In the Nyx of Time Read online

  “And then they left?” I tried to push away the ache of disappointment that came with knowing that I'd missed meeting Trevor.

  “Yep,” Ull confirmed. “And Fenrir took Emma with him. He told me to say thank you to you for finding and freeing his mate.”

  “His mate?” Thor gaped. “Have they met before?”

  “Never.” Ull grinned. “Wild, right? The Great Wolf tamed by a human in two seconds flat. I'm glad I was there to see it; it was historic.”

  That's one word for it, Alaric said in a smug tone.

  “I would have liked to have seen it too,” Thor agreed. “But I'm happier to have spent the time as I did.”

  “Me too,” I lied.

  You're getting good at that.

  Alaric, tell me about Re.

  You're so tenacious. Al sighed. Try remembering for yourself instead of badgering me.

  But you do mean the Egyptian?

  Is there another Re?

  I brought up my one memory of Re; at a party Horus had hosted in his territory. Re was amazingly handsome; too handsome, in my opinion. His skin was dark but there was a golden sheen over it that made it appear fair. He had the kind of face that made women faint and the kind of body that made them shiver. Re was like a statue someone had carved to show humanity what the perfect man should look like; in gold. Even his eyes were a gleaming gold; outlined by thick, ebony lashes. He was the embodiment of sex; every move he made seemed sensual. And I couldn't imagine ever being with him... or him ever wanting to be with me.

  Until I saw it.

  The memories rose inside me like the sun. I saw Re's golden eyes turn into molten metal as he stared down at me with love and desire. I felt his hands on my skin and his mouth on mine. I shivered as the memory of ecstasy filled me and tightened things low inside me. Re fulfilled every promise that his body made; he was a magnificent and extremely creative lover. But where love was concerned—that of the heart, not just the body—Re was less experienced, and his stumbling—sometimes spectacular and sometimes horrendous—efforts endeared him to me more than his pretty face ever could.

  I loved him.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered.

  “What's that?” Thor had started to eat, but he stopped to look over at me.

  “Nothing,” I said as I looked up. “I just realized what time it was. We need to get back to the Intare soon.”

  “All right,” Thor gave in. “I want to be here when the Squad returns so I'll trust you to fetch the Intare quickly.”

  “Thank you,” I said automatically, but part of me was annoyed.

  Was it just me, or was Thor a little domineering? I thought back over our marriage and realized that he was. We'd had a few arguments over his attitude, but I'd eventually learned to just let him be possessive. Thor thought he was showing me that he cared, and I'd reasoned that it was the thought that mattered. But now, I was reconsidering. I looked over at Kirill and knew that his love would never be possessive or patronizing. Kirill gave me respect, and I knew that even when he stood up to me, he would do so with that same respect. Thor wasn't faring well by comparison.

  But that was unfair. Whatever was going on, I was married to Thor in this life, and I needed to be true to my vows. No more kissing other men.

  Sure; no problem, Al scoffed.

  I didn't respond, but that in itself felt like an admission of guilt.

  Chapter Eighteen

  After breakfast, I kissed my husband goodbye and went with Kirill to the tracing room. I took Kirill's hand, smiled up into his amazing eyes, and asked the Aether to take us home. I don't know what I was thinking; the words simply popped out of my mouth. It was stupid; I was already home, and even if I hadn't been, the request was much too general for the Aether. As soon as I uttered the words, I knew that I'd fucked up, but I expected the Aether to take us to my old place in Hawaii if it took us anywhere at all. Where we actually ended up was far more spectacular... and far more frightening.

  “Vhere are ve?” Kirill whispered as he looked around.

  We stood within an ancient forest. A roundabout dirt road was directly before us, with an offshoot that led to an intersection. The forest pressed in around the pathways; its trees taller and wider than any I'd seen before. Strange sounds came from the lush growth beneath those trees, and the scent of life and death permeated the air. Somehow, both aromas were beautiful; they blended together and became a heady fragrance.

  “Are the trees moving?” I asked.

  “I zink zey are breathing,” Kirill said with wonder. “Zis is your home?”

