by Amy Sumida
“If they didn't before, I think jumping one of their guys tonight made it clear,” Trevor muttered.
“The fact that it's a group of snakes and not a single god is important to note,” Azrael said, then looked at Torrent. “Torr, do any of the Aztec or Maya Gods have groups of weresnakes? Perhaps a race of demigods who are children of one of the serpent gods?”
Torrent spent a few seconds sifting through the Internet, then blinked and refocused on Az. “No. There are single serpent gods only.”
“We've been investigating the wrong pantheon,” Azrael concluded.
Chapter Ten
“All right, Odin's investigating his lead. Vervain, can you text Blue and tell him to call off the Och-Kan interview?” Thor asked.
“Sure.” I slipped out my cellphone. “Hopefully, he's somewhere with service.”
“Torrent, we need you to look into pantheons with large amounts of snake gods or demigod snake-shifters,” Thor continued.
“Like the Nagas?” Torrent asked.
I lowered my cellphone and stared at him heavily. The Nagas were a peaceful race of Hindu snake-shifters who lived in an underground city and rarely came to the Human Realm. I'd once saved a bunch of them from Vanaras—a group of monkey-shifters. There was no way that the Nagas were involved in this, and I conveyed that through my eyes.
“I'm not saying it's them.” Torrent held up a placating hand. “Just gods like them.”
I took a calming breath. “Sorry, Torr, I'm still a little upset about Viper and it's making me touchy.”
“It's okay, V,” Torrent said sweetly. “I understand.”
“And, yes, Torrent, similar to the Naga,” Thor answered his earlier question.
“Got it!” Torrent grinned. “And I'm on it!”
“The man was dark-skinned, but I don't think he was Indian,” Brahma mused. “Not my kind of Indian nor the Natives here. His features were wrong for those races.”
“You got a good look at him in human form?” I asked in surprise.
“I wouldn't say it was a good look.” Brahma grimaced. “It was a quick look but it was enough for me to be certain that the snakes are not from Central America as we'd originally thought. You're right, Azrael, we were looking in the wrong pantheon. And you're also correct, Vervain—these snakes are not Nagas. Regardless of my glimpse of the man or my opinions, the fact is that Nagas shift into cobras. No exceptions. And that snake was definitely not a cobra. Therefore, the Naga are not the snakes we're looking for.”
“These are not the droids you're looking for,” I murmured.
“What?” Brahma asked sharply.
“Sorry. Please ignore that movie quote outburst.” I went back to texting Blue.
“If these aren't the droids—I mean the snakes”—Hades grimaced at me—“then who are?”
“Torrent, focus especially on pantheons from Africa, the Middle East, and Australia,” Thor told him. “We're looking for gods with darker skin tones.”
“That sounded horrible.” I winced.
“It's racial targeting in a way,” Trevor agreed. “But not the same way that humans do it. We're targeting gods and we're all Atlanteans, no matter what human belief has done to our appearances. And in order to find the right gods, we have to narrow our suspects down.”
“We're looking for darker-skinned gods because we saw one,” Hades huffed. “It has nothing to do with targeting a race.”
“I know, it just sounded wrong,” I said.
“Gods are the ultimate proof that appearance has nothing to do with who you are,” Teharon's tone, as usual, was kind and soothing. “I'm honored to wear the face of my people”—he held out his arms, covered in skin that was a beautiful shade of golden-brown with a hint of terracotta—“but beneath the magic, I look like another man. Look like, but not am. I am the same person whether I have long hair or short, dark skin or pale, blue eyes or brown. My appearance is merely a link to the people I love, nothing more. Just as these snakes are linked to their people through their appearance, but they are all fair-skinned Atlanteans beneath.”
“So, what you're saying is that even though we're looking for a dark-skinned pantheon, these snakes actually fit the typical serial killer profile: white males, mid to late twenties.” I lifted a brow at Teharon.
“I suppose you could say that.” Teharon chuckled. “Though, I'm assuming they are far older than their late twenties.”
“Actually, there have been studies that show that the standard serial killer profile is incorrect,” Torrent started to say. “What is—”
“Torr, no,” Artemis stopped him. “Just, leave this one be.”
“Oh, okay.” Torrent blinked, then looked at me again. “Maybe you should try to talk to Viper again, V. It's been long enough, don't you think? I know I'd want to talk to Artie if we'd gotten in a fight like that.”
Artemis kissed Torr's cheek because what else could a girlfriend do after hearing something like that?
“Yeah, maybe you're right.” I glanced at Austin, who had passed out, upright in his chair, his coffee set on the armrest. “And it's time for cowboy-cops to go to bed.” I went over and shook Austin's shoulder gently as I took his coffee from him. “Austin?”
“Huh? Do wut?”
“We're leaving now. You can go to bed.”
“Ah'ite,” he drawled as he got to his feet, then stumbled down the hallway.
“Let's lock up for him,” I said to everyone else.
