Chapter Five
Trevor said it was good for them.
After an hour spent with my family, I went up to the library.
Odin left as well, going to Valaskjalf, his hall in Asgard, to look through his library there.
It was more impressive than mine as far as occult books went, but you never know.
What we need could be in a book of myths or even a random history of the Gods.
It had been a while since I had researched anything, and it felt good to walk down the aisles formed by the soaring shelves, sliding my finger over titles until I found books that might contain something helpful.
With my arms full of old books with serious covers, I went to the study table in the center of the room.
I didn't know what I was looking for, but that's how it goes.
When you have a library as big as mine, it's impossible to remember the contents of every book.
So, I searched and searched, annoyed that most spellbooks didn't have a table of contents.
I was swaying in my seat, eyes drifting shut, when my cellphone buzzed.
Fumbling through the piles of books, I found the phone and checked my messages. I was hoping it was Fenrir with good news. It was not.
“What the Hades?” I frowned at the text from Persephone. Then I stood up and hurried out of the room.
I found my husbands outside, most of them playing some kind of ball game with the kids. Re, however, lounged on a chaise, holding a glass of golden liquid that matched his coloring. Samantha sat beside him with a cup of coffee.
“My love!” Re twirled to his feet, his lithe body reminding me of a ballet dancer. “You're done already? Did you find something we can use to track down the brigand?”
“You've been watching Poldark again, haven't you?”
Re cleared his throat. “Outlander, actually.”
“Ah, well, I haven't found anything yet. I got a text from Persephone.” I glanced at the game. “Damn, I don't want to disturb them, but they're going to want to know.”
Samantha stood up and whistled. It was one of those ear-piercing sounds that makes everyone take notice. And they did. She waved them over and motioned to me.
“Thanks, Sam,” I said.
“No problem. I don't have any plans for today if you need to take your husbands with you.” She motioned at her husband, Fallon, to stay where he was, out in the meadow with the kids.
“I don't think we all need to go.”
“Go where?” Azrael came up the steps first, folding his black wings tightly to his back. “I’m meeting with Elliot Gray in about an hour.”
“That's fine. I just wanted to let all of you know that I'm going to the Greek Underworld. Persephone just texted. She said they needed me there. Now.”
“I'll go with you, La-la,” Re offered.
“Me too.” Viper grabbed his shirt from the back of a chair and pulled it on.
“Da, I go as vell.” Kirill pulled on his shirt.
I tried not to sigh about the sudden lack of bare chests.
Trevor glanced at the kids.
“Stay, honey-eyes,” I said to him. “I know you want to be here in case Fenrir texts.”
“No, it's not that. He can text me in the Underworld. I just have a bad feeling about leaving the kids here. I don't like that the trickster got past our wards.”
“Most of the Intare are here today,” Sam said. “They'll be fine.”
I glanced at her to acknowledge what she said, but I knew when a werewolf had a bad feeling, they needed to act on it. So, to Trevor, I said, “Stay then. I'm sure I'll be fine with Re, Kirill, and Viper.” I kissed his cheek. “Look after our pups.”
He grinned at me. “Always, minn elska.”
“Lesya, help your uncles look after children!” Kirill shouted at our daughter. “I'm going vith Mama!”
“All right, Dad,” Lesya called back and waved. “Bye!”
“Bye, babies!” I shouted at my kids.
Half of them groaned at being called babies; the other half used the opportunity to divebomb their siblings.
I sighed as my kids shrieked. “The mom-ick is coming. Soon, they won't even hug me in public.”
Sam chuckled. “Zariel's already getting too sassy. I blame her father.”
“It is nature of beast,” Kirill said, his words colored by his Russian heritage.
“No kidding.” I snorted. “All right, let's go before Persephone texts again.”
Kirill, Re, Viper, and I went into the tracing room while Trevor went back to the kids, and Azrael went upstairs to change for his meeting.
Elliot Gray had a contract with Az to produce fey-positive toys.
It helped humans get used to faeries and would hopefully promote goodwill in the future.
The proceeds all went into trust funds for the Wild Fey children, who were conceived during Wild Magic's rule on Earth.
I went to the tracing wall and placed a palm flat on the stone.
The Aether pulled me in and pushed me out in the Greek Underworld.
I stepped out of the tracing room with my husbands to find the King and Queen of the Greek Underworld waiting for me—the King holding their daughter while the Queen held Princess, their Pomeranian.
“It's about time,” Hades snarled.