by Amy Sumida
Within that light, the oaths between my lovers and I returned. I cried out as Odin's heart became mine again, the strength of centuries pumping through it. Then Azrael arrived, the feeling of wings enfolding me along with his revived love. Arach roared, dragon fire burning through me to reignite the inferno of emotion that had been smothered, and my dragon roared triumphantly back. Re brought his heat as well, rising like the Sun to reflect his light upon my moon. And, finally, Viper's starlight poured into me, shining with power and passion and patience. He had waited a long time for me and that steady faith filled me along with his love.
All that was broken repaired itself. Destiny rose from the ashes, connecting with my star and pushing it back into my heart until they were indistinguishable from each other. The threads of fate untangled and stretched out into eternity before me, trembling with potential.
“What have you done to her?!” Sin shouted.
My eyes popped open to see Sin running up the corridor behind Marduk, Ninkasi hot on his heels.
“Release her, you son of a bitch!” Sin demanded.
“You know exactly what I've done,” Marduk said snidely as he turned to face Sin. “I've given her back her destiny. And now”—he turned to look at me—“she will give me what I want.”
“Vervain, what did you do?” Sin gaped at me.
“What I had to do to get my life back,” I said gently. “It's a fair trade, Sin. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Thank you for everything you've done. I'll come back soon so we can talk more but right now, I've got to finish this.”
I reached for Marduk, and he snatched my hand eagerly. With one last grateful smile at Sin, I took Marduk into the Aether and traced us away.
“Vervain!” Sin's shout followed me.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
When I stepped out of the tracing room, all of my family and several of my friends were there waiting for me. In the front of the crowd were my husbands and Viper, eyes shining with tears and expressions full of both hope and regret. With their fathers and uncles were my children, all grinning with joy as they called out for me. Behind my immediate family were the God Squad, Fenrir, several Froekn, Luke, and Holly. The rest of the space was taken up by the Intare; they spread up the stairs, into the dining hall, down the corridors, and out of the palace.
“Minn Elska!” Trevor reached me first and enveloped me in an embrace with Vero, who leaned out of his father's arms to hug me.
I started crying silently, just holding them and letting their presence sink into me. I could feel their love inside me but having them physically in my arms set my soul at ease as nothing else could.
“Tima!” The Intare shouted as one.
I shivered with relief. I had my life back.
“I'm so sorry,” Trevor whispered in my ear. “I thought my love for you was untouchable, but I was wrong. Please forgive me, Vervain.”
“It's okay, Honey-Eyes. I love you. It's okay” I nuzzled his face then kissed Vero before I turned into Kirill's arms. “Kirill.”
I held Kirill's face in my hands and stared into his beautiful eyes. Tears were sliding down his cheeks. I wiped them away tenderly then I yanked him against me and hugged him as if I'd never let go. His scent sank into my skin and reassured me. He really was there, mine once more.
“Mommy!” Lesya tugged on my dress.
“Hey, baby girl.” I crouched to pull her into a hug. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too.” She leaned back to stare at me with wide, confused eyes. “I don't know why I was mad at you.”
“Don't worry about that now.” I kissed her forehead and stood up to hug the rest of my men.
“Carus,” Azrael murmured as he enfolded me in his wings. “What I said about the children...”
“I know, baby,” I said softly.
“The thing I look forward to the most is seeing our sons.” He stroked my face as if relearning it.
“That wasn't you, Az.”
I eased away from my angel to reunite with Odin, Re, Viper, and Arach. They each asked for my forgiveness while lavishing love on me. Every touch healed me a little more. Every breath filled with their scents and every tender look made me feel more like myself. It was hard to believe that I had lost all of them with one spell. We had been so confident in our love that it was nearly arrogance. We should have known better; anything can be taken away, even your soul. I'd be more careful in the future, and more humble. I'd remember to treasure every day with the people I love.
“I wish you'd brought the boys,” I said as Arach held me. “I wanted to see them.”
“I couldn't. I wasn't sure when you or I would need to return, and I needed to get here immediately. As soon as our bond reformed, the horror of what I'd done consumed me. A Thaisce, I am—” He broke off, swallowing visibly as he stared at me with painful regret. “I am so ashamed. I don't understand how any magic could have changed what I feel for you.”
“We are all devastated by what we've done,” Odin said gravely as he stroked my hair. “Can you forgive us, Vervain?”
“There's nothing to forgive,” I said firmly. “It wasn't your fault.”
“But it was,” Re insisted. “We should have fought more. We should have listened to you when you came to explain what had happened. You stood right there and told us what was happening to us, but we wouldn't listen. Sin was right; we were fools.”
“You couldn't listen and you weren't fools. It was magic, Re.” I looked around at all of them “You forgave me for what I did as the Dark Star. Let's just call this even.”
