Kirill nodded, then asked Lucas, “Anything else?”
“Just the tunnels and the scent of snakes so far, but we're still searching.”
“Show me the tunnels,” I ordered. Then I froze. In my head, I heard Viper's voice again,I'm not one of your lions.Did my lions resent me too? “Sorry, Lucas. I didn't mean to boss you around like that.”
Lucas blinked, frowned, then looked at Kirill for an explanation.
“Viper had temper tantrum,” Kirill said. “Accused her of giving him orders like lion.”
“That fucker,” Lucas muttered, then saw my expression. “Sorry, Tima, but he has no right to say that. If he wants to fight with you about something, that's between you and him, but he shouldn't have made us a part of it. Viper will never be able to understand our relationship because he isn't Intare. You are our heart; you guide us. We listen to you because you're our leader and without you, we'd be lost. You freed us. You made us a family. There isn't a single lion who doesn't follow your orders willingly and gratefully. You are our goddess and we arehonoredto follow you.”
“Thank you, Lucas,” I said softly.
“We love you, Vervain,” Lucas added in a more casual tone. “We're family.”
“Now, that's more like it,” Re said as he stepped over with Azrael. “Well said, Lucas.”
My other husbands had arrived without me noticing and all of them looked as if they fully approved of Lucas' speech.
Lucas nodded to Re, then continued his report, “There are two tunnels, Tima.”
“Only two?” Azrael asked.
“Two tunnelsystems, I should say,” Lucas amended. “One leads to Lexington but we're not sure where the other goes. Viper went down the unknown tunnel awhile ago.”
“What?” I growled.
“He insisted, Tima,” Kieran, another lion, said apologetically. “And we could hardly stop him.”
“How long has he been gone exactly?” Re asked.
“I don't know. Viper brought us here, then went back for Vervain. He returned with an attitude instead. I assume that was due to your argument, Tima.” Lucas gave me a sympathetic look. “Viper told Aidan to trace over the rest of our group, then stripped and headed for the tunnels, saying something about finding someone to kill.”
“Great, so he went off half-cocked and angry,” I growled. In my head, I searched for Viper, connected with his mind, and tried to be calm.Where are you?
Nothing.
Viper, I'm at the snake house and Lucas just told me that you went into the tunnels to find someone to kill. I'm very worried about you. Please, say something.
I'm still angry, Vervain. I can't speak to you right now.
“Minn Elska?” Trevor asked.
“I'm talking to Viper. Hold on a sec, Honey-Eyes.” Then to Viper, I said,At least tell me what you're doing.
I'm investigating. Isn't that what you want me to do?
Damn it, Viper! You can't go off down those tunnels alone. What if you wind up in another nest?
I'll deal with it like I did the last. I need to blow off some steam, Vervain, and you need to let me.
I went silent, but he was able to feel my anxiety and anger. I knew he could because I could feel his boiling fury. Viper wasn't ready to make peace with me but he wasn't so angry that he wanted me to worry about him.
Look, the tunnels seem to go on forever,Viper said in a gentler tone.We need to find out where they lead. They could take me all the way back to where the snake-shifters came from. And I'm the only one who can do this.
No, you're not. Odin could have shifted into a snake and gone with you, but you ran off before I could tell you that.
Oh, here we go. You know what? I'll talk to you when I have something to report, General.