  “No; I have no idea where we are,” I said.

  “You're in the Faerie Realm,” a voice came from behind us.

  I spun around to find a man leaning against a tree that even larger than the rest; I think we may have traced through it. He was handsome in the most ethereal and dangerous of ways. His sharp features were accented by a sprinkle of blood red scales at his temples. Those scales matched the straight hair that flowed down to his wide shoulders. He was a touch slimmer than Kirill, but still obviously muscular, and just as tall. His loose, medieval clothes couldn't hide his athletic physique. There was no way that he was human; the scales and his canary-yellow eyes did away with that possibility. And the fact that his pupils were slit like a snake's. Or a...

  “Dragon,” I whispered.

  His eyes widened in surprise as he pushed off the trunk and strode over to me. “You got that in one go,” he said in a deep, sexy voice. “How interesting.”

  Kirill stepped up beside me and growled; low in his throat.

  “Down, kitty,” the redhead said as he narrowed his eyes at Kirill. “You don't want to start something with me. It's been ages since I've had a good hunt, and my faeries would love to chase a lion.”

  “Faeries?” I asked as I continued to stare into the man's eyes. “There are dragon faeries?”

  “Alas; I am the last of my kind,” he said it dramatically, but I could hear the real pain in his words.

  Are you sure about that? The voice that entered my mind this time was female and a little snarky.

  Both the redhead and I flinched at the sound of it.

  “Faerie?” The man asked with wonder.

  Hello, Fire King, the voice went on. Yes, yes; you're shocked that I'm speaking again. Get over it fast because we have shit to deal with; starting with our girl here. Now, hurry up and introduce yourselves so we can get on with it.

  “Can you hear her too?” I asked the redhead.

  “You can hear her?” He shot back. “Faerie is our Goddess; the Consciousness of—”

  “Consciousness,” I interrupted. “Holy hamburgers, did you say Faerie?”

  Yes, I am she, Faerie huffed. You're dense in every timeline, aren't you, Vervain?

  “Timeline,” I whispered the word. “That's what's been changed.”

  “Someone changed time?” Kirill asked. “And, Tima, who are you speaking to?”

  “I think someone—a couple of gods, actually—have changed our past,” I said to both of the men. “And our old lives are trying to return.”

  “You think that I'm involved in this nonsense?” The Fire King asked and then laughed. “Faerie has been closed for thousands of years; there's no way that—”

  Oh, just tell her your damn name already!

  The faerie before me frowned and cocked his head at me as his stare grew more focused. “Who are you?” He demanded.

  That's not what I said! Faerie snapped.

  “I'm Vervain Odinson,” I held my hand out to him.

  “Vervain,” he repeated my name as he took my hand. “I'm Arach, King of—”

  Arach's mouth fell open as his hand clenched on mine.

  “Arach?” I asked with concern.

  As soon as I said his name, images of him and I together filled my mind. I saw him kneeling before me; vowing to love me forever. I saw him rising above me; in the very act of that love. I saw him flying beside me as a dragon, and I saw him hold
ing our son... no; our sons.

  “We have twins?” I whispered.

  “Oh, sacred fire,” Arach whispered back as he pulled me into his arms. “A Thaisce; what's happened to us?”

  “I don't know,” I floundered for a second, but my body seemed to know exactly how to react to him.

  I melted against Arach; my cheek laid over his strong, dragon heart. A surge of something passed between us, and I knew that it was a spell taking hold—or possibly culminating. We both shuddered with the onslaught of both painful and wondrous emotions. Arach and I had been through hell together; in the past, present, and future. We had burned, been broken, and I had given birth to his children. He was my...

  “Husband,” I whispered. “And I'm a—”

  “Dragon-sidhe,” Arach finished for me. “You are a dragon, A Thaisce, but you're also much more than that. I remember everything now.”

  “We cast a spell to bring us back together,” I said.

  “That explains why I was drawn to the Great Tree today.” Arach shook his head in wonder.

