“It's racial targeting in a way,” Trevor agreed. “But not the same way that humans do it. We're targeting gods and we're all Atlanteans, no matter what human belief has done to our appearances. And in order to find the right gods, we have to narrow our suspects down.”
“We're looking for darker-skinned gods because we saw one,” Hades huffed. “It has nothing to do with targeting a race.”
“I know, it just sounded wrong,” I said.
“Gods are the ultimate proof that appearance has nothing to do with who you are,” Teharon's tone, as usual, was kind and soothing. “I'm honored to wear the face of my people”—he held out his arms, covered in skin that was a beautiful shade of golden-brown with a hint of terracotta—“but beneath the magic, I look like another man.Looklike, but not am. I am the same person whether I have long hair or short, dark skin or pale, blue eyes or brown. My appearance is merely a link to the people I love, nothing more. Just as these snakes are linked to their people through their appearance, but they are all fair-skinned Atlanteans beneath.”
“So, what you're saying is that even though we're looking for a dark-skinned pantheon, these snakes actually fit the typical serial killer profile: white males, mid to late twenties.” I lifted a brow at Teharon.
“I suppose you could say that.” Teharon chuckled. “Though, I'm assuming they are far older than their late twenties.”
“Actually, there have been studies that show that the standard serial killer profile is incorrect,” Torrent started to say. “What is—”
“Torr, no,” Artemis stopped him. “Just, leave this one be.”
“Oh, okay.” Torrent blinked, then looked at me again. “Maybe you should try to talk to Viper again, V. It's been long enough, don't you think? I know I'd want to talk to Artie if we'd gotten in a fight like that.”
Artemis kissed Torr's cheek because what else could a girlfriend do after hearing something like that?
“Yeah, maybe you're right.” I glanced at Austin, who had passed out, upright in his chair, his coffee set on the armrest. “And it's time for cowboy-cops to go to bed.” I went over and shook Austin's shoulder gently as I took his coffee from him. “Austin?”
“Huh? Do wut?”
“We're leaving now. You can go to bed.”
“Ah'ite,” he drawled as he got to his feet, then stumbled down the hallway.
“Let's lock up for him,” I said to everyone else.
We cleaned up the coffee cups and tidied up a bit before we left because I thought it would be rude to leave Austin a mess to deal with in the morning. While we were cleaning, Blue texted back, saying that he was glad to give up the search because Och-Kan was proving difficult to find. When all was sorted, we locked up and stepped outside to find Aidan lounging in the bed of Austin's truck.
“You still mad?” Aidan asked me warily.
“Not at you. Can you take me to the snake house?”
“That's what I'm here for.” He grinned. “I figured you'd want to go over and check it out yourself but when I got back from transporting everyone, you were in your meeting and I didn't want to interrupt.”
“Thanks, Aidan.” I looked over at the rest of the God Squad. “I don't think we all need to go over. Why don't you guys trace home and I'll text you later with anything we find?”
The Squad agreed and we made our goodbyes before they traced away. My husbands stayed behind, of course.
“Can you do a chain trace with all of us?” Trevor asked Aidan.
Aidan scowled. “I'd prefer to just take two at a time instead of trying to drag all of you through the Aether with me.”
“It'll only be three trips anyway,” I said as I took Aidan's hand. “I'll see you guys there.”
Kirill took Aidan's other hand without a word and then Aidan directed our trace. We were drawn into the Aether, then reformed in front of a modest, one-story house nestled within a wooded lawn. A few of my Intare came up to us as we headed for the front door.
“I'll go get the others,” Aidan said and disappeared.
“Tima,” Lucas spoke for the group of Intare, “we've found evidence of several people living here and two human bodies buried in the back.”
“They killed the homeowners,” I concluded.
“It looks like it,” Lucas agreed. “The bodies match photographs in the house.”
“We need to get Austin out here tomorrow,” I said to Kirill.
