Green Tea and Black Death (The Godhunter, Book 5) (18 page)

   “
Hmph,” I nodded, “I didn't think of that. I guess he wouldn't take too kindly to you after you tried to kill his wife.”

   “
You're not his wife anymore,” he snarled.

   “
Then why did you try to kill me?” I growled back as Azrael looked helplessly back and forth between us.

   “
Balder!” A voice boomed through the room, stopping Balder in his tracks and turning him even grayer.

   “
Yes?” His voice trembled.

   “
Escort our guests in,” the voice took on a feminine lilt.

 
Balder's jaw clenched but he inclined his head slightly and gestured to a doorway on our right. Tall enough for a mammoth to enter and wide enough that Azrael's wings didn't have a chance of touching, even were he to extend them fully, the opening was guarded by massive, twisted pillars on either side. One white and one black. We strode through them like visiting dignitaries and I hoped we'd be treated with the same respect.

 
Once through the door, I nearly stopped in my tracks, only Azrael's hand on my arm kept me moving. I wanted to stand and gape like a child at the magnificence of Hel's Hall.

  
Now I've been lucky enough to see some amazing places. I've traveled the world and seen quite a bit of the God Realm as well but Hel had a unique beauty. Like a dream of winter, not the reality but rather what winter wishes it could be, with just a touch of danger lurking beneath the ice.

  
There was a frozen river running down the center of the hall like an aisle. It sparkled in the light of the thousands of candles nestled in the bare branches of trees scattered along both sides. As we walked over the glassy surface, I stared harder at the trees, trying to figure out what was so strange about them. They were white with a coating of ice that made them into jeweled works of art. So beautiful but still so strange. Why did the branches seem to be jointed? They couldn't possibly be real trees.

  
In between the trees, I glimpsed walls but they were black and so far away, they made the room seem endless. I glimpsed movement back in the darkness but no matter how much I strained my eyes, I couldn't catch the definition of any recognizable shapes. It was creepy, sending shivers racing down my spine, so I turned my face determinedly away, to face the dais looming before us.

 
There, at the end of the hall, was the river's source. A mesmerizing frozen waterfall sprouted from the top of the far wall and flowed to the floor in sparkling glory. It formed the dais and curved into steps before flattening out to become the river.

  
On the dais were two thrones, a large obsidian masterpiece with intricate spirals cut into it, and a smaller chair of the same stone, more discrete but still grand. Hel sat on the larger of the two, straight backed and frighteningly beautiful. The left half of her body was pure white and practically glowed. The right half was blacker than her throne, a perfect jet which shone with a more subdued softness than it's counterpart. The colors continued into her straight, waist-length hair, which seemed to know exactly which side it belonged to and allowed no fraternizing with the other. Her eyes were ice blue, very similar to Azrael's but much, much colder, without any spark to light their chill. They looked at me with wary curiosity, then darted over to her right.

  
To where Trevor was sitting, on the other throne.

  
His eyes were fastened on me like I was an oasis mirage, longed for but about to disappear at any second. I held his gaze gently, trying to reassure him but all it accomplished was filling those honey eyes with tears.

  
He looked like the Prince he was, dressed in a bright blue tunic and black leather pants. He had a sword belted at his waist and a narrow crown over his military-short hair. I'd never seen him look so regal, like a warrior king ready for battle.

  
We stopped before the bottom step and Azrael inclined his head to Hel as he spread his wings with a great rustling and enfolded one around me like a companionable arm. I looked at him askance but this was his area of expertise and I'd trust him to make the proper moves.

   “
Lady Hel,” he greeted. “It's been too long since I've been blessed by your beauty.”

   “
Lord Azrael, welcome to Eljudni,” her red lips seemed to caress the words as she spoke them. “I'd forgotten the charms of the Angelic Host. It's a shame you're such a lone
wolf
.” She purred out the last word and glanced at Trevor with a low chuckle. “But it seems the wolf has found a reason to run with the pack again and it's the same reason that sent
my
wolf running to me.” She reached out a thin hand and ran a fingertip over Trevor's arm.

  
I clenched my teeth and fought back my urge to kill Trevor's Aunt.

   “
May I present Vervain Lavine?” Azrael drew me forward with his wing while retaining it as a shield over me. “Goddess of Love and Lions.”

   “
And VéulfR's
estranged
mate,” Hel added snidely. Go figure, she'd use his given name. Uptight bitch.

  
I looked to Trevor but he said nothing, just kept staring at me with desperate eyes.

   “
Alas, that is why we've come,” Azrael spread his hands.

   “
My nephew entered Niflheim willingly,” Hel peered at me curiously. “He was eager for the respite I could offer him, a sanctuary from love's harsh embrace. I don't hold him here prisoner. He is free to leave with you if he wishes,” she looked over at him smugly, “but I doubt highly that he'll choose your bitter affection over my lasting relief.”

  
Trevor's jaw clenched but still he remained silent.

   “
Then I have your word that he can leave with us if he chooses?” I stepped out of Azrael's protective embrace.

   “
As I said,” she frowned at me and the angles sent her bi-colored face into a fun house rictus. “VéulfR is free to leave if he wishes but he expressed certain conditions upon entering my hall and those conditions must be met.”

   “
What do you mean?” I started to move closer but Az grabbed my hand and held me back.

   “
VéulfR was very upset when he came to me,” Hel sighed. “You have sorely abused the good nature of my brother's eldest son.”

