I was currently in a moving carriage, the magic pulled me through time and space, back to where I'd started. I reformed in front of Odin with a shivering rush.
“Did you take care of it?” He immediately asked, not at all startled.
“Partially.” I made a wincing expression at his muttered curse. “We discovered why it happened. Back when Faerie and I formed the Dark Kingdom, we lowered the ward around Faerie—the one placed there by Faerie herself. But she forgot to reform it around the ring of the new kingdom. The ward, among other things, protected the realm from magical build-up. Without it, severe changes in the realm produced sparks that eventually became a chaotic cloud that exploded.”
“Great Scott,” Odin whispered.
“Yeah but guess what? The Trinity Star came through for us.”
“It did?” Odin asked in shock.
“I know, right?” I laughed. “I almost think it did it just to spite me because I was so convinced it wouldn't help.”
“It's a part of you, Vervain,” Odin said with a wry twist of his lips. “If it is as you say, you did to yourself.”
“Yes, I get the concept, though I don't entirely agree with it.” I rolled my eyes. “Look, I don't want to have to go everything twice and I don't know when Arach will arrive with the rest of the team so let's take this conversation outside.”
“Arach's coming? With a team?”
“As I said, the situation's only partially handled.” I grabbed my purse and fished out my cellphone as I left the dressing room.
My family was as I'd left them, except that now, they had blueberry muffins on their plates.
“Ah, finally,” Re said even though it had been mere minutes. “I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever come out of the closet.” He frowned. “That came out wrong.”
“Mommy, why did you change your clothes?” Lesya asked.
I looked down at myself. I was wearing human clothing but it wasn't the same outfit I had on when I left. “Oh, the uh, jeans were too tight.”
“Do you have another baby in your belly?” Lesya asked innocently.
Every man there swiveled a hopeful stare my way. I froze under their attention. Not again. First, Arach and now them? Had the fertile magic of Faerie left a scent on me or something?
“No, Lesya, I'm just bloated,” I said.
Lesya giggled, Vero made a face, and my men looked away in disappointment. Damn men. It's so easy for them. They get to have fun impregnating us and then strut about, so damn pleased with themselves for their minor role, until we women have to push seven pounds of screaming infant out of our most sensitive place. Where's the justice in that? And since it's so damn easy for them, they want us to do it again and again. Maybe I should craft a spell so one of them could carry the baby instead of me. Now, that would be justice.
“Finish your breakfast,” I said to the children as I composed a mass text to the members of the God Squad. “You're going to spend the day with Zariel and Aunty Sam.”
“Yay!” The kids cried together.
“You don't have to sound so excited about it,” Trevor grumbled to our son.
“You can come too, Daddy,” Vero said solemnly.
Trevor glanced at me before answering, “I don't think so, Son. I think Mommy needs my help with something.”
“I'm sorry,” Vero said gravely.
“It's okay,” Trevor said with a grin. “I like playing with Mommy too.”
“Don't we all,” Re drawled.
I gave Re a warning look and he gave me an innocent one, or rather, one that was trying to be innocent. Re couldn't manage innocence even if his life depended on it.
“Okay, I'll see you later.” I kissed Lesya and then Vero on the cheek and headed toward the door. “Uncle Arach is on his way here with some friends and I'm not sure when he'll arrive.”
“Uncle Arach is coming?” Vero asked excitedly.
“Are Brevyn and Rian coming too?” Lesya asked the question that her brother actually wanted answered.
“No, honey, they have to stay home this time. Uncle Arach is coming to help me with something in the Human Realm.”
“Aw,” the children whined together.
“Maybe we can have them over for Halloween,” I offered. “Start thinking about your costumes.”
“Yay!” They shouted again.
Kirill and Trevor went back to helping our children eat their breakfast but the other men got up, grabbed their mugs and muffins, and followed me out of the room. Once the bedroom door was closed and we were piling into the gilded, cage elevator,