“I did vhat I could,” Marzana growled. “I varned him zat his life vould change.”
“Zat's not vhat you did at all,” Kirill snapped. “You gave me vague varning; more like curse. You tortured me.”
“Tima?” Fallon came out onto the veranda carrying Lesya. “Is everything all right out here?”
“We're fine,” I assured Fallon. “But could you keep Lesya a little longer?”
“Sure thing, Tima,” he agreed with a narrowed-eyed look at Marzana.
“Mommy!” Lesya cried. “I stay!”
“I'll see you in a little while, honey,” I promised her.
“Daddy!” Lesya turned to her father; as she always did when I wouldn't give her what she wanted.
Marzana's gaze shot to Lesya in surprise. “You had a child?”
“Not now, Lesya!” Kirill growled and then gave Fallon a pointed look.
Fallon hurried away with her.
“How did you know about Niyarvirezi?” Kirill asked instead of answering Marzana's question.
“She looks like you,” Marzana said softly. “A beautiful little girl.”
“Answer me!” Kirill roared.
Everyone froze.
“Your father vanted to rule Russia,” Marzana said as she stood. “He offered me biggest sacrifice man can make.”
“Nyet.” Kirill shook his head. “He vould not.”
“He did,” she insisted. “I'm sorry, Kirill, but your father sacrificed you to achieve his greatness.”
Kirill's jaw clenched but he didn't look away from Marzana. “Zen vhy am I alive?”
“Because killing you vould have been vaste; you are too handsome,” Marzana said. “So, I gave you to Niyarvirezi instead.”
“You what?” I hissed.
“She said she vould treasure him,” Marzana said. “She promised me.”
“Niyarvirezi was an evil, twisted bitch,” I growled. “And you gave Kirill to her like he was a pet dog!”
“I saved his life!” Marzana screamed. “Vithout me, he vould be dead.”
“Nyet,” Kirill said softly as he stepped between us. “Vithout Vervain, I vould be dead; you put me into hell and my vife saved me from it.”
Marzana gaped up at Kirill.
“Let me translate that for you,” I said to her. “Get the fuck out of our home and never come back again.”
Marzana gasped and hurried away.
Macaria stood. “Um... yeah; sorry about that. I didn't know she had such a bad history with you, Kirill.”
“Just go, Mac,” I said tiredly. “And don't bring anyone else into our territory again.”
“Okay; I'm going.” Macaria looked back at Az. “Later, Az.”
Azrael just nodded.
The women went straight to the tracing room and traced away. Kirill and I turned to Azrael.
“What?” Azrael asked.
“Seriously?” Ted asked. “You don't see how uncool that was?”
“Thaddeus, please shut the hell up,” Azrael growled.
“Ted's right,” I said. “As he was earlier when he called Mac out on her rudeness.”
“Thank you,” Ted huffed as he threw his hands up. “Why didn't you back me then, Vervain?”
“Because I know her friendship is important to Az,” I said before turning to Azrael. “But you had no right to give her the tracing chant.”
“She fought beside me, Vervain,” Azrael snapped. “She's not a threat.”
“I don't care,” I snapped back. “You don't go giving out the tracing chant to our home until you absolutely trust someone.”
“I do trust her,” he said.
“Stupid angel,” Ted muttered.
“What's your problem with Mac?” Azrael asked Ted.
“Look man, I know I shouldn't be saying this shit in front of everyone, but you need to hear it,” Ted started. “That woman came in here as if this was her home, and she looked at you like you were her man.”
“No; she didn't.” Azrael rolled his eyes.
“Uh, yeah; she did,” Sam confirmed. “That bitch ain't right.”
“Don't call her a bitch!” Azrael growled.
“I'm sorry, Azrael, but Macaria had a very possessive look on her face when she stared at you,” Odin interrupted. “It was unsettling.”
“She's just looking out for me,” Azrael argued.
“Macaria needs to remember that you have a wife,” Ted said. “You don't need her to look after you.”
“Thank you, Ted,” I said.
“She knows that I'm married,” Azrael said. “This is ridiculous. Macaria is not interested in me like that.”
“She's single and she has eyes,” I huffed. “Of course she's interested in you like that.”
“All Macaria wants to do is help me get through this change,” Azrael declared angrily. “She may be a little uncouth, but you're not exactly the most refined woman either, Vervain. You, of all people, should cut her some slack.”
I gaped at him.
“Now, that was really uncool,” Ted whispered.
“Azrael,” Kirill growled. “You need to leave before I hurt you.”
“Fine,” Azrael snapped. “You want me to leave because I'm speaking the truth? I'll go.”
Azrael stalked into the palace.
“I'm sorry,” I whispered in horror, “did my husband just insult me and walk away?”
“Just give him some time to cool down and realize what a jerk he's...” Ted trailed off. Then he shouted, “That dingleberry!”
“Az left the territory!” I realized in the same moment as Ted.
We all went running for the tracing room.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Horsemen, my husbands, and I followed our link to Azrael through the Aether. We traced out onto a bleak mountaintop; cold and barren. We must have arrived just minutes after Azrael, but there was already a battle underway.
Azrael stood in the snow, surrounded by angels. Every angel who was attacking my husband wore a crown and brandished a sword; as if they were a band of winged, warrior kings. They were dressed in the traditional costumes of several different cultures and bore the mark of those same races on their faces.
I had no idea who they were.
The battle was a flurry of steel and feathers; wings whipping around to angle through the air like organic blades. The ring of steel on steel, the hiss of weapons, and the whistle of wings slicing through the air were the only sounds. There were no taunts thrown or battle cries shouted; just
