by Amy Sumida
“Very funny.” I grimaced at him. “Are those the immortality drops?”
“You're making her immortal?” Trevor asked hopefully.
“We can't lose her when we've only just found her,” Re said to him.
“I agree,” Trevor said as he sat up too. “Take them, Minn Elska; you'll save us both.”
“What do you mean?” I asked Trevor.
“Froekn mate for life,” Re explained. “If you were to die now, Trevor would follow you into death.”
“What?” I whispered in horror.
“But it will be a moot point once you drink the drops,” Re twisted open the bottle and lifted out a glass pipette. “Open your mouth.”
“If I had a dollar for every time—”
“Yes, Vervain,” Re huffed. “I get it. Now, open.”
I opened my mouth and Re held the glass dropper out. Two golden drops fell into my mouth and a glorious taste tingled over my tongue; like sunshine and soda. I smiled in delight as power rushed down into my body and up into my head. I fell back into Trevor's arms with the head-rush it gave me and then opened my eyes to stare up at him in wonder.
“This is amazing,” I whispered.
“Just relax and let it work,” Re said as he put the bottle aside. “You should be feeling refreshed and stronger.”
“Look at her hair,” Trevor whispered.
I glanced down and saw my hair moving. It was a slight motion; brought about by the strands growing and repairing themselves. The dark brown gleamed with health and began to settle into perfect, soft, thick curls. And that wasn't the only thing moving. I could feel my body tightening; bones hardening, flesh healing and thickening, and blood rushing faster through my strong heart. And yes; all the aches that wild sex had brought were gone.
“My mark is gone,” Trevor said sadly. “But then so is that other bite.”
“You'll just have to mark me again,” I teased him.
Trevor grinned lopsidedly. “I think I can manage that.”
“Your skin looks lovely, indeed,” Re murmured to me as he stroked my cheek. “Glowing like the Moon.”
I looked up at him, and Re blinked in revelation.
“The Moon,” Re said. “There's a Moon god named; Lah. How odd that I call you La-la.”
“Maybe you made the same comment about my skin once before,” I suggested.
“That's probably it,” Re agreed. “My sweet Moon.”
“I'm not that pale, though.” I held my arm up and turned my hand around. “Damn; even my fingernails look good. That's some powerful stuff you have there.”
“Condensed magic,” Re said with a nod. “Two drops have lasted me centuries. We shouldn't need to refresh you for awhile.”
“Speaking of refreshed,” I said, “I feel fantastic.”
“Ready for another round?” Re started to lean in.
“Not yet.” I held up my hand. “I promised Blue that I'd visit him before we went back to the Underworld.”
“Right; the Vampire God,” Trevor murmured.
“What's wrong?” I asked.
“I feel good about Re,” Trevor said.
“Well, you should.” Re smirked.
“No; I mean about sharing Vervain with you,” Trevor said. “But Blue... he feels wrong to me.”
Told you.
Shut up, Al!
You remembered my nickname!
Go away!
Fine, he huffed and left.
“Wrong or not, I made a promise.” I slipped out of bed and headed for the door.
“Are you going like that?” Re asked with a lifted brow.
“No; I'm going to put on that trashy dress he gave me,” I called over my shoulder.
“Do you want to go shopping while she's gone?” Re asked Trevor.
“Shopping?” Trevor asked dubiously.
“For a wardrobe that we can give Vervain,” Re said. “If the Aztec can dress her as he likes, I think we should be able to as well.”
“Hell, yeah,” Trevor growled.
“Great,” I huffed as I shut the door on them. “Now, I'm Barbie.”
Chapter Forty
Before Blue had said goodbye, he had given me the tracing chant to get into his palace. Re had explained the simplicity of tracing to me, but I wasn't ready to direct the Aether with just my intent yet. However, I did try a practice trip with him using tracing chants and had done just fine. So, I felt secure enough to trace to Blue's palace alone.
