by Sumida, Amy
He smiled maliciously and then strutted from the room.
“Does anyone recognize that man?” Trevor asked as he waved at the departing figure. “He's obviously a god and just as obviously pissed the fuck off at me or Vervain, or both of us.”
“I know him,” Hades said with dark gravity. “His name is Phonoi, translated, it means murders. He's a child of Eris, also known as Strife.”
“Fuck,” Trevor shook his head to a chorus of groans and grumbling.
“What? Who? Somebody clue me in here,” I searched the grim faces of my friends.
“Eris was Ares' wife,” Hades answered again.
“No fucking way,” I groaned and sat back in my chair. “Aren't I done with that crazy, fucked up family yet? How many of those weirdos do I have to kill to get some damn peace?”
The first goddess whose powers I took was Aphrodite and ever since her demise, gods had been coming out of the woodwork to avenge her or avenge someone who had tried to avenge her. I killed Aphrodite so Ares(her lover), two of their children(Deimos and Phobos- aka Dread and Fear), and Ares' two attendants(Trembling and Panic-I'm not kidding, you just can't make this shit up) came after me in revenge. When I killed Ares, Dread and Phobos tried to avenge their father. Now it appeared that his wife(who was probably happy about the Aphrodite killing but not so much about her husband's) was evidently sending their son after me. Surprisingly, Aphrodite's actual husband had never tried to avenge her death. What do you think that says about ol' Afro?
“And why can't they give their children normal names?” I continued. “I mean come on, who names their little bouncing baby boy, Murders? How did that conversation go? Oh look dear, he has your eyes. What shall we name him? Randolph? No. Edward? No. Oh, I know! How about Murders? Family of god damned psychos is what they are.”
“If you're quite done?” Hades raised an elegant brow at me.
“Sorry,” I slumped and Vidar patted my shoulder.
“Thank you,” Hades looked over to Trevor. “If Eris has set her eyes on you and yours, Wolf Prince, you'd better think about some serious defenses. Phonoi is only one of her many children.”
“Oh, let me guess,” I interrupted. “There's also Killer, Sadist, and Torture.”
“Now you're catching on,” Hades said dryly. “Try Famine, Battles, and Ruin. Just to name a few.”
“How many more are there?” I narrowed my gaze on him.
“Well, we probably won't have to worry about Horkos,” Hades looked thoughtful. “He's a god of oaths and tends to stay out of his mother's issues. But there's a total of thirteen more children, including Phonoi.”
“Fantastic,” I sighed. “She has a freakin' football team of evil villains. We could call them the Greek Bay Psychopaths.”
“Hey, someone wants to kill you,” Pan piped up. “Must be Friday.”
“So what do I do?” I suddenly felt really tired.
“What do you usually do?” Karni asked.
“Wing it,” I shrugged.
Chapter Eight
The meeting ended with a general sense of anxiety and a lack of direction. All I could really do was be more on guard. Trevor and Kirill wanted us to move into Pride Palace for the time being and I finally agreed it was a good idea. Which I didn't like. I abhorred the thought of letting my enemies send me running but I abhorred stupidity even more and it was just plain stupid to not make use of a safe haven when you needed one.
So Kirill went home to pack some of our things, as well as Nick. I stayed where I was to distract myself with refereeing my lions and settling all their silly disputes but there really weren't that many this month. My last hope for a reprieve from thinking about my messed up life was Fallon.
We went through my master suite and into the private inner courtyard to have the talk he'd asked me for earlier. At least the numerous butterflies who lived in the tropical garden could distract me if he failed to do so.
“Okay, Fallon,” I sat on a bench next to a gurgling fountain and gestured for him to join me. “What did you need to speak to me about?”
“I want to marry Samantha,” he looked like a man about to get his results from an HIV test.
“Really?” I was thrilled. Fallon and Sam made a great couple. “Sweet.”
“So you approve?” His face turned into a confused/hopeful combo.