  “And how Kirill and I ended up here,” I said as I turned to Kirill. “And you and I are married too. We made an oath to each other with blood.” I looked back at Arach. “It must have had a similar effect to our spell.”

  “Da, I remember now,” Kirill said.

  “Our sons, Vervain,” Arach sobbed brokenly. “We must find a way to get them back.”

  There you are. Faerie sighed. Final-fucking-ly. I thought I'd have to go over it all for you.

  “Well, you haven't changed.” I grimaced as I eased away from Arach.

  Kirill was looking a little confused. So, I took his hand as well as Arach's and stood between the men.

  “We're talking to the Goddess of the Faeries,” I explained to Kirill. “We're going to figure this out and put everything back the way it should be.”

  Good; everyone is caught up, Faerie said. Now, listen, children, there's only one way to set this back to normal; you have to kill that time god.

  “That's all?” Arach scoffed. “That's far too easy.”

  “The time god she's talking about is most likely in Tartarus; the Hell beneath the Greek Underworld. He's teamed up with a Primordial Greek Goddess named Nyx, and she has lots of children and underlings who will no doubt defend her,” I said.

  “Yes, but we are dragons, A Thaisce,” Arach said with a smirk.

  Your cockiness is justified, but in this instance, it will be your downfall, Faerie chided Arach. Al and I have been investigating these gods; they're strong and they have an impressive army.

  “Then perhaps it's time to hunt.” Arach's eyes started to glow.

  “The Wild Hunt in Tartarus,” I mused.

  “And the Pride,” Kirill added.

  “And the Pride.” I kissed Kirill's cheek.

  Now, you just have to tell your Viking husband that he's not meant to be with you.

  My face fell, and I looked back and forth between Arach and Kirill. “I can't tell Thor,” I said softly. “I remember hurting him in my other life; I don't want to do it again.”

  “If it all returns to the way it was, it won't matter,” Arach pointed out. “I'm okay with you not telling Thor.”

  “And I've already told you zat I understand. I've vaited years for you, Tima,” Kirill said softly. “I can vait a little longer. Ve don't have to tell Zor.”

  “We all have waited for her, Lion; most of us far longer than you,” Arach said to Kirill before looking back at me. “Have you reconnected with Trevor, Odin, and Azrael yet?”

  “Only Odin,” I whispered as memories of more men unfolded in my mind. “I know about Trevor, and I remembered Re this morning, but Azrael? That one's new to me.”

  “Trevor, Odin, Kirill, Azrael, and I are your husbands, Re and you are engaged, and Toby is your consort,” Arach explained and then sighed. “It's not easy to love you, Vervain, but it's far easier than not loving you.”

  “I don't care who I have to share you vith,” Kirill said as he stared down at me. “As long as you keep looking at me like zis.”

  The image of Kirill holding a little girl overwhelmed me suddenly, and I stumbled. The men caught me, but my eyes were only for Kirill.

  “Lesya,” I whispered to him.

  Kirill gaped at me as his eyes went distant, and then tears started to trickle down his cheeks. I let go of Arach so I could hold Kirill, and we mourned the loss of our daughter together. Halfway through it, I held my arm out to Arach, and my dragon wrapped himself around me from behind and laid his face in the crook of my neck.

  “We will get our children back,” Arach whispered against my skin. “And we will kill those who tried to take them from us.”

  “Da; I vill cherish zeir screams,” Kirill declared.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Faerie reminded us that in this timeline, time hadn't caught up between the realms and there was a distinct difference. For every day spent in Faerie, a month went by on Earth. That meant that each hour I spent there was a little over a day for Thor. I hadn't been in Faerie that long yet, but I still needed to speak to the Intare. And then Faerie pointed out that she had pulled me through the wards to enter Faerie and it would take far too long to remove the barrier enough for large numbers of faeries to travel through. Arach had to trace back with me right then, without the Wild Hunt, if he wanted to go.

  He wanted to go.

  So, the three of us traced to Bilskinir, and this time we used the proper chant. We left Faerie behind in her realm, but Alaric was in the God Realm to welcome me back.

  Your husband is about to lose his damn mind, Alaric said by way of greeting.