The tracing went smoothly, and I reformed in Blue's stone entry room without a hitch. I breathed out a sigh of relief as I looked around. It was empty, but I hadn't expected Blue to be sitting there waiting for me; he was probably in his bedroom having a much-needed rest. I wandered into the hallway and headed in that direction, but then I heard the faint echo of voices. The voices led me past Blue's bedroom and down to his ridiculous dining room. I call it ridiculous because the whole thing is done in shades of white and gold. Who does that in a dining room? It's just asking for trouble. But I suppose the Gods don't worry about stains.
I was about to go in when I heard a woman say, “The witch has obviously enchanted you.”
I paused at the door and listened.
“Be very careful, Aphrodite,” Blue replied. “I admit that there is enchantment involved, but Vervain is not the caster.”
“You believe what she says about the past being changed?” Another voice—this one crisp and male—asked.
“I do,” Blue said simply.
“Then that is enough for me,” the male said. “I trust your judgment.”
“Thank you, Kuan Ti,” Blue said.
“It's not enough for me,” another male said with a ferocious growl. “I don't care who you want to marry, but allowing this woman—who you've only just met—to influence your life like this is unwise.”
“I won't need the sacrifices if I release the vampires,” Blue said calmly. “It doesn't hurt me, and I don't want to hurt humans anymore, Tawiskaron.”
“Because of what she did to you!” Aphrodite hissed. “Look at you; you've lost your edge. And your eyes—what's with your eyes?”
“I told you; she healed me,” Blue said. “My soul has been wounded ever since my brothers slaughtered my sister and our parents. Vervain has helped me to let go of my anger and move on.”
“She's made you weak,” Aphrodite said scathingly. “Your anger was righteous and divine. Now, you're just like those rebel gods; going on about humans being our responsibility. What drivel!”
“You're as broken as I was,” Blue said sadly. “It's why we worked so well together, and why we must now part ways.”
“What?!” Aphrodite screeched.
“I'm sorry, but this is the end of our alliance,” Blue said firmly.
“Are you truly going to let a woman dictate who your ally with?” Another male asked.
“Vervain is not behind my decision, and she never asked me to break ties with any of you,” Blue said. “This is what I feel is right. I would like to remain friends with you, Lir—with all of you—but I cannot help you manipulate humans anymore.”
“I respect your decision, Huitzilopochtli,” Kuan Ti said. “And I would be honored to retain your friendship.”
“You have been a strong ally, but an even stronger friend. I'm both relieved and grateful to know that our friendship shall continue,” Blue said to him.
“Honestly, I lost the stomach for this when Finn died,” Lir murmured.
“You mean; when we had him murdered,” Tawiskaron's tone was spiteful.
Finn? I frowned as a wave of sadness rushed through me. Had I known him too? Was he...?
No; Finn was just a friend, Alaric said. You saved his life in that other time.
But not in this one.
No.
“Yes; that,” Lir sounded tired and sad. “I regret it every day. A father killing his son is the height of evil, and living with that evil has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do.”
�
��We should never have asked it of you,” Blue said gently. “I am so very sorry, Lir.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Aphrodite was screaming again. “What the hell is happening here?”
“It's like an infection,” Tawiskaron said. “And I have no intentions of catching it. I wash my hands of you three. Aphrodite?”
“I'm with you, Tawiskaron,” she said. “Let's leave them to their weakness.”
I ran back down the hallway and ducked into Blue's bedroom. Just in time too; I heard Tawiskaron and Aphrodite stomp by a few seconds later. They were griping to each other about gods gone soft.
“Hold on,” Aphrodite said. “I need to collect my things; I have no wish to return here after we leave.”
“I'll wait in the tracing room,” Tawiskaron said.
I stayed where I was; waiting for Aphrodite to leave. But she didn't. Instead, a few minutes later, I heard her shouting. Her angry footsteps pounded down the hallway and stopped near the door I was hiding behind. For a second, I thought she was about to storm into Blue's bedroom, and I darted a look around for a place to hide. But she didn't come in; she just stood there screaming again.
