“Not at all,” I protested. “You helped us first. This was just common courtesy.”
“Still.” Sin finally let go of Ninka and came over to hug me. “Thank you. You saved the person that means the most to me. For that, you have my loyalty, Godhunter. Whatever I can do to help you, I will.”
“Thank you, Sin. I appreciate that.”
“All is vell?” Kirill asked as he came into the palace with the kids, a towel slung over his shoulder.
“We're good,” Trevor confirmed as he slipped his phone away. He looked over at me. “Teharon's on his way.”
“Mommy!” Lesya ran over to me and took my hand, her other hand holding a towel wrapped around her body. She stared at Ninkasi. “Who's she?”
“This is Aunty Ninkasi; she's going to be staying with us awhile.” I looked at Sin askance, and he nodded. “So is Uncle Sin.”
“You can call me Ninka,” Ninkasi offered as she crouched to speak to Lesya.
“That's pretty,” Lesya said simply.
“And so are you.” Ninkasi tapped Lesya's nose. “I see your mother in your face.”
Lesya beamed. She obviously took after her father, but there were a few subtle features that she got from me, and when someone noticed them, it instantly put that person on Lesya's good side.
“Thank you.” Lesya wrapped her arms around my leg.
“Mama,” Vero growled, a low, wolf-pup rumble.
I laughed and went to get him from Kirill, dragging Lesya with that straight-legged maneuver of parents everywhere. “And this is Vero.” I lifted my damp son in the burrito wrapping of his beach towel. “He can get a little jealous. Just like his father.” I winked at Trevor.
Trevor took no offense, only slid in beside me and kissed our son on the forehead. Vero nuzzled in against my neck and went to sleep, content now that I had him.
“And I'm Zariel,” Zariel declared as she stepped into the middle of our group. She lifted her pert chin and stared at Ninkasi with her hazel eyes, their color enhanced by her caramel skin and the wild, tight curls that fell around her face.
“Zariel is our first Intare child,” I added to make her feel more included.
“You have another daughter?” Sin asked me as Ninkasi bent down to shake Zariel's little hand.
“No, Zariel is Fallon and Samantha's daughter,” I explained. “Fallon is Intare and Samantha is Froekn. Zariel's birth was special for several reasons.”
“Tima,” Fallon came striding down the grand, central staircase right on cue.
“Daddy!” Zariel cried and ran for her father.
Fallon scooped up the little girl and kept coming toward me. “You didn't tell me you were going into battle.”
“I made an announcement and summoned everyone, but I only took a few anyway. It's okay, Fallon, we were fine.”
“I wasn't told,” he insisted.
“I tried texting you. You must have been busy.” Troy gave Fallon a knowing smirk.
“You had better not be thinking what I think you're thinking in reference to my wife, Troy,” Fallon snarled.
“What's he thinking?” Lesya asked me.
“I haven't the foggiest,” I said innocently.
Viper snickered.
“Oh, come on,” Troy huffed. “As if you're not proud to have such a hot wife.”
“Mommy's hot!” Zariel declared.
“Great; now look what you've done.” Fallon rolled his eyes.
“Well, it's not as if it's a bad thing.” Troy grinned.
“And this is what you'll have to put up with,” I said to Ninkasi and Sin. “You two sure you want to stay here?”
“Are you kidding? I'm looking forward to it.” Ninkasi grinned.
Sin didn't look so sure.
“Come on, let's have a drink while we wait for Teharon.” I waved Sin and Ninkasi toward the dining hall. “After he heals you, we can get you settled in.”
“I'm hungry!” Lesya declared.
“Hungry,” Vero mumbled in his sleep.
“And I guess we'll get something to eat too,” I added.
Chapter Eleven
The shivers started later that night.
We were having dinner with the Pride; my men, children, Sin, Ninkasi, Teharon, and me all in the dining hall. My werelions had put on quite the feast to welcome our guests—mainly Ninkasi—and there were platters of meat, veg, and fresh bread set out on the sideboards, wafting delicious scents into the air. A fire crackled in the hearth, adding its smoky aroma to the others. I sat at the end of the table closest to the kitchen, my son and daughter to either side of me, and their fathers hemming them in. Lesya could eat on her own, but Vero still needed a little help. Although, sometimes it was best to just throw food on his plate and pull your hand away before he clawed it, especially when it came to meat.
Personally, I was celebrating our rescue mission; a mission that could have gone much worse than it had. Yes, it had been a trap, but I got a good swipe in at Marduk and we freed Ninkasi without losing anyone in the process; both big wins in my book. Plus, Ninkasi and Sin were now safely ensconced in Pride Palace where their pantheon couldn't touch them. All things to celebrate. My men, however, didn't share my sentiments. While the Intare dined boisterously, my guys were more reserved, often trading heavy looks with each other. Only Viper gave me a supportive grin every time I glanced at him.
Then it happened; a cold, sharp shiver like an icicle in my chest. I gasped as it wrenched through me.
“Minn Elska?” Trevor asked in a low voice as he leaned over Vero's head.
“I...” I took a deep breath, glanced at my children—both staring at me warily—and pasted on a smile. “I'm fine. I just need some air.”
I used the back of my chair to pull myself to my feet then headed down the table. My lions paused their conversations to watch me as I passed, but I waved off their concern. I made it out to the entry hall before I stumbled. Caught myself against the wall. The cold turned into a burn and not the good kind. I was on the verge of
