Page 41 of Merciless
"Why?" Mari unzipped the top of her jacket to allow Freyja's ears and head to poke out.
Because you will have fulfilled your purpose and no longer need our guidance in these forms, the cat goddess said.
"Shit," I blurted out, thinking back to when Horus and I last spoke. He told me he might not make it through that mission but when he did, I had no idea it might be the last time we spoke. The last time we would fly together.
We will not be gone, son, Freyja said, as if sensing my regret.We watched over as you were born and will stand guard when your children are born. As long as humanity persists, we will always be here.
I nodded, more to myself than anyone else. Horus had been in my life as a falcon for under two years. We'd grown so close in that time, to the point where I never imaginednothaving him. It was jarring to think about, but less so if I considered the fact that he had always watched over me.
I would have to sit with that idea later though. We needed to get moving now.
"You ready, VP?" I called to Jandro over my shoulder. Without Reaper here, it fell on Jandro to lead us out.
"Aye-aye, captain," he cracked, just like old times.
He eased out of the garage, then took off with a roar once he hit the driveway. I nodded at Mari to follow him, then drove out behind her with Hades loping at my side.
If Jandro took Reaper's place, I had to take Shadow's. It was strangely fitting with him leading our pack and me bringing up the rear to protect the rider between us.
Bonded to three gods and four men, I was convinced Mari was the key to everything. But even without the god stuff, she was everything to us. To me.
And I would be my woman's shield until my dying breath.
"You kids can't beserious about this," General Bray groaned, looking to Mari with hope in his eyes that she would be a voice of reason. "Sweetheart, tell me you're not actually doing this."
"We are," she told him firmly. "It has to be the three of us, Finn. That's the only way this has even the slimmest chance of working."
The general looked more put-together today, his uniform crisp and buttoned correctly. But he still looked weary, and his hair had begun sticking out in all directions from constantly running his hands through it. A habit that Reaper also picked up when he was stressed.
"Listen, I don't doubt these bonds with the gods you all have. I've seen the remarkable things you can do. But..." His eyes scanned over us. "Is it enough to endallof this?"
"We don't know," I admitted. "But it's the only shot we have, General. And wehaveto do it now. Any longer and we can pretty much expect to never see Reaper or Shadow again."
"Or Andrea, or my mom," Mari added.
"Worst case, we do see them, but it's as one of those fucking zombies coming after us," Jandro chimed in.
Finn sighed heavily, dropping his head into his hands. "There's nothing I can do to keep you from going, is there?"
"Nope. Sorry, General," I said. "And since we're protected by a fourth god now, you don't have the excuse of saying our minds are compromised."
Mari shot me a scathing look that was completely justified. I was a little salty that we got detained by the army before the last attack, even though Finn had made the best possible decision with the knowledge he had.
"I don't like this one fucking bit." Finn shook his head. "You're not my blood but you guys are my kids, and you're just heading off to be slaughtered."
"Will you support us or not?" Mari asked, cutting to the chase. "We'd rather not do this completely alone, but if you disapprove of us rescuingyoursons, my husbands, so much, we will do it ourselves."
Her words hung in the air, a challenge demanding an answer. The silence was brief as Finn dipped his chin slightly.
"What do you need from me?"
"Armored Jeeps, rifle units," I said. "Hanging back, maybe a mile or so. We mainly need cover for when we're leaving the fortress with injured people in tow."
"Also medical staff," Mari added. "But I can't lead them since I'll be busting inside with these guys."
"I'll have Dr. Brooks send me a handful of his best," the general promised. "Anything else?"
Our side of the table was silent once again. "That's really it." I shrugged. "We need cover and support for getting everyone back home. Other than that," my fingers tangled with Mari's at my side, "it's up to us and the gods."
