“What the fu...” Viper glanced at Lesya and amended it, “udgesicles are you doing here?!”
“He's with me,” I said grimly and with great annoyance.
Everyone swiveled their stares to me in shock.
“Vervain, what did you do?” Trevor asked in a low, wary tone.
Trevor's words echoed Sin's, replaying them in my head. Had I made the wrong choice? Should I have waited for another option? Should I have fought harder? The Star burned brightly inside my chest, and I knew I was on the right path once again. No, this was my best option. No territory was worth my family.
“Marduk offered me my life back in exchange for my territory,” I announced.
“Fuck,” Viper whispered without thinking.
The Intare went still. Everyone held their breath.
“It was the only way I could get you back,” I started to defend my decision.
“Nyet.” Kirill held up a hand, and I went still. “You don't have to explain, Tima. Ve have nothing vithout you. I'd live in a cardboard box if it vas only vay to have you vith me.”
“Let him have this place,” Trevor agreed. “It's only a territory. We have other homes we can live in, Minn Elska.”
The rest of my men nodded at me, and the Intare roared their support.
“We're with you, Tima,” Aidan shouted. “Where you go, we go. It doesn't matter where you take us as long as we're together.”
“Tima!” The Intare roared again.
I pressed my lips together and blinked back my tears. Oh yes, they were worth this land and much more.
“We support your decision, sweetheart.” Odin hugged me again. “You brought us back to each other and that's the most important thing.”
“We'll build another palace,” Arach declared then stared at Marduk disdainfully. “One better than this.”
“I don't care what the fuck you do,” Marduk growled. “As long as you do it somewhere else.”
“Hey!” I pointed my finger in Marduk's face. “We have a bargain, and I'm keeping it, but if you say another nasty word in front of my children, I will roast you alive and eat your heart for an appetizer. We clear?”
“You couldn't roast me if you tried,” he said smugly. “But I apologize for my bad language around your children. That was uncalled for.”
I looked him up and down then nodded.
“Vervain,” Luke stepped forward with Holly. They hugged me together, and he whispered in my ear, “Are you sure about this? My demons can be here in moments if you want to kill this bastard.”
“I gave him a blood oath,” I whispered back.
Luke sighed in regret and let me go. He gave Marduk a grudging look of admiration. “Well played, Marduck.”
“It's Marduk,” Marduk growled.
“Isn't that what I said?” Luke asked innocently.
“Enough!” Marduk snapped. “I'm not here to socialize. Get your people out and hand over the territory, Godhunter.”
“The Pride needs time to collect their belongings.” I waved a hand toward the dining hall. “Why don't you sit down and have a drink while you wait? You'll get what you want soon enough.”
Marduk grimaced but gave me a side nod. “Fine. Go and pack. I can be patient.”
“We'll keep him company,” Fenrir growled with a glare at Marduk.
“I know where the coffee is; I'll go start some brewing.” Artemis offered as she took Torrent's hand and pulled him along with her.
“Why aren't we killing him?” Torrent whispered to her as they left.
“Because we can't,” she whispered back with sharp irritation.
The Froekn, God Squad, and Azrael's parents followed Marduk into the dining room, all of them glancing at me supportively before narrowing their stares at Marduk. I had a feeling that Marduk's coffee was going to be served with sugar, cream, and spit.
I looked at my lions. “I'm so sorry there wasn't another way.”
“The Pride is a family,” Fallon announced as he bounced Zariel in his arms. “You made us that, and you taught us that home is anywhere that we're together. This palace is just a building; it doesn't matter to us. What matters is that we're alive and safe. We are the Pride wherever we go, Tima.”
“Intare!” I shouted and lifted my fist into the air as tears streamed down my cheeks.
“Intare!” The Lions roared back.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Re offered to put us up in Aaru. He assured us that his palace had more than enough room and the Egyptian territory had a similar climate to ours which would make my lions feel more comfortable. I sent the Intare ahead with Re; I didn't want them to watch their Tima hand over their home to our enemy. Yes, I had gained a lot in the bargain, but it still stung. The lion exodus broke my heart. They grinned and cracked jokes as they left, but I knew how hard it was for them to abandon the home that we had built together. I knew because it hurt me too. Every piece of luggage was a weight upon my heart.
“I don't want to go!” Zariel wailed as her mother led her into the tracing room.
Zariel dropped her stuffed giraffe and pulled at Sam's hand. Fallon picked up the toy with a heavy sigh and stared at his daughter with sorrowful eyes. My stoic expression cracked, but I held it together, swallowing past the lump of pain that formed in my throat. Then Lesya ran over and took Zariel's hand.
“We'll go together, Zari. Don't be sad; this will be fun. We'll have new bedrooms and new places to explore,” Lesya said brightly, her tiny suitcase clutched in her other hand. She glanced over at me. “Is that okay, Mommy?”
“Sure, sweetie,” my voice cracked.
“I'll go vith zem too.” Kirill angled himself in front of me so the children wouldn't see me cry. He wiped my tears away as I had done for him earlier. “I'll see you in Aaru, Tima.”
“I'll see you soon,” I whispered.
“Give
