“I've spent my entire life fighting,” Viper declared softly, “and this is the first battle that means something to me. I won't back down now.”
“And you won't be alone,” I promised.
Then I clutched Viper tightly to me and traced us home.
Chapter Forty-Nine
I asked Viper to give me a moment and stepped out of the tracing room without him. Instantly, I was enveloped by my family. Children cried for me, men sobbed, and I found myself passed from one passionate embrace to another. After the kisses and the joyous declarations had been given, after I had briefly explained what had happened, and after the Intare and the God Squad got their chance to come forward and welcome me back too, I finally stepped away from my loved ones and eased back toward the tracing room. My older children clung to me, and I crouched down to hug them one more time.
“I'm not going anywhere,” I assured them. “Go ahead, Brevyn”—I held out my hand—“take a look.”
Brevyn solemnly held my hand and closed his eyes. He didn't do well with seeing the future on-demand, but his magic had been growing lately, and I had faith in him. He opened his blue eyes with a grin, and everyone smiled with him.
“She's back to stay,” he declared. “It's really her.”
“Now, I want you all to meet someone special. Someone Mommy met while she was away. He's going to be a part of our family.”
“Vervain,” Trevor growled, his eyes starting to glow. “What did you do?”
I stood up and faced my husband. “I made a man.”
“You made eight of them.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you saying that you brought them all back with you?”
“No. Seven of them wanted to return to the Void,” I explained. “I let them go. But the last one is important to me. I'm so sorry.” I looked at all of my men. “I know this is going to be hard for you, but he stood by me. He... I love him. I held onto him while the Trinity Star changed everything back. I couldn't let him go. Please don't ask me to now.”
Viper stepped out of the tracing room right on cue and took my hand. He faced my men and met their glares without flinching. “I held on too, and I won't let her go.”
“Fuck me,” Odin muttered under his breath. “It's him.”
I grimaced. It was bad if Odin were cursing, especially in front of the children. Then I remembered; Odin had watched Viper and me together. Talk about awkward.
“Um, we'll just be outside with the Intare. Come out and join us when you've worked this through,” Mrs. E said as she waved the God Squad and my lions out the front door of Pride Palace.
A horde of pointedly blank expressions passed behind her. Well, except for Torrent; he smiled brightly at me and waved as he passed. I gave him a little wave back.
“Mrs. E,” Trevor held out our son, “please take Vero with you.”
“Of course,” she cradled the baby in her arms and then looked at the other children. “You too, little ones. Come along.”
“Sorry, Aunty E, but we need to stay,” Brevyn said firmly. “This is family business.”
Mrs. E looked at me in surprise.
“It's okay.” I nodded at her. “They're fine here.”
Despite the worry in her eyes, Mrs. E left with the rest of the Squad.
“Vervain”—Arach shook his head—“I can't believe you'd choose to bring another man here when you had the chance to let him go. I can forgive your infidelity while you were controlled by evil, but this.” He waved a hand at Viper. “This is wrong. This hurts.”
“And I can't do this,” Toby whispered brokenly.
We all turned to look at him in surprise.
“I know that I said I could accept anything to be with you, Vervain, but when will it stop?” Toby asked. “You keep collecting men like toys. Putting us up on a shelf and taking us down when you feel like playing. Now, I understand why the others were so upset when we fell in love. This is too much.” He swallowed roughly and ran a hand over his face. “I can't do this anymore.”
“Toby,” I floundered for words as he stepped up to me.
“You're going to have to let one of us go, Vervain,” Toby declared. “Him or me. Who's it going to be?”
I gaped at Toby and then looked at Viper. Viper kept his expression carefully confident; full of faith that I would make the right decision. That faith steadied me.
I turned to look at Toby. We had gone through so much together. I had brought him back from the dead and he gave up our love to save me. Then it came back. We were pulled back to each other again. Of all my men, I never would have thought Toby would be the one to force an ultimatum on me. I hung my head. I couldn't make that choice. Toby would have to make it for me.
“I see,” Toby said stiffly and pushed past Viper to get to the tracing room.
“Toby!” I grabbed his arm. “I'm not choosing. I'm rejecting your ultimatum, not you.”
“That's the same thing. Goodbye, Vervain,” he said bitterly. “Enjoy your new lover.”
And then Tobadzistsini, God of Water and Darkness, was gone. We all stared after him for a moment before the shouting began.
I stood with Viper against the barrage of anger, hurt, and wild demands, our hands clasped tightly and chins lifted. Even Kirill opposed us. No one wanted another man in my life, especially if that man drove out one of them; a god who they had bonded with. I understood completely. Once a man is accepted into the fold, wrapped within the lioness magic, he becomes a brother to them. And I had just kicked their brother out of the house.
My heart bled for Toby.
