“Any time you feel the need to reassert yourself, let me know.”
“That isn't the only reason I'm happy, A Thaisce. It's having you here, in our home, with our family that makes everything right again. Having you in my arms, telling me that you love me.”
“I don't think I've said that yet today.” I lifted myself up to smirk down at him.
“Well, you'd best get on with it then,” he countered. “You don't want to disappoint your husband.”
“I love you, Dragon. Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“I love you, A Thaisce, and that promise was as much for me as it was for you. Don't ever go dark again.”
“Never,” I vowed, and I dearly hoped that I'd be able to keep my promise too.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
A couple of weeks later, I was ready to return to the God Realm. I kissed my sons, my nurials (Dexter and his daughter, Deidre), and my husband goodbye. I even gave Blossom a little peck on her bright petals. But then I just stood there at the end of the bed, staring at my ring.
“A Thaisce?” Arach tenderly smoothed the starlight lock of my hair back over my shoulder. “What is it?”
“I'm a little nervous.” I laughed at myself. “I know nothing has changed there, and maybe that's the problem. I've moved past everything while it's still fresh for them.”
“You didn't have enough time with them to work through what happened,” he concluded.
“Not individually. And now, I have to go back and tear open a wound that's just started to heal.”
“They love you, Vervain,” Arach chided me. “They won't do anything to hurt you.”
“Not knowingly,” I agreed. “But simply talking about it may hurt.”
“Then tell them that you don't want to talk about it.”
“That's not fair to them.”
“Then stay here forever.” He grinned at me. “I'm happy to have you all to myself.”
“Yeah. Okay. I get your point,” I huffed. “I'm going.”
“You stop my world, A Thaisce.”
“I love you too.” I gave my dragon one last kiss and then asked my ring to take me to the God Realm; back to a few moments after I had last left it.
I appeared in front of the tracing room, startling Viper, who was still staring into the room, most likely expecting me to come walking out of it.
Kirill chuckled and patted his back. “You'll get used to it.”
“You really can move through time,” Viper whispered.
“I really can.” I stared at him, heart pounding in my throat.
My weeks away had made Viper seem more fantasy than physical and seeing him again was like waking to find that my dream was real. All of it had happened; the bad and the good.
“Mommy, are Rian and Brevyn okay?” Lesya asked anxiously as she leaned toward me out of her father's arms.
“They're both fine.” I tore my gaze away from Viper as I hugged Lesya and Kirill together. “They miss you very much and so did I.”
“Can we go to Faerie soon?”
“I don't know, baby.” I kissed her cheek. “Maybe.”
Then I moved on to hug all of my husbands hello, saving Viper for last so no one would be offended. When everyone was properly greeted, I stood back and made a suggestion.
“Why don't we spend the day on the lake? We could go swimming and do some fishing and... talk.” I looked at the men pointedly.
“Yay!” Lesya shouted.
“I guess that's a yes,” Odin said with a chuckle.”
The other men agreed, and we were out on the Viking longship within twenty minutes. We didn't even need to pack anything; the ship had a stocked kitchen on deck and the fishing poles were stored onboard. Odin had made the longship as a present for me and anchored it in the center of our lake. It was intended to be a lovers' retreat; a place where we could go to be alone together. But it had become a place that our whole family enjoyed, and neither Odin or I minded. Even the Intare liked to come out to the ship and go fishing. But today, I left all but one of my lions onshore, rowing out with only my lovers and our children. Well, my lovers and Vero. Lesya and Kirill went straight into the water.
With Lesya swimming with her father, I was left alone with the rest of my men. We sprawled out on deck chairs, Vero sleeping in a bassinet between us, and soaked in the sunshine as Azrael handed out cold bottles of beer and one glass of wine for me. After a few fortifying sips, I stood up and took Trevor's hand. He was my alpha, he gets to go first.
“Let's go, Honey-Eyes,” I said as I pulled him off toward the stairwell that led below deck.
“Really?” Trevor asked in surprise. “I thought we were going to talk? Was that code for sex?”
“No, it wasn't code. But I want to talk to each of you alone; I think we need that.”
“Damn,” Re huffed. “I was hoping for sex.”
Viper swung his appalled stare toward Re.
“In case you haven't noticed; Re's a pervert,” Odin explained to Viper. “Just accept it and move on.”
“Or join in,” Re offered.
Viper's eyes widened with horror.
“Not like that,” Re huffed. “I'm not into men.”
“Just everything else,” Azrael muttered.
“Nearly,” Re amended. “Nothing gross or criminal but everything else is fair game. Pleasure comes in many forms; why deny yourself any of it?”
“I'm good with not knowing about your fetishes,” Viper said dryly. “Keep them to yourself, Sunshine.”
Odin's laughter boomed out. “Okay, I like him.”
“All of you are always ganging up on me,” Re grumbled. “What's so wrong with enjoying sex with my wife?”
“Nothing, baby,” I said placatingly. “But I didn't bring all of you out here to have sex with me. I brought you here so you could tell me how you're feeling in private. Just get everything off your chest.”
“I'd rather get everything off your chest.” Re smirked.
“Re!”
