Free Of Gods and Wolves by Amy Sumida

little witch?” Even his voice was different. Still soft as velvet but warmer, richer.
    I shook my head and reached to touch him but the chains rattled and stopped me. He looked down as if he’d just noticed them. With a cry he rolled off me and undid the chains. They fell away, clattering against the stone with the ring of freedom. I rubbed my wrists distractedly as he knelt beside the altar and retrieved the black silk.
    “Forgive me, Vervain,” he handed me the silk and stared up at me with those bright eyes.
    I wrapped the material around me and tied it securely, holding his gaze the entire time. “Your mother was right.”
    “My mother,” he shook his head with a little frown, “about what?”
    “ Your eyes are beautiful,” I stroked his face as it filled with wary hope. “They’re not just jade but Imperial jade, a vibrant, translucent green. I’ve never seen eyes this color before.”
    He closed those intense eyes and touched his fingertips to them gently. “It’s true, I see the world as it was,” he looked around him in awe. “I’d forgotten how vivid the colors were without the veil of blood.”
    I smiled as he got to his feet and spun around, taking everything in. His priests came through the trees slowly, warily watching his strange behavior. They looked at me, unbound and unmarked, and then back at him. Their eyes widened and they fell to their knees.
    “ Vervain,” he turned back to me and I felt it then, the connection my power had made through the healing. I loved him, as I loved Fenrir before him, and I’d carry it with me always. I'd carry him with me. Instead of scaring me, I found it comforting. I held my arms out to him and he picked me up to twirl me around.
    “ I love you, little witch,” he whispered in my ear as he set me down.
    “ I love you too, Blue,” I smiled but some of my hesitation must’ve shown through because he searched my face with concern.   
    “ There’s more,” he sighed, “you don’t love me as you do Thor.”
    “ No,” I said as gently as I could.
    He nodded and took a deep breath. “I think I can accept that now. Do you need to leave immediately?”
    “He’ll be very worried,” I bit my lip. “I'm sure Trevor's told him by now.”
    “ Then you must return,” he took my arm and escorted me inside. “I think I need some time to process all these changes anyway.”
     

Chapter Seven
 
    I traced into my living room wearing only the black silk and a smile. The entire God Squad was there, filling the space to capacity with the addition of Trevor. Thor's face filled with relief and then happiness as he rushed over to me but it was Trevor's face that would haunt my dreams.
    I stared at the wolf, over Thor's shoulder, while Thor hugged me, and from Trevor's eyes to mine, passed something I have no name for. Relief was too mild a word for what I saw in Trevor. His were the eyes of a drowning man in the moment he clasped hands with his rescuer.
    “What happened?” Thor finally choked out, loosening his hold marginally and forcing my eyes away from Trevor. “Trevor came to me after you called him. He said he caught traces of both you and Blue but was unable to follow you. I reached for you down our link but it was worse than blocked, it was like you were lost behind a void.”
    “ Blue's known where I lived this entire time. He was just playing with me and he finally decided to end the game. He wasn't prepared for Aphrodite's magic in my hands though, and I won.” I pulled back and smiled at everyone. “Thank you guys for being here for Thor.”
    “ We’re here for you , Vervain,” Trevor pulled me from Thor and hugged me, burying his face in my neck and breathing deep. A shudder wracked his body before he finally let go and passed me along to the others. I even got hugged by Horus.
    “ Did you kill Huitzilopochtli?” Teharon’s calm voice asked what I’m sure they were all wondering.
    “ Yes,” I smiled, “in a way.”
     

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