Chapter 54

I stared up at the red castle walls that stretched away from me to either side. They were topped by the occasional turret and manned by Russian guards. The medieval looking exterior was appropriate in my opinion. The Russian government was a collection of barbaric crusaders; torn between their desire to save their people and their greed. Or maybe I'm just a biased American.
"How are we going to get in?"I stood in front of the Kremlin; those imposing rust-red walls towering over us as the river rushed behind us.
"We're not."Thor looked over at Horus. "He is."
"Me again, eh?"Horus smirked.
"All you have to do is get in and replace the poison with this."I held up a bag of sugar cubes. "Ilya will be under Blue's influence so he won't know the difference."
The poison Blue had given Prime Minister Medvedev's son to use on Maria Putina had been dripped onto cubes of sugar with the intent of Ilya serving them to Maria Putina with her coffee. She and her father, President Putin, were visiting with the Medvedevs that very second. Ilya would be implicated in Maria's death with assorted planted evidence—which Medvedev would most likely cover-up—but the President would assume the poison had been intended for him and the seed would be planted.
"No problem."Horus changed into falcon form and took the little bag of sugar cubes in his talons.
"Be careful to stay invisible,"I called after him as he flew away. "Blue's going to be close by."
"He knows."Thor took my hand and led me down the sidewalk as if we were simply two tourists out for a stroll. "We're watching the perimeter just in case Blue shows his face. It'll be fine."
"My face is right here, Viking."Blue was leaning against the railing next to the river; looking as if he'd been standing there the whole time.
"You just don't give up,"I huffed as Thor angled in front of me.
"Neither do you."Blue frowned; his eyes losing focus for a second as if he were watching another scene entirely. "So, you've thwarted me again. Enjoy your success, little witch. It won't last for long."
"I'm sorry, could you just say 'Bwahaha' and rub your hands together after you say things like 'thwarted me again'?"I smirked at him from the safety of Thor's side.
"You'll slip up."Blue scowled at me. "I don't know how you're getting your information, but the flow is going to stop. I'll find your spy and plug the leak. Just a warning between friends."
"Oh, you should put a plug in it all right,"I said.
"There will also come a time when you won't have your bodyguard."Blue lifted his shades and looked me up and down with his disturbing eyes. "I count the hours."
"I'll give you something to count,"I growled as I dropped my claws. "I don't need a bodyguard."
"Vervain"-Thor put his arm out to hold me back—"not here."
"Yes, listen to your thug."Blue dropped his sunglasses back in place. "I'll see you tonight, little witch."
Blue traced away before I could say anything more.
"Oh, I hate it when he does that,"I seethed.
"Threatens to abduct you?"Thor turned to me and stroked his hands up and down my arms gently.
"No; leaves before I can have the last word."
...
"I thought we could go out today,"Thor said casually as he handed me a cup of coffee. We were having breakfast on his balcony. "The only time you've left Bilskinir has been to stop Blue from killing Maria, and I know how you hate being cooped up here."
"Where did you want to go?"I poured some cream and sugar into my cup as I considered his suggestion.
"I thought we could take my boat out."
Thor and I alone in the middle of the ocean. No Aztec invading my dreams and no Russian woman to save. It sounded like heaven. Well, except for the ocean part.
"I'd like that,"I said, only actually half sure of my statement.
"Great; take your time here while I go gather some things."He got up from the table, kissed me quickly, and left humming A Pirate's Life.
I huffed a little laugh and then relaxed and ate my breakfast. The previous day with Blue seemed like a nightmare; dispelled with the coming of the Sun. Horus had been successful, and Maria was still alive, but part of me knew this could become a never-ending battle. I needed to find a more permanent way to stop Blue's attempts on her life.
"How do you solve a problem like Maria?"I ended up singing the question.
I giggled when I realized I'd reduced my Blue issues to a song from The Sound of Music. Truly, though, there was nothing to be done about it immediately so why not let it go? I started to feel better with every mouthful of food and every sip of coffee. Humming Julie Andrews songs seemed to help.
When I was through, I got up and went to the closet to get dressed. I put on a bikini, which I didn't intend on swimming in but which showed off my cleavage nicely, and then a batik sarong over it. I tied the sarong at my waist casually. I could always retie it into a dress if I needed to cover up more later. Then I slipped on some sandals and a pair of sunglasses before I pulled my hair back in a ponytail. Done.
I found Thor in the kitchen, which was a huge, stainless steel monstrosity so modern that it made me ill. I liked cozy kitchens with baskets, center islands, and pot racks hanging over them, not brushed steel. I tried to hide my distaste as I wandered over to him. He had a large bag stuffed with food and was wearing a pair of green swimming shorts. He looked heavenly.
"You ready, babe?"Thor slung his free arm over my shoulder and led me to the tracing room.
"Yep."I slid my arm around his waist; loving the feel of his tight stomach. "Let's go."
We traced into the dining room of Thor's ship. The place where I'd first met everyone. He put the food in the fridge and then took me up top. I watched while Thor undid the moorings, fascinated by the play of his muscles, and that's when the thought struck me that the boat seemed to be way too big for one man to handle alone. Not that I knew anything about boats. Or ships. I could never remember the difference.
"Don't you need a crew?"I followed Thor to the helm, which was up a flight of stairs and in an enclosed, air-conditioned room.
Thor stopped short and gave me a patronizing look. "I'm a god, remember? Not just any god but a god of seafaring. I think I can handle one little ship all by myself."
"Oh."I watched in fascination as he started the engine of his little ship and steered it out into open waters. "Aye, aye Cap'n."I saluted, and he chuckled.
"I hereby hire you on as my First Mate."Thor's face filled with so much joy as he looked out on the vast expanse of sea.
He was completely at home. Too bad the place where I felt completely at home was fading fast behind us.
"O-o-oh, First Mate, eh?"I snuggled up against his back and wrapped my arms around his waist as he steered.
Thor's laugh rumbled through his back and into my chest. "First and only, darling."
The amount of joy those four words filled me with was ridiculous. I thought back to my previous life and couldn't believe where I'd ended up. If you'd told me a month ago that I'd wind up happily setting off to sea wrapped around a Norse god in just a few weeks, I'd have called you several names; the least of which would have been crazy.
"You seem different."I drifted off to the side and took a seat in one of the huge chairs which were bolted to the floor.
"Different from what?"He spared me a quick glance.
"From how you are on land."I shrugged. "More playful I guess."
"I used to be like this all the time."Thor's smile wavered a bit. "I don't know if you've ever read any of the stories they tell about me, but I was a live in the moment kind of man."
"Does this have anything to do with that rock in your forehead?"I smirked.
"Not my finest moment"-he grimaced—"and not the most light-hearted of stories. You know, I once dressed in drag."
"Shut up!"I laughed and leaned forward in my chair. "Tell me all about it."
"It was a long time ago."His grin widened. "I was more fun then."
"I think you're kind of fun now."
"I think you've brought back the joy to my life."He shot me a quick look that warmed me down to my toes. "Fighting against my father has robbed me of most of my humor, but with you, I remember how to laugh."
"You are so getting lucky today."I gave him a sexy wink.