Page 85 of Throne of the Wolf Queen

My mouth floundered as Pablo nuzzled my fingers. Romero had told Mama she couldn’t tell me papa’s name. With both of them dead, I’d all but given up hope of learning who he was. I barely breathed as I met the smug look on his face.

‘Well, just his surname. I’ve no idea about his first name. But I’m not the only God to tussle with the mortals. We’ve all had a few dalliances.

‘Even Evella.’

‘Evella?’ Gods, I heard rumours of redacted chapters. The ones the Sisters labelled as heresy. That Evella had taken a lover, borne a…

I couldn’t even swear as Vyrus laughed.

‘She begot the Blythe line. That third line of Anomalies no one’s even certain exists.’

I swallowed, my fingers gripping the wolf’s fur.

‘Blythe?’

‘Yeah,’ he wrinkled his nose. ‘You practically reek of them.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘That’s why I… smelt you. You smell just like her. Probably why you carry two gifts.’

‘But… but I thought Evella chooses who is gifted, grants us her gifts.’

‘She chose your gifts, shit as they are. It’s why I can’t help you balance. Evella destroyed my meteor. Changed the intent. Placed her own unique brand of protective magic into the Vyrium, channelling the threads to grant gifts.

‘It’s thanks to me you’re a Deviant. Thanks to her, you talk to ducks and zombies.’

A laugh bubbled up. Was he truly telling me I was descended from two Gods? I shook my head. It mattered not. The only thing that mattered to me now was Matthias.

A wicked grin spread across my face. Vyrus grimaced.

‘We’re family, then.’

He eyed me warily, as though he could see the thoughts running through my mind.

‘And as I’m about to marry Matthias⁠—’

‘Again.’

‘Hmm,’ I nodded. ‘So, you really owe me a present. A gift.’

He held out the bottle. I shoved it aside, ignoring his chuckle.

‘You owe me, Vyrus. The tattoos. Please, gift me the one I love. As your blood, your kin, grant me the gift of love.’

His nose wrinkled in disgust.

‘We made a deal, Villente.’

I shivered at the darkness that entered his tone, but steeled my spine. A damned God or not, I refused to balk.

‘An impossible deal.’

‘But.’ He leaned in, his eyes boring into mine as I glared back. ‘One that we sealed.’ He raised his hands, flickers of gold shimmered at the tips of his fingers. ‘Remember?’

I grabbed his arm. ‘A section then⁠—’

‘Nope.’ Vyrus peeled my hand free, began stumbling towards the door. ‘And shouldn’t you be getting ready?’

‘Please.’ I grabbed his damp sleeve, ignoring his frustrated huff. ‘We’re family. Surely that counts for something?’

Flames flickered in his eyes as he faced me once more, his jaw set.