“Uh; I asked 'Am I?” I lied. “As in; Am I going to have time to return?”
“Oh.” Demeter frowned. “Probably not today. Do you really want to see my home so badly?”
“No; it's fine. I was just talking to myself.”
“You're a strange woman,” Demeter said as we strode back to the little building that must be her tracing chamber. “Try not to behave so oddly with Niyarvirezi.”
“Niyarvirezi?” I asked.
“She's an African lion goddess,” Demeter said. “And she has a whole pride of werelions at her disposal. They're rather enjoyable if you ever feel the need for some extramarital activities.”
“Are you saying that you have sex with these lions?” I asked in surprise.
“They do whatever she tells them to.” Demeter smirked. “One, in particular, was my favorite, but he's a bit broken now.”
“Broken?”
My heart clenched suddenly, and the image of a pair of deep blue eyes surfaced. This wasn't the vision of the child I'd seen earlier; this was a man, and his eyes were bluer than the most precious sapphires with sooty lashes surrounding them.
I blinked away my tears as I asked, “Why is he broken?”
“Well, she's not exactly nice to them.” Demeter shrugged. “Regardless, they're fierce warriors, and that's just what we need. Niyarvirezi has agreed to add the Pride to our numbers in exchange for my help on another matter.”
“What matter?”
“Never mind that.” Demeter frowned and took my hand.
Demeter spoke some strange words, and the Aether pulled us in. Our bodies became pure thought as we zipped through that magical place, and then we reformed in a shower of blue sparks. We stood at the end of a hallway; in front of a wall. I looked behind us dubiously.
“She has a tracingwall?” I asked.
“It works.” Demeter shrugged and started walking again.
“And I'm the odd one,” I muttered. “Who the hell has a tracing wall?”
“Demeter.” A blond man bowed to Demeter. He was very handsome, with a pair of stunning, turquoise eyes that gave Teharon's peepers a run for their money. “My Tima has sent me to fetch you.”
“Hello, Darius,” Demeter purred. “It's good to see you again.”
Darius nodded; looking uncomfortable.
“This is Vervain.” Demeter waved a hand back at me. “The Godhunter.”
“The Godhunter?” Darius' voice went up a notch and his eyes shot to me eagerly.
“Yes.” Demeter narrowed her gaze at Darius. “Is that significant?”
“No,” he said hurriedly. “Not at all; I've just heard stories about her.”
“Don't believe them all,” I said with a little smile. “I swear; I'm not Satan.”
“Of course, you're not,” Demeter huffed. “Lucifer is far more civilized than you. No offense, Vervain.”
“It was a joke.” I rolled my eyes and then said to Darius, “Gods; they never get my jokes.”
Darius chuckled but turned away quickly when Demeter glared at him. “This way, ladies.”
He led us through winding hallways made of wood and reeds. There was a safari feel to the place; not so original for an African lion goddess. I was kind of disappointed in both Demeter and this lion goddess. But I suppose gods like to honor their cultures. It really was the least they could do after sucking up all that energy from humans.
