by Amy Sumida
“Vervain, you're married to five men, most of them gods, and you think John Cusack holding a boom box is the most romantic thing ever?” Lugh chuckled.
“Don't laugh until you watch the movie,” I pointed in his face. “I bet you ten bucks you're going to be standing in front of Castle Aithinne with a stereo blasting In Your Eyes by… by... damn it, I can never remember his name.”
“Peter Gabriel,” Lugh supplied.
“WTF, Lugh?” I gaped at him. “You know who sings In Your Eyes but you've never seen Say Anything? They're like cosmically bound for eternity.”
“I'm not a woman,” Lugh frowned.
“Oh sweet baby Lucifer,” I threw up my hands. “Go get some culture, Lugh.” I started humming as I headed to the carriage, and then burst fully into song. It's just impossible to avoid singing In Your Eyes once you hear the music.
“Vervain, what are you singing?” Arach asked as I settled myself.
“Ugh! Men!” I growled.
“I hear you, Sister,” Isleen shocked me by saying.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Wait!” I flung the carriage door open. “Son of a selkie! I can't go back to Aithinne with you. I gotta return to the God Realm.”
“Oh... right,” Arach sighed.
“You naughty dragon,” I wagged my finger at him. “You thought I'd forget.”
“You did forget,” he smirked.
“Briefly,” I grimaced, “because of Lugh.”
“Um, what did the High Prince say to you, My Queen?” Isleen asked casually.
“No,” I shook my head, “not now. I gotta get back. Wait here for me, I'll just be a few seconds. Then we can talk.”
“Yes, Queen Vervain.”
“Bye, baby,” I kissed Arach quickly, and then kissed my boys. “Bye, other baby... and bye, other baby.”
Then I jumped out and rushed back to the Great Tree. The bark vibrated with magic beneath my palm. It condensed, seeping out over my hand, and then my whole body. I mentally asked the Aether to take me to Pride Palace, directing my path with an entry chant. The energy grabbed a hold of me and pulled me through, turning me briefly into pure thought. I reformed in Pride Palace's tracing chamber with just the barest hint of blue sparks marking my passage. Voices echoed out of the dining hall as I stepped from the room, so I headed in that direction.
“Well it's about time,” Horus rolled his eyes.
“Vervain,” Trevor came over to kiss me. “Thank goodness you're back. Why did it take so long?”
“The Light Elves wanted to wine and dine us,” I grimaced.
“Us?” Kirill asked as he kissed my other cheek.
“Arach went with me.”
An understanding murmur circled among the God Squad and my Intare. I scowled as I noted the assemblage, then absently kissed Odin hello.
“What's going on?” I asked as Az swooped in for his kiss. There was always a lot of kissing after a significant absence.
“My father sent us a video,” Trevor growled. “There's been another incident.”
“And you gathered everyone together to see it?” I lifted my brows.
“We needed all the eyes we could get,” Odin explained. “We hoped someone would recognize the criminals.”
“So we got their faces on camera?” I asked in surprise.
“Yeah, ve got zem,” Kirill grimaced.
“What the hell?” I looked around at all the angry and annoyed expressions. “Who are they?”
“Take a look,” Trevor led me to a seat, and angled a laptop in front of me.
There was a frozen video on it. A shadowy clothing shop; racks of merchandise, cash register, and a display window on the left. Trevor hit play. Glass sprayed as something crashed through the window. A brick maybe. Then someone cleared the glass remnants with a crowbar. Three men stepped through the opening and proceeded to destroy the shop.
“They look human,” I said. “Asian? It's hard to tell with it being so dark.”
“Apparently,” Trevor stared at the screen with narrowed eyes. “Do they look familiar in any way?”
“Well, the ski masks kinda prevent recognition,” I grimaced. “But those eyes are definitely some kind of Asian,” I paused the video and zoomed in on the clearest face. “Japanese, I believe.”
“Not bad,” Horus huffed.
“Living in Hawaii helps,” I glanced at him, then something caught my attention, and I zoomed the camera in closer. “Is that a tattoo?”
