Chapter Twenty-Nine

Next was Hermes. He was easy to find. We simply texted him and asked him to meet us at Moonshine. Alone. He came with all his children.

“What the fuck are you doing asking my father to meet you here alone?” Pan demanded as we stepped out onto the VIP floor.

It was late night in Hawaii and Moonshine was busy. Kinda surprising after the Wild Magic incident. But gods and faeries get over that kind of thing quickly, and humans had gotten used to magic as well. So despite the fact that there was still a huge tree in the center of the dance floor, it was packed. People just moved around the thing.

We had reserved the VIP lounge for our meeting. So Ty made sure that no other gods were there. Except for him and his girlfriend. I don't know why, but I was annoyed to see her. Something about the woman rubbed me the wrong way. I just had to accept that.

“Ty, do you mind?” I glanced at Modja.

“Someone answer me!” Pan snarled.

Ty and Modja stayed put.

“Fine,” I growled and strode up to Hermes. I grabbed him by the front of his shirt, yanked him forward, stared him in the eye, and demanded, “Are you the trickster? ”

Hermes blinked. His jaw fell open. I breathed in deeply. Dragon senses weren't the best for detecting lies, but I could smell when someone started to sweat and hear their heartbeat start to race. Hermes did not sweat and his heartbeat returned to normal after a brief increase, but I attributed that to surprise.

“What the actual fuck?!” Pan screeched.

“Pan, he's a trickster god with possible prediction magic,” Trevor said. “Stand down and let him answer.”

Pan blinked. “Prediction magic?”

Without looking away from Hermes, I said, “We think the trickster has a touch of premonition,” I said. “It would explain how he's been doing all of this.”

“And there are only three trickster gods who are known for that, dude,” Donnie said.

Pan made choking sounds, then demanded, “What the fuck is Poseidon doing here?”

“Whoa, chill, dude,” Donnie said. “You're normally irie. I get why you're upset, but no one is out to get your dad. We just want the truth. And I'm here because the trickster stole my spear. Took it right out of my quiver. So boss! I'm impressed but also a bit axed, you know? Total weeps to lose that thing. It's got some serious juju.”

Even I looked away from Hermes to stare at Donnie through his speech. But Pan just gaped at him.

Finally, Modja asked, “You kept a spear in a quiver? It must have been a very large quiver. What kind of arrows do you keep in it? Are they all spears? Are we talking about javelins for a ballista?”

Everyone shifted their stares to Modja.

“Yo, who's this honey?” Donnie asked. “My presence gets questioned, but not hers? I don't know her.” He looked at me. “Do you know her?”

I looked at Modja and, in a pensive tone, said, “Not really. No.”

Modja blinked, something flickering in her eyes. I narrowed my eyes at her. My fist unclenched, releasing Hermes. I started for Modja.

“Vervain, what are you doing? What's with that look on your face?” Ty asked.

“Hidden in plain sight,” I murmured. “Lurking in my shadow. Running with the wolves.” I made a shocked sound. “Watching without being seen.” I grabbed Modja by the wrist and yanked her away from Ty. “Love hides you. Son of a witch! It's you! You've been here the whole time. I met you as a man, so I didn't think to look for a woman.”

“Vervain!” Ty shouted and jerked at my hand—the one that held Modja. “Let her go right now.”

“Love is guarding you,” I said and started to grin. “Are you really a woman? Are you really Modjadji or are you just wearing a Modja mask?”

A brilliant grin spread across Modja's face. “I am a woman. I am also a man. I am—what do they call it now?—non-binary. I am the first non-binary god.” She leaned closer to me. “And no, I am not Modjadji. Well done, Vervain! I knew you'd find me. But you still haven't guessed who I am.”

“I haven't guessed?” I growled. Then my expression smoothed. “The first non-binary god. That's Hermaphroditus! Are you Hermaphroditus!”

“Uh, I'm right here, Vervain,” someone behind me said.

I turned to see one of Hermes's kids waving at me. He did look a little androgynous, but I never had gotten everyone's names. “Oh. Sorry, Hermaphroditus.”

“It's all right,” they said.

“The damn Greeks always think they're the first,” Modja grumbled. “ I am the first non-binary, not them!” She waved her hand at Hermaphroditus. Or rather, they waved their hand at Hermaphroditus.

“Modja?” Ty whispered as his hand fell away.

A flicker of regret crossed the trickster's eyes as she looked at Ty. “TryggulfR, I'm so sorry. I do love you. It wasn't all a game. Please, remember that.”

“Holy fuck,” Pan whispered.

“No.” Ty shook his head. “No, please. Please tell me I haven't been falling in love with the trickster who's been fucking with my family?”

The trickster shrugged. “Everyone's getting fucked.”

Ty gaped at her.

Trevor snarled, shifting instantly into Wolf. He was too close to the surface after the Loki thing. And he was out for blood. I saw a flash out of the corner of my eye as he launched himself at the trickster. But the trickster was already shifting, the bones within my grip shrinking. Fur sprouted from her skin. A lithe body bolted for the stairs. Jumped. I gaped at the animal, still processing what was happening.

Wolf howled and gave chase.

All across Moonshine, other howls and even a few roars (some of my lions worked there too) joined Wolf's call to arms. As I mentioned earlier, the dance floor was packed. But Froekn and Intare were good at navigating tight spaces. They slipped through the throng and then dashed after the wild thing that was making a break for it.

I just stared after the trickster, knowing they would get away. They were too good. Too slick to be caught. So, I let the others give chase and turned toward the gods who were likewise staring after my husband.

I asked them something that got their attention in an instant. “Was that a coyote?”