We all followed Odin's stare toward the doorway.
Azrael strode in, back to his normal self. It was a relief to see him for several reasons. First, I wanted to know what he'd found at the scene and if I should go back and have a sniff. But I was also happy to see that he hadn't spent so much time as the Faerie God that he couldn't come back. The last thing we needed in the middle of this was Azrael going rogue.
“Anything?” Machar, who was standing beside the door, asked.
Azrael frowned at Machar, then said, “Nothing. I interviewed the woman who found Alex, and she said he simply appeared beneath the tree.”
“Alone?” I asked.
“Yes. She said he was lying beneath the tree, then he stumbled to his feet and stared around as if he were lost. When she approached him, he looked startled. Then he started crying for his mother.”
“I'm going to tear this trickster apart,” Machar growled, blood dripping from his hat to trail down his cheek. “What kind of monster takes children?”
“Indeed,” Azrael muttered.
“Alone,” I repeated. “But Viper wasn't alone.”
“Perhaps the trickster glamoured themselves invisible so the humans couldn't see them,” Trevor said.
I nodded. That had to be it. Was this more proof that this person was a god? Not really. Faeries couldn't make themselves invisible, but they could camouflage themselves to the point where they were practically invisible. Especially if there were plants around.
“I'm going back to see if I can find a scent,” I said as I stood up.
“Vervain, it's late,” Odin said. “You've been going all day at this. And you know there won't be a trail for you. This trickster only leaves trails when he wants us to follow. And when they do that, they're not obvious but they're not subtle either. I think you would have found something. Or Az would have.”
“I need to look anyway.”
“Very well. Do what you must. But then you come home. Agreed?”
I stared at Odin's beautiful face, every line of it strong. And those stunning eyes that went from purple to blue to green. Jewel tones. Shimmering like a peacock feather. Staring at him, I had the oddest thought pop into my head. He was still waiting to have a baby with me. Odin wanted to be a father again, but there were children who needed to be born in a certain order. I'd seen them in a broken future, and I had to make sure they were born in this future before I even thought about having other babies.
Now, those children had been born. And yet Odin hadn't pestered me for a baby. Honestly, we already had Vidar, and we had raised Vali together too. The other men thought it was only right that he wait for another chance at fatherhood with me. And then there was Re. Re had children as well, but not by me. He said he wanted to wait, but I wasn't so sure. The way Odin and Re watched me with the kids made me think they weren't as patient as they led on.
But Strawberry Shortcake! I needed a break from bearing babies.
“Vervain?” Odin prompted.
“Huh?”
“That's it,” Odin said and took my hand. “We're going home.”
“What about this trickster?” Machar demanded.
“Your son is safe,” Azrael said gently. “And you are not the only one who has been taken from. We will continue the hunt tomorrow.”
Machar's jaw clenched and his lips pressed together. His rough, Red Cap features squished into something almost unrecognizable as a person. Then he grunted. “Very well. I will return in the morning.” Then he strode out, his heavy footsteps thudding on the marble floor.
I stared after him, trying to regain my line of thought.
“Vervain?” Odin tugged on my hand.
“I'm not ready to have another baby yet,” I said.
Odin's eyes widened. “I didn't ask you to.”
I blinked. “I know. Sorry. I guess I'm tired.”
“You don't get tired like zat,” Kirill said. “Torrent, are you sure zat star vasn't enchanted?”