Gods swarmed around me.
“Son of a selkie!” Trevor shouted.
“What?” I asked. “Do you know that man?”
“Not personally, no,” Trevor's face looked grim. “But I know what kind of Japanese man is covered in tattoos.”
“How do you know he's covered?” I leaned in closer, and caught the edge of ink along collars and cuffs. “Oh, yeah. I see it now.”
“Yakuza?” Brahma asked. “Why would the Yakuza be tearing up a Froekn business?”
“I don't know,” Trevor's jaw clenched. “But I do know that we've worked with their gods before.”
“The Yakuza have their own gods?” I felt my eyes go wide.
“And they do very well,” Hades nodded. “Lots of sacrifices coming in.”
“I'll bet,” I blinked at the screen. “Don't they usually employ a little more... violence?”
“This is just the start,” Trevor shut the laptop with a click. “I need to get back to my father and warn him. If we've somehow pissed off the Yakuza Gods, we need to make amends before they take things to the next level.”
“Hold on,” I blinked. “Fenrir has worked with the Yakuza?”
“We were assassins, if you recall,” Trevor lifted his brows at me.
“Oh yeah, okay,” I sighed as exhaustion suddenly overwhelmed me. “See you later, Honey-Eyes.”
Then I passed out.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I woke up with Hygieia in my face.
“Oh my goddess!” I yelped.
“Take it easy,” Hygieia chuckled. “You fainted and your husband asked me to come and take a look at you.”
“I fainted?” I scowled. “I didn't think I was that tired.”
“It's probably a combination of things,” she suggested as my men closed in around us.
I was in our huge bed, close to one edge so Hygieia could examine me. Kirill was in bed beside me, with Trevor sitting next to him, while Odin, Azrael, and Re hovered behind Hygieia. They all looked worried. All except Hygieia.
“It's perfectly normal,” Hygieia went on, “especially when your baby is siphoning magic which is normally used to fuel a whole pride of lions.”
“Huh?” I frowned. Why did I always feel so dumb around her? “Are you saying that Lesya is taking the energy I use to sustain my Intare?”
“She needs a steady flow of nutrition to grow, and that includes magic,” Hygieia nodded. “Magic is important to a god fetus. It's infusing her cells as she forms. And you have a particular magic you've bonded her with. This isn't like a normal god baby, who takes some of its mother's magic during gestation, then is supplied a specific magic by humans after it's born. Your child will be born a lion goddess, period. It's already determined. So that magic has already become a part of her. A god baby needs a lot of power, on top of all the usual nutrition a normal baby requires.”
“Will my lions suffer?” I looked to Kirill in horror.
“I feel fine,” he said.
“No, they won't,” Hygieia rested a hand over the one I had subconsciously placed on my belly. “But you will, if you don't start taking better care of yourself.”
“What do you advise?” Odin asked her.
“Rest, for one,” Hygieia said. “Lots of fresh food, lots of protein, and if there are any means you utilize to strengthen your magic, you should employ them.”
“I can take energy from fire,” I offered. “Whenever there's a forest fire in the Human Realm, I try to go down and suck up the energy. It hel
ps to put out the fire and gives me strength, a win-win.”
“Do that, then,” she nodded. “Give your daughter as much fuel as you can, then she won't have to drain you.”
“Alright, Doctor, thank you,” I said sincerely. “And thank you for making a house call. I know you must be busy.”
“It's all a part of taking care of supernatural mothers,” Hygieia smiled. “Try not to worry, Vervain,” she said as she stood. “Stress just makes things worse. You and your baby are fine, there's no need to be concerned.”
“It's not the baby stressing me,” I sighed.
“Are you putting any strain on your wife?” Hygieia turned stern eyes on all the men.
“Not on purpose,” Trevor gulped.
“It's family,” I waved her off.
“Well, whatever it is, stay out of it,” Hygieia waved her finger at me. “You need to think of yourself and your baby first.”
“Okay,” I whispered, and sent Trevor a grim look.