“Where is my gold Dolce and Gabbana?” Aphrodite demanded.
I heard Blue come down the hallway to confront her.
“What are you talking about?” Blue asked innocently as I looked down at what must have been the missing couture.
“Dolce,” I whispered as I ran my hand over the gold fabric. “Why does that make it less trashy?”
“Don't lie to me, Huitzilopochtli!” Aphrodite went on. “I know that I left it here, and it's not exactly your style. Did that witch take my dress? And my perfumes are all over the floor; half of them are broken.”
Blue sighed deeply. “Our first interlude was... well, let's just say that Vervain needed new clothing. I lent her the dress to wear.”
“You gave that bitch my Dolce?!”
“Witch, Aphrodite,” Blue corrected—still utterly calm. “She's a witch, with a W.”
“I demand my property back,” she snarled.
“Do you see her here?” Blue's voice finally hardened. “I will reimburse you for your dress and the perfumes.”
“Not good enough,” she growled.
“Do not let my new attitude toward humans fool you,” Blue's voice sank into sinister tones. “I am still the God of War, and I have no problem with showing you how very violent I can be.”
Silence. Then Aphrodite's footsteps hurried away, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“She will be trouble,” Kuan Ti said.
“I will handle her,” Blue vowed. “Don't concern yourself with it.”
“Congratulations on your new relationship,” Lir said. “And your healing.”
“I wish you both the best,” Kuan Ti added.
“Thank you,” Blue said. “And thank you for the years you've put into our work. I may not approve of it now, but you were both loyal to our cause and to me.”
“You're all pathetic,” Aphrodite snarled as she strode by for a final time.
After she left, the men bid each other farewell, and then two sets of footsteps walked away. The handle on the bedroom door moved, and I stepped back. Blue opened the door and froze when he saw me.
“Vervain?” He asked. “How long have you been here?”
“Long enough to hear that you made good on your promise,” I whispered. “Thank you, Blue.”
“I did it for both of us,” he said. “My magic craves war, but I do not any longer. I think it's time for some peace.”
“I agree.” I smiled. “Once we kill Aion and Nyx.”
Then Blue blinked and looked me over. “You look magnificent. Your hair; is it longer? And your face.” He lifted a hand to my cheek. “You... you took an immortality potion, didn't you? Was it from Re?”
“You're quick,” I said with surprise.
“I've seen the effects of immortality on humans before,” he reminded me. “But it has especially done nice things for you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Blue's stare heated as it roamed my body. “Are you ready to hold up your end of our arrangement?”
I nodded; my mouth gone too dry to speak.
“Good.” He took my hand and led me over to the fireplace.
There were two chairs there with a marble coffee table between them. Blue stopped me between a chair and the table and then removed his shirt as he kicked off his shoes. My breath quickened as I watched his sleek chest emerge, and my eyes dropped to the thin trail of hair disappearing into his pants. Blue's elegant hands came into my line of sight; undoing his belt. He yanked it out of the trouser loops and then tossed it on the coffee table.
Then Blue crouched in front of me and folded up the hem of my dress. It was so tight that it stayed in a thick band across my belly; revealing my sex to him. Blue was mere inches away from me, and he took his time admiring the view, but he didn't touch me. He just stood and folded my dress again and again until it only covered my breasts; pushing them even higher than they were before. Then he sat in the high-backed armchair.
Blue would have looked like an English lord, relaxing after a day of hunting foxes, except that he was half naked and fully Aztec. I admired the way the light created shadows beneath his high cheekbones and how his full lips parted as he watched me. Then those lips pressed together, and Blue spread his legs.
“Kneel between my thighs, little witch,” his velvet voice rubbed over me.
I swallowed roughly and settled myself between his legs as he undid his pants. His erection sprang free; the tip glistening. I licked my lips, and Blue smiled sensuously.
“You made me wait,” he said. “Show me how sorry you are.”
