Hades confessed that he had an affair with Nyx before he met Persephone. That union had resulted in Macaria's birth. For me, that cinched it. Love is the biggest motive for murder; especially unrequited love. Hades swore that Nyx didn't care for him, but people often profess the opposite of what they feel—especially when they know their feelings aren't reciprocated. Either way, there was a connection between them that was too much of a coincidence to ignore.
So, Hades set about to gather the Greek gods who would form his army; those who were loyal to him and those who had loved Persephone—most were both. It was a long list. Not only did it include gods, but also demi-gods such as nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, and sirens. The Queen of the Underworld had been adored by her people, and they'd been stewing in their anger over her murder for years.
We left Hades to it and headed back to Asgard; the Squad and Odin returning to Bilskinir with us. We wanted to wait together for Hades' call. As soon as everyone was settled in the library, I pulled Thor aside and told him that I was heading over to see Demeter.
“I'll go with you,” he offered.
“That's okay,” I tried to sound casual. Even though we'd decided to go after Nyx, I still wanted to speak to Demeter alone. “Demeter won't be expecting you, and she's a little jumpy right now. Don't worry; I'll be fine; she gave me the tracing chant.”
“Okay, if you insist.” Thor ran his wide hand over my hair and stared into my eyes discerningly. He wasn't a man who was easy to fool. “Will you tell me what's really bothering you when you return?”
“We'll talk when I get back,” I promised without agreeing to much.
Thor grimaced; seeing the evasion for what it was. His expression settled into hard lines as he picked me up and began carrying me to our bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I asked him.
“I'm not letting you go like this,” Thor declared. “Something is off, and I have a feeling it's this whole vision thing. I think I need to remind you of who you are; who you really are.”
Interesting. Alaric mused.
If this is heading where I think it is, you'd better make yourself scarce, buddy, I snarled.
Vervain, I have seen it all. I am—
Scarce!
Very well. I felt his presence fade away.
“I know exactly who I am,” I said to my husband. “But if you feel so strongly about it; by all means, remind me.”
Thor smiled brilliantly and picked up his pace. We were in our bedroom in a matter of minutes; tearing our clothes off as soon as the door was shut. I ran my hands up Thor's massive chest as he lifted me to kiss me. With our lips merged, he carried me to the bed; laying me down near the edge so that my legs hung over the side. He spread my thighs and knelt between them with a wicked grin.
“Tell me how much you love me,” Thor said as he lowered his mouth to my sex.
A light crackling of lightning arced from his tongue to my flesh, and I screamed the words out. Thor chuckled in that satisfied way men do when they know they're making you feel good, and then he really set to the task. In ten seconds, I was writhing so much that he had to wrap his arms around my thighs and hold me down. His tongue flicked at me before thrusting inside, and I threaded my fingers through his sunset hair to pull him even closer. Then Thor closed his lips around that perfect spot and began to suck. I came with such intensity that I saw bright spots on the back of my eyelids. My legs shook; clenching around his face, and then I went still.
“Vervain?” Thor lifted his face to peer at me. He crawled up to lean over me. “Are you all right?”
“Far better than that, Viking,” I growled as I flipped him over. “Now, it's your turn.”
Thor laid back with a happy growl; his bent knees spreading for me. I slid between them—down onto the floor—and nuzzled my face against the velvet of his flesh. I inhaled his scent; even his manhood smelled like a rainstorm. I licked the tip to tease him, and as he groaned, I slid my mouth down his shaft.
I worked Thor with hands and mouth, and in a few minutes, he was climbing that cliff of desire. At the last moment, I pulled away; continuing to stroke him with my hand as I bit his thigh. In the background, I heard someone knocking, but I ignored it. I wasn't about to stop now to answer the door. Thor shouted out his release as the door opened behind me.
“Thor, are you—” Odin froze in the doorway.
I turned to Odin as I licked the blood from my lips; Thor's cock still in my hand. Thor looked up at his father and narrowed his eyes.
“I'm so sorry,” Odin stammered.
I would have been horrified, but another memory washed over me; of making love to a man while Odin watched. It rocketed me back into arousal, and I found myself turning to him more fully. Odin's stare widened and sparked; his eyes traveling down my body.
“Odin, get the fuck out!” Thor shouted.
Odin slammed the door as he left.
Thor sighed and fell back on the bed. “I think that's the first time my father has ever caught me with a woman.”
I chuckled as I stood and looked over my satisfied husband. “Is it? No teenage transgressions in Valhalla?”
“With who; a Valkyrie?” Thor scoffed as he sat up and scooted back onto the bed. “Hardly. I went to Earth for most of