“I mean it,” Hygieia shook her head as she left. “Pregnancy is dangerous for any woman, but it can be especially hard on a goddess. You've basically got a mass of wild magic swirling around in your stomach. Be careful with it.”
We were all silent for a few minutes after she left. A mass of magic, wild and swirling. That was some imagery.
“What happened to 'You and your baby are fine'?” I muttered.
“That's it,” Re declared, “I'm taking Vervain to Aaru. She'll be safe there, away from you lunatics.”
“Re,” I groaned as the other men verbally attacked him.
I don't even know what was said, it just became a lot of shouting. But Re stood there, staring at me, with his golden arms crossed over his chest, looking like the ancient god he was. He seemed untouchable, implacable, simply ignoring the bickering around him. Until someone touched him, that is.
“Do you hear me, you walking, talking, golden dildo?” Trevor pushed Re's shoulder. “She's our wife, and you're not taking her anywhere.”
“That's it, puppy,” Re held out a glowing hand which began to get brighter and brighter, till it was like staring into the Sun.
“Thanks a lot, you assholes!” I shouted. “This is really helping me to relax.”
Re lowered his hand and Trevor's face fell with it. A chorus of apologies came my way.
“I can't leave, Re,” I said gently to my boyfriend, “but it was a nice thought, and I appreciate it.”
“A nice thought?” Azrael huffed. “If we take you anywhere, it should be to Shehaquim.”
“Az, stop!” I growled. “This is not up for discussion. Lesya will be born here, in her home, just as her father wants her to be.”
“Tima,” Kirill sighed, and came back to the bed to take my hand. “I vant you both to be safe. If it means our baby is born someplace else, so be it.”
“The place doesn't matter,” I squeezed his hand. “Trouble finds me no matter where I go.
“Ain't that the truth,” Re sighed. “Alright then, we have to band together and make sure no one bothers Vervain during this pregnancy.”
“I can't just hole up in this bedroom,” I grumbled.
“Why not? We did it while you were in heat,” Azrael pointed out.
“That was different. It was only a few days, and I'm not in danger of being assaulted anymore,” I rolled my eyes. “There's nothing major going on with any of my numerous enemies either. Morrigan's on the run, Jerry's angels haven't bothered me in ages, no one's heard any rumbles from Zeus, and Ptah is...” I went silent as I realized what I was about to say.
“He's at his wife's side,” Re said softly.
“Sorry,” I grimaced.
“No, don't apologize for the truth,” Re said. “Ptah is your enemy. I can't continue to ignore that. Nor should I ignore the hatred Sekhmet bears you either. Especially now.”
“Why is it worse now?” Trevor asked.
“Because Vervain's child is healthy while Sekhmet's is dead,” Re's voice was hollow of emotion. “It will pass. For now, she may be angry, but she's not a threat.”
Azrael gave Re's shoulder a comforting pat. The Sun God seemed to brighten. He gave Az a grateful look.
“So no one's out to get me,” I hurried past the talk of Sekhmet, her dead baby, and her hatred for me. “I just need to be more conscious about taking it easy and not stressing.”
“You know what's a good stress relief?” Re waggled his brows at me.
“Do you want to die?” Odin asked Re calmly.
“Well it is,” Re huffed.
“Please stop fighting,” I sighed.
“Sorry, Lala,” Re instantly looked contrite. “I will endeavor to support you as much as I can. Tell me what you need, and I will do it.”
“Try shutting up,” Trevor muttered.
“Trevor!” I shouted, and it turned into a roar.
“Alright, alright,” Trevor came over and kissed me. “We'll be nice to Re. Okay?”
“Thank you,” I huffed. “And don't even give me that crap. You like Re.”
“I do not.”
“I knew you liked me,” Re said. “I felt your hand slip when we were in that position with me upside-”
“Re!” we all shouted.
“Sorry,” Re cleared his throat.
“Can someone find me a fire?” I asked after everyone went quiet.
“A fire?” Odin asked.
“There has to be one someplace, right?” I lifted my hands hopelessly. “I mean, even if it's just a house on fire, I could use the energy. Come on, I have a baby to feed.”
