“Yeah, you're right.” Viper kissed my cheek. “Hey, Que? You wanna go swimming?”
“Yes, I do!” Quetzalcoatl exclaimed.
The two insta-besties gods—one young, one ancient, and both eager to live life fully—ran to the lake and jumped in. They were so joyous that I didn't even mind when their hooting and splashing woke the children. I just sent the kids in after them.
Chapter Fifteen
After lazing in the sun, my head pillowed on a furry chest, I was drunk on relaxation and happiness. I strolled back to the palace hand-in-hand with Re while the others ran ahead—or slithered, as the case may be. Because of that, Re and I got home a good half an hour later than everyone else. I was hoping that meant lunch would be on the way—probably something grilled by my lions, and that the kids would be at the table, waiting to eat.
That is what I found, but there was also an angry Pan in attendance. And I don't mean the sort you cook in.
“Having fun?” Pan demanded, hands on his hips. He stood at the edge of the veranda, top of the stairs, glaring down at me.
“Yes,” I said without guilt. “Has there been a development?”
“Oh, only a bunch of beavers attacking people all over the United States,” he drawled. “And all while a bunch of dams are failing.”
“Including a few in Texas,” Azrael added as he stepped outside. “The storm hitting Lexington isn't localized. The continental United States is experiencing massive flooding. I've driven off the storm in Lexington, then followed the rain across the state. I'm drained, and I haven't even seen to all of Texas.”
“Holy hand grenades,” I whispered. “Are any other gods helping?”
“Yes, actually,” Pan said petulantly as Re and I climbed thesteps. “My father has spread the word and a surprising amount of gods have stepped in to help.”
“And faeries,” Az added with a stern look at Pan.
“Yes, and faeries,” Pan agreed. “There are more faeries with Water Magic than there are gods with it. But even those without water-based magic are finding ways to help. Tsohanoai is burning away the storm clouds. That works really well.”
“I'd better get down there,” Re said. “Where should I go? What region needs the most assistance?”
“Torrent?” Azrael called.
“Is the Squad here?” I asked.
“No,” Az said. “Most are on Earth, helping to stop the floods. Torrent and Artemis came with Pan to fetch you.”
I hurried inside to find Torrent and Artemis eating with my kids.
“Oh, hey, V!” Torrent said brightly and tossed his head to get his platinum bangs out of his face. “Sorry, we're starved, and they offered us food.” He waved at his plate, then started to get up.
“Sit down,” I said. “I need to eat before we leave too. We won't be any good to anyone if we're not fueled up.”
“Can we help, Tima?” Lucian, one of my lions, asked.
“I imagine you could help people in the way of emergency workers,” I said as I grabbed a plate from a stack in the center of the table and started filling it.
“Mom, is everyone on Earth in trouble?” Lesya asked.
“No, baby,” I said. “There's just a lot of rain falling in the U.S., and we gotta go dry things up. My Fire Magic should help.”
“We can help,” Vero said.
I paused, my thoughts instantly turning to the past, which had once been my son's future. I saw him fully grown again—a harder, more Godhunter version of Trevor. Vero would follow in my footsteps one day, and that made me very proud. But at the same time, I didn't want him to end up as he'd been in that other future—the cynical version that I had almost become. Hopefully, averting my death had changed that, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I had to raise him to be happy as well as protective.
“Yes, you can,” I said to him. “You can help me by protecting our home while most of us are gone. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Good boy.” I glanced at Trevor, who was sitting beside him. “You gonna stay this time?”
