“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, the questions started coming.
“Why is Arach coming?”
“What friends?”
“What's going on, La-La?”
I held up my hands to stop the tide. “I'll explain when we're all together. I texted the Squad and they should be arriving soon.”
“Faerie flowers have been popping up on Earth,” Odin informed them.
“Odin,” I huffed.
“Well, you can't just leave them hanging like that.”
“Fine.” I sighed. He was right. I wouldn't want to wait either. So, I told them everything that had happened, including what I'd learned through warding the Faerie Realm and what Faerie said about the magic that remained on Earth. “I called in the entire Squad mainly to let them know what was happening. Hopefully, we'll only need Torrent.”
“Can you remember all of the places you visited?” Viper asked me, his vivid, green, snake eyes wide with worry. He had seen firsthand what unchecked magic could do to Earth.
“I think so but if not, Al can remind me.” I stepped out of the elevator.
“Remind you of what?” Horus asked as he opened the door of the tracing room.
Horus and Hekate stepped out, Hekate's belly rounded below her bulging breasts. She was into her second trimester already but god pregnancies could be unpredictable, especially when shapeshifters were involved and Horus was a shapeshifter. So, I wasn't surprised that Katie looked bigger than she should. Nor was I surprised that her face was slathered in dark makeup and the babydoll dress she wore was black with purple lace. Impending motherhood hadn't changed her yet. It did in the future I'd been to but I'd warned her about it so that might change. Despite the Goth get-up, Hekate was radiant and smiled at us just as brightly.
“Katie!” I went forward to hug her. “Look at your belly!”
“Look at my boobs!” She waved her hands at her impressive cleavage. “Horus is in heaven.”
Horus cleared his throat. “I'm happy because we're expecting our first child.”
“And because you have huge boobies to play with,” Hekate said matter-of-factly.
“Remind you of what?” Horus pointedly repeated his question to me.
“No.” I held up a finger. “I'm not explaining all of this again until everyone arrives. Come on, Goddess of Fertility.” I hooked arms with Katie. “You must be hungry. Let's get you something to nibble on.”
“Ugh, I'm famished. Thank you.”
“We just had breakfast,” Horus murmured as if that should matter.