Page 33 of A Single Thread Of Hope

I reached down to twine my fingers with Cy’s, and the babies slept on, peacefully unaware of the upheaval their birth had caused. I’d make it my mission to keep it that way for as long as possible.

The Valkyries had been keepingeveryone away, and for those who seemed to disregard their commands, there was Morrigan,who was more than happy to use bloody force. She only had to send a message once for people to stay in line.

When I askedwhothey were keeping away exactly, everyone had gotten really cagey, except Nate. Watching me nearly die for the gazillionth time was definitely having an effect on his brain chemistry. He’d just held me tight, grumbling about Old fucking Gods and a pilgrimage. From what I could gather, now that the babies had been born and the middle Fate had been thrown back like a shot of tequila, different Pantheons were coming to, I don’t know, pledge allegiance? Pretend they hadn’t been conspiring to murder me for the last nine months?

But they were being turned away, and for that, I was relieved.

It wasn’t until nine days after the babies had arrived, and were out of the incubators and being carefully carried around on a range of shirtless men that Nate appeared beside me, his face folded in a frown. “The Valkyries tell me there’s someone at the gates who wants to speak to you. I think you’ll want to speak to him too.”

I frowned back. “Who is it?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you. Might be better to see with your own eyes.”

I handed Zale to Milo, who looked comically huge with a tiny baby in his arms. The man—er, Minotaur—had taken to fatherhood like a duck to water. He loved them; it was in every soft look, every murmured word. It just made me love him more. And did something to my out-of-action ovaries.

During the long trek down to the gates, Nate stayed at my back. He didn’t seem worried about whoever was at the door. Honestly, the whole thing was a little weird. Hrist stood at the gate, her face easy but still alert. She obviously didn’t think this person was a threat either.

Stepping around the open door, my mouth dropped open. Nate had been right. I wouldn’t have believed him if he’d told me.

Standing on the dusty forecourt in front of the compound was an old man. An old man I’d met many, many times before. An old man who hadn’t been able to reach the bottom shelf at Rossi’s, so I was unsure how he’d made it halfway around the world.

“Mr. Lunetta? What are you doing here?”

Chapter 18

NATE

Kon Lunetta had been in Boston for as long as I had been. While we weren’t friends, or even acquaintances, we both did our best to just live a normal life, filled with normal things, and stay out of Mythic politics unless they were forced on us.

The Egyptian God Khonsu was indeterminately old. Older than I was, for sure. Maybe even as old as the Minoans.

But the way Wren gaped at him, I wasn’t sure that she had any idea at all. He just looked like a doddery old man—a good way to be underestimated, even for Mythics. We might be old, but we were still prone to our own prejudices.

“Wren. It’s good to see you well, child. I hear congratulations are in order.”

Still blinking at him slowly, like she couldn’t believe her eyes, her mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out.

I gave a respectful bow of my head. “Khonsu,” I murmured politely.

He nodded back, waving a hand. “Please, call me Kon.”

Shaking herself from her stunned daze, Wren repeated her question. “Mr. Lunetta, what are you doing here?” She paused, her eyes squinting in the brightness. “You’re a Mythic?”

He chuckled softly at her disbelief. “It would appear so.” He looked at her fondly, and it didn’t seem feigned. How had they met and gotten close? “The Egyptian Pantheon wanted to send an emissary to pledge us to the new Fates. To assure you that we’ll respect their weaves and hope they look kindly on us. I told my counterparts that I have nothing but faith in the fairness of the future Fates; with you as their mother, and Néit as their father, I know they will be empathetic and unbiased.”

Wren chewed her lip. “Do you want to come in?” She was hesitant, but I didn’t think it was because she was scared.

Khonsu just shook his head. “Not necessary. You deserve the time and peace to bond with your children. This is a special moment, and as such, I want to give you a gift.”

She gave him a watery smile. “I left your last gift back in Boston, at Mrs. Byrne’s house. It’s probably been destroyed by monsters by now.” The hitch in her voice had me reaching out and resting my hand gently against her spine.

Waving a hand, he smiled back at her. “No, I strengthened the wards around Zelda’s home. Although she has returned to the wheel, she deserved better than to be caught up in some new Mythic war. No one will be getting into that home except you, Wren, and those of your direct bloodline.”

With that, Wren burst into tears. Some of it was probably the wild hormones flowing around her body, but on the other hand, I understood. It was a small act of kindness that needed no repayment. An act of kindness for a woman whose life had been a mere blink to the God in front of us, but it was proof that Zelda Byrne had deserved better. That she was someone special among the mass of humans.

Wiping her face on her sleeve, she nodded solemnly. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

“That's not my gift, though,” Khonsu continued. “The presence of the Valkyries would suggest that I am not your first caller.”

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