“And it might destroy the realms.”
“This is sweet and all,” Shango drawled. “But she may be right. Everything else has failed. Only Vervain can calm this beast.”
“Yo, axe-man, shut the fuck up! This doesn't concern you,” Viper snapped and then focused back on me. “You may not have a destiny anymore, starlight, but I do. Andyouare my destiny. You can't leave me because it would break fate. So, we will come up with another plan. We have to. It's already decided.”
“I love you all so much,” I whispered and pulled them closer.
Shango made an annoyed sound and left the room.
“He's right,” Odin said.
I looked up at him in surprise.
Odin grinned. “It's time to leave. Let's go home, my love.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Storming off ahead of us, Shango reached the tracing hut first. Out of politeness, the rest of us stood just outside the door to wait our turn. He set his palm on the far wall and started to vanish. I say “started” because he never finished. Shango turned translucent, shuddered, and then screamed.
I rushed forward, but Odin stopped me before I grabbed Shango.
“Don't, Vervain!” Odin pulled me back, then said to Shango, “Pull back! Focus on me as a destination. Pull yourself back!”
Shango whimpered.
“Oh, fungus this!” I grabbed Shango and pulled both mentally and physically.
“Vervain!”
Under my hands, energy shifted, but despite his appearance, Shango felt solid. Something tried to tear him away from me, but then it flowed through him and fluttered against me. Several firm hands gripped me, but I couldn't see them. My vision slid into the Aether, where part of Shango hovered. He reached for me, eyes wide. I knew then that if I let go, he would be lost in the Aether forever. The Aether would consume him asit did every other thought offered to it. As I mentally reached for Shango, the power that had him focused on me. It pushed me away from Shango, but I held firm. Inside me, the Trinity Star shone, giving me strength that surpassed the physical. Shango's mouth opened in a silent roar as he struggled an inch closer. I pushed harder too, and Shango grabbed my translucent hands. As soon as I had him, we fell out of the Aether, becoming whole again.
My husbands steadied us as we swayed.
“What the fuck was that?” Thoth demanded.
Shango backed away from the wall and pushed his way past the other gods.
“Let me through!” Torrent came in just after Shango left and marched up to the tracing wall.
“Torr!” Artemis grabbed his arm.
“I will encase myself in Internet. Do not worry.” He kissed her cheek. Then he motioned at us. “Please stand aside.”
“No, I'm going with you.” I stepped closer to him. “I'm the only one immune to the machine. If something happens, I want to be there to bring you back.”
“All right. Thanks, V.”
“Of course.” I looked at my husbands. “I'll be fine.”
“Vervain, we're not sure this is the machine's doing,” Odin said.
I gave him the look that deserved. Then I took Torrent's hand. “Go on.”
A small vein of Internet formed around us, leaving the others untouched. They stared blindly at where we had been, but Torr and I were already moving past the tracing wall. Or trying to.
“Impossible.” Torrent pushed at the wall that shouldn't have been solid in the Inter Realm. It moved like rubber, but bounced back when he removed his hand.
“Let me.” I pushed at the wall, and it buckled. My hand went through, but then, suddenly, it was shoved back. “Oh, no.”
