Of Gods and Wolves (11 page)

Those cameras could spot not only hidden weapons but hidden intentions. When someone used magic or experienced strong emotions, their aura changed and the cameras could detect it. They were actually able to see if someone was about to start a fight… or get lucky. Security by moonlight.

“Thank you, you don't know how happy it makes me to see that look on your face.” Trevor steered me around a pond fed by an impressive waterfall, falling from the upper floor.

The gentle sound of rushing water melded with the music spilling out of ingeniously hidden speakers. Real plants grew from sunken moats around the walls, the bases of the fake trees, around boulders, and in other assorted nooks, lending their fragrance to the illusion. Even the AC blew gently around us, ebbing and flowing like a natural breeze.

“Did you really do all this for me?” I swallowed past the sudden lump in my throat. “Tell me you didn't.”

“
I can't,” he'd subtly led me to a private nook beside the waterfall. “I hate lying to you.”

“
Trevor,” I shook my head.

The wolf inside me, the part of Trevor's soul he'd given to me in the Binding, jumped and danced at my accelerated heartbeat. I tried to tamp it down by thinking of Thor. He never would have agreed to me accompanying Trevor on his big n
ight, if he'd known Trevor was going to use it as a chance to romance me. I like to think that I wouldn't have agreed either but I try to never lie to myself.

“
Don't look at me like that, Minn Elska,” the endearment made something ache in my chest. S
alt in the open wound of my heart. “I did this to make you happy, to make you proud of me. You hate how the Froekn are paid assassins for the gods. This way, you can be proud of, and fully embrace, your new family.”

“
Yes, I hate it,” I bit my lip, “but I don't want you, or them, to feel like you have to change for me. I would never ask that of any of you.”

“
I know,” he grinned and took my face in his hands to lay a quick kiss on my lips. “It just makes me love you more.”

I nearly groaned. Trevor had taken to pronouncing his love for me openly, ever since the Yule party. No matter who was present and whenever he got the chance. Now it was going to be on GNN, the Gods News Network.

His cavalier behavior was pushing Thor to the edge. I'd had to get creative in bed, to coerce my lover to even let me escort Trevor tonight. Thor had put up with a lot and I didn't blame him for his frustration. I would have been a raving lunatic by now.

“
It
is
preferable to their previous vocation,” I smiled because it was hard not to, when Trevor looked at me with his heart in his eyes. I smiled even more when I saw TryggulfR making his way over to us. I'd recently found out that he went by the name Ty, when he was among us humans.

“
Greetings Rouva,” TryggulfR rubbed his face along the side of mine.

“
I can’t wait till Fenrir finds a mate, so you can stop calling me your Queen,” I looked around and relaxed even more when I didn’t see UnnúlfR. “You’re alone?”

“
UnnúlfR’s around here somewhere,” TryggulfR grinned. “Don’t worry, big brother’s in a good mood tonight.”

“
The only one I’d be worried about, would be him,” I smiled back. “Cause I’d have to kick his ass all over again, if he ruined Trevor’s big night.”

“
No ass kicking tonight, Minn Elska,” Trevor nuzzled my ear and shivers raced down my spine.

“
Stop working the Binding,” I pushed him back. “Thor will be here any minute.”

“
I’d never use the Binding against you,” he said softly. “What you feel for me is all you, Vervain.”

“
Then it's even more important that you stop touching me so much,” I looked away from his steady gaze. “It's hard enough to make this situation work without adding fuel to the fire.”

“
I'd never pressure you into anything you didn't want,” he backed away. “Do you feel threatened by me? Unsafe?”

“
No,” I sighed. “Not threatened but you
are
dangerous for me. I feel like an alcoholic who has to constantly cozy up to a bottle of Jack Daniels. Maybe I should start calling you JD,” I laughed to try and alleviate the tension.

Ty was looking away while he waited for us, valiantly trying to give us some privacy, but I knew his werewolf hearing was picking up every word.

“Call me whatever you want, Lady Hunter,” Trevor kissed my hand before leading me to the stairs beside the waterfall. “As long as you keep calling.”

The upper level was reserved for VIPs so there was another Froekn guarding the bottom of the stairs. He let us by with a half bow and I smiled at him. I think his name was Joseph but I wasn't sure. I’d met so many werewolves lately.

“Now, do you think you could leave the ass-kicking to the bouncers tonight?” Trevor escorted me to a couch, cleverly disguised as a little hill.

“
I guess so.” I sat down and was happy to find the “grass” to be comfortable. It was washable too, according to Trevor.

“
Thank you,” I saw him shoot a slightly pained look over his shoulder at Ty. So I elbowed him and let him feel some genuine pain. I’m nothing if not accommodating.

On our right, a stream poured out of the wall and over some rocks before flowing down to the waterfall, gurgling happily as it went. A railing covered in ivy rose up to discreetly keep people away from the water without taking away from its beauty. Small trees and flowering plants were strewn about, making the open balcony into a hanging garden. I reached over to gently stroke the delicate petals of an orchid affixed to a tree just behind our seat.

“Behind there,” Trevor pointed to the wall across the stream from us, “is the upper level of a running track I built inside the walls. It follows the perimeter along the ground floor but we had to take it up over the entryway so it could remain continuous.”

“
A track?” My eyes widened. “For the Froekn to run?”

“
Yeah,” he was shiny with happiness and I couldn't help but think it was a good look for him. “The entrance is in the Wild Room, reserved for  VIPs of course,” he winked at me. “The room looks even more like a forest than out here. They can change to wolf and be totally free in there and when they feel the need to run, they can use the track. I lined the track with plants so it would feel like we were running through the woods. Except in there we don't have to worry about gods attacking us or humans spotting us. I've used it a bunch of times already.”

