Destiny Descending

to stay with him?” I asked in surprise.
“This is Vero's magic.” Trevor stared at our son with a flash of the Wolf in his eyes. “His moment. He needs to do this on his own.”
I took Trevor's hand, and he used it to pull me into his side. I leaned against his chest, and we watched our son wield his magic for the first time. Yes, I missed some baby time that human mothers get, but moments like these make the sacrifice worthwhile.

Chapter Six
The next morning, Brahma and Sara returned. I was having breakfast with my men, children, and some of my lions when they walked in with Sin in tow.
“Look at you; all domestic and stuff,” Sin—technically pronounced Seen, but he goes with Sin because the ladies love it—drawled as he strolled toward me.
Sin's name fit him; both pronunciations. With midnight hair and silver eyes, he made a sexy moon god who was hard to ignore. Those metallic eyes could glow like the moon they mimic, hinting at pleasures better performed in the dark. With the backdrop of his desert-dark skin and the border of long lashes, they appeared even brighter. A pair of full, pouting lips and a firm jawline didn't hurt either. He had the strut of a playboy and the body to match—athletic and covered in an expensive but casual suit. The shadow of a beard told me he hadn't been home for breakfast.
“Sin,” I said with a wide grin as I stood to greet him. “It's good to see you.”
I hugged him tightly, and he folded his lean body around me. His lips brushed my cheek casually before he let me go.
“You too, sweetheart,” Sin said softly. “How are you?” He glanced at my men, his eyes widening when they landed on Viper. His voice changed entirely, going up in pitch with his surprise, “You're still here?”
“I am,” Viper said simply.
“And I'm good.” I drew Sin's attention back to me. “But I've heard that situation might not last.”
“Yeah, my pantheon isn't happy with you, starshine.” He tapped my nose.
“You eat yet?” I asked as I waved him toward the table. “Want some breakfast?”
“I'd love some; I'm starving. Your friends pulled me straight from Sikaru,” he confirmed my suspicions.
“We wouldn't mind breakfast either,” Brahma said pointedly.
“Brahma, you're family. You're always welcome. Just make yourself a plate.” I waved him back into the kitchen.
“All right, your rudeness is forgiven.” Brahma chuckled and pulled a chair out for his wife before he headed into the kitchen to get their food.
“How was Bahrain?” I asked Sarasvati.
“Lovely,” Sara said, smiling until her husband was gone. “Ugh; it was dry and desolate. I don't understand why any god would choose to live there.”
“For all the extracurricular activities, of course,” Sin winked at Sara.
“Sit down, Sin,” I interrupted before he got himself in trouble. “I'll go make you a plate.”
“I've got it, Minn Elska.” Trevor stood up and waved Sin toward the chair he'd vacated. “Please, have a seat.”
“I'm Sin.” Sin offered his hand.
“Yes, I know.” Trevor smirked as he shook the Moon God's hand. “I recognize you from Bahrain... when I saw you fighting beside my wife.”
“Right.” Sin looked around the table. “I suppose you're all familiar with me.”
“You're welcome here, Sin.” I resumed my seat and waved to the one on my right. “Sit down, I need to talk to you.”
Sin sat. “I'm already in a bad place with my pantheon for siding with you, Vervain. I hope you're not about to ask me to dig myself deeper.”
“I expected as much. If you're in danger, you're welcome to stay here.”
“I can handle things as they are.” He shook his head. “But I don't think I can reason with them on your behalf.”
“I wasn't going to ask you to.” I waved that away. “I just need to know if you think this will pass or if I should prepare for war.”
“Pass?” Sin's silver eyes widened as he made a huffing sound. “This won't just go away, Vervain. They're out for your head. Marduk is frothing at the mouth. You humiliated him; the Tablet Man. No one does that.”
“Mommy, who's he?” Lesya, seated to my left with Vero between us, asked.
Vero just stared at Sin solemnly.
“Did she say mommy?” Sin asked in surprise.
“I told you about my children,” I reminded him. “This is Lesya, my daughter with Kirill. Lesya, this is Uncle Sin.”
“Hello.” She looked him over. “You were with my mommy when she was bad?”
“I was, but I didn't think she was so bad.” He winked at her.
Instead of giggling as I expected, Lesya just looked up at her father, seated to her left. Kirill smiled reassuringly at her and stroked her long hair.
“And this is Vero,” I leaned back so Sin could see Vero better. “My son with Trevor.”
“You look just like your daddy,” Sin said to Vero.
“Yes,” Vero said then shoved a piece of sausage in his mouth.
“Talkative kids.” Sin looked back at me as if he expected different from my children.
“They can be.” I glanced at them in concern. Then I waved at my husbands. “This is Kirill, Azrael, Re, Odin, and you already know Viper.”
My men nodded at Sin, and I went on to introduce the Intare at the table.
“This is the General?” Aidan asked me.
“That's right,” Sin confirmed. “At least I was. Now, I'm an outcast.”
“Sin, I'm so sorry,” I said softly.
“It's okay, sweetheart. I never liked them much anyway. And those I did like still like me. So, it's about the same as it was before you showed up.”
“Here you go.” Trevor slid a plate in front of Sin then went to take Vero out of his highchair. “Come on, Son, you can sit on Daddy's lap.”
Vero hugged his father as Trevor slid onto the vacated chair but didn't say anything. Once Trevor was settled with an arm slung over the back of my chair, Vero laid his cheek on my upper arm and watched Sin carefully.
“Is there anything you can