Cry Werewolf (Godhunter Book 20) Page 28

  We all gaped at him.

  “This just got interesting,” Re whispered.

  “You were a boy,” Vejasmate blinked away her tears, confusion and horror blending together.

  “I was twenty-seven,” UnnúlfR said gently. “Man enough to know my own heart. I've never recovered. I tried to love again and she destroyed me. I thought perhaps I was fated to love cruel women.”

  “Holy shit, Un!” Ty gaped at his brother. “Are you seriously standing there telling my mother that you're in love with her?”

  “Yes,” UnnúlfR said simply, without removing his stare from Vejasmate.

  “I have no idea how to handle this,” Fenrir tossed his hands into the air.

  “You didn't send me away?” Vejasmate asked softly.

  “No, Veja,” Fenrir swallowed hard, and looked to her with regret. “I wanted you to stay. I loved you. I thought you'd rejected us. I'm so sorry I cursed you.”

  “I'm not,” Vejasmate sighed. “I was angry at your rejection, angry that you would hurt me, but not in the curse itself. I love my family,” she waved her hands towards the wolves around her. “There is nothing like the love of a wolf,” her eyes turned to UnnúlfR.

  “This is so messed up,” Azrael muttered.

  “I saw your wedding announcement,” Vejasmate looked back to Fenrir, “and it just brought everything back. I hated her, your new bride, and I hated you for loving her after casting me out. I wanted to show you how strong I was now, that you didn't defeat me. I wanted you to see that I survived and thrived. That I could be as cruelly calculating as you are. I had plans of destroying all your ties to your precious allies. I wanted to alienate you, make you feel as I had when you cast me out, alone and hopeless.”

  “I would never have felt alone or hopeless. My family is far more important to me than any ally. But I understand, and I even admire your ferocity. You have become strong. I see it, Veja. I see you,” Fenrir walked over, and held his hand out to her. “Forgive me?”

  “I do,” she laid her hand in his. “There is nothing to forgive.”

  “Thank you,” Fenrir leaned down, and kissed her cheek.

  “And am I forgiven?” UnnúlfR looked to Fenrir and Vejasmate both.

  “Of course you are, my boy,” Fenrir said gruffly. “It was a long time ago, and you did what you thought was right. I won't hold that against you.”

  “Nor will I,” Vejasmate whispered.

  “Thank you,” UnnúlfR sighed, tension drifting out of his body.

  All that time, and I'd thought it was Andrasta whom UnnúlfR mourned. Go figure. I was wrong again.

  “Come inside, all of you,” Vejasmate said after staring at UnnúlfR long enough to make all of us uncomfortable. “Now you are welcome.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Vejasmate led us into a spacious living room with a fireplace built from rough-hewn stones. There were dark-chocolate leather couches spread around it, and the rest of the furniture was made of heavy wood. Light came from the crackling fire and several floor lamps spaced around the room. Hand-woven carpets covered the pine floorboards, and evergreen boughs decorated the mantle. The scent of pine hung in the air with a backdrop of wood-smoke. It felt very festive and homey.

  Wolves roamed freely, but several of them had shifted into human so they could greet us properly. Warm drinks were passed around, and a tentative cheer spread among us. It was a huge relief to have the situation end amicably, to both sides I'm sure. But to have it end with the possibility of alliances and extended family, turned it into something of a celebration.

  “It's a Christmas miracle,” I whispered to Re, who had claimed the seat beside me on the sofa.

  “It does appear that the Froekn have just turned enemies into allies,” Re nodded. “Such a shame that Fenrir lost his woman over nothing though.”

  “Fenrir is with the woman he was meant to be with,” I considered it. “I don't think he has much remorse over losing Vejasmate.”

  We looked over to where the Wolf God sat with his three eldest children and Veja. Fenrir looked perfectly content. Vejasmate sat a little awkwardly between Ty and UnnúlfR, but she looked happy as well. She spoke with Fenrir, but neither of them cast any longing looks at each other. That past was too far gone for them. The spark had died. But the torch UnnúlfR carried for Vejasmate was still burning bright. You could see it in his every move. He stared at her like he was already planning their honeymoon. And Veja looked receptive.

