If Thor began a romance with Raedra, it would most likely end and then he'd be stuck in another awkward relationship with a woman he had loved but couldn't escape. Except that it would be even worse with Rae since they had a child together. He'd made the right choice. Besides, love shouldn't be forced. I would have felt the same way if I'd been him. There had been a time when the knowledge that I was destined to love my husbands had pissed me off. I felt as if we didn't have a choice. But destiny doesn't work like that; it's not an enchantment.
I found Torrent and Artemis in the dining hall with my husbands. “Hey, how's the construction going?”
“The construction is done, and we've just finished the bombs. The largest is in the church but there are others spread around the clearing in case the Angels land.”
“Which means it's time for me to pay a visit to my brother,” Azrael said. “I need to personally invite him to the grand opening of my first church.”
“Do they call it a grand opening when it's a church?” Trevor asked.
“Does it matter?”
“Just curious.”
“Wait,” Torrent said suddenly. “I'm getting a troubling news report.”
“You'regettingit?” Viper asked.
“Shush!” Re smacked him.
We all waited in silence while Torrent's stare remained distant. Finally, he blinked and focused on us.
“Under orders from the Pope, the Vatican City Police and Swiss Guards have been rousting faeries from their homes and businesses in Rome and ordering them to leave Italy,” Torrent said. “So far, the faeries have gone peacefully, but the Italian citizens are gathering alongside the army, and they are becoming hostile. Many faeries have gone to the Embassy to regroup, and a mob is forming outside the gates.”
“We have an agreement with Italy,” Azrael said. “They can't do that.”
“The local police aren't involved.”
“But they're not stopping the Pope's little army?”
“No. This is religious and political. Many Italians are Catholic, especially in Rome. My guess is that the policemen are refusing to go up against what is essentially a Catholic militia carrying out orders they believe come from God.”
“In a way, they do,” I muttered. “This is Jerry's doing.”
“Why aren't the faeries simply tracing away?” Odin asked. “Why go to the Embassy?”
“Many of them have gone to Earth to make new lives for themselves,” I said. “They're not going to want to leave all they've built that easily. They'll retreat until they can unite, then they'll defend themselves. At least, that's what I'd do.”
“So, Jerry has finally angered faeries,” Kirill said.
“All the faeries know is that humans are pushing them out. They're angry at humans, not Jerry.”
“And if those faeries fight the Italians, it could have dire consequences,” Azrael said. “It may look as if we oppose Catholicism. Damn it! This was never about religion; it was about transitioning faeries into human society.”
“You called yourself the Faerie God,” Viper said.
“Yes, back when I was mad with magic,” Az huffed. “If I could get rid of the title now, I would.”
“The point is, you wanted to be worshiped. There's no way around the religious aspect.”
“Maybe not, but Azrael's right,” Odin said. “We need to stop the brewing battle without looking as if we're trying to oppose the Catholic Church.”
“Tricky,” Re murmured.
“Yes. If this is part of Jerry's plan, and I'd be surprised if it isn't, it's brilliant.”
“I need to get to Italy.” Azrael got up and started heading for the door.
“But what are you going to do?” I hurried after him.
