Page 38 of Merciless
“What?!”
“I can’t explain it, baby girl, other than it was a feeling.”
The other piece of information clicked for me and I turned back to the snake. “Wait, my mom is at the fortress? The Sha’s fortress?”
She is,Q chimed in.And she’s watching over your captured men.
I nearly slid off the couch onto the floor. “My mom is with Reaper and Shadow? How are they?”
Q took a moment to answer.Not well. They may perish if we don’t act quickly, which is why I’ve come to you.
All my caution went out the window with that information. This snake could tell me to walk into a volcano to save them and I’d do it without hesitation.
“Please.” The word came from Jandro now, who also seemed to throw away his dislike of snakes over what this one just said. “What can we do? We’re listening.”
You have not harnessed your bonds. Why?
The three of us looked at each other with blank expressions. “What do you mean?”
Your bonds!Q repeated with an air of exasperation. His tail began to rattle slightly.Between each other, fortified by your companion gods.
Again, we exchanged glances like kids in a classroom being reprimanded by a teacher. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand,” I told the snake, watching his tail.
You are lovers, yes?His tongue flicked the air in front of me.You love both of these men?
“Yes, of course I do.”
The feeling is mutual?
“Yes,”Jandro and Gunner answered solemnly together.
And you are aware that that creates a bond?The god’s tone dripped with condescension, like talking down to a child.One that is intangible but you can feel it. You know it’s there as sure as you can see me with your own eyes.
“Okay, and?” I prompted.
The bonds with your companion gods are similar. Harnessing all of these bonds is like threading strings together to make a length of rope. With this, your strengths become even stronger, more durable. You are capable of more, and can use these bonds to sense each other without touching or speaking.
“How do we do this?” Gunner leaned forward eagerly in his seat.
Q’s rattling calmed as he swung his head toward Gunner.You simply reach out for your partners as you would your companion god.
“Question.” Jandro lifted a hand.
Yes?The snake’s agitated rattling picked up again.
Jandro rested his forearms on his knees. “Unless Foghorn counts, I don’t have a companion god.”
Human, of course you do.The snake sounded like he’d had it up to here with our stupidity.You have two.
“I do?”
You have been touched by both Gods of Death who watch over your whole family. I see their marks on you.
“I…have?” Jandro paled.
“The drone attack back in Sheol,” I blurted out as the awful memory hit me. “When you were almost gone and I had to resuscitate you.”
Clarity dawned on Jandro’s face. “That’s right,” he said softly. “I skirted the edge of death and met Hades and Freyja. They spoke to me.”
