I lurched through the front doors and across the veranda. At the top of the stairs, I tripped and went flying. Strong arms snatched me from the air before I landed and clutched me to a wide chest. Kirill. His scent washed over me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and started to tremble so badly that I could barely hold on.
“Get me away from the palace,” I whispered in his ear. “Hurry!”
Kirill broke into a run. I heard other footsteps behind us. My men. I glanced over Kirill's shoulder and saw the rest of my men and Teharon chasing after us, backlit by the glow coming out of the open palace doors.
“The children?” I panted.
“Intare are vith zem.”
Pain burst through my chest, and I screamed, my back arching over Kirill's arm. I felt as if I'd just fallen into a scene in Alien; a xenomorph baby was trying to pop its way out of my chest. Too bad I was in so much pain, it would have been a great moment for a quote. My relentless mind supplied one anyway, in the voice of Ash, the robot, no less; I can't lie to you about your chances but... you have my sympathies.
Kirill dropped onto his knees and laid me gently in the grass as I started to convulse. Faces appeared above me, voices blending. It was hard to concentrate with my vision flailing about. I couldn't focus and all I could hear was the rapid pounding of my heart.
And the shattering of my star.
I screamed again. Teharon's cool hands pressed to my sternum, but he couldn't help me. Bonds broke and the spiked trinities of Magic, Blood, and Beasts blew apart within my chest like a thrown shuriken. Gleaming shards sliced through my body as Teharon's magic tried vainly to hold them together. My power trembled, my very cells shivering with horror, and then chaos ensued. My animals bucked out of my control and went wild. Claws tore at my inner chest. Howls and roars deafened me. Metaphysical blood flowed as they rolled together in a vicious battle. Wolf, Lion, and Dragon, all at war inside me.
“No!” I snarled and clenched my fists. “I am in control! You are all a part of me.”
“Breathe deeply, Vervain,” Teharon guided me. “Control needs calm.”
I inhaled slowly, calming myself with the help of Teharon's magic, and my nahual, that precious piece of my mother, took shape. A jaguar with creamy fur and golden spots appeared in my mind. Her eyes held ancient wisdom—ancient pain—but also immense love and reassuring steadiness. She ran around the other animals, nipping at their hides and nudging them apart until they huffed one last protest and went to crouch in their separate corners. The Nahual circled between them and then sat down and continued to keep watch.
I gasped and came back to myself, my hearing clearing just in time to hear Viper's frantic shout.
“Someone tell me what the fuck is going on!”
“It's my star,” I whispered as I opened my eyes.
“Zank goodness,” Kirill whispered and clutched me to his chest. “You conquered your beasts.”
“I had some help.” I reached for Teharon and squeezed his hand gratefully as I rubbed my cheek against Kirill's. “Thank you. It was lucky that you were here.”
“I guided more than I healed,” Teharon protested. “You controlled your beasts yourself, Vervain.”
“Still, thank you.” I looked around at the other men on their knees around us. “I'm okay, but my star is broken.”
“Again?” Azrael asked in horror. “How?”
“I think it was Marduk.” I looked at Viper.
“That flash,” Viper whispered.
“Marduk was wearing the Tablet of Destinies beneath his shirt.” I nodded.
“That psychotic fuck,” Viper growled. “He had that thing beneath his shirt? He just goes around wearing it all of the time?”
“No, he was prepared for us, remember?” Odin said grimly. “Marduk only wore the shirt so we wouldn't see the Tablet and suspect a trap.”
“But the Tablet of Destinies doesn't work on you,” Viper argued.
“It didn't because I didn't have a destiny,” I corrected.
“But she does now,” Teharon said softly. “And it's in danger. My magic couldn't stop the break nor can it heal her star now.”
“Chyort voz'mi,” Kirill murmured.
“What's that?” Viper asked absently.
“It means; oh, shit,” I translated the Russian. “And yes, this is bad on so many levels. My star, first of all. It broke once before and it took a lot to heal it.”
“What exactly?” Viper leaned forward. “How do we heal your star, Vervain?”
“That's the problem.” I grimaced. “My mother's essence healed it before, but that essence is still inside me—it's what calmed my beasts—and it's not healing my star this time.”
“Calmed your beasts?” Viper asked, looking utterly lost.
“My magic is held together by the Trinity Star,” I explained. “Three trinities brought together to form a nine-pointed star. The Star strengthens them through unity and keeps my beasts from fighting. Without it binding them, they don't get along so well. I literally have a feline and a canine inside me, along with a hungry dragon who's an equal opportunity killer.”
“A dragon you can't release now,” Trevor said urgently. “To do so might hurt your other animals.”
“Yes, I realize that,” I said petulantly. I instantly regretted my tone. “Sorry, Honey-Eyes, I'm still a little out of sorts.”
“It's okay, Minn Elska.” Trevor took my hand. “We'll figure this out. We'll find a way to fix it.”
“My star was already weakened by setting everything to rights.” I shook my head. “I think that's why it was so easy for the Tablet to break it. Marduk wasn't even directing the magic at me, it acted on its own to defend him.”
“Maybe that's a good thing,” Re suggested. “If the Tablet had been fully directed at you, you could be dead.”
“No, that's not how it works.” I
