“Don't worry, Carus,” Azrael said with a devilish grin, “we'll lick you back into fighting shape in no time.”
“And if the licking doesn't work, there's always fire,” Arach added with a wink.
Chapter Forty-Two
By the next morning, the Pride was settled and getting accustomed to living in Re's palace. I woke to the scent of bacon and coffee, the delicious aromas luring my family and me downstairs to find a feast laid out on Re's sideboard. Lions prowled in and out of the kitchen and dismayed servants (the souls of Re's dead worshipers often chose to serve their god in their afterlives) fluttered around anxiously trying to clean up after my boys.
“This looks amazing,” Re declared as he took the seat at the head of the table.
“It's our way of saying thanks for letting us crash here.” Aidan plopped a plate piled high with food in front of Re.
Re sniffed appreciatively. “You're very welcome in my home, Intare.”
One of the servants hurried over to Re and stammered something in Egyptian. Re chuckled and shrugged at the man. The man went on, and Re replied with a pointed look that sent the man scurrying.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“The servants are upset about their kitchen being invaded,” Re said.
“Isn't this better than asking them to cook for all of us?” I countered.
“They like working,” Re explained. “It makes them feel worthy of living in this palace with me.”
“Here we go.” Trevor made a face at Viper.
“It's simply the truth,” Re protested. “Look at how upset they are.” He waved a hand at the servants who scrambled to fix plates for the lions. “They want to be useful.”
“Aw, hell, if they want to cook and clean for us, I'm good with that,” Troy declared and stood back, waiting for one of the servants to hand him a plate.
“Me too,” Wren agreed. “I don't want to deprive anyone of satisfaction.”
“That's what she said,” Aidan snickered.
“Aidan!” I snapped and looked pointedly at the children.
“Oh, they don't know what I'm talking about,” Aidan grumbled.
I continued to glare.
“Sorry, Tima.”
I nodded crisply.
The Lions left the sideboard and took their seats at the new, extended dining table. All of the soul servants breathed sighs of relief and happily went back to filling plates. They reminded me of the Brownies in Faerie; they loved to be useful as well. Then my thoughts wandered to someone else who had helped me.
“I need to visit Sin today and let him know that I'm all right,” I said before I dug into my breakfast.
“Can't you just call him?” Azrael asked.
“I'd have to go into the Human Realm to make that call anyway,” I pointed out. “And I'd rather speak to him in person. Sin looked out for me when I had no one, and I just took off. He deserves a face-to-face.”
“Fair enough,” Trevor conceded. “But I'm going with you.”
“I as well,” Azrael added.
“I don't need all of you to watch over me,” I grumbled.
“You said yourself that your enemies will be looking for you,” Odin reminded me. “You're not going to Earth alone, Vervain.”
“Yeah, okay,” I gave in grudgingly.
We finished breakfast and then Trevor, Azrael, and I traced to Bahrain while the rest of my men took the children outside to play. I brought us out of the Aether right outside Sin's front door. I wasn't sure if his wards would let my men in, and I thought it would be rude to just pop into his place after the way I'd left.
I knocked on the door. “Sin? It's Vervain.”
A shuffling sound came from behind the door.
“Sin? I'm sorry about leaving like that. I came to let you know—”
A thud startled me. Then a muffled grunt made a bolt of fear shoot down my spine.
“Sin?!” I shouted.
“Stand back, Minn Elska.” Trevor moved in front of me and kicked the door down.
Azrael and Trevor ran into the room. I heard snarling and shouts as I followed. When I reached the living room, I saw what all the fuss was about. Marduk was there with a bloody knife in his hand. Sin sat before him, chained to a chair and bleeding from numerous cuts. He was also gagged. He shouted at me through the fabric and shook his head, his silver eyes wide with warning.
“Sin!” I shouted and ran for him.
“Stay out of this, bitch!” Marduk snarled as he dropped the knife, his hands filling with light as he faced off with my men and me.
“You've broken your vow!” I growled as I slid myself between Sin and Marduk and sank into a fighting stance. “The bargain was that you wouldn't hurt me or anyone I love.”
“You don't love him,” Marduk scoffed as he waved a hand at Sin.
“I love him as a friend,” I said firmly.
“That can't be true either,” Marduk sneered. “If it were, I'd already be suffering from breaking my vow.”
“It is true, and I'm not letting you hurt him.” I held out my hands and they shifted into claws. “Leave now or you won't live to enjoy the territory I gave you.”
Marduk laughed scathingly. “You can't defeat me, dragon whore, not without being tainted by evil. So, why don't you leave before you force me to hurt you? I don't believe that self-defense would be considered breaking my vow.”
“That's bullshit,” Trevor growled. “The vow was made and it must be upheld or you will suffer the consequences.”
“Why don't we test that theory?” Marduk grinned wickedly and lurched for me.
Sin shrieked against his gag, and my men leapt to intercept Marduk, but I was faster than all of them. I jumped for Sin and as soon as I got a hold of him, I traced us away.
“Trace!” I shouted to my men as we disappeared.
Chapter
