I said goodnight to Ull and Kirill—Ull had found Kirill a guest room as well—and then headed to bed with my husband. As Thor and I settled in for the night, Nick climbed into bed with us and settled between our feet. A light rain started to fall outside the open windows, but none of it ventured inside; all of Bilskinir was warded against the elements. So, I curled up with Thor, and we listened to the rain and Nick's purring as we drifted to sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
I felt anxious when I woke tangled in Thor's embrace. I could feel this life becoming more real—more permanent—and it scared me. Then it scared me that I was scared. I loved Thor and my life; I shouldn't want to lose this. But the memories had swayed me; both the good and the bad. Then there was Persephone; to be able to have my friend back would be miraculous. I was so conflicted that I didn't want to open my eyes; maybe I could simply sleep away the madness.
But Thor woke up and instigated our morning lovemaking session. I'd never been good at resisting him; particularly not when lying in bed naked beside him. Soon, we were writhing against each other; hands grasping and lips placing kisses everywhere they could reach. We shouted our way into satisfaction and then took a hot shower together before we got dressed and joined our guests for breakfast.
“You two look refreshed,” Ull noted with a grin, but then he saw my eyes. “And worried. It's going to be okay, V.”
“I hope so,” I whispered as I took a seat. My gaze wandered to Kirill, and he gave me a soft smile.
“It vill be,” Kirill affirmed. “I have faith.”
“In what?” Ull laughed. “We're gods; there's no one for us to have faith in.”
“I am not a god,” Kirill shot back. “I am a demi-god, and Vervain is my goddess. So, I have faith in her.”
“Thanks, Kirill,” I said as Thor scowled. “I wish I could have the same confidence in myself.”
“We will take care of this today, darling,” Thor promised me. “By tonight, everything will be back to normal; I'm certain of it.”
I stared at Thor with a bittersweet ache filling my chest. I knew that I loved him in both timelines, but if things went back to normal, as he said they would, I would lose him. The thought brought a wave of panic.
You'll lose Thor, but you'll gain so much more, Al said. Don't worry yourself with these thoughts. Trust me; when you return to your true path, you'll be relieved.
Will I remember this? I asked wistfully.
Honestly, I don't know, but the way you and Re remembered each other from the future would suggest that you might.
Re? I asked. Future?
Never mind that.
Are you talking about the Egyptian God? The golden guy?
Don't worry about it.
He and I will...
If you haven't remembered, I don't want to say anything.
Just tell me! I screeched.
“Vervain?” Thor stroked the hair back from my face. “It will be all right; I swear it.”
“Huh?” I blinked distractedly.
“I think Mom needs some coffee, Dad,” Ull said.
“I'll get it,” Kirill offered as he stood.
“She takes it with cream—” Thor started to say.
“I know,” Kirill cut him off and disappeared into the kitchen.
Thor frowned after Kirill and then transferred that stare to me. “How does he know how you take your coffee?” Thor growled.
“I told him,” I said simply.
“You had a coffee conversation already?” Thor asked.
“Yep. It's just coffee, Thor. It's not as if we talked about what I like in bed.”
Ull chuckled. “Dad, what's your problem with Kirill? He's a cool guy, and he says that he's Vervain's Ganza; something about protecting her. That's a good thing, isn't it? The more people protecting Mom, the better.”
“I suppose.” Thor resumed staring at the kitchen door.
“Hey, are you going to be okay with me going to see the Pride today?” I asked Thor. “I need to motivate them into helping us, but if you don't trust me... ”
“Darling, I trust you implicitly,” Thor protested. “It's just this strange situation that I don't trust. If you leave again, are you going to come back with more strays?”
“Thor.” I rolled my eyes.
“Well.” He shrugged. “You can't blame me for wondering.”
“I'm going straight to Pride Palace and then coming back home,” I promised.
“Pride Palace?” Ull asked. “You already have a name for it?”
“It seemed right,” I said.
“Talking about things that seem right.” Ull smirked as Kirill walked back in and set coffee and plates of food before Thor and me. “Fenrir was here last night.”
“Thank you,” Thor rumbled to Kirill as I gave him a smile.
“So, I missed meeting the Wolf God?” I asked.
“You and Dad were a little busy,” Ull said. “We didn't want to interrupt you like Grandpa did.”
Ull laughed as I blushed.
“Odin told you about walking in on us?” Thor asked in surprise.
“He didn't have to,” Ull said gleefully. “His horrified expression when he returned to the library said it all.”
“Great.” I sighed.
“It's not a secret that you have sex, Mom,” Ull said gently. “It was just funny to see Grandpa so embarrassed.”
“It is kind of funny now,” Thor admitted. “Although, at the time, I wanted to punch my father in the face.”
“We all get those urges,” Ull said sweetly.
“Watch it,” Thor warned him.
“Ull, how did it go with Emma and Fenrir?” I got us back on subject.
“Oh!” Ull looked at Kirill. “That was something, wasn't it?”
“Da,” Kirill agreed. “Very romantic and strange.”
“Go on,” I said with a grin.
“Fenrir was romantic?” Thor asked in shock.
“You're not going to believe this, Dad,” Ull