  
I looked over at Trevor and watched his jaw clench, his hands grip the arms of his throne. He looked down into his lap and refused to meet my gaze.

   “
I've made a few mistakes,” I agreed.

   “
Mistakes?” She smiled but it was harsh, just a twist of lips. “Yes, he mentioned your shortcomings. Upon arrival, VéulfR announced that he would remain here until there was a specific occurrence involving you. That is all the help I will give you involving his removal and I gift it you only because you're in the company of my Brother Death.”

   “
So you're saying you really are holding him hostage until certain demands are met?” My fingers itched, my lion claws longing to make an entrance.

   “
Absolutely not,” Hel raised her chin till I could see straight up her nose. “My territory is magic, some of the oldest magic there is, and anything said within it is made more real just for simply being spoken here. When my sweet VéulfR uttered those words, he created a spell. The magic of Hel has cemented his oath and it must be appeased before he can leave. I have no control over it.”

   “
But you're not going to tell me what I need to do either,” I narrowed my eyes on her, then swung my hard gaze to my wolf.

   “
He won't help you,” she said gleefully. “The oath won't allow it. You must meet his requirement by simply knowing what he needs. You are supposed to be his mate after all. So prove it, prove it to me and prove it to VéulfR. Show him that you can give him what he needs. Be his mate in truth.”

  
Crap. I almost turned around and walked out. Trevor should have known better than to get himself into this mess. Now I was standing in Helheim with no idea of what to do to free him. I'd literally gone through Hell to save him and he couldn't even look at me. Wait. Something twinged inside my belly, a twisting, turning, roll of soft fur, a whimper of sound.

  
I
was
his mate.

 
I carried a part of Trevor inside me. I would know what he needed because he was always with me. He didn't need to speak to me. I just needed to reach inside to hear him. My face must have shown some of my revelation because Hel sat straighter in her seat and narrowed her eyes on me. I closed mine and blocked her out.

  
The sound of rustling feathers filled my ears as I felt Azrael's wings enfold me. I smiled a little, it was always a turn on when a man had my back. Knowing I was safe, I went further into myself, searching for Trevor, and finally I touched my wolf. Normally I could feel him close to my lioness, almost intertwined with her wild magic, but now my wolf was hiding. She'd slunk off into a corner and curled up to hibernate while Trevor hibernated in Hel's winter.

  
I touched her gently and she stirred, looked up, and stared right into my soul. I was overwhelmed by a tide of memories. Coming home to find Trevor asleep on the couch and making love to him for the first time. Trevor being pulled away from me, weak but still fighting, when Anubis was trying to force me to marry him. Trevor accepting Kirill into our life, as a brother and my new lover. Trevor watching me pack to visit Odin, sad but resigned. My wolf had been a true mate to me and I had failed him.

  
I gently pushed out of Azrael's embrace and began to climb the dais. I stared straight at Trevor. I couldn't care less what Hel did now. She could go to... well, I guess she was already there. I stopped in front of him, one step down from his throne, and waited for him to look up at me. When he did, I was shocked to find hope filling his eyes.

   “
I was wrong,” I said simply and the hope spread over his entire face, changing into joy as it went.

   “
No,” Hel's whisper floated over to us but we both ignored it.

   “
How did you know?” He finally spoke and his voice was filled with amazement.

   “
I'm your mate,” I smiled but my tears were flowing over my lips, making my happiness salty. “I know your heart because its mine.”

  
He jumped down the last step separating us and lifted me into his embrace, burying his face in my neck and breathing deeply. My inner wolf jumped as well, circling and leaping in joy. Then his lips were on mine and I was home. Deep in Hel's realm, I was home because my wolf held me and I knew everything was going to be alright.

   “
I thought it was hopeless,” Trevor finally pulled back to look at me. “I thought you might apologize, maybe even give some long, pretty speech, but I never thought in a million years you'd ever say those three words.”

   “
Am I that stubborn?” I laughed at his expression. “I can admit when I'm wrong. It's just hard for me to keep up. It happens so often, especially with you.”

   “
Minn Elska,” he whispered as he pulled me closer. “You are seldom wrong but,” he smiled wider, “when you are, you're so very, completely wrong.”

   “
Anubis is in the past,” I held his face between my hands. “You are my future. I promise from now on, to leave the past in the past and focus on my future. Besides, it's hard to look back when the view in front of me is so damn good.”

   “
If he ever touches you again,” Trevor's eyes began to glow, “I will tear his limbs off slowly and throw them to his jackals.”

   “
Fair enough,” I smiled gently and he began to laugh.

 
I basked in that laugh. It had been so long since I'd heard it. Trevor's laugh was like his eyes, warm and golden, honey sweet, and seductive. It relaxed my tense muscles, sending little spasms of delight running along my spine and making me wish we were somewhere a little more private, so I could run my tongue along
his
spine.

   “
Can we go home now?” It felt like I'd waited forever for this moment, to have my lost wolf come home again.

   “
Yes,” he smiled down at me.

   “
No,” Hel stood up and stalked over to us. “She just walks up to you and says she's wrong and that's it? You're going back to her?”

   “
Aunt Hel,” Trevor turned toward her, sliding me behind his back. Why did everyone think I needed protection from this woman? I had goddess status now too. “She said the words I needed to hear. She fulfilled my oath. I've been separated from my mate long enough. I want to go home.”

   “
Let them go,” I had completely forgotten Balder until he spoke. “You have me, why do you need him?”

   “
He's alive,” Hel growled at Balder and he paled as much as was possible for a dead man to pale.