“Yes, exactly. That won't win you any points with the humans. Or with the Fey, for that matter. All we can do is warn the fey communities on Earth. Maybe they can ward their homes and businesses.”
“He's not hitting the Fey,” Trevor said. “He's only smiting humans who support the Fey.”
“Smiting,” I scoffed. “But that's pretty smart too. He's not directly attacking faeries so they don't have a reason to retaliate.”
“Yes, butweare faeries,” Azrael said. Then he blinked. “It's still strange to say that.”
Odin grunted pensively. “Yes, you two are Fey, but he hasn't given you enough of a reason to bring the entire Fey race into this war.”
“Iam the reason,” Azrael said. “I can rally the faeries of Earth.”
“You only command the faeries posted at the Golden Citadel,” I countered. “You can't expect the civilian faeries to fight for you when they haven't been attacked.”
“It doesn't matter. We have the Intare and the Horde of Hell and, hopefully, there will be more defectors from the Host.”
“That's not the point,” Trevor said. “Jerry has found a way to weaken your position on Earth without directly involving our greatest ally.”
“But weakening my position is weakening the Fey's position. I guard the Elemental Well.”
“And the High King expects you to do your job, especially after you nearly took over the world,” I said. “He's not going to care about weeping Madonnas or swarms of bugs attacking humans. We have to handle this ourselves. Besides, who would we even fight? He hasn't sent any Angels. We'd have to battle off the bugs and lightning.”
“And that might give credence to the miracles,” Odin said. “If we defend the pro-Fey humans, it will look as if faeries are going to war against God. And that would be proof that there is a God.”
“Shit,” Azrael muttered. “But eventually, this will hurt the Fey. Humans will turn against all of us.”
“Andthenwe will have a reason to rally the Fey,” I said. “But not yet.”
“I say we let Jerry perform his miracles and mess with the humans,” Odin said. “We need to focus on the end game.”
“And this will keep Jerry distracted while we build our battlefield,” Re said.
“I miss Samara,” I said suddenly.
Azrael took my hand. “But she doesn't miss you.”
“What a horrible thing to say!”
Azrael snorted a laugh. “You know what I mean. You are with her right now. She is safe and loved.”
“Right now, she's still in my belly.”
“So, she's as close to you as she can get,” Trevor said.
“ButImissher.Am I supposed to ignore my pain because the people I love don't feel it? Is that what being a mother is about?”
“No,” Odin said. “Your pain is valid, and if we could ease it for you, we would. But we can't. So we're trying to comfort you with the knowledge that Samara is well. You know we would never discount your unhappiness, Vervain.”
“I do know that.” I sighed. “I'm sorry. And it's not unhappiness just . . . an ache. I miss my baby.”
“Andthatis what being a mother is about,” Re said. “Love. You love her so much already. But right now, you need to be here with the other people you love. We need you too.”
“Okay.” I held up my hands in surrender. “I'm done with my pity party.”
“Let's go outside and relax for a bit,” Viper said. “You have other children to lay some love on. Focus on them and you'll feel better.”
“You're right.” I stood up. “I've been missing them for months and now, here I am, with them but missing Samara.”
“It's understandable,” Odin said as we headed outside. “You don't miss Arach or Rian yet, do you?”