“Hardly,” Horus scoffed.
“Sweetheart, shut up,” Hekate murmured sweetly. “Don't ruin their moment.”
“Horus is right,” Viper said, making Horus stare at him in shock. “Our memories weren't taken; not of you or Marduk. We should have been able to fight his spell.”
Marduk laughed scornfully as he stepped out of the tracing room. “Impossible. No one can resist the Tablet of Destinies. You're still being foolish; foolish and arrogant. You are not the greatest powers in the Universe.”
“What the fu...” Viper glanced at Lesya and amended it, “udgesicles are you doing here?!”
“He's with me,” I said grimly and with great annoyance.
Everyone swiveled their stares to me in shock.
“Vervain, what did you do?” Trevor asked in a low, wary tone.
Trevor's words echoed Sin's, replaying them in my head. Had I made the wrong choice? Should I have waited for another option? Should I have fought harder? The Star burned brightly inside my chest, and I knew I was on the right path once again. No, this was my best option. No territory was worth my family.
“Marduk offered me my life back in exchange for my territory,” I announced.
“Fuck,” Viper whispered without thinking.
The Intare went still. Everyone held their breath.
“It was the only way I could get you back,” I started to defend my decision.
“Nyet.” Kirill held up a hand, and I went still. “You don't have to explain, Tima. Ve have nothing vithout you. I'd live in a cardboard box if it vas only vay to have you vith me.”
“Let him have this place,” Trevor agreed. “It's only a territory. We have other homes we can live in, Minn Elska.”
The rest of my men nodded at me, and the Intare roared their support.
“We're with you, Tima,” Aidan shouted. “Where you go, we go. It doesn't matter where you take us as long as we're together.”
“Tima!” The Intare roared again.
I pressed my lips together and blinked back my tears. Oh yes, they were worth this land and much more.
“We support your decision, sweetheart.” Odin hugged me again. “You brought us back to each other and that's the most important thing.”
“We'll build another palace,” Arach declared then stared at Marduk disdainfully. “One better than this.”
“I don't care what the fuck you do,” Marduk growled.
“As long as you do it somewhere else.”
“Hey!” I pointed my finger in Marduk's face. “We have a bargain, and I'm keeping it, but if you say another nasty word in front of my children, I will roast you alive and eat your heart for an appetizer. We clear?”
“You couldn't roast me if you tried,” he said smugly. “But I apologize for my bad language around your children. That was uncalled for.”
I looked him up and down then nodded.
“Vervain,” Luke stepped forward with Holly. They hugged me together, and he whispered in my ear, “Are you sure about this? My demons can be here in moments if you want to kill this bastard.”
“I gave him a blood oath,” I whispered back.
Luke sighed in regret and let me go. He gave Marduk a grudging look of admiration. “Well played, Marduck.”
“It's Marduk,” Marduk growled.
“Isn't that what I said?” Luke asked innocently.
“Enough!” Marduk snapped. “I'm not here to socialize. Get your people out and hand over the territory, Godhunter.”
“The Pride needs time to collect their belongings.” I waved a hand toward the dining hall. “Why don't you sit down and have a drink while you wait? You'll get what you want soon enough.”
Marduk grimaced but gave me a side nod. “Fine. Go and pack. I can be patient.”
“We'll keep him company,” Fenrir growled with a glare at Marduk.
“I know where the coffee is; I'll go start some brewing.” Artemis offered as she took Torrent's hand and pulled him along with her.
“Why aren't we killing him?” Torrent whispered to her as they left.
“Because we can't,” she whispered back with sharp irritation.
The Froekn, God Squad, and Azrael's parents followed Marduk into the dining room, all of them glancing at me supportively before narrowing their stares at Marduk. I had a feeling that Marduk's coffee was going to be served with sugar, cream, and spit.
I looked at my lions. “I'm so sorry there wasn't another way.”
“The Pride is a family,” Fallon announced as he bounced Zariel in his arms. “You made us that, and you taught us that home is anywhere that we're together. This palace is just a building; it doesn't matter to us. What matters is that we're alive and safe. We are the Pride wherever we go, Tima.”
“Intare!” I shouted and lifted my fist into the air as tears streamed down my cheeks.
“Intare!” The Lions roared back.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Re offered to put us up in Aaru. He assured us that his palace had more than enough room and the Egyptian territory had a similar climate to ours which would make my lions feel more comfortable. I sent the Intare ahead with Re; I didn't want them to watch their Tima hand over their home to our enemy. Yes, I had gained a lot in the bargain, but it still stung. The lion exodus broke my heart. They grinned and cracked jokes as they left, but I knew how hard it was for them to abandon the home that we had built together. I knew because it hurt me too. Every piece of luggage was a weight upon my heart.