We cleaned up the coffee cups and tidied up a bit before we left because I thought it would be rude to leave Austin a mess to deal with in the morning. While we were cleaning, Blue texted back, saying that he was glad to give up the search because Och-Kan was proving difficult to find. When all was sorted, we locked up and stepped outside to find Aidan lounging in the bed of Austin's truck.
“You still mad?” Aidan asked me warily.
“Not at you. Can you take me to the snake house?”
“That's what I'm here for.” He grinned. “I figured you'd want to go over and check it out yourself but when I got back from transporting everyone, you were in your meeting and I didn't want to interrupt.”
“Thanks, Aidan.” I looked over at the rest of the God Squad. “I don't think we all need to go over. Why don't you guys trace home and I'll text you later with anything we find?”
The Squad agreed and we made our goodbyes before they traced away. My husbands stayed behind, of course.
“Can you do a chain trace with all of us?” Trevor asked Aidan.
Aidan scowled. “I'd prefer to just take two at a time instead of trying to drag all of you through the Aether with me.”
“It'll only be three trips anyway,” I said as I took Aidan's hand. “I'll see you guys there.”
Kirill took Aidan's other hand without a word and then Aidan directed our trace. We were drawn into the Aether, then reformed in front of a modest, one-story house nestled within a wooded lawn. A few of my Intare came up to us as we headed for the front door.
“I'll go get the others,” Aidan said and disappeared.
“Tima,” Lucas spoke for the group of Intare, “we've found evidence of several people living here and two human bodies buried in the back.”
“They killed the homeowners,” I concluded.
“It looks like it,” Lucas agreed. “The bodies match photographs in the house.”
“We need to get Austin out here tomorrow,” I said to Kirill.
Kirill nodded, then asked Lucas, “Anything else?”
“Just the tunnels and the scent of snakes so far, but we're still searching.”
“Show me the tunnels,” I ordered. Then I froze. In my head, I heard Viper's voice again, I'm not one of your lions. Did my lions resent me too? “Sorry, Lucas. I didn't mean to boss you around like that.”
Lucas blinked, frowned, then looked at Kirill for an explanation.
“Viper had temper tantrum,” Kirill said. “Accused her of giving him orders like lion.”
> “That fucker,” Lucas muttered, then saw my expression. “Sorry, Tima, but he has no right to say that. If he wants to fight with you about something, that's between you and him, but he shouldn't have made us a part of it. Viper will never be able to understand our relationship because he isn't Intare. You are our heart; you guide us. We listen to you because you're our leader and without you, we'd be lost. You freed us. You made us a family. There isn't a single lion who doesn't follow your orders willingly and gratefully. You are our goddess and we are honored to follow you.”
“Thank you, Lucas,” I said softly.
“We love you, Vervain,” Lucas added in a more casual tone. “We're family.”
“Now, that's more like it,” Re said as he stepped over with Azrael. “Well said, Lucas.”
My other husbands had arrived without me noticing and all of them looked as if they fully approved of Lucas' speech.
Lucas nodded to Re, then continued his report, “There are two tunnels, Tima.”
“Only two?” Azrael asked.
“Two tunnel systems, I should say,” Lucas amended. “One leads to Lexington but we're not sure where the other goes. Viper went down the unknown tunnel awhile ago.”
“What?” I growled.
“He insisted, Tima,” Kieran, another lion, said apologetically. “And we could hardly stop him.”
“How long has he been gone exactly?” Re asked.
“I don't know. Viper brought us here, then went back for Vervain. He returned with an attitude instead. I assume that was due to your argument, Tima.” Lucas gave me a sympathetic look. “Viper told Aidan to trace over the rest of our group, then stripped and headed for the tunnels, saying something about finding someone to kill.”
“Great, so he went off half-cocked and angry,” I growled. In my head, I searched for Viper, connected with his mind, and tried to be calm. Where are you?
Nothing.
Viper, I'm at the snake house and Lucas just told me that you went into the tunnels to find someone to kill. I'm very worried about you. Please, say something.
I'm still angry, Vervain. I can't speak to you right now.
“Minn Elska?” Trevor asked.
“I'm talking to Viper. Hold on a sec, Honey-Eyes.” Then to Viper, I said, At least tell me what you're doing.
I'm investigating. Isn't that what you want me to do?
Damn it, Viper! You can't go off down those tunnels alone. What if you wind up in another nest?
I'll deal with it like I did the last. I need to blow off some steam, Vervain, and you need to let me.
I went silent, but he was able to feel my anxiety and anger. I knew he could because I could feel his boiling fury. Viper wasn't ready to make peace with me but he wasn't so angry that he wanted me to worry about him.
Look, the tunnels seem to go on forever, Viper said in a gentler tone. We need to find out where they lead. They could take me all the way back to where the snake-shifters came from. And I'm the only one who can do this.
