Oathbreaker (22 page)

“
I'm so sorry,” Sommer said and hugged me. “It was a beautiful ceremony.”

“
Thank you. I'm kinda glad I didn't have any time to prepare. I just went with what felt right and that's usually the best way to go.” I felt Kirill rub against my leg. “Why don't you guys go grab some food and I'll join you when I finish speaking with everyone. Trevor, would you mind playing host a bit longer?”

“
No problem, Minn Elska,” he kissed my cheek. “Come on, let's eat.” He shuffled my friends toward the buffet table.

“
Daughter,” Fenrir had been right behind his son. “That was a very moving ritual. You did well.”

“
Thank you,” another hug. I was going to be all hugged out by the time this was done. “It was all spur of the moment actually.”

“
Really?” Samantha was next to him, escorted by Fallon. Fallon had been dating my Froekn best friend for awhile. He was black and she was white. He was lion and she was wolf. They were the ultimate case of opposites attracting. “Not bad, Rouva.”

“
Yes, she did us all proud,” Fallon smiled at me and I smiled at his hand joined with Sam's. It made me absurdly happy every time one of my lions found love. They had been denied it for so long, it was practically a miracle when it happened.

After them, came all of my Froekn family, rubbing their cheeks to mine in sympathy. Soft whimpers of shared pain and the musk of wolf were precious gifts from the werewolves. I collected them all and held them to me like a warm blanket on a stormy night.

Persephone and Hades came up next and part of me wanted to ask Hades if he knew where Al was. Was he in the Underworld with him? But that line of thinking was ridiculous. I knew that only humans who held strong religious beliefs would be chained to a deity in the afterlife.

The power of belief is amazing, especially when tied to gods through an energy exchange such as sacrifice. So if a man believed that when he died, he would ascend to Heaven, then that's where he would go. Hades would only have Al if Al believed it, and I doubted very highly that Al was into Greek religion.

So, where was he?

Funny that sitting there, surrounded by so called gods, I still had no absolute proof of what happened to the soul when we died. Where did atheists go? Where would I go? Obviously there was some kind of afterlife and some kind of soul rotation going on, or I wouldn't have my little conflict of having a past life to deal with. So I knew, without a doubt, that death was not the end. The part I wasn't clear on, was what it started... and where.

“Thank you both so much for coming,” I heard myself say and knew this was going to become automatic in a few minutes.

“
Oh, V,” Sephy hugged me and I instantly felt better. There was hope again. The sun would come out, yada yada. Sephy had that affect on people. “I'm so sorry.”

“
We both grieve with you,” Hades patted my arm. He was wearing dark shades and I was thankful for his discretion. Looking Hades in the eye, was like staring into a furnace with a colored glass door. It was like his head was full of fire. Oh, I should call him Hothead... but not now. That would be inappropriate. Funny but inappropriate.

“
Persephone,” I sat back and took her hand. “Demeter killed my lion. She tortured Al, then killed him, and that's after she tried to kill Trevor. I can't ignore her any longer.”

“
Vervain, please,” she turned those big green eyes on me. “She acts rashly sometimes. My leaving home has been a huge shock for her and she's gone a little crazy.”

“
Sephy,” I sighed. “Even if I were to step back, Fenrir and the Froekn are already on the hunt but I can't step aside. Al's dead because she wanted to make me suffer. This is more than your mom throwing a hissy fit. She murdered my lion. Do you really expect me to do nothing?”

“
I don't know,” she said quietly. “I understand, I do. If it was anyone but her, I'd be standing right beside you in the hunt, but this is my mother. I can't be a part of it.”

“
I'm not asking you to be a part of it,” I took her hand and squeezed. “I would never ask you to help me kill your own mother. I just wanted to be honest with you about what we're planning. You're my friend and I love you. You deserve to know.”

She nodded and turned away, unable to say anymore. Hades gave me a grim smile as he ushered her off. I'm sure he knew it was coming. It would have been Persephone who thought there was still a chance for her mom because Persephone could never think like a killer. She could never comprehend her mother and therefore, could never fully understand what needed to be done about Demeter.

The rest of the God Squad came up, offering sympathies and more hugs. Even Horus toned down the sarcasm and gave me an awkward pat on the arm. That was practically a tearful breakdown for him. Teharon brought up the rear of the group and the guilty look on his face had me momentarily puzzled.

“
I'm so sorry I wasn't able to make it in time to save him,” he said and cleared it all up for me.

“
Teharon, no,” I hugged him, feeling the tension in his shoulders. When I pulled back, I saw the sheen of tears in his eyes. “This is not your fault. This is as far away from being your fault as it can be. There's no way you can possibly save all of us every time we get banged up. I count myself lucky that you've been able to save me so many times. I'm so grateful to you for always coming to my rescue, and the thought of you feeling guilt over this, hurts my heart. Please, don't ever blame yourself. Even if it's me you can't save, don't ever blame yourself.”

“
Vervain,” a tear dripped down his cheek but the look in his eyes lightened and the tension left his shoulders. “There is a saying among my people:
When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice
. I think today Alfred rejoices for a life well lived.”

“
Teharon, I...” I swiped at the tears. “Thank you,” he squeezed my hand before going to join the God Squad.

“
Tima,” Rain and the rest of
Dark Horses
were there. “I was wondering if you'd allow me to sing a song in honor of your lion.”

