“It wasn't by the time it was given to me,” Torrent said carefully. “It's possible there was a spell on it that slipped into Vervain and dissipated.”
“Fuck,” Viper cursed. “Teharon!”
“A Thaisce?” Arach was suddenly beside me, pushing back my hair and staring into my eyes. “You're right, Kirill. Something's wrong.”
“Calm yourselves,” Teharon said as he came through the crowd.
I met Teharon's turquoise eyes and smiled. Teharon was so handsome. I loved his long black hair. And the feather that healways wore. I loved that the white feather was tipped in blood. I loved blood. It's so delicious. And I loved Teharon. He had saved my life.
“Yes, there's something here,” Teharon said.
I hadn't even noticed his hand on my shoulder. I was too lost in his eyes.
“Close your eyes, Vervain,” Teharon said.
“Okiedokie.” I closed my eyes.
“Okiedokie?” Horus asked. “Promise me we will never become that type of parents, my love.”
“Shut up, Horus!” Hekate hissed.
Then cool magic rushed through me like a waterfall, taking something with it. Clarity came. I opened my eyes with a sharp breath. “Son of a biscuit!” I growled. “They got me again!”
“What happened to you?” Re demanded. “What were you feeling?”
“It was subtle. I didn't notice it until it took over. It just crept up on me.”
“What crept up on you?” Horus demanded.
“Confusion,” I whispered. Before he could back away, I squeezed Teharon's arm. “Thank you again, Teharon.”
“Anytime, Vervain.”
“Confusion,” Odin said, his focus going inward. “That's a very specific magic.”
“It would explain how they got Cerberus, Viper, and Alexander,” Re said.
“And made my Red Caps stand down,” Arach added. “Fearghal kept saying that he didn't understand why he didn't act.”
“He didn't understand.” Odin nodded. “He was confused.”
“Yeah, that's what I felt,” Viper said. “I was too confused to do or say anything.”
“There are numerous gods of chaos who can cause confusion,” Torrent said. “Set, for example, is called the God of Confusion.”
“Set?” I looked at Re.
Set was Anubis's father. And Anubis was Re's great-great-grandson. Set was not the most pleasant man. His wife was lovely, though, and had even protected me once with a blessing.
“It's not Set,” Re said. “This isn't his style.”
I snorted.
“Why is that funny?” Arach asked.
“Because it's true,” Horus said. “Set is more the sort to storm a castle, banners streaming so you know you're about to get your ass kicked by the Great God of Chaos and Adversity. He is not a trickster. In fact, he'd scoff at the very thought. Playing tricks is beneath him.”
“There's Cydoemus, the Greek God of Battlefield Confusion,” Torrent offered.