They all ran from the room with determined looks on their faces.
“Where's the fire?” I chuckled at my own stupid joke since no one had stayed behind to hear it.
Correction: no one except Re.
“The a fire right here, Lala,” Re crept into bed beside me, and pulled me into his arms.
He didn't try anything major, despite his innuendo, just kissed me. Then we snuggled. Exactly what I needed to relax. Re, for all of his sex god looks and saucy ways, was a romantic at heart, and he when he loved, he did so deeply. My health was important to him, but it was more than that. Re's hand went to my belly, and I knew he was seeing another pregnant stomach, a different child, whom he'd been unable to save. His golden hand tightened slightly, and I realized something else; Re would die before he let anything happen to Lesya.
Chapter Twenty-Three
It had been a few days since my fainting incident, and a fire had indeed been found for me. I had hoovered up the hot energy like a black hole, drawing it all in without pausing or any sign of stopping. It was like I couldn't be filled, it kept pouring into and then through me. After I was done, I needed more. The energy seemed to seep out to all of my dependents first; Lesya, then the Intare, the Froekn, and even my family, before it could store up inside me. I should have realized that would be the case, after the thing with Kirill.
I'd had to cut off all of my ties to have enough energy to pull Kirill's soul back from its journey to the Void. I knew I had bonds to everyone, but I hadn't realized that they'd been a magical drain. My husbands had been the smallest of them, with exception to Kirill, who depended upon my Intare magic to live. But my children, Brevyn and Rian, had been significant. Their magic stemmed from mine, and was still in the process of growing. So their draw was sizable, and I wasn't sure when, or if it, would ever stop.
Normally, I barely felt the siphoning of my magic. I could store a good amount of fire energy, and had stocked up awhile back. During that time, I'd sent a large portion of it to the Froekn, who'd been suffering from infertility. Fenrir only had so much magic to provide his children with, and it had been stretched thin. Of course now I knew it was due in part to a lot of Froekn choosing new professions. After I'd given Fenrir a new injection of energy, and revived the Froekn, that had been it. They'd gone back to depending on their Valdyr.
The Intare however, were an even bigger drain than my twins. But they'd been creat
ed by my Intare magic and their allotment was reserved. I know that sounds confusing. Think of it this way; the magic divvied itself up when new lions were made, and it wouldn't be able to create new lions if it didn't have enough magic to sustain them. Each portion went to a specific lion. So I knew I had enough for them, because they wouldn't have been able to have been made if I didn't. Conclusion: they weren't usually a strain on me.
But all of those energy drains added up, and then I'd gone and used most of my stored magic to bring Kirill back. After that, my body sent the rest of it into forming our daughter. This all meant that there was a lot of energy I needed to replace. Thus the three fires that I'd sucked up. And they were big fires too. I was now feeling much better, and without another major energy depletion, I should be good for quite awhile. Which turned out to be perfect timing, since simply talking to Fenrir could get exhausting.
“Little Frami!” Fenrir came into my bedroom as he did everything, boisterously.
“Hey, Dad,” I sighed as Nick, my immortal gray tabby (immortal due to Azrael feeding him manna), jumped off my lap, and ran into the bathroom. Even living among werelions hadn't given Nick enough courage to face Fenrir. “What's up?” I slid off the bed, and wandered over to where he and Emma were lurking in the doorway. “Come in, do you want something to drink?”
“Dad?” Trevor came down the stairs from his bedroom. “I thought I heard you.”
“Hello, my boy,” Fenrir smiled at Trevor before answering me. “I would love a...” he turned to Emma. “What are they called, sweetheart?”
“A Red Bull, honey,” Emma gave me a tormented look. “Ty gave him one the other day.”
“It gives you wings,” Fenrir laughed.
“I don't have any Red Bull, Dad,” I rolled my eyes. “How about coffee? It has nearly the same amount of caffeine.”
“Coffee is fine,” Fenrir sighed, and looked around for a chair that could handle his weight.
This wasn't as easy a task as you may think. Fenrir was solid muscle, and wide enough that he had to go sideways through some doorways.