Destiny Descending

by Amy Sumida

  “Luke,” I ignored Marduk, “can you assist us, please?”

  “Of course.” Luke stepped over. After a long, venomous look at Marduk, he said, “The process is simple. Vervain, you pull back your magic while you, Marduk, push yours into the void hers creates. That will be the extent of your involvement, Vervain. But, Marduk, you will then feel the empty territory trying to connect with you. You will become its sustenance so you must freely give it access to your magic and bond with it.”

  “That's it?” Marduk asked.

  “A god's territory is an extension of himself; give it your magic and form the bond,” Luke said. “That's it.”

  “Are you ready?” I asked Marduk.

  “Of course, I'm ready. Do it.”

  “It must be a gentle flow,” Luke warned Marduk. “Don't be too eager. Push a little to establish a connection then let the territory pull you in.”

  Marduk nodded crisply.

  I closed my eyes and reached for my territory. The land shivered, sensing my distress. Then everything began to shiver. As I removed the magic that made the Pride Territory mine, I realized that I had a choice. I could leave all of my creations for Marduk to enjoy or I could take them back; wipe the slate clean. I opened my eyes with the revelation and saw Luke staring at me intensely. When our stares met, he grinned devilishly and nodded. No, I wouldn't leave behind anything that I didn't have to. Our bargain was for my territory, nothing more.

  I pulled on the magic, holding my arms out as if I were embracing it. Power rushed into my chest. Into my star. Trees began to shake, water bubbled, and the palace groaned eerily. My men drew in closer around me.

  “Now!” Luke said to Marduk. “Replace her magic with your own.”

  I felt Marduk's magic nudging mine, the greasy gloating of his power slipping into my land. I grit my teeth and yanked harder. It was all coming with me; the pool with its waterfall, the lake behind me, the hidden cave where I liked to go with Kirill, Trevor's cabin one valley over, and the palace itself. I took the dining room and the kitchen. The library and the butterfly garden. I took the nurseries, my dressing room, and the bathroom with its enormous tub. Memories flashed through my mind as I emptied Pride Palace of every room and everything that had made it a home. Love and laughter and tears. Ecstasy and pain. Life.

  I took the immortal butterflies and tucked them into my heart, ready to be reborn anew later. The creatures of the grasslands came too and the animals on our farm. I took all of them into me. I took the books and beds and blades. I took everything that meant anything to me and my family. Everything that we couldn't carry with us, I gathered into my heart. I'd carry them for us and when the day came that we built a new home, they'd be waiting; ready to burst forth again.

  “What the fuck?” Marduk snarled.

  “Focus!” Luke shouted at him. “She's removing her magic. Vervain's magic made this place. You will have to build your territory with your magic.”

  Marduk grimaced but there was nothing he could do.

  I noticed that Luke failed to mention that Marduk should ward his territory and guard it with a tracing chant; basically a lock for his front door. The Devil was up to his old tricks; giving Marduk the bare minimum of what he needed to know and leaving out the important details. Without a tracing chant, Marduk's new home would be vulnerable; any god could waltz right in. I wanted to smile at Marduk—to gloat—but it was hard to do while I watched my home disintegrate around me. The palace crumbled to dust, the lake dried up into a cracked wasteland, the waterfall toppled, and the trees disappeared. When all of my magic had been removed, all that was left was an expanse of gray dirt. Oh, and a Viking longboat.

  “Dang it, I forgot about the boat,” I muttered.

  Odin had built me the boat himself; it wasn't made with my magic.

  “I'll build you another,” Odin said gently. “He can have the damn boat.”

  I let out a sigh and looked at Marduk. “It's done. You have your territory, and I have fulfilled my vow.”

  I felt the cold magic inside, my blood oath to him, melt with its fulfillment. Marduk nodded, no doubt feeling the magic settle on his end as well; confirmation that I had done exactly as promised. My end of the vow was complete so the magic left me, but Marduk's oath would stay with him forever, ensuring that he would never attack me or anyone I loved.

  I looked around me at the people who had stayed to help me through one of the hardest times of my life. “Thank you all for being here but it's time to go. I'll meet you in Aaru.”

  My friends and family started to disappear. Without a ward in place, there was no need for a tracing room, they could trace from where they stood. The first to go was Luke. He winked at me and traced with a speed that betrayed his cunning. I knew exactly why the Devil had skedaddled so quickly.

  “Wait,” Marduk growled and grabbed my arm. “You haven't told me how to use the territory magic.”

  “Unhand her now!” Trevor growled.

  “Not until she tells me what I need to know!”

  I jerked my arm out of Marduk's grasp easily. The recent influx of magic had given me even more strength. “I inherited this territory along with the lion magic. It was already built when I got here. I don't know how to change it.” Yes, it was a lie, but I felt good about telling it. “The god who may have been able to help you just left. Why do you think I asked him to assist us? Lucifer knows all about territory magic, but you didn't think to ask him. Now, you'll have to figure it out yourself.”

