Free Gods by Ednah Walters Page A

going face them? I’m never going back to Eljudnir after this.”
    “Why can’t I tell them you deserve more? I’m your father and it’s my job to protect you whichever way I can, since I’m useless when it comes to magic and the way it affects you when you are in the astral plane. Looking out for you in this plane is the only thing I have.” He got up and walked around his desk. “Besides, I’ve been reading about these deities. They have many consorts and babies all over the place. That’s not what I want for my little girl.”
    “Eirik is not like that.”
    “We’ll see, won’t we?” He pressed a kiss on my temple. “I’ll bring takeout for dinner.”
    I studied his face and saw concern behind his easy smile. “You are not useless, Dad. Knowing you love me has pulled me out of tight spots in the astral plane before.” He paled, and I realized that was the wrong thing to say. “But you can’t go warning my boyfriends off.”
    “How many are you planning on having?”
    “Very many.” Only one, but he didn’t need to know that. I hurried out of the police station and yanked open the door of my car. Hayden wore a big grin.
    “You won’t believe where she’s living.”
    I slid behind the wheel and leaned back into my seat.
    “Where’s ‘wow, Hayden, you are awesome.’ What is it?”
    “My father told Eirik’s parents to keep an eye on us when I’m in Eljudnir and that he shouldn’t mess with me until he makes an honest woman out of me. Who says things like that in this day and age?” Hayden laughed, and I glared at her. “It’s not funny.”
    “Actually, it was. I was there when he said it and you should have seen the look on Eirik’s face. The goddess was insulted that your father would have a problem with Eirik, but Baldur saved the day by smoothly reassuring your father that his son is an honorable man.”
    “What? They were all there too?”
    “Oh yeah. It was kind of cute and old-fashioned. Something I’d love my father, if I had one, to say to my boyfriend. Trudy and I sighed while Einmyria rolled her eyes.”
    “Oh God. I’m never going to live this one down. Never. Poor Eirik.” I was beyond humiliated. I started the car. “So what’s Marguerite’s address?”
    “Head toward your house.”
    “My house? Why?”
    “Because you are her neighbor. Davies said Marguerite stayed with the Moutons until last week. They were keeping an eye on her. According to them, she disappeared and they couldn’t explain how. She never left the house that day and there are no records showing she flew out of the state and no traffic cams caught her driving anywhere.”
    “She went home through a portal.”
    “Which makes me wonder how much the Moutons know about her. I bet Giselle’s mother was working with Marguerite. I can’t wait to hear what she says. Also someone is about to be humiliated now that you are back.”
    I hoped Mrs. Mouton wasn’t mixed up in Marguerite’s mess. She was the head of the America Witches Guild, and according to Eirik, the Guild didn’t approve of the way Immortals had treated Witches. I eased out of the parking lot, Hayden’s last sentence registering.
    “Who’s about to be humiliated?”
    “Giselle,” Hayden said, her unusual eyes gleaming.
    “Why?”
    “A lot has happened in the last three weeks. People have been asking me when you’ll be back. Even Giselle and her WAC girls wanted to know what happened to you. I can’t wait to see her face.”
    “You’re still not making sense. Why is Giselle about to be humiliated?”
    “According to the rumors at school, you skipped town because she and Eirik started dating.”
    I stepped hard on the brakes and the car jerked to a stop. The driver behind us barely missed hitting us. He switched lanes and honked at us. I eased off the brakes.
    “What?”
    “Yep. I think she started the rumor, although she’s gone out of her way to deny it, which only makes people believe her. I can’t wait to see her