I waited for them to disappear down the stairs and into the club before I started sniffing around. Arach was already strolling about, his dragon eyes glittering in the dark. There were a lot of scents up there, mainly from my family and friends. And now Ty had added his girlfriend's to the mix. But that was fine. I wasn't looking for a scent. I already sniffed the star for that and failed. I was looking for a non-scent.
“No,” I whispered and went still. “Fuck!”
“A Thaisce?” Arach rushed over at the sound of a real curse word leaving my lips.
“It's here. Or not here, rather. The trickster must have used the Pasha to enchant their ninja suit with Katila's magic.” I blinked. “How the hell did they do that?”
“I don't know.” Arach took a deep sniff. “But I smell it too. There are distinct holes of absolutely clear air here.”
“I would have preferred the bleach.”
Arach grunted and took my hand. “We need to get back and share this information.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
The non-scent started a discussion that lasted past the sun rising in Texas. Slainidh came by with Alexander to check on Machar, who had fallen asleep in his chair. The citadel staff brought us breakfast, and we took a small break to eat, Machar dining with his family. But then they went home, and we got back to it. There wasn't anything we could do without a trail to follow or another lead, and a non-scent is nearly impossible to track through the Aether. But everyone was upset. If a god's magic could be siphoned out of their weapon or tool or whatever they used a lot, even after they were dead, this boded ill for all of us. We could only hope that the trickster didn't share their knowledge and that we caught them before they did any lasting damage.
“Maybe that's why they kept the tablets,” I said.
“What was that, Vervain?” Thor asked.
“I said, maybe the trickster kept Jerry's stone tablets to siphon his magic out of those as well.”
Everyone looked at Jesus.
“The Light is right where it needs to be.” Jesus patted his chest. “If they got any of the Man's magic, it was only a smidgen. Just whatever he put into those tablets.”
“Maybe a smidgen is all that's needed.” I looked at Az. “Text your dad and have him check the pitchfork. See if it feels different to him. Less powerful.”
Azrael nodded and pulled out his phone.
“This would indeed explain why the trickster has been taking weapons but not using them,” Odin said. “The game is just a cover for their true crime.”
“But why take me?” Viper asked. Then his expression went slack. “Do you think they took a piece of my soul?”
“No,” Odin said. “It would be all or nothing. Very few gods can divvy up their souls, and then, it's only to willingly share their own souls, not take part of someone else's.” He jerked his chin at Trevor. “Like the Froekn do.”
“Then why take me at all?” Viper asked.
“Or my son?” Machar added.
“To keep us from digging too deep,” Horus said. “This is a complicated game. They've been leading us around by our noses.” He looked at me before adding, “Literally. And they've thrown so much at us that we can't be sure what clues to follow. There have been visual breadcrumbs and magical ones. The spells cast on the items left. The abducted gods. That stolen dog. Half of it must be meaningless. I mean, why take a Pomeranian? If you're going to steal an animal, wouldn't you take one of Odin's ravens while they're out scouting?”
“They wouldn't be able to catch my ravens,” Odin said. “And they roost in Pride Territory along with my wolves.”
“Have you seen Geri and Freki lately?” I asked. “I think I saw them a couple of weeks ago.”
Odin's wolves and ravens loved me almost as much as they loved him, but they were wild things, and they also loved their freedom. We had brought them from Asgard to Pride Palace to live, and they did occasionally come into the palace itself, but not often. They preferred open spaces. Open spaces without a tabby cat named Nicholas prowling them. And the ravens were special. They could cross through the Aether alone. All we had to do was open the wards to them. We didn't even have to open the tracing room door. Their magic did it for them.
“I see them every morning,” Odin said. “Usually while you're taking care of the children.”
“Oh, good.” I didn't feel bad about not knowing what my husband did while I took care of the children. On the contrary, I was glad he had them to keep him busy.
“So what do we do?” Morpheus asked.
I looked at Morpheus. He had incredible magic too. He could go into someone's dream and drain them until they died. He couldn't do it to gods, that whole magic recognizing its like thing held him back. But he could find gods in their dreams and mess with them. Or talk to them. He had come to me a couple of times when I'd been captured by an enemy. Damn, I had a lot of enemies. But Azrael had even more.
I could enter the Dream Realm without Morpheus. The realm was made by the Fey, so I was more powerful there than he was. But I couldn't find someone I didn't know. I had no ideawhat the trickster looked like or smelled like. All I had was that non-scent that was on their ninja suit. And that wouldn't work in the Dream Realm. So, what to do, indeed.