“
It sounds wonderful,” I squeezed his hand, an odd sense of pride filling me.

Trevor had known nothing but killing his entire life, for him to make a turn around like this was mind boggling to me. Of course, being an assassin had paid extremely well and opening the club was no financial hardship for him, but to handle the business end of it and do it successfully... I was impressed.

I got up and walked to the edge of the balcony to check out the downstairs from a bird’s-eye view. Trees “grew” thicker around the walls but people were wandering through them, lounging on the flat topped boulders and grassy patches found there. Werewolf waitresses flowed through the crowd, expertly taking orders and delivering drinks. Sharp reflexes and enhanced hearing were going to come in handy for them.

Opposite me was the bar. The counter was an amazingly long piece of slate left in its natural form with weathered grooves and all. Tree stumps carved into seats and coated with varnish, swiveled on hidden pivots as patrons spoke animatedly to each other, the air around them thrumming with excitement. People were already three deep back behind the seats, waiting for the eight hardworking Froekn bartenders to serve them.

A fine mist hung in the air to my right, rising from the waterfall, little rainbows from the subtle lighting flashing through it. My gaze followed the water down to where it pooled in a surprisingly natural looking basin of plant infested rocks. Tucked in among the plants were also little two-seater niches for people to take a breather or steal a kiss. Past that was the entrance and past the entrance was a long wall enclosing the Wild Room Trevor had spoken of. Around the corner, a large Froekn bouncer guarded the doorway to it.

Music was playing at a comfortable level and there were werewolves among the people on the dance floor already. The Froekn looked like they were in Wolfie Heaven and I was sure their delight would go up another notch as soon as they checked out their special retreat.

“
So how do you like our little paradise, Minn Elska?” Trevor’s arms slid around my waist and I felt his chin come to rest on my head. His scent enveloped me, exotic spices and wolf musk. It resounded inside of me the way some smells do, as if it were connected to a memory. It wasn't a memory though, just a feeling. Calm perfection; the scent meant safety, home, and love. I tried to push it away and remind myself of the fact that those were the things I felt when Thor held me as well.

“
It’s beautiful, amazing, I've never seen anything like it.” I rubbed his arms, the corded muscles tightening in response. I could only be strong for so long okay? “Is Fenrir coming?”

“
I’m here, little Frami,” Fenrir’s deep voice came from behind us, pulling me around to face him.

“
Where'd you come from?”

“
The Family Room,” Fenrir pointed back over his shoulder at a door marked
Employees Only,
hidden partially behind a tree.

“
The Family Room?” I edged away from Trevor so I could give him an inquisitive look. “How many special rooms are in this place?”

“
It's just a spot to trace in,” Trevor shrugged.

“
Tell her about the vamp rooms,” Fenrir smiled proudly at his son.

“
There are light-tight rooms with single cots and steel doors back there as well,” Trevor leaned back against the railing and crossed his ankles. “In case any of our guests are vampires who party too long and get caught by the dawn, they can pay a small fee to spend the night. They can also be used as holding cells if anyone gets out of hand.”

“
That's brilliant, Trevor,” I was overwhelmed by his thoroughness. “You've thought of everything.”

“
Yes,” Fenrir looked out over the club, “this is quite an accomplishment.” He greeted us both with a face rub before turning to greet TryggulfR. Trevor beamed at me. There was nothing like a father’s praise.

“
Would you like a drink, Father?” Trevor waved at a waitress who was working the upper floor.

“
Yes, I'll have some mead,” Fenrir looked at the waitress and paused. “Samantha?”

“
Yes, Valdyr,” The girl greeted him formally with a slight bow.

“
Have you taken
all
my wolves?” Fenrir turned back to Trevor as Samantha went to get his drink.

“
He's trying to make honest wolves of you,” I left Trevor to wrap an arm around Fenrir and felt my love magic reach out to him. Yep, our connection was still there and it probably always would be.

“
Assassination has been an honest living for hundreds of years,” Fenrir stared down at me from his impressive height, with those honey-eyes that were so like Trevor’s.

“
It’s not anymore,” I reached up to tuck a long strand of glossy black hair behind his ear, which I could only do because I was wearing stilettos. “You don’t need to kill for anyone anymore. You have more than enough wealth and now your Froekn can learn other ways of making a living.”

“
How can you be so fierce and yet so soft, little Frami,” Fenrir set me back next to Trevor a little reluctantly.

“
You can only be truly fierce with great passion,” I resisted sliding an arm around Trevor’s waist, “and passion is the root of
com
passion. All great fighters should have something to fight for, something they love.”

“
Sometimes your words make me laugh,” Fenrir walked over to the railing beside me with a secret smile, “and sometimes they make me think, but they always make me grateful to have you as our Rouva.”

For once, I didn’t ruin a grand compliment with a joke. I just took Fenrir’s huge hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “Thank you.”

He nodded curtly and stared out over the club. “VѐulfR, you’ve done well… in so many ways.” Fenrir glanced down at me and then back out.

“
Thank you,” Trevor pulled me in against him and I looked up at him abruptly. Was that jealousy? I remembered what Hermes had said and frowned. No, those were just stupid rumors, Trevor wouldn't believe them.

Still worrying over the possibility of a jealous wolf, I looked down into the club and saw a thickly muscled man making his way swiftly to the stairs. He was way over six feet tall with long dark hair in a thick braid hanging past his shoulders and a neatly trimmed beard. I looked over his jeans, blue T-shirt, and black leather jacket with interest. It was kind of surprising to see Odin dressed so mundanely.