“Nearly?” I frowned.
There is so much more that you need to find before you can be complete again, Vervain, Al said.
“Vhat's wrong?” Kirill smoothed my hair back.
“I'm just processing.”
“Niyarvirezi?!” Demeter's call came again.
I saw Kirill flinch, and I narrowed my eyes at him. He glanced away from my penetrating stare, and as he did, his voice echoed in my mind. I heard him telling me about the horrors he'd endured under Niyarvirezi's rule, and those horrors included being raped by Demeter. I felt my body go cold and start to shake.
“Tima,” Kirill whispered. “It's over now.”
“No, sweetheart,” I said gently. “It isn't, but it will be very soon.”
I took Kirill's hand and led him calmly through the tide of lions even though rage was filling me to bursting. It took everything I had to keep the lioness at bay, but I wanted to confront Demeter as a person; there were things I needed to say to her. We rounded a corner, and there she was; standing a few feet back from the moving Pride. Demeter took in my state, and that of Kirill, and just gaped at us.
“I'm sorry, Demeter,” I said as we reached her, “but there's been a change of plans.”
“Where's Niyarvirezi?” Demeter whispered.
“Dead; I killed her,” I said as I released Kirill's hand. “Do you remember Kirill? I believe you were telling me about him on our way here. Now, I know exactly what you and that twisted sham of a goddess did to him; to Kirill and his brothers.”
“I... I just enjoyed what was offered. I thought they enjoyed it too,” Demeter stuttered.
“Ve did not,” Kirill growled, “and you know it. Ve had to be drugged to be able to perform.”
Demeter went pale. “I didn't know,” she whispered. “Niyarvirezi told me that she didn't have time to bed all of you and that you'd be delighted to have some female attention.”
“She told me zat she loved me,” Kirill said coldly, “and zen she cast me to you like I vas nothing. Do you really zink I enjoyed zat?”
“I'm sorry,” Demeter whispered. “I... I would never have...”
But then I remembered the vision I'd had of Demeter's home—the slaves within it; Emma—and I knew she was playing us.
“You would never have what, Demeter?” I asked her as my anger went from cold to raging hot. “Raped them like you rape those slaves you have hidden in your territory? Emma and Griffin; what about them? Do you drug them too?”
“How do you...?” Demeter's jaw dropped.
“I know more than you think,” I growled.
Demeter exhaled a long, annoyed breath and rolled her eyes as her whole demeanor changed. “The strong enslave the weak, Vervain; that's how it works. If you want something, and you have the ability to take it, you take it.”
I growled and started to move forward, but Alaric stopped me.
You'll need her in Tartarus! Think, Vervain!
“Son of a seahorse!” I cursed and then frowned at my own choice of words. I wasn't exactly foul-mouthed, but I didn't shy away from expletives either.
“Tima?” Kirill took my hand again.
“We're going to have to wait on your justice, honey,” I said gently. “There's another life that must be avenged first.”
Demeter scowled at me. “If you want to try to kill me, Godhunter; take your best shot.”
“Oh, I will,” I promised. “Make no mistake; I will see you dead for what you've done. But first, we're going to kill Nyx and Aion; the gods who murdered Persephone.”
“Aion?” Demeter frowned. “I never said anything about him.”
“I told you; I know more than you.” I smirked.
“Be that as it may”—she frowned thoughtfully—“Aion is an obstacle I wasn't aware we'd be facing.”
“Are you backing out?” I asked in shock.
“No; never,” Demeter growled. “But we'll need to be careful in our approach. Do you know that he's a god of time?”
“I kind of got it from his name,” I said.
“And this is why I've never liked you.” Demeter grimaced. “You're disrespectful and snarky.”
“When I find someone worthy of respect, I give it to them,” I said pointedly.
“Fine; our alliance still stands, Godhunter,” Demeter said. “But I need to return home and conduct some research before we go after Nyx and Aion.”
“Hades will need time to build his army as well,” I said. “But you're not going anywhere alone, Demeter.”
“Excuse me?” She huffed.
“We're going with you.” I nodded to Kirill. “And you're going to release those prisoners.”
“Now, Vervain...”
“Or I could kill you now.” I held up a hand to stop her threats. “You know that I can; stop kidding yourself. I just took Niyarvirezi's magic, just as I took Huitzilopochtli's, and that means that I can take even more. I could drain away your magic within minutes, and there would be nothing you could do to stop me.”
Demeter went pale. “Fine; I'll release the prisoners on one condition.”
“What?”
“You don't try to kill me until after Nyx is dead.” Demeter lifted her chin.
“That was the plan, Dementor,” I said smugly and then blinked in surprise.
I had a feeling that was the old me coming through again.
“What the hell did you call me?” Demeter gaped at me as the lions around us—those who had shifted back to