  Ty, however, was a tad bit irritated.

  “Could you please stop ogling my mother?” Ty grimaced at UnnúlfR.

  “No,” UnnúlfR said blandly, making Re chortle.

  “Good for you,” Re called out to UnnúlfR. “Stand up for your heart. Love is too important to let a little thing like past lovers come between you. So she's your brother's mother, so what?” Re had gained everyone's attention, and he was basking in it. “You share no blood with her. There's nothing wrong with your desire. We're gods. We live forever. Sometimes that makes for unusual circumstances. But we handle it like deities, do we not? A god doesn't quibble over what he wants, he simply reaches out for it.”

  “Well said, Sun God,” Fenrir surprised us all by saying. “You're right. Love is too precious and too rare. Especially for you, UnnúlfR. If she is who you love, I support you. How can I not? I loved her once myself.”

  “Alright,” Ty sighed. “If it's what the both of you want,” he looked to his mother, “I will support you as well. Is it what you want, Mom?”

  “Paņem zirgu dirsā!” Vejasmate swore, and shook her head. “I've only just heard of his affection for me. Can't I have a moment to think?”

  Re burst into laughter, and Azrael, who was on my left, was snickering too. Odin, on Azrael's other side, was barely holding it together.

  “What the hell did she just say?” I asked Az.

  “It's a Latvian curse,” Azrael whispered. “Roughly translated, it means 'Fuck a horse in the asshole'.”

  “Damn, the woman's got a mouth on her,” I laughed.

  “Could you take that moment with me?” UnnúlfR stood, and held his hand out to Vejasmate. “I have some things I'd like to say to you privately. I'm no longer a twenty-seven year old pup, Veja.”

  “Sure, why not?” Vejasmate rolled her eyes, and stuck her hand in UnnúlfR's. “Come with me,” she sighed like she was annoyed, but I caught the trembling in her hand, and the way she kept looking at UnnúlfR.

  As soon as they left the room, I turned to Ty, “Looks like your brother is going to be your new Step-Dad.”

  “Aw, shut up, V,” Ty groaned. “I just found her and now UnnúlfR swoops in and takes her.”

  “You'll be fine, Son,” Fenrir chuckled, and then looked around at the Vilkacis. “I think we'll all be. Here's to new family. May our blood mingle freely and our teeth tear the same meat!” Fenrir lifted his glass, and the rest of the room followed suit, cheering in agreement before taking a long drink.

  “Interesting toast,” Re noted.

  “Wolves,” Azrael shrugged, “you gotta love 'em.”

  “I love one of them,” Re kissed my cheek. “I think that's enough for me.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  My men and I left Latvia shortly after UnnúlfR returned to the living room with a softly smiling Vejasmate. I thought that someone should go back, and tell the others that all was well, and I didn't want Fenrir to have to leave. I knew how important new alliances were, and he had a lot of old wounds to heal. So we made our goodbyes, and headed back to Fenrir's Hall without him.

  The party was still going on there, though it was more subdued. More of a gathering now, with people drinking, and talking as they waited for word from Fenrir. I was happy to be able to provide that for them, especially when I saw the state Emma was in.

  “Thank God,” Emma sighed when I told her everyone was safe.

  “Which one?” Loki asked with a smirk.

  “What?” Emma looked over at Loki like she'd been putti
ng up with his BS for far too long.

  “Which god are you thanking?” Loki clarified. “There are several here.”

  “Well it's not you, I can say that for certain,” Emma growled, and the whole room laughed. Then she turned back to me. “Where is he? Why didn't Fenrir come home?”

  “He's making nice with the new wolves,” I shrugged. “It's politics.”

  “So it has nothing to do with that woman?” Emma's voice dropped so only I could hear her.

  “Vejasmate?” I lifted my brows, and Emma nodded. “No, Fenrir isn't interested in her. Not in that way. Emma, you know he loves you.”

