The Tainted Web (The Godhunter, Book 7) (32 page)

The birds cheered and everyone else added their own voices to the mix, creating a thunderous cacophony of victory.

“We need to check on the casino and see how things went with Mica,” Trevor placed a hand on my shoulder after the shouting died down.

“
No need,” Kohana tapped his head, “we've already been in contact. Mica is dead. It's over.”

“
Then there's only one thing left to do.” I nodded.

“
What's that?” Kohana asked politely.

“
What every lion does after a kill,” I started to smile, “we eat.”

Chapter Forty-Five

Odin, our sons, Thor, and the rest of the Thunderbirds joined us for the victory celebration at Pride Palace. They evidently had an easy time subduing and killing Mica once he was cut off from escape. They said they envied us the battle but I'm hoping that was just macho talk because battle should never be envied.

Speaking of battle envy, Fenrir came bursting in halfway through the food prep, raging about not being invited to the spider squashing. From him, I knew it wasn't just macho talk but I forgave him his violent tendencies, it was a part of his nature, one instilled in him since childhood, when he was hunted by his own kind. So I simply smiled and patted his arm, promising to make sure he was a part of the murder and mayhem next time.

“
Well at least you invited me over for the food,” he grinned and went to make himself a plate.

Torrent, who'd been let out of the theater after Iktomi was dead and dismembered by Thunderbirds, stared at Fenrir in wide-eyed wonder. I guess the sight of a scarred giant wolf god could be a little disconcerting the first time. I patted his shoulder and introduced him to my adopted father.

“Should we invite him to the Wild Hunt?” Arach was seated beside me on my right, a place where Kirill normally sat but had given up to Arach for his part in saving my life.

“
No,” I said quickly, shivering to think that I hadn't gotten out of Kael's Hunt after all. “I think the Wild Hunt is too much, even for Fenrir.”

“
As you like but I'm afraid I need to return,” Arach took my hand, “I've already been gone too long.”

“
I know,” I stood up and he followed. “I'll walk you out.”

“
You won't be returning with me?”

“
I'll be right behind you,” I held up the ring. “If I don't show up within a few minutes, come back and let me know.”

“
Agreed,” he gave a low laugh. “Meilyr, gather the imps, we're going home.”

A round of cheers greeted that statement and I smiled as the little guys came bounding up to us.

“It's about time,” Bearach grumbled.

“
Alright, come on then,” I laughed. “Roarke? Are you coming too?”

“
I think I'll stick around awhile longer,” he grinned and put his arm around Felina, one of the Froekn women.

“
Be careful, cat,” I warned, “that one has claws bigger than yours.”

“
Don't worry, Rouva,” Felina called out, using my Froekn title, “I won't hurt him too badly.”

“
Aw,” Roarke pouted, “now you've gone and ruined all my fun.”

“
Fuck me,” I whispered and turned away. “Werewolves and faeries, what's next?”

“
Don't ever ask that,” Arach chuckled.

When we reached the tracing point, the imps went first, waving jauntily to me before disappearing into the wall. Then Arach pulled me into a hug and laid his cheek to the top of my head. I could hear his heart beating rapidly beneath my ear and his arms were tight around me. He sighed, the warmth of his breath stirring my hair.

“I'm sorry I yelled at you today,” he finally whispered.

“
I'm sorry I was an idiot and didn't wait for you.”

“
Please don't run into battle alone again,” he pulled back and looked down at me earnestly. “You're not alone, Vervain. You have the Froekn, the Intare, and the entire Fire Kingdom at your back, not to mention your assorted god friends.”

“
The God Squad,” I murmured.

“
What?”

“
I call them The God Squad.”

“
Of course you do,” he rolled his eyes.

“
Well The God Gang didn't have as nice a ring to it.”

“
Vervain,” he groaned. “I'm leaving before you drive me even more insane.”

“
Okay but just one more thing.”

“
Oh, by the sacred tree, what is it?”

“
Thank you for saving my life.”

He laughed, rubbed a tired hand over his face, and then pulled me into a savage kiss. I wrapped myself around him and kissed him back with all the frustration, anger, and fear that had been building up throughout the day. It was a violent release of a kiss and it left me feeling peacefully exhausted.

“Five minutes,” he rumbled softly, “and then I come back for you.” Then he was gone.

I leaned against the wall, and contemplated what waited for me in Faerie. I felt as at home there as I did in my little house in Kaneohe, or even Pride Palace. Faerie was right, I had a triple identity and as confusing as it may get, I had to learn to live with it. What I wasn't sure I could learn to live with though, was the Wild Hunt. I could understand it now, even appreciate the necessity of it, but live with it, participate in it?  I just didn't know.

“Vervain?” Thor's voice brought my head up, my thoughts out of blood and flesh.

“
Thor,” I was relieved to find no pull towards him, no attraction beyond an appreciation for his obvious good looks. “What are you doing back here?”

“
I wanted to apologize,” he held out the ring I gave him and my heart leapt until I realized that it was probably a fake. “I thought it was still with me but I guess I was bamboozled.”

“
Did you just say bamboozled?” I choked on a laugh. “Who says that?”