No, you're not. Odin could have shifted into a snake and gone with you, but you ran off before I could tell you that.
Oh, here we go. You know what? I'll talk to you when I have something to report, General.
Viper, come on.
Nothing.
Viper?
His presence vanished from my mind.
“Son of a sea serpent!” I shrieked. “He blocked me. That little shit blocked me!”
“Let's go home, Carus,” Azrael said gently. “The Intare can finish up here and we'll talk about this after we've had some rest. By then, maybe Viper will have calmed down enough to come home.”
My shoulders slumped—no one can keep up that kind of tension forever. It was exhausting on several levels. “Okay.”
Azrael pulled me in against his chest, wrapped his midnight wings around us, and traced us home.
Chapter Eleven
We stepped out of the tracing room into a brightly-lit entry hall. I squinted against the sunlight. Right—the time difference. I was ready for bed, but I could hear my children playing outside. From the accompanying sounds of splashes, I concluded that they were in the pool. That's an ordeal I wasn't currently prepared to endure.
“I'll check to see if Sam needs help,” Trevor offered and headed outside.
“You are a kind, understanding, and extremely handsome man,” I said as I headed in the opposite direction, toward the gilded, cage elevator in the nook beside the main stairs.
My other husbands piled inside with me and the elevator took us up to the top floor. None of them seemed as tired as I felt but then again, they hadn't been put through the emotional wringer as I had. I was ready to shut down for awhile and I knew it was more about my mind than my body. Just as I'd said to Austin earlier, I needed time to process.
I shucked off my shoes and then my clothes on my way to the massive, four-poster bed in the center of the room. Sunlight streamed in through the open balcony, but Re quickly took care of that, dragging the drapes shut. Behind the bed, a picture window looked out onto the butterfly garden but plants grew directly in front of it, covering most of the glass so that only a hazy light filtered through.
I climbed the low steps of the bed's dais, then crawled beneath the covers. My husbands got in with me, all of them as naked as I was, but nothing sexual was going to happen and they knew it. I snuggled in between Azrael and Kirill, the scent of lion musk and angel feathers lulling me to sleep while my racing mind kept insisting that we stay up and worry. My stomach burned with acid. The muscles of my back ran hot and cold. I couldn't stop replaying my argument with Viper, all of the what-ifs going through my mind. What if I had been calmer? What if I had remembered for one blasted moment that I loved him? But what if I was right, and he was an ass? And the worst what-if of all: what if we weren't meant to be?
But even my wild thoughts couldn't compete with the scent and feel of my husbands around me in addition to my exhaustion. Their warm, sculpted bodies were both comfort and security, making me feel protected and loved on a subliminal level that cut through the crazy talk in my head. I breathed in deeply and finally drifted off to sleep.
In the morning, I woke between Trevor and Kirill. The other men were gone and a bleary glance around the huge bedroom showed that they weren't in the kitchenette or the entertainment area. Sometimes the bed was the entertainment area but in this case, I meant the sitting area in front of the TV to my right. The drapes were pulled back to show that the balcony was empty too and night had fallen on Pride lands. Gentle moonlight drifted into the room along with a cool night breeze.
I sighed and snuggled closer to Kirill. I was spooning him, my front pressed against his broad back and my arm hung over his taut waist. As soon as I nestled my face against his neck, I knew he was awake; I could feel his pulse quicken against my lips. Behind me, Trevor growled softly—a sound full of arousal and impending conquest. The growl vibrated over my skin and called to the primal beasts inside me.
I reached back and pulled Trevor's head forward for a savage kiss. His erection nudged my thigh and more rumbling sounds crawled up his throat. I writhed back against him as Kirill flipped over to face me. His long, black hair was bound in its bedtime braid, baring the striking angles of his face. Sapphire eyes went indigo in the soft light of the moon, full of wicked promise.
Trevor's hand slipped over my hip and delved between my thighs, his fingers spreading, then rubbing urgently. I hooked a leg back over his to give him better access as Kirill moved his body down so he could comfortably suck a nipple into his mouth. My cry was guttural and demanding even as it was muffled by Trevor's mouth. The Wolf Prince eased back, his honey stare gleaming, and started nibbling along my jaw.
“I've been waiting for you to wake up,” Trevor rumbled in my ear. “My cock is throbbing.”
“Is it?” I whispered as I lowered a hand between us to find out for myself.
Trevor gave a strangled cry as I took him in hand and started stroking. My moans
joined his as Kirill sucked harder. Something roiled inside me, needing an out. I pushed both men back gently, then shimmied down the bed between them until I was at level with their erections. Thick shafts covered in silken skin, full to bursting with need—weeping with it. I wrapped a hand around each of them, then sucked Trevor into my mouth.
Trevor let out a low howl—something a wolf might make at the beginning of a hunt. Not joyous, per se, but anticipatory. A warning to his prey that it was being stalked and soon would fall to the teeth and claws of the pack.