I moved forward and took him in hand. Blue leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh; one hand going to my head to stroke back my hair. He watched me indolently as I ministered to him, but when his thighs started to clench, and his breaths come faster, he tightened his hand in my hair and pulled me back.
“Enough,” he said. “I am not convinced. Try it with your breasts.”
“What?” I blinked in confusion.
Blue pulled me forward—forcing me to bend my back a little—and pushed my dress up one more inch. This exposed the lower curve of my breasts and the underside of my cleavage. Blue slid his wet member up into that cleavage. The tightness of the garment held him in place; surrounded by my breasts. He groaned and angled his hips to get deeper. The wet tip of his manhood slid out of the top of my dress.
“Work yourself on me,” Blue growled as he took my hands and placed them over my breasts; pushing them together to make the passage even tighter.
A flush rose over my skin and arousal spread through my body. I don't know why it was so erotic, but it was. I began moving over him and the feel of that hard flesh between the mounds of my sensitive breasts was enough to make me go wet. I began to moan nearly as much as Blue was, and then inspiration took hold, and I bent my head to kiss him each time he peeked through.
“Sweet blood!” Blue cried. “Stop.”
I froze, and Blue slid out of my tight embrace.
“Stand up,” he said breathlessly.
I did as he said; anticipating his next command more eagerly than I would have imagined.
“Turn around and kneel again,” Blue said. “Bend over the table.”
I did as he said, and it put me in a position with my ass directly in front of Blue. He leaned over me, and I prepared myself for some wild lovemaking. But he only claimed his belt and sat back.
“You have the most amazing ass,” Blue said as he flicked the end of his belt—the one without the buckle—lightly against my ass cheeks. As painless as it was, it still startled me, and I flinched. Blue laughed; low and sexy. Then he struck me again, but this time it was between my thighs.
“Spread your legs,” he said. “Now, touch yourself.”
I groaned and laid my cheek against the cool marble as I slid my hand
between my legs.
“Stop,” he said after I'd only been going a few minutes. “Spread your ass cheeks for me; show me how wet you are.”
If I'd been facing him, I don't think I could have done it. But with the marble cooling me and my eyes closed tightly, I was able to reach behind me and do as he asked. I heard him inhale deeply, and then the belt smacked lightly on my sex. It made a slick sound, and Blue groaned. Another smack, and another; harder and harder every time, until I was whimpering. Then he laid the smooth leather against me and drew it through my flesh.
I screamed out in orgasm.
“Stay there,” Blue commanded. “Just like that.”
Blue's hand rubbed roughly over my sex as I shivered through aftershocks, and then his finger sank inside me. I cried out as he drew away too soon, and then I heard the wet sound of his hand working himself. I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder at him. Blue's muscles were clenching and sweat beaded his brow as his hand moved over his slick member. He noticed me watching him and a smile spread slowly across his face. He held my gaze for a minute and then deliberately turned his stare downward. Blue stared hard at me as he continued to slide his hand over himself, and my body started to shiver with need. Finally, he moaned and tensed; his hips jerking as he came across my exposed flesh. I twitched as the warmth of it hit me, but then sighed in frustration.
Blue laid back in his chair and continued to stare at me; his eyes half-lidded with satisfaction.
“Rub it in,” he purred. “Rub my cum into your pussy.”
The naughty words made me moan, and I immediately went to work; rubbing the slick stuff into me. Blue dropped to his knees behind me; getting closer to watch my fingers slide inside myself. He began to help; massaging my flesh and then adding his fingers to mine.
“Spread your ass again,” he growled.
I stopped my eager rubbing to do as he said, and Blue began thrusting his fingers into me roughly. His thumb went to my clit and rubbed; making me close my eyes in ecstasy. Then I felt his sex against my entrance; hard and ready once more. Blue shoved inside me roughly, and I screamed from the feverish pleasure of it.
“Keep that ass spread, little witch,” Blue growled as he slammed deep enough to nearly bring our bones together.