Ashanti ignored the way the fae warriors drew closer to their queen, hands tightening on their bladed weapons. “You know the way my story goes.”
Brigid nodded slowly, never taking her eyes off Ashanti. If Jono didn’t know any better, he’d say she was wary. “I am sure your children are pleased you walk this earth again.”
It was a clear statement that the ruler of the Seelie Court wasnotpleased. Gerard, for his part, didn’t seem perturbed by Ashanti’s presence even if Órlaith was.
“Oh, fuck,” Patrick breathed out, drawing everyone’s attention. “Cernunnos is a fertility god.”
The sudden way all the blood drained out of Patrick’s face had Jono stepping closer to him. “Pat?”
“Why would that be a problem?” Gerard asked.
Patrick opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Jono answered for him, meeting Gerard’s gaze with a sickly grimace. “Ethan performed a fertility rite in Chicago earlier this year with Freyr’s help. We believe Hannah’s pregnant.”
Brigid leveled a flatly displeased look in Jono’s direction and the god he carried in his soul. “And you have the gall to lecture me about interference, cousin?”
“Oh,fuck,” Gerard said, staring at Patrick.
“Perhaps the fertility rite in Chicago wasn’t enough,” Sage said after a fraught moment of silence.
“Macaria has been bound in a mortal body for over two decades. The flesh you carry on your bones is not capable of containing a godhead in perpetuity,” Brigid said.
Jono tightened his grip on Patrick, pulling him closer. “So, what? You’re saying Hannah is dying?”
Brigid gave him a pitying look. “The twin the hells took died years ago.”
“She’s a walking corpse, Iknow, but it’s one of your pantheon that’s trying to keep her alive,” Patrick spat out.
“An act done under duress.”
“You don’t know that.”
A fury like a hurricane spanning a continent flashed across Brigid’s eyes. Jono thought the only reason she didn’t lash out in the face of Patrick’s continued disrespect was Ashanti’s presence. The mother of all vampires had come to stand on Patrick’s other side, a coldly powerful presence that seemed to kneecap Brigid’s rage.
“If Cernunnos is giving aid to the Dominion Sect, whether of his own free will or not, the more pressing question is what do they want you for, Patrick?” Órlaith asked.
“You said it yourself,” Jono said, jerking his chin in Brigid’s direction. “They’re twins.”
Patrick’s expression remained bleak. “And I’m still tied to Hannah.”
Órlaith’s expression wasn’t pitying, but it was close.
“There has always been power in bloodlines,” Ashanti said. “In twins.”
Patrick let out a harsh laugh that Jono never liked to hear. “Persephone said the same thing once.”
“She wasn’t wrong.”
“Perhaps we do not need to hunt for Cernunnos if we can find him through your ties to your twin,” Brigid said.
“No,” Jono growled.
Brigid stared at him, gaze implacable. “Your pack owes us for the support we have given you. I want Cernunnos found. If you can find him through Patrick’s connection to his family, then do so.”
“They aren’t his family.”
“Blood does not lie.”
“And I fucking said no.”
