Not on my watch.
“Sekhmet was broken. You know what that's like,” I said as I took Kirill's hand. “She's healing now, and she's trying to move on. I don't think it's her.”
“She saved Toby, remember?” Trevor said as he laid a hand on Kirill's shoulder. “And she's trying to get back in Re's good graces. I agree with Vervain; I don't think Sekhmet would risk losing her magic forever by using Ptah's staff to kill demons.”
“But again, don't discount her or the Staff of Ptah entirely,” Athena said wisely. “Keep them in mind, along with the Keres, but continue your search. I'd recommend looking for a motive; find gods who would want to hurt Lucifer, and you may be able to narrow down the suspects. I'll also continue to investigate, and I'll send Aleksanteri with any news.”
“Thank you, Athena,” I said sincerely before I refocused on Kirill. “Lesya is alive and healthy, and we're a family. You're happy, aren't you?”
“Of course, I'm happy,” Kirill said and then leaned his forehead to mine. “I'm so happy zat I'm scared.”
“I understand completely,” I whispered to him. “But let's not allow fear to rule us. Like our magic, we can control it.”
“Da; no fear,” he agreed softly and then kissed me.
“Very sweet,” Aleksanteri said dryly. “Can you take it somewhere else?”
“Aleksanteri!” Athena snapped.
“Oh, please.” The owl rolled his large eyes. “You know you were thinking it.”
Alex spread his enormous wings and flew out of Athena's palace; navigating his impressive wingspan between the grand arches of her balcony.
“Owls,” Athena huffed as she looked back at me. “They are the most tiresome of birds.”
“I thought they were supposed to be wise?” Torrent asked.
“That's exactly why they are so tiresome.” Athena grimaced.
Chapter Sixteen
“Look into who would want to hurt Lucifer,” Azrael muttered as we strode out of Pride Palace's tracing room. “That would take me back to Angels.”
“Angels can't be the only ones who have a bone to pick with the Devil,” I said.
“No, but I still think we should follow the means and then find the motive,” Azrael said.
“Before we get into all that again, there's something I should mention,” I said as I headed out to the drawbridge veranda—it looks like a drawbridge that's lowered across our moat (an offshoot of the pool) but it's actually a veranda.
“What?” Odin asked warily.
“That goddess, Orco,” I said.
“Yeah?” Trevor growled.
“This could be nothing, but she knew who I was,” I said. “I introduced myself as Vervain—I even said I was only a tracker—but she said goodbye to the Godhunter.”
“Your name isn't all that common,” Odin pointed out as the other men started to look upset. “It would be very easy to make the connection between a woman named Vervain who knows Athena and the Godhunter. All it would take would be hearing about you once, and there are very few gods who haven't heard about you.”
I blinked, thought about it, and then let out a relieved breath. “You're right; that must be it.”
The other men started to relax too, and then Re walked in with Toby.
“What did Athena want?” Re asked. “Toby and I have been waiting here for over an hour.”
“Who told you about Athena?” I countered.
“Samantha,” Toby said. “What's happened?”
“Athena's having some trouble with a goddess who wants her to stop mining in Argentina,” I said.
Both Re and Toby stared at me blankly.
“Never mind that,” I said. “I helped her out, and she offered some suggestions for our investigations into the demon-killer.”
“Anything good?” Re asked.
Kirill stiffened, and I shot him a look.
“Not really; she had some names for us, but most of them are dead,” I said.
“Oh,” Re said softly as he looked back and forth between Kirill and me with suspicion. “Well, I was hoping we could discuss our wedding.”
“Now?” I asked in surprise.
“Did you have a lead to follow?” Re countered.
“No,” I admitted. “I was actually thinking of visiting Faerie.”
“You were?” Azrael asked.
“It's not like I'll be gone long,” I pointed out.
“True,” Az conceded.
“Faerie can wait,” Re said. “Our wedding is in four weeks.”
“About that,” I started.
“No, Vervain.” Re held up a hand. “No more delays; we've already pushed it back twice.”
“Don't talk to her like zat,” Kirill growled. “If you knew vhat she just did for you—”
“Kirill!” I snapped.
Kirill's eyes went wide, and he looked back at me apologetically.
“What did you just do for me?” Re asked with a narrowed look my way.
“Nothing,” I said. “I didn't do anything but analyze information reasonably.”
Re's jaw clenched as he glared at every man there except for Toby. He even gave Torrent a hard look.
“Watch it, Golden Boy!” Artemis pointed a finger at Re. “Direct that burning glare somewhere else.”
Re grimaced and turned back to me. “Tell me.”
“It's just an old grievance that makes some of us unreasonable,” I said.
“I am not unreasonable,” Kirill growled. “She took our daughter!”
Re went still as I groaned.
“What does Sekhmet have to do with the demons?” Re asked.
“Athena mentioned that Ptah's staff could claim souls,” Odin said calmly. “He's dead, but his wife is not.”
“You think that Sekhmet is using her husband's scepter
