“We'd better get a few hourglasses just in case,” I added.
“We'll take a whole bag full of hours with us,” Demeter said as she stood. “Those gods will never know what hit them.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kirill, Demeter, the humans, and I traced to Bilskinir Hall to find my husband pacing anxiously before the tracing room.
“Vervain!” Thor shouted in relief and hugged me.
Then he saw the others.
“Who are these people?” Thor scowled. “You've been gone for hours and you come home with a group of strangers?”
“This is Kirill,” I introduced Kirill first. “I met him when I freed the Intare from their nasty goddess, Niyarvirezi.”
“You what?” Thor gaped at me.
“Hold on to your leather trousers, Viking,” Demeter said, “things are about to get crazy.”
I gave Demeter a silencing look, and she held up her hands in surrender.
“She was hurting them, Thor,” I said. “Kirill was chained to the floor; as in a bolt through his ankle.”
“You were bolted to the floor?” Thor asked in horror.
“And I thought we had it bad,” one of the humans muttered.
“You know nothing of true pain,” Kirill said to him. “I vas tortured for years and zen I lost my mind.”
“And yet here you stand—seemingly sane—beside my wife.” Thor narrowed his eyes at Kirill.
“She's my Tima now,” Kirill said, “ze Goddess zat gives me immortality. You vill have to accept zat Vervain is no longer completely yours.”
“The fuck I will,” Thor growled as he started forward.
“Thor!” I pushed him back. “It's been a rough day. Do you want to hear all of it, or are you just going to beat on a man who's already been beaten too much to care?”
Thor's shoulders dropped, and his expression softened. He closed his eyes and sighed.
“You're right,” Thor said. “My apologies, Kirill. I trust my wife; I shouldn't be questioning her motives for bringing you here.”
“Thank you.” I hugged the big lug.
“Now, who are the rest of these people?” Thor asked.
“Demeter's ex-prisoners,” I said.
Thor looked at Demeter with wide eyes.
“Oh, don't act as if your people have never owned slaves, Viking,” Demeter hissed. “Freedom is a modern concept, and even then, it isn't worldwide; not for any world.”
Thor grimaced but nodded.
“You agree with her?” I gaped at him.
“I agree that she speaks the truth,” Thor corrected. “The Vikings were slavers; most of the conquering races were.”
“Well, I'm an American, and we don't...” I trailed off as I realized how wrong that statement would have been.
“You don't what?” Thor smirked at me.
“Yeah, okay; let it go,” I huffed. “I freed these people, and they're going to be staying with us until we can get them settled back into their lives.”
“Your wife is a hero, Sir,” one of the men said. “We're all very grateful to her.”
“Thank you,” Thor said. “And yes; she is valiant. Vervain has always been so.” He leaned down to kiss me softly. “It's the reason I first noticed her.”
“I noticed you because you put me on a table and tried to intimidate me,” I teased him. “With your big hammer.”
“And then you kicked me in my manhood,” Thor added.
“Ah; sweet romance,” Demeter said scathingly.
“Don't push me, woman,” I growled at her.
Demeter piped down, and Thor lifted a brow at me.
“I'll explain it later,” I said.
“No, darling”—Thor shook his head at me—“you promised to talk to me when you returned. You're going to explain it now.”
I glanced at Demeter warily.
“Oh, I'm not going anywhere,” Demeter huffed. “You know that I want vengeance as much as you.”
“Ull!” Thor shouted.
The sound of running feet preceded Ull down the hallway, and then my stepson came into sight. He stopped before us and bowed.
“You rang?” He asked Thor in his Lurch impression.
“No; I shouted,” Thor corrected with a frown.
“Why are you with this culturally inept idiot?” Ull asked me.
She shouldn't be.
Shut up, I hissed at Al.
They can't hear me. Come on; this is fun.
I ignored Al to say to Ull, “I love this culturally inept idiot.”
“Hey,” Thor growled. “I'm standing right here.”
“What did you want, Dad?” Ull was completely unfazed.
“Can you find some rooms for our guests?” Thor asked Ull. “I have to speak with Vervain privately.”
“Again?” Ull smirked. “How many times do you two 'speak privately' in a day? I'm starting to feel inadequate.”
“Amusing,” Thor said dryly. “Just see to our guests, please.”
“Any friends of yours.” Ull shrugged. “Come on, people; let's get you some rooms.” Then he jerked to a stop and looked them over. “Are you guys human?”
“All but Kirill.” I waved a hand at Kirill. “And we'll need to get the humans home. If you can help them locate any family or friends, I'd appreciate it.”
“Except for me,” Emma said urgently. “Remember that you said you'd introduce me to Fenrir.”
“Emma, please,” Clay whispered, but she ignored him.
“The Wolf?” Ull's eyes went wide. “You want to meet the Great Wolf? Why?”
“You're looking at the future Rouva of the Froekn,” I said without thinking.
“How do you even know that title?” Thor asked me in shock.
“Uh...”
“I told her,” Kirill covered for me. “Emma had dreams of Fenrir; ve believe zey are fated.”
What the fuck is going on today?” Ull asked with a laugh. “First those weird visions and now this. We need to figure this shit out.”
“I'm trying to,” I huffed.
“Well, if you really think this human should meet Fenrir, I'll give him a call,” Ull said.
“You know him?” Emma asked hopefully.
“Yeah; I'm friends with his firstborn son, Trevor,” Ull said.
My whole body shook when I heard the name, and Kirill steadied me with a knowing look.