  I stepped into the Aether, taking one last thing with me; the furious look on Marduk's face. Now, that was something I'd treasure for a long time.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  I stepped out of Re's tracing room and into chaos. Several arguments littered the air with strident sound, servants hurried down the corridors looking harried, and Intare roamed the palace like anxious settlers needing to stake their claim. In the middle of it all was Re, trying his best to corral my lions. But anyone who has ever lived with a cat knows that making felines do what you want is a tricky business that usually involves bribery. You have to trick a cat into thinking it wants to do what you want it to. Unless, of course, you're the source of their magic.

  “You will stop these shenanigans this very instant!” I shouted and it turned into a roar. Oh, how I'd missed roaring.

  The Intare stopped arguing and came out into the corridor to stare obediently at me and await my next order.

  “Thank the Sun,” Re muttered as he came over to give me a hug. “They're like children in adult bodies.”

  “I'll handle it,” I promised.

  “Tima, Lucius took the room that I had called dibs on,” Aidan whined. “He just tossed my suitcase in the hallway.”

  That broke the seal and all of the Intare started talking at once. Lions pressed forward to complain, shouting to be heard over each other. The only Intare not whining were Lesya, Kirill, Zariel and Fallon. I grimaced at the raucous response and then roared again. Everyone went quiet.

  I wanted to tell them to handle their own shit. I'd just been through one of the roughest weeks of my life and all I wanted to do was have some alone-time with my family. But these men were my family too, and I was their Tima; their heart. It was my responsibility to keep the peace and moderate arguments. Without that, the Intare would go wild in a very bad way. This was on me.

  “I'm going to sit down in the dining room and have a cup of tea,” I declared. “All of you will line up and approach me in small groups to air your grievances. Then I will make my decisions. Understood?”

  “Yes, Tima!” They shouted.

  Behind me, Fenrir chuckled. I grimaced at him.

  “Leadership can be a pain in the furry ass, can't it?” My father-in-law grinned wide enough to display his canines.

  I felt the glow of our bond and grinned back. In the rush of everything else, I hadn't realized that Marduk had returned even this. My connection to Fenrir had been made by mistake, just as my bond with his son had been
, but it was still precious to me, and I was relieved to know it was back.

  “You're telling me,” I huffed. Then I looked over at my Sun God husband. “Re, could I commandeer your dining room to conduct my meetings?”

  “By all means, La-la,” Re waved toward his elegant dining room. “If it silences these heathens, I'm all for it.”

  “Thanks, honey. Where's Kirill and the children?”

  “Upstairs. I gave Fallon, Sam, and Zariel a suite down the hall from the rooms I made for our family then I started adding onto the palace. It's not quite as big as I'd thought.”

  “The Pride is large,” I said with a touch of lament but also a generous helping of joy. “Thank you for altering your home for us, Re. We're very grateful. Aren't we, Intare?” I lifted my voice and glared at my lions.

  “Re! Re! Re!” The Lions shouted.

  It was the best response they could have made. Re is a sucker for adoration. He often reminded me of David Bowie's character in Labyrinth; Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave. Yep, that's Re all right. He grinned broadly at the Intare and lifted his chin, sighing with deep satisfaction as he soaked in the worship.

  “That's more like it,” Re said in approval. “You can stay as long as you like. Just don't go scratching up my furniture.”

  Chapter Forty

  I spent some time with my friends before I met with my lions. I had missed them and not only had they showed up to reconnect with me, but they had also stayed to babysit my enemy while I was busy packing. The least I could do was hang out for awhile. We had a few drinks and shared some light banter to ease us back into our friendships. Thor even promised to return to his position in the Squad. By the time they left, I felt as if I truly had my life back.

  The lion mediation didn't take as long as I'd expected, especially with Re making renovations to his palace as the meeting progressed. Most of the complaints were about living arrangements, but when the lions saw the new rooms Re built, they stopped arguing to run off and snag one before someone else did.

  With the Intare settled, I could finally head upstairs and relax. Re had made separate rooms for all of my men and even a bedroom for me. I thought that last bit was particularly thoughtful. I had expected him to assume that I'd stay in his golden bedroom of kink (also known as Fifty Shades of Gold) and visit the other men in their rooms. But Re knows how much I enjoy the odd night alone. Plus, he wanted Nick's bed to be somewhere other than in his precious playroom.

  My gray tabby, who Azrael had made immortal by feeding manna (the Angels' immortality food), had his own, luxury cat bed with four golden posts hung with diaphanous fabric. It was placed on the marble floor beside the silk-covered behemoth that was my bed. But the cat wasn't on his padded kitty-puff; he was smack-dab in the middle of my silk comforter. As usual.

  “Hey, little boy,” I said softly.

  Nick looked up at me and cried; it was so soft and pitiful that I nearly cried too. I hurried over and crawled up onto the squishy mattress beside him. Nick immediately crawled into my lap and started purring.

