“Why haven't you told us?”
“I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings,” I said. “It's a private moment that I take for myself. I don't get a lot of those around here.”
“No; I imagine that you don't,” he said softly. “I can give you that peace, Vervain. I can give you anything you want.”
I went still; searching his eyes. The savagery was gone—both the wild love and possessive fire. But this wasn't Trevor either. Even when Trevor was dominant, his wolf peeked through; I'd seen him several times before, and now, I knew what to look for. No; the Wolf hadn't receded for the man; this was someone else entirely. I took a deep breath and finally registered that other scent. It wasn't so much a smell as a lack of one. There were empty places within Trevor's musk of wolf and man.
“Katila,” I whispered.
That beautiful, beloved face above me twisted into an unfamiliar smile; a smile that was greedy and covetous. You may think that's the same as being possessive and jealous, but it isn't. Greed is selfish and covetousness is the bitter envy of what you don't have. Possession has a root of adoration within it and jealousy can be a primal way of expressing the fear of losing someone or something you treasure. There was no affection or fear here. No treasuring anything. This man looked at me as if I were a thing to use and amuse himself with. Part of him wanted me because it meant taking me away from his enemy and the other part wanted me for my magic.
“What do you want?” I asked Katila calmly, even though my heart raced. “Why are you doing this to us?”
“You helped murder my father, Godhunter,” he said with a scowl. “All of you. But I know now that it was fate pushing us together. I was meant to rule Hell, and you were meant to rule beside me. It's so clear to me now that I'm shocked I didn't see it before. A triple-souled woman born of a faerie and then of a human; touched by a god and turned into a goddess. You hold the Trinity Star in your chest; something so powerful that its magic cannot be completely fathomed.” He stroked my starlight hair again. “You're a faerie queen and a queen of beasts, but it's your dragon who convinced me. Hell is meant to have a dragon ruling it. You were born to be my queen.”
I gaped at him; astounded that this unknown god could have such a high opinion of himself.
“You egotistical bastard,” I said with soft ferocity. “What makes you so damn special that you think you can take down Lucifer himself and rule in his place? And what would you rule if you did? A dead land without people?”
“A dead land with dead people,” he said calmly. “You need me too, Vervain; you're drowning in this life. Your husbands smother you, and yet you're about to marry another man. All of them claw at you for your time and affection. To fuck you and breed you.” He gently stroked my cheek. “And it's become a strain, hasn't it? You have to sneak away at night to find peace.”
“And now you're going to use my secret against me,” I said as I shook my head. “You're a piece of work. Poor quality work. I don't need nor want you. I'm blissfully happy with my family, and I will destroy anyone who threatens that happiness.” I rolled us suddenly and gripped Trevor's face as I stared into Katila's soul. “You're a sad little boy who got the short end of the magic stick. Your daddy was a big god, but you're just a footnote; barely spoken of. And now, he's dead and you have his magic string. Do you really think you can take Hell with it?”
“The Pasha is stronger than you know, and so am I,” Katila growled. “I will consume every demon soul in Hell with its help. With all that power inside me, I'll be greater than any god who's ever lived.”
“How?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “How are you able to take another god's power?”
“Worried that you won't be the only one who can do it anymore?” He taunted me.
“You're bluffing,” I said and exhaled out of my nose derisively. “You can't take their magic.”
His expression hardened. “I can! I'm special. You'll see. When I'm full of demonic power you'll know that I spoke the truth, and you will change your mind about me.”
“Even if you were the only god who lived, I wouldn't want you,” I said scathingly. “You're pathetic; a body-thief and a rapist. You have to steal things that you could never gain on your own.” Then I turned my head and shouted, “Azrael! Bring your scythe now!”
By the time I turned back, Katila was gone, and the Wolf was lying beneath me; gasping for air.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Wolf was on another rampage and this time it was our bed that was suffering. He growled as he rent the sheets, he howled as he overturned the mattress, and he snarled as he ripped apart the pillows. Feathers floated down around the werewolf as Odin and Azrael watched in horrified fascination.
“Stop it!” I'd finally had enough.
I grabbed his arm. The Wolf snapped his teeth at me, and I roared back.
“He could have raped you again,” the Wolf said through his panting breaths. “And you wouldn't have even known.”
“I would have known,” I said calmly. “I know how to tell that it's him; his scent is empty.”
“Empty?” The Wolf frowned.
“There are holes in your scent when he possesses you,” I said. “I inhale and it's like a skipping record; there are words missing.”