“Yeah,” I gave him my duh expression. “Obviously I like her, we're good friends.”
“Yes but there's our differences.”
“What?” I looked him over like I was considering things. “You mean cause you're black and she's white? Mixed race babies are the cutest. Don't let society dictate your life.”
I couldn't hold my serious face in light of his outright shock. I started giggling and he slowly lost his dismay.
“Tima,” he laughed a little. “This is serious. We will most likely face some harsh judgments.”
“Not from me,” I held out my hand to him and he shook it. “Congratulations on being brave enough to choose love over acceptance. I'm proud of you and I will stand by you both. If she says yes, that is.”
“Thank you, Tima,” he hugged me and I laughed.
“Don't thank me yet,” I pulled back. “Cause now I'm going to tell you that your best course of action would be to ask for Fenrir's approval too. Maybe approach him like he's her father, cause he kinda is. Well, grandfather or great grandfather. I'm not really sure which generation she is. I never asked.”
“Fourth,” he said immediately. “He's her great great grandfather.”
“See,” I patted him on the back. “You've already shown that you really love her. Who else would care about something like that? Also, I'm so teasing Fenrir about being a double great grandfather. Great grandfather squared? Great to the power of two grandfather? Oh I'll think of something good.”
Chapter Nine
The emerald necklace was warm on my throat and my hand sought it automatically, playing with it as I listened to Samantha gush about Fallon's proposal. She was so happy and I was happy for both of them. A wedding would be just the thing to get everyone over all the recent drama, me especially. So why did I have this hollow ache in my chest?
Then the emerald pulsed and my vision clouded over, filling with a pair of dragon eyes. I frowned as they stared at me, slitted pupils narrowing before being obliterated by a sheet of fire and then fading completely. I blinked and frowned. Why was the emerald still showing me Nidhogg? I understood why it had the first time but I'd already been to Niflheim and returned no worse for wear, so why the reminder? Was I going to have to go back? As much as I'd liked the dragon, I sincerely hoped not.
Hel had made it clear that I wasn't welcome in her territory ever again and I had every intention on respecting her wishes. First of all because Niflheim is really fucking cold and I'm more of a tropical kind of person, though I do enjoy my a/c. Secondly because she scared me. A lot. She could turn people into trees, cold, barren, icy trees. No, I definitely didn't want to go back.
Sighing, I decided to let go of the quandary for now. I'm sure all would be made clear to me later, probably while I was screaming. C'est Lavine, such was my life. I'd get a T-shirt made of the saying if I wasn't positive that no one would get the joke. It's bad enough when people mispronounce my first name, to have to explain that I was substituting my last name in place of la vie because it was funny, would just be irritating. So, no T-shirt, I focused instead on Sam.
Her face was shiny, glowing. Her smile just wouldn't stop. She was stunningly beautiful in her joy and I should be thrilled to see her so. Instead, I had to stop myself from frowning, as I finally figured out what was bothering me.
It was so stupid, as jealousy usually is. There would never be a wedding for me. No white dress, no bridesmaids, no cute little werewolf flower girl. My life wouldn't allow for it. It stung a bit to realize I really wanted all that. I wanted to walk down the aisle, beaming at the man I loved, and watch him smile back at me. I wanted to make a vow in front of all
our friends and family, that I would love him for the rest of our lives. My heart was hurting with the want of it.
Stupid, right? Just go ahead and call me an idiot. Truly, how dare I be jealous of Samantha, knowing full well that her happiness would come at a cost. They may lose their friends and family over this. It may cause a huge rift between the Froekn and the Intare. I really wasn't sure how either side was going to react. Also, it wasn't as if I had a shortage of men who loved me. There was absolutely no reason for me to be jealous.
Too bad jealousy is a completely insane emotion and insanity doesn't play well with reason.
“Show it to me again,” I smiled brightly at my friend as I tamped down my insanity.