  “I know,” she sighed. “Still... goddesses, you know?”

  “Do I ever,” I laughed. “Don't worry about this particular one though. It looks like UnnúlfR has claimed her affections.”

  “What?” Emma's jaw dropped.

  “Yeah, evidently he's loved her all this time,” I waved it away. “Fenrir will explain it to you. Just know that you don't have to worry about him and Veja.”

  “Thank you,” she hugged me. “Now go home, Vervain,” she looked me over with concern. “You must be ready to pass out.”

  “I am,” I looked over to Odin, Az, Re, and Trevor, “but I think I want to go see Lesya once more.”

  “Of course,” Trevor nodded. “We need to tell Kirill what happened anyway.”

  We said our goodbyes to everyone there, and then traced back to Hygieia's island clinic. There we found Kirill, curled up on a bed beside Lesya's incubator. It looked like they'd been making the room a little more comfortable for us. There was a bed, which Kirill was sleeping in, a couple of comfy chairs, and a little TV in the corner. But my eyes were all for my husband and our child.

  It was such a bizarre thing, to see her suspended there in that magic womb. I went over to it, absently stroking Kirill's cheek as I passed him, and stood over our daughter. The other men came up behind me, and it suddenly felt like we were a family, surrounding our child with love. Just waiting for the time when we could hold her. Kirill stirred and came awake, easing up beside me. Hands went to shoulders, connecting all of us as we continued to gaze upon our daughter. Funny how one little life could mean so very much.

  Kirill and I may have made her, but Lesya belonged to all of us. I felt it strongly then. This little girl would change everything. The twins had altered life for me too, of course they had, but they were in Faerie. They were purely Arach's. This child was ours. She belonged here, in the God Realm, with her father and uncles, and she would bind us together even stronger than before.

  Love has a way of doing that.

  Grammar Giggles

  And just for a little giggle, here are some grammar mistakes found by my editor Michelle Hoffman and by myself, during the editing of this book.

  Correct line: The Celtic portion of the God Realm was a shared territory,

  Giggle: The Celtic portion of the God Real was a shared territory, (The God Realm is totally real!)

  Correct line: That may not sound like a long time to you, but when you've been sitting there watching it for hours, it was.

  Giggle: That may not song like a long time to you, but when you've been sitting there watching it for hours, it was.

  Correct line: “Zariel, look at this mess,” Samantha scolded as she tried to corral her daughter's toys.

  Giggle: “Zariel, look at this mess,” Samantha scolded as she tried to coral her daughter's toys. (When did coral become a verb? I have this image of Sam pushing toys around with a chunk of coral.)

  Correct line: I nervously eyed the medical implements.

  Giggle: I nervously eyes the medical implements. (What sort of accent is that?)

  Correct Line: I even felt Re's warmth start seeping into the room.

  Giggle: I even felt Re's warmth start seeping into the warm. (Michelle asked, “Did you mean 'room'? Um, yes, Michelle, I meant room.)

  Correct Line: We were in Alfheim after all, if this was their way, we would go with it.

  Giggle: We were in Alfheim after all, if this way their way, we would go with it.

  And please feel free to write me at vervainlavine@yahoo.com if you spot any grammar errors yourself. I'm a poor self-published author who must rely on the kindness of my super-smart friends for help in editing. Please have mercy on my writing.

  Keep reading for a sneak peek into the next book in the Godhunter Series:

  Pride Before a Fall

  Chapter One

  The steady heartbeat was wild, like a scared bird's, but it was strong. It was a sound I'd grown accustomed to, and was deeply comforted by, but soon, I would cease hearing it. Because soon, Lesya would be coming out of her incubator.

  My daughter had been placed inside a god-made womb to save her, after I'd been stabbed in the side at Ragnorak (long story). Hygieia, the Greek Goddess of Health, had luckily been developing an artificial womb which could incubate god children until they were ready to face the world on their own. Lesya had been put into the machine with a hope, if not a prayer, and it had been a success. She had thrived within the faux womb, and had nearly reached the perfect size to be removed.

