The sound echoed over the stone walls and trembled through the territory. The lioness magic recognized Lesya as my heir. And the heir apparent was pissed. We all went silent as a ferocious Lesya stepped defensively in front of me with Brevyn and Rian flanking her and faced off with my husbands. We'd forgotten about the children. Oh, Sons of Anarchy! Horrible things had been said in front of my babies. I crouched down and drew them back against me, into a hug.
“I'm so sorry, sweethearts,” I crooned. “It's going to be all right. Your fathers and uncles are just angry right now. People say cruel things when they're angry, but it doesn't mean that they don't love me. We'll work this out.”
“We know, Mommy,” Brevyn said calmly as all three of them stepped out of my embrace. “Go ahead, Lesya, tell them.”
“I like him!” Lesya shouted at her uncles and her father. “He sparkles.”
Then she strode purposefully over to Viper and took his free hand; a hand that had started to fill with starlight. The light vanished mere seconds before he touched her. Lesya smiled up at Viper as if she'd fully expected him to bank his light for her.
Viper crouched down, mimicking the pose I was still in, and let go of Lesya's hand to tap her pert nose. “I like you too, little lioness. You're strong like your mother. I see her in your face and I heard her in your roar.”
“Thank you,” Lesya said proudly before she hugged him. “I'm a lion princess, you know?”
“Is that right?” Viper smiled from her to me.
“He sparkles?” Re huffed. “What the hell does that mean? I thought he was a snake, not a vampire?”
“You need to pay more attention,” Kirill suggested as he came to collect his daughter. Kirill crouched beside Lesya and eased her out of Viper's arms. “He has star magic, Kotyonok,” he explained to her. “Zat's vhy he sparkles. It doesn't mean he's a good man.”
“But I like it,” Lesya said simply as she automatically went to her father. “It's just like Mommy's hair.”
“Zere are many stars in ze sky, Lesya,” Kirill said solemnly. “Zey all sparkle, but zey also burn. You must be careful who you give your heart to.” He cast a meaningful look my way as he stood up and tucked Lesya protectively in against his broad chest.
Viper stood along with Kirill. They faced each other with my daughter between them. I hurried to my feet as well and went to push them apart before blood was spilled in front of my children.
“Please, Kirill,” I laid a hand on his arm. “Viper has no one but me. I made him. I gave him life.”
“And you love him,” Kirill finished bitterly.
I just nodded.
“He's my uncle,” Brevyn announced. “I've seen it. He's family. Family is family so, stop fighting about it. Mommy has a big heart. She's the Goddess of Love. You can't be angry about that. She can't help who she is.”
My husbands exchanged a heavy look as I smiled softly at my son. Ever my protector.
“Daddy, don't be mad at mommy,” Rian said fiercely. “I don't like it! You're being mean!”
Arach burst out laughing and shook his head ruefully. I caught the glimmer of tears in his eyes and immediately let go of Viper to rush over to my fey husband. Arach caught me in a tight embrace and hid his face in my hair.
“I love you, Dragon. That's never going to change,” I whispered in his ear.
Arach swallowed roughly and nodded. “Very well, A Thaisce, you have my forgiveness. And my acceptance.”
“Thank you.” I kissed Arach tenderly before I turned to look at the others.
“Well, I guess we have an opening what with the Native American gone,” Re muttered.
“Re,” Azrael chided.
“She loves him,” Re said as if that were it. “We've had this argument already. When children have to tell you to accept your wife's new lover, it's pretty bad. Ridiculous even. But Brevyn is right; we can't fault her for being the woman we fell in love with. This is life with Vervain. Shi...” Re noticed the children watching him and drew the word out. “...ish kebabs happen. Vervain brought home another man. Big surprise there.” He looked over at Viper. “This is what you're getting into, by the way. So, if you're not one hundred percent certain that this is what you want, you'd best follow Toby into the Aether. He thought he could handle it, but he was wrong. What about you?”
“I'm absolutely certain that this is what I want.” Viper lifted his chin. “Whatever it takes, I'll deal with it.”
“Really?” Re stalked forward and looked Viper up and down. “Your name implies that you're the sort to slink away.”
“And his name implies that he lies.” Viper waved a hand at Odin. “My star named me. She gave me my magic and my name, and I never changed it. Despite what it implies, I never will.”
Re gave a deep, beleaguered sigh, and turned to look at my other husbands. “He has my vote. Anyone who will stick with such a silly name just because it came from someone they love, is all right by me.”
“Thank you, Re.” I went to kiss his cheek. “And don't forget that you call me Lala.”
Re chuckled. “As I said; anyone who will stick with a silly name just because it came from someone they love, is all right by