Sam held her hand out promptly, proudly displaying the huge, glittering diamond adorning the simple gold band on her ring finger. Princess cut and flawless to the naked eye, Fallon had done an amazing job picking out the ring. It was simple and classy, the square stone looking larger than the one carat it was supposed to be. It made her slender fingers look even more delicate and it threw shimmering rainbows all over the wrought iron table we were dining on.
“It's so beautiful, Sam,” I took her hand and turned it so the stone caught the light and sent more sparkles about. “I hope you both will be very happy.” The next time I had them both in front of me, I was going to try and give them the blessing I'd given Teharon and Karni.
“Thank you for giving him permission,” she turned her hand in mine so she was holding onto me. “We couldn't do this without your support.”
“Oh please,” I pulled my hand away awkwardly. “You know I love you both and you know I don't rule my lions like Fenrir does the wolves. The boys can marry whomever they choose, it has nothing to do with me.”
“Yeah, I guess I knew that,” she smiled grimly, “but sometimes people change when they're actually faced with a huge decision.”
“It wasn't my decision,” I said softly.
“Deciding that it's not your choice is still a decision, Rouva,” her eyes were intense, reminding me of my position not just with the lions but with the wolves. “What's even more amazing is that your decision caused Fenrir to choose the same.”
“I'm sure it had nothing to do with me.”
“His Rouva not only gives her consent but declares it to not be her choice at all?” Sam raised an eyebrow. “How could Fenrir not be influenced? He ran the risk of offending you if he didn't give his approval.”
“It's okay for him to offend me,” I huffed. “It's not like I'd end our relationship over a decision I didn't agree with.”
“But you would be angry with him,” she prompted. “Fenrir warned Fallon that our marriage would shock the entire Froekn family and may cause some violent reactions.”
“Then why did he agree?”
“I told you already, Rouva,” she sighed. “You. He said if you had not stood between us, he would support your decision and allow it as well. He trusts you and I think he believes that you're bringing necessary change.”
“Change yes,” I frowned, “but necessary? I'm not sure. It's an American trait to think that your way is the correct way, the only way. Do I think you two should be allowed to marry? Of course but do I think the Froekn culture should change because of it? I just don't know.”
“So what are you saying?” She was starting to look worried.
“I'm saying that I support your decision,” I smiled grimly, “but I also support the right of the rest of the Froekn to choose their own path. Change can come quickly but acceptance takes more time. The wolves have had this kind of isolation for so long, it can be hard to adapt and I don't think they should completely. I think a happy medium needs to be found, where they retain their culture while being open to being a part of others.”
“Why do you keep referring to the Froekn as they?” She frowned. “You're a part of us.”
“Yes, I am,” I sighed, “now. I wasn't raised the way you were though. I have no claim to your culture and I think it would be arrogant and dictatorial of me to force my views on the Froekn. I don't judge you as they may because my way of thinking is completely different and I refuse to judge them for whatever their response may be, for the same reason.”
“So we're on our own,” her shoulders sagged.
“No,” I hit her sagging shoulder. “I told you I'm with you. I will stand up for you and do everything I can to ensure your safety but I'm not going to use you two as poster children for the way the Froekn should be. You will hopefully be an accepted exception to the norm and if another Froekn decides they want to marry outside the wolves, then you will know that you've paved the way for them.”
“But they probably won't,” she chewed at her lip.
“Probably not, from what I know of the family... our family,” I chuckled. “You've probably got a lot of tussles to look forward to and Fallon will probably have to fend off a few wolf attacks as well but I really don't think they'll try to do serious damage to either of you. I think it'll be akin to joining a fraternity and getting hazed, just with more teeth and claws.”
“You're probably right,” her face was settling into grim but determined lines.
“Fallon can handle himself,” I mused and looked her over. “I'm pretty sure you can too.”
“Vervain,” she growled.
“Oh, now I'm Vervain,” I laughed and she huffed. “Don't stress about this, enjoy your happiness but be prepared for the fallout.”
