even if ve'll be able to go back.”
“Full,” I muttered. “Yeah. It's full of something all right.”
“Stop.” Kirill snatched my hand. “It's good life; one I vouldn't trade for any other. Ve just have to take our pleasure ven and vhere ve can.”
“I think we're pretty good at that.” I grinned wickedly.
“Some of us more zan others,” he teased.
“That had better be a joke about the other men not being up to your standards and not about my sexual prowess.” I let go of his hand to put mine on my hips.
Kirill growled as he pounced, taking me down to the bed and onto a pile of cotton dresses. I let out a surprised squeak then giggled as he nibbled on my throat. His hair came down around me in a silky veil, gathering to either side of us.
“I zink you know how I feel about your prowess.” Kirill lifted his head to stare down at me with the bluest eyes I've ever seen; cerulean and clear like the deepest parts of the Pacific Ocean.
“Maybe you should tell me again,” I purred. “Or better yet, show me.”
“Mommy?” Lesya's little voice—normally such a joy to hear, music to my ears—made me groan in disappointment.
Kirill laughed and rolled off me to go to our daughter. “Vhat is it, Kotyonok?” He scooped her up and swung her above his head.
Lesya giggled
in delight. Just as I'd been doing mere moments earlier. I sighed and climbed out of bed; there are both joys and tragedies of parenthood. Interruptions on your sex life fall into the latter category. Then I got a good look at them. Their hair shone in the afternoon sun that streamed in through the balcony archway, raven lengths falling to their hips; Kirill's in a straight line and Lesya's in adorable curls. Their eyes were the same shade too, full of love as they stared at each other.
Lesya had my nose and perhaps my jaw—she definitely didn't have Kirill's rugged chin—but the rest of her was him. Out of all of my children, only Vero looked more like his father than Lesya—nearly identical—but Lesya came in at a close second. And seeing her and Kirill together did something to my heart that made it hard for me to breathe. Can you die of feeling too much love? Too much gratitude?
“Higher, Daddy!” Lesya shrieked as Kirill swung her about.
Kirill obligingly tossed Lesya upward then caught her when she fell. He nuzzled her cheek and set her in the crook of his arm to face me.
“It's good you're here,” Kirill said to Lesya then looked at me. “Zere is something ve must talk about.”
