Chapter 45

She's right, though."I said. We were back at Bilskinir, and I was pacing the length of Thor's library. "That wasn't just a random attack; someone's trying to kill me."
"It could be anyone,"Horus scoffed. "It's not as if you don't have any enemies."
Thor and I had to put off our lovemaking in light of Yemanja's warning. Thor called the group together to brainstorm who might be behind the werewolf attack now that we had new information. Everyone was here, including Nick, who was curled up in front of the fire. There had been a few suggestions, but only one name held any weight in my opinion.
"I've only been seriously threatened by one person lately."I threw Thor an apologetic glance. "I think it's Sif."
"Sif would kill you herself."Thor ran a hand through his hair; the skin around his eyes twitching and tightening. "I don't think she'd send a werewolf. I doubt she'd even know how to contract one."
"She knows Fenrir."Brahma looked steadily at Thor and something passed between them. "And everyone knows the Wolves are assassins for hire, my friend. I'm sure he'd be happy to explain it all to her."
"Werewolves are assassins?"I blinked rapidly as I thought of all the werewolf lore I'd read.
You didn't hear as many myths about the other shapeshifters; it was mainly werewolves. I'd always assumed the wolves were just unlucky or not as adept at secrecy, but maybe it was the plain fact that they were hired to kill and so were seen killing.
"Well, yeah."Persephone chewed her lip. "You know it's difficult for a god to kill another god, so we hire the Wolves. It's just a job to them, though; they're not all that bad."
"Say that to Tyr."Ull grimaced. "Fenrir took his hand off. They're all thugs and killers, just like their father."
"I've met a few nice ones."Persephone's eyes shifted down and away as she continued to chew on her lip.
"Oh, please!"Ull threw his hands up into the air.
"Who's Fenrir?"I was trying hard to catch up... and get rid of the image of ninja werewolves I suddenly had in my head.
"Fenrir is Loki's son."Thor looked serious, not exactly the best sign. "He's the Wolf God and the father of the Werewolves."
"Great."I sighed and tried to smile. "Now I know where vampires and werewolves both come from. The secrets of the universe are unfolding,"I said dramatically. "Does anyone happen to know the source of the Fey? Then I could rest easy."
A hush fell, and Thor looked at me in horror. "Don't even mention them here, Vervain. They've withdrawn, and we've no wish to summon them back."
"Okay, okay."I held up a placating hand. Boy, I knew faeries were nothing like Tinkerbell, but I didn't think they were bad ass enough to make the Gods nervous. "So, Sif knows the Big Bad Wolf. Are we talking old buddies kind of thing or just acquaintances?"
"Acquaintance is enough."Brahma looked a little tired. "She'd know where to find him."
"Yes, but how would she know where to find Vervain?"Thor had started pacing.
"Who knows,"Ull chimed in. "Someone found her and that's all that matters. I have to admit; it looks as if it could be Mom."
"She's never even seen Vervain."Thor walked by me, and I grabbed his hand.
"Do you still love her?"
The room stilled; little shuffling sounds and nervous coughing dying out to silence as everyone waited for him to answer my question while trying to appear completely uninterested.
"Why would you ask me that?"Thor looked so shocked that I almost let it go, but I had to know.
"You don't want it to be her."I tried to look as understanding as possible, but it felt as if a fist were twisting my gut so I probably looked more pained than sympathetic. All I needed was a god with baggage. Hell, I had enough baggage for the both of us... big, Louis Vuitton, steamer trunk baggage.
"Of course, I don't."He went down on one knee in front of me; bringing him a little closer to eye level with me and completely consuming my view. "Would you want to believe someone you once shared a life with was a heartless killer? That they were so bitter, they'd deny you any happiness even if it meant murder? I don't want to believe that of her, but it doesn't mean that I still love her. She destroyed our love a long time ago."
"Sorry,"I whispered; feeling like an insensitive ass. I wondered what Sif had done to him, but I wasn't about to be even more of an ass and ask.
"It's all right."Thor got to his feet. "You'll be safe here. Either way, we'll get to the bottom of it, and if it is Sif, I'll take care of her. For now, I think we've talked this out as far as we can, and it's time to call it a night."
I swallowed hard as I realized what that meant. The others got to their feet in agreement and wandered out to their guest rooms with a chorus of goodnights. I felt awkward after all that had happened. I'd had to face a gorgeous ex-girlfriend and details about an ex-wife who wanted to murder me. The mood was kinda gone, and I wasn't sure I was up to getting it back.
Then Thor held his hand out to me.
Thor was backlit by the fire; his hair glowing red at the edges as if it had joined with the flames while his face was soft gold from the light of scattered lamps. His broad shoulders looked even wider with the dramatic shadows playing them up, and when he smiled at me, he looked like every fantasy I'd ever had rolled into one.
"Are you tired, darling?"His voice sent shivers racing down my spine.
"Not at all."I smiled and took his hand; letting him pull me to my feet.
"Good."He led me to the door, "I have every intention of watching the sunrise with you."
Something tightened low in my body and my heart sped up until I couldn't separate the beats. It became one complete and unbroken note; one long vibration waiting for the touch that would quiet it. All I could do was nod. Thor's smile softened as he walked me down the hallway to his bedroom; the artwork lining the walls blurring into obscurity. The details of the bedroom were the same, just a hazy background. All I saw clearly was Thor and the massive four-poster bed we were heading toward.
"I feel as if I've been waiting forever for this,"Thor whispered as he pulled me into an embrace.
"It's been barely over a week,"I whispered back; completely fascinated by his lips.
"Not for me."His hands snaked into the hair at my nape to angle my head up. "For me, it's been two years. Two years of watching and wondering, fantasizing and waiting. Two years of wanting you here like this."
"That's a long time to wait."I gulped; suddenly worried that I wouldn't be up to his expectations. Two years is a lot of pressure to put on a girl.
"I'd have waited longer if you needed me to."Thor brushed his lips over mine. "I can be a very patient man."
"Well, I'm not patient at all."I reached up and held him still for a more thorough kiss. When I pulled back, I pushed his hair away from his face and saw something I hadn't noticed before. It looked like a small piece of stone embedded in his forehead. "What's this?"
"Ah, that is a long story."He grimaced. "Let's just call it a bar brawl."
"Is that a piece of rock?"I was fascinated.
"Yes, let it go."He started kissing my neck.
"Oh, the dilemma,"I murmured appreciatively over his endeavors.
"What's that?"Thor didn't even lift his face. In fact, it was slowly lowering.
"There's just so many jokes."I groaned. "Blockhead. Rocks for brains. Sorry, I had to get a couple out or I was gonna explode."
Thor finally pulled back and looked down at me as if he didn't know whether to strangle me, laugh, or just ignore me altogether.
"Right."I smiled lasciviously. "It's your explosion we need to be working on."
"Our explosion."He chuckled and pulled me back against him.
"Rock my world, baby."I giggled, and he threw his head back; making a very frustrated sound.
Then I started rubbing him the right way—yes, that way—and he groaned; his arms crushing me against his chest. My hands shifted to his back; learning all those dips and planes his muscles made like a blind girl reading braille. He was my new language, a doorway to knowledge and undiscovered worlds, and I intended to become fluent in him. There was a library of learning for me to do, but all the books had only one title and only one author.