“I don't want to go!” Zariel wailed as her mother led her into the tracing room.
Zariel dropped her stuffed giraffe and pulled at Sam's hand. Fallon picked up the toy with a heavy sigh and stared at his daughter with sorrowful eyes. My stoic expression cracked, but I held it together, swallowing past the lump of pain that formed in my throat. Then Lesya ran over and took Zariel's hand.
“We'll go together, Zari. Don't be sad; this will be fun. We'll have new bedrooms and new places to explore,” Lesya said brightly, her tiny suitcase clutched in her other hand. She glanced over at me. “Is that okay, Mommy?”
“Sure, sweetie,” my voice cracked.
“I'll go vith zem too.” Kirill angled himself in front of me so the children wouldn't see me cry. He wiped my tears away as I had done for him earlier. “I'll see you in Aaru, Tima.”
“I'll see you soon,” I whispered.
“Give me Vero,” Kirill said to Trevor. “You stay vith her.”
“Thanks.” Trevor handed Vero over to his uncle. “Go with Uncle Kirill, Son.”
“Mama!” Vero cried for me.
“I'll see you in a little while.” I kissed his cheek. “I promise.”
“Promise.” Vero grinned and kissed me with a wet smack.
My lions left, all of them giving me big smiles to make up for the scene with Zariel. When they were gone, I took a deep, steadying breath. They were safe. Re had even taken Nick in his kitty carrier so I wouldn't have to worry about him. And yes, Nick was back to being his usual self as well. He'd been too shy to come out with everyone in the entry hall, but when I was packing, he found me and made sure to rub himself all over my luggage and me. High praise in kitty-speak.
It's going to be okay, Vervain, Al said gently in my mind.
Al! There you are!
Here I am, he agreed with laughter in his voice. And there you are. I knew you'd get your star back. You made the right choice, Vervain. Nothing is more important than your destiny.
Except for my family, I said sharply.
Yes, they're important too. But your destiny is tied—
Yeah, yeah, I cut him off. It's tied to the fate of the World.
Vervain, I was there with you the entire time, you just couldn't hear me. I want you to know that what Sin said is true; you are special without the magic. You are not merely a vessel, you are the most integral piece. Without you, there is no Trinity Star.
My irritation faded in a heartbeat. Al had been there for me. He couldn't help what he was or the limitations it placed on him. He did what he could for me; had from the very beginning. Thanks, Al.
I love you, Vervain. You are a daughter to me. I'm sorry you have to go through this, but I'm here now. I'll be with you while you complete your bargain, and I'll make sure that Marduk doesn't betray you.
I love you too, Al. Then, out loud, I said, “I'm going outside. Can someone get that asshat Marduk for me?”
Hey, my kids weren't there and the moment required some foul language.
“I'll get him,” Azrael offered with a small smile.
I headed outside with the rest of my men; down the palace steps between the dragon statues and into the space before the palace. I glanced at the pool where I'd spent hours with my family and then at the swing set with its new toddler seat. I looked all around the territory I'd put blood, sweat, and tears into and tried to tell myself it was only a place full of stuff I could recreate somewhere else. Then my stare landed on the graveyard.
“Oh, no,” I whispered. “I forgot about our dead. We can't just leave them here.”
“Those are just bodies, Minn Elska,” Trevor said gently. “Empty shells like the palace will be. No one lives in them anymore. Most of those lions are in Duat now, remember? And Duat's just a doorway away from where the Pride will be. I'm sure they'd tell you themselves to leave their bodies where they lie and not give them a second thought.”
“All but Al.” I started sobbing brokenly, my tough façade finally broken. “I can't leave Al.”
“Al is gone, sweetheart.” Trevor pulled me in against his chest. “And he would be the first one to tell you not to cry over his corpse. He wouldn't want to see his Tima like this, not with her enemy approaching. Come on, Vervain, dry those tears. Don't let that bastard see you cry.”
I sniffed and swiped at my face. Trevor was right. Al had been a soldier once. He'd want to see me grinning at my enemy even as I surrendered; standing proud and strong when I faced Marduk. And so would every other person there. I was failing them again with this useless display. Now was not the time for tears. I could cry later.
This Al is with you, Alaric—who hated to be called Al—said in my mind. And I can tell you with absolute certainty that your lion is happy in the Void and would not want his corpse to be the cause of additional grief for you. Let it go, Vervain. Let him go.
Thank you Alaric, I pointedly used his full name.
You're welc
ome.
And Alaric?
Yes?
Tell the other Al that his Tima and his brothers miss him.
I will. Now, get this over with, Vervain. I'm tired of looking at this dickhead's ugly face.
I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin as Marduk came walking up. My friends and family followed him, herding him toward me.
“Finally,” Marduk huffed when he reached me.