“
I do,” he frowned at me, “I just did.”

“
Thor,” I shook my head as I laughed some more, “you really need to get caught up on the lingo.”

“
There's no point,” he shrugged. “As soon as I learn the new jargon, humans twist it again. Why can't they just decide how to speak and stick with it? At least the fey are steady in that respect.”

“
Yes,” my thoughts returned to Arach and my future with the fey. “They're not the best at change.” Then I realized, Faerie wanted me because I was different. Maybe she knew that nothing could stay the same forever, that living creatures require change. Maybe she wanted me there to bring that change. “But I think it's time they did.”

“
Vervain,” Thor got the look he always did when he knew I was going to do something he didn't like. It was so familiar, so comforting, I lost a lot of the anger I hadn't realized I'd been harboring for him.

“
You aren't to blame for the ring,” I took the fake from him, “it was my fault but let's just erase this last trace of it, shall we?” I held it in my hand and blew a small stream of fire onto it, melting it into a lump. It popped and sizzled, then puffed into nothingness. “Whoa. Guess there was a bit of magic in that as well.” I looked up and found Thor staring at me with his jaw hanging open. “What?”

“
I knew you were dragon-sidhe,” he whispered, “but I had no idea what that entailed. So you're fireproof?”

“
Yep, pretty cool, huh?”

“
Pretty hot is more like it,” he snorted.

“
Very funny,” I smiled at him, feeling like I'd finally closed the door on Thor and I. The spell had accomplished one good thing at least. It had shown me that even though I didn't want Thor anymore, the resentment I had felt over the way he'd ended things had still been there, buried and festering in my heart. It had been poisoning my other relationships and now that it was gone, I knew things would be better not only with Thor but with my lovers. “Come here.”

He gave me a surprised look before giving in and giving me a hug. I breathed in his electric scent without a tinge of hurt coming with it. His arms tightened and his hair fell around my face, the golden red of it like a sunrise for my heart, a new beginning. I let myself remember him, let the old feelings wash over and through me, and it left me happy. I was glad I'd had the time I did with him, we didn't make sense together anymore but what we had in the past was wonderful and I felt lucky to have the memory of it on top of all the other great loves in my life.

“Thank you,” I said as I pulled away from him finally.

“
For the hug?”

“
For finding me,” I realized then that Thor had been the key. Without him, I could never have opened the door to this life. “For helping me find myself.”

“
Vervain,” he swallowed hard.

“
I will always be here if you need me,” I laid a hand over his heart. “But our time is done, it's time for you to find a new love.” My hand warmed and I felt the butterflies of my love magic rise within me. I blinked a little in surprise, it hadn't wanted to heal him before, but then how could it if I was angry with him? “I wish a great love for you, a lasting happiness.” Love flew out of my fingertips and into him, and for a moment, I saw his heart, the anger he held for me and the love. I healed the break and left my blessing as a protection and guide for him, then withdrew gently.

“
Darling,” he whispered. It had been a long time since I heard that from him, even longer since my heart hadn't ached at the sound of it. “You didn't have to do that.”

“
I think I did.”

“
Goodbye, love,” he turned and walked away.

“
Goodbye, Thor.”

Chapter Forty-Six

I went back to the celebration. There was a big bonfire a little ways in front of the swimming pool and everyone seemed to be migrating there. The scent of burning wood rode the breeze and I closed my eyes, breathing it in along with the scents of lion and wolf. And Odin.

I turned to find him standing behind me, leaning against a supporting pillar on the veranda. I cocked my head at him, wondering about his enigmatic expression, and he pushed off the pillar and came down to where I waited.

“You finally gave him closure,” he said.

“
I didn't even know it was mine to give,” I glanced over to Thor. He was nearing the fire, a peaceful look on his face.

“
Sometimes, we don't know what power we hold until we try to wield it,” he ran a hand through the length of my hair, leaving it to rest on my hip.

“
And sometimes you sound like Merlin,” I grinned mischievously.

“
Well, I could grow out my beard,” he looked as if he were considering it.

“
Oh hell no,” I nudged him with my shoulder. “I don't want no ZZ Top beard falling in my face when we make love.”

“
See,” he grinned, “there's another power you didn't know you had, the power to control my beard.”

“
Only your beard?” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“
Maybe a few other parts of me too,” he pulled me back against him to show me which part I was currently controlling, and kissed the sensitive skin beneath my ear.

“
I've neglected you,” I frowned and turned around to face him.

“
You've been a little busy,” he kissed the tip of my nose.

“
Never too busy for my husband.”

“
Isn't that Arach now?”

“
Ouch,” I winced. “I
have
neglected you. You know you were mine first, even though I wasn't your first wife.”

“
Oh touché,” he chuckled. “It's okay, I know Arach's good for you, and he's actually easy to accept since I won't have to see you two together very often. It's just that previously, I was the only man who could claim to be your husband. It was something all my own.”

“
I know,” I bit my lip. “I would never have married Arach if I'd had all of my memories. It's kind of a sham marriage but one that's put me in a good position with the fey.”

“
You're exactly what and where you need to be,” he shrugged. “I can't argue that. I'm only confessing what these changes have done to me.”