“Hello, Trevor. I'll make some coffee to go with our cookies. Come with me, kids.” She led them away.
“What the fuck?” I whispered.
Meanwhile, I saw Re helping Richard secure plywood against the windows.
“Why don't we just bring them to Pride Palace?” Trevor asked.
“They have a bunch of cats we'd have to bring too,” I said. “Through the Aether. And they've already been traumatized by the rain.”
“Ah. Well, I figured I was staying behind anyway, so Imight as well stay here and guard the family. I was watching the kids, so I decided to bring them. They'll be fine, Minn Elska. Have you forgotten that I'm the God of Night Creatures?”
“No, but how is that going to help?”
“Beavers are primarily nocturnal.” Trevor grinned. “Those barricades are probably going to be unnecessary.”
I gaped at him. Then I cursed. “Damn it! I want you here, but with that magic, you should be out helping more than one family.”
“Oh,” Trevor said. “Maybe you're right.”
“Zen it's good zat I came,” Kirill said.
I shrieked, startled by his sudden appearance. He had traced onto the front porch, but I'd been so focused on Trevor and his revelation that I hadn't heard the door open behind me.
“Sorry.” Kirill chuckled. “I zought you might need more help. I vill stay vith zem and Trevor can go vith you.”
I chewed at my lip. Leave my kids and human family under the protection of one god? I seriously considered carrying a bunch of cats through the Aether.
“Ve vill be fine, Vervain,” Kirill said and kissed my cheek. “Now, go.” He headed for the kitchen. “I am here to help.”
“Daddy!” Lesya shouted.
“I gotta go, Mom!” I called out to her. “Re, come on. We're heading out with Trevor.”
“Okay, Vervain,” my mom called back. “Don't worry about us. We'll be all right.”
“Yeah, sure.” I sighed.
“Do you want me to take the kids home?” Trevor asked asRe came around the corner. “I could have Sam watch them.”
“No. They'll be okay here. Those kids are far more dangerous than a bunch of rabid beavers.”
Trevor chuckled. “There's my girl.”
“It's only funny because it's true,” Re said.
Chapter Sixteen
We traced around the country for hours, directed by Torrent, who kept an eye on everything from the Golden Citadel and texted us updates. Our efforts, combined with that of hundreds of gods and faeries, turned the tide both literally and figuratively. The storms receded, and the beavers went with them. And yes, Trevor's magic did work on the animals. Even the most violent of them went meek when he whammied them. They simply turned around and skittered away.
But all the beavers were normal animals. We didn't find Wishpoosh or any other beaver god. Not even an enchanted creature. And so, we didn't find the trickster.
Trevor and I went back to my mom's house to find my children asleep on the couch and Kirill at the dining table with my mom and stepdad. My brother was in his room playing video games. As usual. Even a beaver apocalypse couldn't keep him from Super Mario for long.
“It's over,” I said as I fell onto a wooden chair.
“Thank God,” my mom said.
“Yes, quite a few of them helped,” Trevor said. “I was surprised by that. In a good way.”