  “Yeah; just wait until he meets my faerie husband,” I muttered.

  You're not telling Thor about Arach, are you? Al asked with horror.

  “No; but I have to explain Arach's presence somehow,” I said.

  Go with as much truth as Thor can accept, and leave out the rest.

  “That's actually a good suggestion,” I agreed.

  “Now, who are you speaking to?” Kirill looked worried.

  “Alaric,” I said. “He's the Consciousness of the Void.”

  “Void?” Kirill asked.

  “It will come back to you later,” Arach said. “Just know that our wife is not crazy.”

  “Our vife,” Kirill said with an amazed expression. “Zis is so strange and yet it feels right. I'm a husband and a father; it's more zan I could have hoped for.”

  “Indeed.” Arach nodded. “For me as well, Lion.”

  “Vervain!” Thor spotted me as I strode by the library with the guys. He came running out and swept me up into a hug. “Where have you been? And who is this now? You swore that you were going straight there and back.”

  Arach and Kirill shared a dark look.

  “I never made it to Pride Palace,” I started the story.

  I told Thor about how I'd misspoken and wound up in Faerie. I explained how Arach had been there, and how time was different, so even though I'd only been in Faerie around twenty minutes, it had been hours for him. The more I spoke, the more round Thor's eyes became until they were nearly circular.

  “Are you playing a joke on me?” Thor asked. “The Fey withdrew centuries ago; there's no way into their realm.”

  “Nyet,” Kirill answered for me. “Ve really did go to Faerie Realm. He is Fire King.” He waved his hand at Arach.

  “I recognized your wife at once,” Arach took over. “She is the last female dragon-sidhe in existence. When she told me of your pending battle, I offered my assistance.”

  “Dragon-sidhe?” Thor whispered as he stared at me in horror.

  “Sit down, honey,” I said gently as I guided Thor back into the library. “I know it's a lot. Just take a few minutes to process.”

  “You're not a dragon, Vervain,” Thor protested as he sat.

  “I'm sorry, Thor,” I said. “It's a long story, and I don't think you can handle hearing it right now, but I am part drago
n-sidhe.”

  “And so this man”—Thor waved a hand at Arach—“he's willing to help us because he's a dragon too?”

  “Exactly,” Arach said. “Unfortunately, I was unable to bring the Wild Hunt with me, and I don't believe that Vervain is ready to shift yet, but one dragon is an army unto himself.”

  “I'd imagine so,” Thor whispered as he looked back at me. “Is this something to do with that time god and all of those visions?”

  “I think so, but it's going to be all right, Thor,” I said as I hugged him. “Everything will be fine; we'll figure it out.”

  “I want to believe that,” Thor said urgently. “But I feel as if our marriage is being threatened. Why do I feel like that, Vervain?”

  “I will always love you, Thor,” I whispered. It was the truth—I knew it was—but truth can be so tricky. “Nothing can change that; not time, or darkness, or dragons. Once I give my heart, it's forever.”

  Arach cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should gather our forces and head to Hell.”

  Thor looked up at Arach and nodded. “The Squad is already back; we've just been waiting on Vervain to return with the Intare.”

  “The Squad?” Kirill asked.

  The bond of Blood to Heart had been strong enough to pull Odin and Kirill back to me, but it was clear that the spell Arach and I had cast was far superior at returning our memories along with our emotions. If we ever made it back to the right time, I'd have to cast more of those spells with my other men.

  “The God Squad is what I call our friends who fight on behalf of the humans in the God War,” I explained. “The gods you met last night are in the Squad, but there's also Hades, who you'll meet soon. Nyx killed Hades' wife, Persephone, and we're going after Nyx to avenge Sephy.”

  “Hades has amassed his army and is ready to march,” Thor said. “We don't have time for you to gather the lions now.”

  “I can fetch zem quickly,” Kirill offered. “In matter of minutes.”

  “All right, you have ten minutes,” Thor said. “If you're not back by then, we leave without you.”

  Kirill didn't waste another moment with speech; he just ran for the tracing room.