Chapter Forty

No matter how strong you get, there is always someone stronger. I should have remembered that. Katila had come back from the dead, and every man I knew who had returned from the dead—there were several—had come back stronger. Katila had come back stronger, then gotten even more stronger. Strong enough to play with his food.

Sorry. That must sound melodramatic and pessimistic. I was feeling both of those things. As I sat in the Golden Citadels meeting room and listened to my friends and lovers discuss ways to lure Katila out of his territory, I felt morose. I had thought for sure this time it was about someone else. Nope. It was me. Again. I was a fucking Taylor Swift song. And Im not talking about her early, sweet, love songs either.

I couldnt concentrate on the conversation. There was so much of it. We were in a larger room now because my Intare had insisted on attending. I had said no. We werent bringing over eighty werelions to the meeting. They had countered with twenty. So there were twenty lions there, not including the Lion God, and then the Squad, Anubis, Gello, Samael, Lilith, Lucifer, Holly, Jesus, Fenrir, ten Froekn warriors, Machar, and my husbands.

And you know that saying about opinions, right?

It had felt as if Id been with Katila for hours, but barely any time had passed. When we got to the citadel, it was still early afternoon. But this discussion had gone on long enough for the sun to set. I rubbed at my forehead and wished I had the option of hiding. Not from the conversation but from my enemies. I had never wanted to be the Godhunter. It was self-defense. But then I got some God magic. And a bit more. I learned who I was and what I could be. And I thought to myself, maybe I could survive. Maybe there would come a day when I didnt live in fear.

Im not saying that Im constantly afraid. I had been in the beginning, and that had been nightmarish. I remember waking up to every little sound, thinking some god had found me. Then I met Thor, and things got better. But I never got free of the fear. Even when I felt cocky, more powerful than all other gods, I still had a seed of fear in my heart. Because Im a mother, a wife, and a queen. There are people I love who I fear for on top of myself. So, fear had a permanent home inside me.

Wait. No. Thats incorrect. There was a time when I was completely free of fear. It was back when I was the Dark Star. So, I guess I had to be evil to not be afraid. Or as crazy as Katila.

“Hes crazy,” I whispered.

“Whats that, Vervain?” Odin asked.

“I said, hes crazy. Katila is bonkers.”

“Yes, weve established that,” Horus drawled.

“I was getting to a point, Horus,” I said dryly. “If you would stop cutting people off, you might hear something brilliant.”

“From you? Doubtful.” His lips twitched.

I snorted, well used to Horuss fake derision. “Look, we need to use that insanity, and not in the way everyone has been suggesting. We need to focus it. Katila is after me, but hes also after prestige. He wants to be King of the Underworld. Always has. He sees it as his birthright.”

“And he is now,” Blue said.

“Yes,” I agreed. “But whats a kingdom without subjects? What does power matter if you cant use it? Katila wants to be seen. He has always been a ghost. Never recognized as a god. Not one with any magic at least. We can use that.”

“How?” Torrent asked.

“Something public,” I said and looked at Azrael. “I think he went after all of you because you have the recognition he wants. Everyone on the planet knows Jesus and the Devil. Most know who Hades is. Id bet even Cerberus would get some nods. But you, Az; youre the Faerie God. Humans made action figures of you. There isnt a person on the planet over the age of six who doesnt know who you are.”

“But ask your average human who Katila of the Hindu Pantheon is, and theyd pull a blank,” Karni Mata said.

“Yup,” I said. “Even now, after all hes done, no one knows him. His family is gone and his territory is empty.”

“Well, whos fault is that?” Re drawled.

“Crazy, remember?”

“Ah. Yes.”

“So, we need to cater to his ego,” Finn said.

“I dont think Im the best bait,” I said. “I mean, yes, Ill need to be a part of the trap, but I think Azrael would get Katila to surface quicker than me.”

“A public appearance?” Azrael asked.

I nodded. “Something we can control.”

“And populate,” Odin said. “If we could make it appear that Azrael is speaking to a crowd of humans, but have them be our people, that might work.”

“Something indoors then,” Azrael said.