  “Two days, little one,” I whispered to her.

  She twitched, one hand reaching towards the sound of my voice, through the sparkling, blue liquid she floated within. It was moments like this which convinced me she could hear what was happening around her. Because of this conviction, we tried to keep her environment happy, and mostly calm. Hygieia said it was important to stimulate her as well, so we often gathered around her, watching television, playing music, or just talking. I wanted her to know the sound of her father's voice, as well as those of her uncles'. We would be raising her together after all.

  “Look at all that hair,” Azrael whistled. “Just like her daddy's.”

  “That's how she looked in the future,” I nodded, “a lot like Kirill. She'll have his eyes too.”

  “Ve're not certain of zhat yet,” Kirill chided.

  “I don't see why she would look any different,” I turned to face him. “She's Lesya, I'm sure of it.”

  “I know she's Lesya,” Kirill smiled as he slid an arm around my waist. “But perhaps she has different eyes zis time. Who knows? I just don't vant you to be upset if she is not exactly ze same.”

  “Eyes change,” Trevor shrugged. “It doesn't matter. She's alive and she'll soon be coming home.”

  “I can't wait,” I pressed my lips together excitedly. “We've got your room ready for you, Lesya.”

  She did a little turn, her hand sliding down the magical membrane of the artificial womb.

  “She's excited too,” Hygieia said from the doorway. “But perhaps you should let her rest. The next two days are very important. We need to monitor her closely, and make sure she's ready for removal.”

  “Alright,” I sighed, and shifted away from Lesya. “Come on, everyone, let's go home. All except you, Uncle Trevor,” I went on tippy-toes to kiss my wolf prince. “Look after our girl.”

  “Aye. Aye, Cap'n,” Trevor saluted me. “I'm on it.”

  He plopped into the chair beside Lesya, and turned on the TV. Hygieia narrowed her eyes on him, and he turned the volume down. She nodded, a job well done, and escorted us out.

  “I don't foresee any problems,” Hygieia assured us as we made our way through her hospital wing. She had a clinic she shared with her sisters, and then this wing for in-house patients. “Lesya is strong and healthy. Removing her should be practically effortless.”

  “Thank you again, Hygieia,” I gave her a hug.

  “I'm as excited as you are, Vervain,” she reminded me. “This will be my first complete test of the unit. We'll finally have proof that it works.”

  “Well, hopefully no one will need to use it,” I said, “but I'm glad you have it in case they do.”

  “And your donation helped to construct the new models,” Hygieia smiled. “So if there are babies who need them, you have helped to save lives.”

  “In
the smallest way,” I shook my head. “You're the savior here, not I.”

  “That's not what I've heard,” Hygieia smirked, and left us at the tracing temple.

  About the Author

  Amy Sumida lives on an island in the Pacific Ocean where gods can still be found. She sleeps in a fairy bed, high in the air, with two gravity-defying felines and upon waking, enjoys nothing more than typing away all day, recording the voices in her head. She, like Vervain, has no filter but has been fortunate enough to find friends who appreciate this... or at least polite enough to lie and tell her they do. She aspires to someday become a crazy cat lady, sitting on her rocker on her front porch and guarding her precious kitties with a shotgun full of rock salt. She bellydances and paints pictures on her walls but is happiest with her nose stuck in a book, her mind in a different world than this one, filled with fantastical men who unfortunately don't exist in our boring reality. Thank the gods for fantasy.

  If you enjoyed this book, please let the author know by leaving a review. Unless you want to leave less than 5 stars, in which case, she begs you not to let her know. Our little Indie Author hearts are so easily crushed.

  For information on new releases, detailed character descriptions, and an in-depth look into the worlds of Godhunter and the Twilight Court, check out Amy's website;

  http://www.amysumida.com/

  You can also find her on facebook at:

  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Godhunter-Series/323778160998617?ref=hl

  On Twitter under @Ashstarte

  On Goodreads:

  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7200339.Amy_Sumida

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