When he releases me, I turn back to my friends and family, probably wearing a dopey smile. “So did one of you kill Stalker Steve?”
Loki raises his hand. “That was me. I needed to get Darcy here, and I knew he’d follow that trail to the end.”
I squeeze Darcy’s hand as he glares at Loki. “Why the fuck would you want my attention?”
Loki gestures, encompassing all three of the gods. “Because we had to fake our deaths when the last Avatar of Neutrality was imprisoned with the universal force. We’ve been hiding from the powers that be for thousands of years, and it’s time to bring this universe back into balance. You need the gods of chaos, and we need you, but since you killed Apophis for his part in Bellamy’s abduction, we thought it’d be best not to aggravate you. Consider Stalker Steve a peace offering.”
“Did you—” Whatever Darcy is trying to say, he chokes on his own words, squeezing my hand hard enough to pop a couple of my knuckles. “How did you know I would be the next Avatar?”
The three gods look at him with confusion and curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“Ya done inserted yerself into my mate’s life in order to control me, and fer that I should slaughter ya here and now. I ain’t gon’ do that because my mate loves ya, but I ain’t gon’ be controlled by ya either. Who the fuck do you think I am and how did you know I’d be the next Avatar?” Darcy’s fury shakes the ground, but it’s just a reflection of the trembling of his hand. He’s angry, but that’s coming from a place of fear.
I kiss the back of his hand, reaching with my free hand to draw his attention to me by cupping his delicate chin. “Mate,” I whisper softly, leaning in close.
Darcy blinks at me, and the ground stops shaking. “I ain’t lettin’ any more gods git ahold o’ me.”
“No, you’re not. You’re the guy people call when they want to murder gods. These gods are here to help you—they’re not trying to get murdered. I don’t think any of them knew we were fated mates before we did, do you?”
Darcy stares at me for a moment before he draws in a tight breath, loosening his hold on my hand. “Yer right, Peach. Th’ain’t no way they knew before us.”
I peck a kiss to his lips. “Didn’t think so. And if they step out of line, I’ll sic my MawMaw on them. She’s scary when she’s mad.”
Darcy laughs, blowing out a breath and turning back to the gods. “Alright. Whatcha want from me?”
27
It’s a little out of the blue to learn that your family are gods, but as I sit talking to Aunt Eris I get to ask some pertinent questions about gods. It turns out they’re just really powerful beings that people call gods because it’s convenient and because that’s what they called themselves in their native language, and since there isn’t a good word that translates well, that’s the word that all the other languages have adopted too.
It’s not the same as God with a big G, because no one knows if there is a big G God. It’s funny learning “god” is the equivalent of “human” and “flink.” Just a species name.
Before too long, MawMaw pops in. Darcy’s been talking with Loki and Tia about what they want to do to help restore the balance in the universe, and so he doesn’t immediately notice MawMaw’s arrival. I spring up because I haven’t seen her since last spring, rushing to her and grabbing the tiny woman up in a huge hug. She’s about as tall as Darcy is with just as big a personality as him.
“My baby boy! How’d you find yourself on Olympus?” she demands, grabbing my cheeks and pinching them as she gets a good look at me. “Look at you. You’ve been all over the universe,haven’t you? Is that a bond with a flink I see in you? How’d you even meet a… baby? You bonded with a baby flink?”
The baby flink appears on my shoulder with a clap of thunder, chirping at my MawMaw and pushing her hands off my cheeks.
She’s a good sport about it because they’re just a baby, but we’re going to have to teach them manners about their elders. “Oh sugar, that’s my grandson you got there, be careful with him. He’s precious to a lot of people.”
The baby chirps several times, wrapping themself around my head.
“Yes, baby. That’s exactly right. You understand then.”
“Chirp, chirrup, chirrrrrp.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, sweetie,” MawMaw replies, reaching up to pet the baby.
The baby flink purrs at her touch, and I shift to give her better access by bending at the waist.
“How’d you know I was here?” I ask as she coos at the sweet baby.
“Eris sent me a little message,” she replies softly.
As if her name summons her action, Aunt Eris pulls MawMaw into a chair next to her. I follow her back down, sitting again, and that’s when Darcy finally notices our new company.
“Darcy, meet my MawMaw, Harmonia. She’s my grandmother.” I wave to the woman and then to Darcy. “MawMaw, meet my fated mate, Darcy Hellspinner. He’s the Avatar of Neutrality.”
Darcy stares at my MawMaw for a long moment, then offers her his hand with a look of happy surprise. “You're as pure as a snow white winter, ain’tcha. I didn’t even see your mark on him before it was pointed out to me.”
