Off to the left, the darkness was lit by the startled breath of a dragon. The fireball was followed by a, “Huh? What?”
“It's all right, Salem. Go back to sleep,” I shouted.
A dragon murmur was all I got in response. The poor guy was even more tuckered out than the children.
Kirill laid a hand on Az's shoulder. “Ve vill free zem.”
“And kill that motherfucker once and for all,” Azrael added.
“Da.”
Viper started giggling. “Motherfucker.”
“Why is that funny?” Azrael asked.
“Because he really did f—”
“Donotfinish that sentence,” Azrael cut him off.
I shook my head at Viper.
“You really need to learn comedic timing,” Trevor said. Then he scowled. “Scratch that. You just need to learn how to not be an ass.”
“Damn, tough crowd,” Viper muttered.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The next day, we started harvesting apples from the grove surrounding the Elemental Well. Azrael went to the Golden Citadel to oversee things while I contacted the God Squad and updated everyone. Morpheus was especially upset because he'd been dating the sole female Archangel, Saraqael. After reassuring him that we'd free her, I made my last text. It was to Thor, and after I updated him, I asked him to bring Brevyn back. It was time for me to send for Arach.
Thor brought Brev over an hour or so later. They found us outside, at the training yard to the right of the palace. The Intare were practicing maneuvers with our Angel allies, including three of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the Avenging Angels. The Angels were teaching my lions how to fight them from the ground.
“Vervain,” Thor called as he approached with Brevyn.
“Hey.” I waved them back toward the house where it was quieter and hurried to join them. “Hi, honey.” I bent over to hug my son. “Did you have a good time?”
“Yes,” Brevyn said.
I waited for more, but that was it.
“Okay.” I straightened and looked at Thor. “How are things with you?”
Thor nodded. “Better. Brevyn removed the Love magic from Raedra and things have gone back to normal.”
“Good.”
“I'm sorry, Uncle Thor,” Brevyn said.
“It's all right. You don't have to keep apologizing.” Thor ruffled Brevyn's dark hair.
Brevyn nodded, then set his blue stare on me. “I can't go home right now, Mother.”
I blinked. “Why not?”
“I need to be here.”
“Brev, I promised your father that he could come to any war I participated in.”
“I know. He will have to be disappointed this time.”