“We will,” she sat back and took a sip of her wine. “Just one more thing... Rouva.”
“Yes?”
“Will you be my maid of honor?”
“I think I can handle that.”
Chapter Ten
There was a party in full swing when I finally made it back to Pride Palace. Loud music, pizza boxes, and drunk lions filled the common room. Fallon was in the middle of it all, looking smugly satisfied as he took a drink from his beer. I shook my head as I surveyed the Intare.
“Having fun?” I called and the music instantly went down a few notches, replaced with slurred salutations. “I guess you've all heard the happy news. I wanted to address this when you all were alert but it looks like I'm going to have to be the one to sober you all up.”
“Why?” Fallon got to his feet, steady and ready. “What's happened? Samantha...”
“Is fine,” I waved him back down and he fell into his chair with relief. “Happier than I've ever seen her. What we need to talk about are the possible reactions Fallon is going to experience.”
“Those wolves try anything and I'll...” Adrian swayed to his feet.
“You'll sit the fuck down,” I growled and he sat, looking shocked, as most of the Intare suddenly did.
“You've all forgotten something very important,” I walked further into the room, kicking empty pizza boxes out of my way as I went. “The Froekn are my family too. They're Samantha's family and so will be Fallon's family and by extension, all of yours as well.”
I let that sink in a bit before I continued.
“If this marriage is going to work,” I eyed my rowdy boys, “all of you will have to remember that and make an effort to act accordingly.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Lucian said from Fallon's left.
“It means, that if Fallon has trouble with some Froekn, you let him deal with it.” I glared at their suddenly sullen faces. “No retribution unless I okay it. They're probably going to give him a hard time but I doubt it will be more than Fallon can handle. You have to allow him to show them that he can handle it, that he's strong enough to be part of their family.”
“Of course he's strong,” Darius gave me a smirk, “he's Intare.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I held up my hands when they all started cheering to the wonderfulness of themselves. “We are lions, hear us roar. I get it but here's the thing: they don't. The Froekn have been assassins for years and before that, they were hunted. The wolves are bad-ass and they know it. You guys may be able to turn into lions but so wh
at? You're not trained fighters, you haven't killed for a living. You are not the same.”
“Well shite, Tima,” Jared's Irish accent turned the curse into something foreign. “I never thought I'd hear you tell us we're not as good as someone else.”
“You can't be the best at everything,” I shrugged. “I love you all but one thing I've learned from my years of fighting gods, is that you have to know yourself. You have to know your limits, your capabilities, and what you're willing to stress either for. You are all amazing men and strong lions but Fallon's marriage is about to bind him to people whose lives have been, for the most part, about killing.”
“You're bound to one of them,” Adrian pointed out. “Why is it any different.”
“You know why,” I raised my brow at him and he looked away submissively. “I was bound to Trevor without my knowledge, with no premeditation. Also, the little fact that he's their Prince changes things too but you forget, or maybe all of you don't know this, I had to fight to be Trevor's mate.”
A chorus of confusion greeted that statement.
“That she did,” Trevor came into the room, followed closely by Kirill. “TryggulfR, UnnúlfR, and then Fenrir himself.”
“Yeah and let me tell you,” I said after I smiled at Trevor, “they were all trying really hard to kill me.”
“The only reason you're not facing the same test,” Trevor came up and kissed my cheek before looking back at Fallon, “is because of Vervain. Dad knows she wouldn't stand for it or you'd already be in the arena.”
“Pit,” I corrected.
“It's a fighting arena,” he frowned at me.
“It's a big pit with a tunnel at both ends,” I raised a brow. “Loki has a fighting arena, you guys have a fighting pit. Just accept the truth and move on.”
“Fine,” he growled and turned back to my lions. “Many of the Froekn are upset that Fallon will not be tested. They may see fit to test you on their own. It may have been better to have you fight in the... pit.”