  “There's my baby,” I cooed. “Everything's okay now. We're going to be happy here, you'll see. Just stay away from the river; there are fire-breathing snakes there.”

  “There you are,” Trevor declared as he came into the room with the rest of our family.

  “Mommy!” Lesya called out.

  “Mama!” Vero echoed her.

  Nick looked up at them briefly then laid his head down on my knee and went back to purring. Lesya and Vero ran up to the bed—Vero stumbled more than ran—and scrambled up beside me. They stretched out against my legs, leaning against me as they pet the cat. I couldn't have been happier. I gave up petting Nick to stroke my children's hair. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry.

  “Why are you crying, Mommy?” Lesya asked me.

  “Because I missed you all so much.” I sniffed.

  “I love you,” Lesya said in that innocent way children do; the way that warms your heart like nothing else.

  “Love you, Mama,” Vero added.

  I kissed them both then added one for Nick. He shook it off, but I knew he secretly enjoyed it; his kitty pride just wouldn't allow him to show it. The men joined us; Azrael and Viper climbing onto the bed beside me while Trevor and Kirill took spots at the foot. Re lounged between the shifters at the end of the bed, but Arach pulled over a chair.

  “Are you heading back to Faerie soon?” I asked Arach.

  “Of course not. This isn't over,” Arach said with surprise.

  The other men gave me steady stares of agreement.

  “Yes, it is,” I said softly.

  “What?” Viper asked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “Marduk has already proven that he can take everything I have,” I said. “I won't risk it again. Our bargain was that once he had the territory, he wouldn't come after me or mine ever again. I have all of you back now and that's what matters. We'll find another territory. The Mesopotamians can have that one if it keeps all of you safe.”

  “We can't let them take anything from us,” Odin said firmly. “If we do, it lets the rest of the God World know that the Godhunter can be conquered.”

  “So let them think that.” I shrugged. “As far as they know, I'm human again. All of my enemies will be coming after me. Which means that we have bigger issues than Marduk. We should focus on getting the word out that I'm strong again.”

  “And getting your territory back would be the fastest way to do that,” Trevor said.

  “Or it may destroy us.” I shook my head. “Let's just focus on getting our lives back to normal.” I looked down at my children and smiled. “We need to have our priorities, and mine are right here.”

  “But you blew up your palace,” Viper said in a baffled tone. “Don't you want vengeance?”

  “House blowing up builds character,” Kirill delivered the Deadpool line with a straight face, his accent perfect for it.

  Kirill waggled his brows at the children, and they giggled until we all started laughing with them. The men gave up the argument, but I knew it wasn't over. Behind their smiles, I could see their fury brewing.

  Chapter Forty-One

  After the children were in bed, my men and I went back to my bedroom to have a private reunion with just us. I could feel their anxiety, and I knew exactly what they wanted to say.

  “You've already apologized,” I said before they could start. “I don't need to hear it again.”

  “Ve need to say it again,” Kirill insisted as he pulled me into an embrace. He nestled his face into the curve of my neck and breathed in deeply. “I remember zings I said to you and...” He let out a shaky breath. “It tears at me.” Kirill lifted his face and met my stare, his eyes full of tears. “I can't believe I vould ever speak to you like zat.”

  “I said horrible things to you too.” I looked from Kirill to the rest of them. “To all of you. And quite recently, I might add. I went evil and all of you were under a spell; that gives us a pass. We've forgiven each other. It's over. Now, let's forget it.”

  “I won't be able to forget until I feel your body pressed against mine.” Trevor eased me away from Kirill and started to slide my dress up. “I need my scent on you, Minn Elska. I need it now.”

  The other men slipped out of their clothes as Trevor undressed me. Then I was wrapped within muscular arms and wolf musk. Trevor nuzzled his face into my hair and breathed deeply, just holding me a few minutes before releasing me into Viper's embrace.

  “My star,” Viper whispered in my ear. “Your light called me from the Void, and I turned on you. It was worse than when you made me evil. Even in that darkness, I loved you. I thought that if evil couldn't break us, nothing could.”

  “Nothing can,” I said vehemently.

  “Not for long,” Azrael agreed as he slid a hand over my hair.

  Az pressed his body against my back, and Viper eased away to give us a moment together. I turned into Azrae
l's arms and laid my head on his broad chest. His wings were put away, but I still felt completely surrounded by him. We stood that way for awhile, just breathing each other in. Just feeling. Then Arach laid his warm palm on my lower back, and I slipped away from Azrael to hold my dragon.

  “A Thaisce,” Arach murmured as he lowered his face to mine, “my mind was a bleak wasteland of rage and insanity. There was this screaming—constant screaming that I couldn't stop—it blocked all thoughts except one; that you had betrayed me.”

  “It was the same for me,” Re admitted. “I couldn't concentrate; couldn't move past the feeling of betrayal.”

  “I felt it too,” Odin added. “Similar to grief but darker. A well of fury shrieking incessantly.”