“I kind of got it from his name,” I said.
“And this is why I've never liked you.” Demeter grimaced. “You're disrespectful and snarky.”
“When I find someone worthy of respect, I give it to them,” I said pointedly.
“Fine; our alliance still stands, Godhunter,” Demeter said. “But I need to return home and conduct some research before we go after Nyx and Aion.”
“Hades will need time to build his army as well,” I said. “But you're not going anywhere alone, Demeter.”
“Excuse me?” She huffed.
“We're going with you.” I nodded to Kirill. “And you're going to release those prisoners.”
“Now, Vervain...”
“Or I could kill you now.” I held up a hand to stop her threats. “You know that I can; stop kidding yourself. I just took Niyarvirezi's magic, just as I took Huitzilopochtli's, and that means that I can take even more. I could drain away your magic within minutes, and there would be nothing you could do to stop me.”
Demeter went pale. “Fine; I'll release the prisoners on one condition.”
“What?”
“You don't try to kill me until after Nyx is dead.” Demeter lifted her chin.
“That was the plan, Dementor,” I said smugly and then blinked in surprise.
I had a feeling that was the old me coming through again.
“What the hell did you call me?” Demeter gaped at me as the lions around us—those who had shifted back to human—chuckled.
“It's a pop culture thing.” I waved it away. “Trust me; it's applicable.”
Demeter narrowed her gaze at me.
“Now, are there any clothes I can borrow?” I asked Kirill. “I don't want to free the slaves naked; I'm not the Mother of Dragons or anything.”
Alaric started laughing again.
Chapter Twelve
Kirill and I got the Intare—that was the name of my Pride—settled into their new relative freedom. I say “relative” because as much as I wanted to free them completely, I couldn't. I held the magic that kept them immortal, and they owed me their fealty if nothing else. But the Intare offered me much more than that. They wanted me to lead them; to truly be their Tima. Kirill explained that this was necessary for their wellbeing; that without my guidance and control, the Intare would regress into their beast natures and become true lions forever. So, I performed a bonding ceremony with them; involving a lot of sniffing and rubbing. Nothing sexual; it was just a Pride tradition. They basically scent-marked me like the cats they are.
When the Pride felt secure in their new roles, Kirill and I bid them goodbye and escorted Demeter to her territory. I held Demeter's hand while we traced; I didn't want her slipping away somehow. Greek goddesses are tricky.
Demeter led us up to the central temple and into its little room. There was an elevator inside; hovering over a shaft in the ground. We took it down to a small room and then used a tunnel to access a vast cavern. Demeter strode ahead of us, but I could have led the way; I already knew the way through Demeter's underground gardens.
And I knew just where to find the prison.
It didn't look like a prison; more like an upscale barracks. It was a long, rectangular building with one central hall and rooms branching off both sides. Demeter tried to walk by it, but I grabbed her arm and shoved her toward the building. She hesitated at the door.
“Go on,” I said. “Open the doors; all of them.”
Demeter huffed angrily and went into the building. We followed her down the hallway as she opened each door. I heard muffled sounds coming from the rooms; all but one. I left Kirill the task of explaining to the men that they were free—I thought it might be good for him—and went to the silent cell. I opened the door and stared at an empty room.
“Who was in this room?” I asked Demeter with a growl; like, a real growl.
Demeter paled and cleared her throat. Her prisoners were starting to fill the hallway; shoulders hunched as if they weren't sure if this were a trick and they were about to be attacked. Demeter looked back at them and narrowed her eyes. The men shrank away from her.
“Don't fucking look at them!” I snapped; a little relieved that I was able to swear again. “You don't deserve to look at them. You look at me, Demeter, and you tell me who was in this room.”