“And something we can advertise but also keep humans out of,” Trevor said. “It could be an event that is sold out from the beginning.”

“Thats a good idea,” Odin said. “Perhaps a dinner for charity.”

“For the Wild Fey children,” Azrael said. “That would be perfect. We can have it at a private venue where we can control the environment.”

“You mean like Moonshine?” Trevor asked.

“Do we really want to have another battle in Moonshine?” I asked him. “And it would mean shutting down for the night and however long it took to repair the place afterward. Plus, we dont need the H.P.D. sniffing around. Again.”

“True. But if we have it somewhere owned by humans, well have to explain the damages.”

“Do we, though?” Viper asked with a grin. “Its not as if they can sue us.”

The Intare chuckled.

“Thats irresponsible,” Odin said, narrowing his eyes at Viper.

“Lighten up,” Viper said. “We can pick a place owned by a big company. One that wont sweat the loss.”

“Well, I declare,” Austin drawled. “I believe I may have the perfect place for this shindig.”

“In Lexington?” Azrael asked.

“Yup. A hotel. And its owned by one of those highfalutin companies thats been buying up the land and parceling it all off at a profit. Damn Yankees.”

I lifted a brow at Odin.

He grimaced but nodded.

None of us were happy with the way companies had taken over Lexington. It felt as if they were trying to turn it into another Las Vegas with all the fancy restaurants and hotels, just with the addition of faeries. Lots of faeries. They even had gambling. Although, I assumed there were faeries in Vegas too. But those in Lexington were making a lot of money off faerie-obsessed humans. I didnt mind the Fey profiting off themselves, but the human companies annoyed me. If thats racist, I apologize, but I see it more as anti-corporate.

“Is that a yes?” Austin asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Just give us the name of the hotel, and well set it up through an alias.”

“I can handle that,” Torrent said.

“Woo-ee!” Austin whooped. “I cant wait to get called in when they report the damage. The place is called The Feyview Hotel. They got themselves a ballroom on the bottom floor that they rent out. And its at the back, behind the casino, so no one will hear any hollerin.”

“Perfect,” Azrael said. “Torrent get it done. And can you post notices online about it?”

“Sure. What should I call it and when are we hosting it?” Torrents eyes went side-to-side. “Theyve got several openings this month.”

“How about next week?” Odin suggested.

“That seems soon for a charity event,” Anubis said.

“As if Katila is going to consider that,” Trevor scoffed.

“True.”

Torrent waited a second to see if anyone else was going to protest, then said, “Theres an opening on Thursday.”

“My day.” Thor grinned.

Horus rolled his eyes.

“Take it, Torr,” I said. “Reserve it under whatever name you want, but call the event . . . Preserving the Wild.”

Azrael winced. “Thats awful.”

“Naw, its perfect,” Austin said. “They have events with names like that all the time in Lexington.”

“Fine, but I thought I was hosting the event?” Azrael asked.

“Youll be the guest of honor,” I said. “We dont want the hotel coming to us to pay for the damages.”

“Or giving you bad press,” Odin said. “Youve got enough of that as it is.”

“We could spin the battle as an attack from one of those anti-Fey groups,” Teharon suggested.

“Oh, I like that,” I said. “Two birds, one battle.”

“All right. Its booked. Theres a website up for the event and posts all over social media to promote it,” Torrent said. “Perhaps we can do some advertising around Lexington too?”

“But the website will show its sold out, right?” Azrael asked.

“Yes. Katila will know where to find you and when youll be there. Ive even put pictures of you and Vervain on the site so that he knows shell be there too. But no one will be able to purchase tickets.”

“Good work, Torrent,” Odin said.

“Thanks.” Torr beamed at Odin. He was still getting over some daddy issues, and he tended to take praise like a puppy.

“But is Katila going to see all zat?” Kirill asked.

“He will if hes looking,” Az said. “And I think hell be looking.” He turned toward me, and all my husbands turned with him.

“What?” I asked.

“Youre staying in the God Realm until the event,” Odin said.

“Yeah, all right.”

Their eyes went wide.

“I can be reasonable.”

They grimaced.

“Oh, whatever.”