“
That would be kind of you,” it was a little hard for me to meet Rain's eyes now. Knowing he was psychic would take awhile to get used to. Also, I was kind of concerned that he might start spouting puzzles about the future for me to figure out and I just didn't have the strength to deal with that.

“
I didn't see this coming,” he said instead of some ridiculous rhyme, surprising me enough to raise my head. He looked bleak and a little lost.

“
Maybe it was something you couldn't stop,” I offered.

“
Maybe,” he frowned and stepped back so Adriano, Ilario, and Constantin could offer me their condolences. Then, as a group, they stepped away.

“
Vervain,” Odin's rich voice brought my head back around.

He stood in front of me with Vali, Vidar, and Thor. It was strange to see them all there together. Having memories of being with both father and son, and then seeing them standing before me, was kind of awkward. Knowing that they both still cared about me made it even worse somehow.

“Thank you for coming,” I said automatically.

“
Is there anything you need?” Vidar came forward and took my hand. “Can I help at all?”

“
No,” I smiled sadly, “it's all taken care of but I'm glad you're here. It's been an exhausting day.”

“
Just sit down, Mom,” Vali said as he shooed me back into my chair. “Let me get you something to eat and drink.”1`             

“
Thank you, Lili,” They had been the last in line, so I could finally relax a bit.

“
You remember the nickname you gave him,” Odin smiled.

“
Yeah, I guess I've always liked renaming people, even back then.”

“
You did,” he laughed softly. “You even had names for my wolves.”

“
Grace and Fur Face,” I huffed a small, surprised laugh. “Because Geri was so clumsy and Freki always had fur in his eyes. I call Nick, Fur Face sometimes,” I shook my head.

“
You even called me that once,” Trevor was suddenly there, with an arm around my shoulders.

“
That's right, I did,” I tried to ignore Odin's disappointment in the interruption.

“
Well, he is a wolf,” Thor raised a brow. “It must have seemed natural.”

“
Why don't you all go get something to eat,” I said before Trevor could find offense and start a fight at Al's funeral. “I'll be at this table over here and you can join me.”

They nodded and headed toward the food, while I pulled Trevor along with me to a table on the side where I saw Sommer, Tristan, and Jackson already eating. I sat and he sat right next to me, an arm going behind my shoulders, on top of the chair. I found myself leaning into him. I was so tired. Too much sadness can do that to you, make you want to curl up and sleep until it all just goes away.

“Are you guys doing okay?” I asked my friends sleepily.

“
Oh, we're fine,” Jackson answered for them all. “Take a breather, shug.”

The soft sounds of a guitar filled the air and I switched my focus over to Rain and Adriano. Adriano was the lead guitarist of
Dark Horses
, so it was no surprise that he was backing Rain up. He was seated near the front of the tent, strumming his guitar while looking somber and intense, his closely cropped hair showing off the edges of his cheekbones. Rain stood off to his right, his hair pulled back into a ponytail, his sharp eyes softening as he looked over the crowd, waiting for his cue.

The music was haunting but the lyrics were ferociously tender. Rain sang about a soldier separated from his unit in the midst of battle. He fights valiantly but without someone at his back, he's unable to defeat his enemies and finally falls to their blades. His body is found later and mourned over by the man who should have been beside him. Instead of being angry though, the dead man's spirit comes back to comfort his friend.

“Fate is made of footsteps,” Rain sang. “Along the path we choose. We are not led, we are not given, we are not made to lose. I took these steps knowing, that I walked them all alone. And the fate I chose is mine and not for you to own.”

I smiled at Rain gratefully. It was the perfect song for Al, the ex-soldier. It was also the perfect song for my Intare, who I knew felt as guilty as Teharon did for not being there when Al died. Then the last few lines rang out and I knew the song wasn't just for Al and my lions.

“The path is of a circle, too great to see the bend. I start a new beginning, where you see only end. So don't mourn for me, my brother. Don't cry for me, I say. We'll meet along the circle, though I may walk the other way.”

A circle. Had I come back again because it's simply the nature of life? Was everything a coincidence or was I back for a reason? I did tell Odin that we'd meet again. Maybe I was supposed to be with him? But by that reasoning, I was supposed to be with Trevor too. It was so confusing, I was walking the circle again but which way was I going?

Chapter Twenty-Three

“I can't believe you own this place,” Tristan looked around the inner courtyard with awe.

“
I can't believe it either sometimes,” I had snuck my human friends away from the tent so I could show them around a little. “This is my favorite spot though.” I gestured to the butterflies flowing from flower to flower.

“
Huh,” Jackson sat down next to me on my stone bench. “I would have thought it would be the exercise room.” He raised a brow and smiled suggestively. “I know I'd be more inspired to work-out if I lived here.”

“
Hey,” Tristan frowned at him.

“
What?” Jax spread his hands and shrugged. “I'm only human. Which brings me to my next question. How human are you, Vervain?”

“
What?” Now it was my turn to look at him sharply.

“
Well, now that your station has improved, as it were,” Jackson grinned. “Have you improved as well?”

“
Hello?” Sommer pushed Jax in the shoulder, “just look at her. She's improved.”

“
Indeed,” Jax looked me over, obviously noting all the improvements to my appearance that had come with taking Aphrodite’s magic. “The outside is nice and shiny but what about the inside? Is it still human?”

“
It doesn't know,” I snarled at him and he shrank back in surprise. “Oh shit, I'm sorry. I do that sometimes when I'm frustrated.”