I shrugged. You can't argue with the truth. “Now, back to your keys. Did you try to track the thief?”
“Yes, I rule a group of snake gods, and they are adequate trackers.” Ereshkigal shook her head. “But they found nothing.”
“You rule snake gods, and your animal is a lion?” I blinked from her to Trevor and back. “That's two things we have in common.”
“You rule snake gods?” Ninkasi asked.
“Well, technically, Viper is a star god, and I don't rule him, but he is a snake-shifter.”
“One of her husbands,” Ninkasi said to Ereshkigal. “The most recent, I believe.”
“Oh, yes. You have many husbands. I pity you.” Ereshkigal's expression became sympathetic.
I burst out laughing while Trevor grimaced. “Thank you. You're the first person to say that to me. Usually, people are envious or judgmental. But you're right; it's difficult.” I smiled at Trevor. “It's exhausting, but worth it.”
He put his arm around me. “Yes, exactly.”
“Are you seriously not going to address the possibility of who the thief is?” Re shouted from the bar. He sprawled on a barstool, half reclining on the bar top. I don't know how he did it, or how he made it look comfortable, much less sensual, but he did. You could put Re in a garbage bag and toss him on a heap of stinking trash, and he'd still look sexy.
Ereshkigal's head cocked as she enjoyed the view.
Ninkasi was used to it, so she had no problem ignoring Re's attractiveness. Instead, she latched onto his words. “Vervain, do you know who took the keys?”
“Not for certain.” I shot Re an annoyed look. “But it could be the same god who ran off with my brother-in-law.”
“The same god?” Ereshkigal pulled her gaze away from Re. “Why? How?”
“They played a similar game with us a year ago, stealing god relics,” Trevor said.
“Yes, but that was to create a tool to bring Az back.” I glanced at Re, who was now lying on the bar top. “Re, what the funnel cake are you doing?”
“Relaxing while I still can,” he called back. “As soon as you accept that this is that trickster fucker again, it's going to be nonstop lunacy.”
Re didn't see the point of adjusting his cursing when the children weren't around. I sometimes let loose as well, but if I monitored my language constantly, it became second-nature. That made it a lot easier.
“Why don't we go upstairs?” Trevor suggested. “The club will open soon. Would either of you like a drink?”
“I'd like to know if your trickster is her thief.” Ninkasi pointed at Ereshkigal. “And why do you keep calling the trickster a 'them'?”
“They switch between male and female.” I motioned one of the waitstaff over. “Rachel, can you bring me a Long Island?” I looked at our guests. Would either of you like a drink?”
“I'll have a whiskey,” Ninkasi said.
“An Old-Fashioned for me, please.” Ereshkigal inclined her head at the Froekn woman.
“And I just want a Coke. Thank you, Rachel.” Trevor motioned the women to the stairs. “We believe it could be the same individual because the trickster possesses magic that not only makes them invisible but also covers their scent. They can remove all traces of themselves at will.
“An enviable magic,” Ereshkigal murmured.
“And annoying for us trackers.” I followed them upstairs and then over to a group of fake rocks that served as chairs. They looked as if someone had chiseled them into the shape of low seats, but they weren’t stone at all, and they were very comfortable.
“This is the first time they've taken something from someone we don't know.” Trevor sat down on the widest seat there, beside me.
“If it's them.” I glanced at the door that led to the tracing wall. A sign on it read, Family Room. “It's possible this is someone else.”
“They come to us on the same day that Ty disappears?” Trevor's face twitched. “I don't think that's a coincidence.”
“Are you all right?” I whispered.
