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“He’s a god, Talia. It’s not our place to question why.” Valerie took me by the shoulders, easing me around until she had access to my hair again and applied a generous amount of conditioner. “The goddess is a cruel and jealous creature. She fell out of favor with our god but refuses to let go of her position and power. If you are looking for someone to blame, it would be her, not your future husband.”
My mind reeled, struggling to process everything Valerie told me. Galen was alive, the demon wolf god was not responsible for the curses and demon attacks and he had a wife.
A demon wolf goddess.
Stories of Zeus and Hera came to mind. A woman scorned. I scoured my brain for anything in the mythos that could help me, but I couldn’t recall a single tale where Hera had shown mercy to the mortals and given their freedom back.
Something told me it would be the same way with the Deofol pack’s goddess.
Blinded by love of her mate and jealousy of his desire to claim a mortal bride, she took out her rage the only way she could - on the mortals.
Our packs, our allies and the towns we called home, bore the brunt of her mate’s indiscretions.
Valerie made the demon wolf goddess out to be the villain of her story, but I disagreed. The blame for all of the death and destruction happening laid at the god’s feet.
Valerie was right about one thing, the bath had done wonders for me. It gave me an opportunity to glean information I might not have otherwise and cleared my head.
I had an idea.
It was crazy and likely to get me killed, but if Galen and I were going to have a future together, I had to try.
I just needed a little more time - something Galen and I never seemed to have enough of. But I was finally starting to put things together and if I played my cards right, the attacks would stop and my mate and I would walk out of Boot Hill together.
“Thank you, Valerie. You were right, I do feel better.”
My offer of gratitude was genuine, but not in the way she expected. Valerie hoped to convince me that I was chosen for a great honor. In a way, I supposed she was right.
I had been chosen - to bring an end to the Deofol pack and their gods.
“You’re welcome, princess. It’s an honor to attend to your needs before the ceremony.” She grabbed one of the large, plush towels and held it open, turning her head to the side to offer a semblance of privacy.
“When can I see Galen?” I stepped out of the tub and into the towel, wrapping it around my body.
“I doubt we’ll have time before the blessing ritual.” Valerie motioned to a small wooden stool and reached for a paddle brush on the vanity.
“You promised.” I grabbed her wrist and jerked her forward. The brush fell from her hands and clattered against the tiled floor. “And you are going to keep that promise, aren’t you?”
I caught a glimpse of my red eyed reflection in the mirror, but for once I didn’t shirk away from the woman staring back at me. The Deofol wolf on my mother’s side was as much a part of me as the Northwood wolf on my father’s side. It was time I accepted her and started acting like it.
Besides, I had more than enough demons to fight. I didn’t need to add personal ones to the battle.
“Talia. Calm down.” Valerie’s confidence wavered, along with the strength in her voice. Her fingers trembled as she grasped my arm. “I only said we wouldn’t have time before the blessing. I never said I wouldn’t take you. I know I haven’t given you reason to trust me, but I am a woman of my word. When I give it, I keep it.”
“Tell me about the blessing ceremony. What do I have to do?” I released her wrist with a shove and adjusted my towel before it slid to the floor.
“You don’t have to do anything, really. Recite a few words, light some incense, but mostly our priestess will pray over you and offer a blessing on you, and your union to the demon wolf god.” Valerie followed me out of the bathroom and retrieved a billowing white gown and matching fur cloak.
The dress had an empire waist heavily embroidered with gold thread in a herringbone ladder stitch pattern. The long sleeves were slit down the middle from shoulder to wrist and had similar stitching around the cuffs.
“It’s beautiful.” And it was, but it looked more appropriate for a wedding ceremony that the simple prayer circle Valerie described. “That looks an awful lot like something a bride might wear on her wedding day.”
“This?” Valerie held up the dress, and spun the hangar in her hand to show off the front and back of the gown. “Your wedding gown is made of the finest silks and Chantilly lace. The essential oils used in the blessing ceremony would ruin it. The white is and gold are for purity and royalty, that’s all.”
“Well, it’s a little late for one of those things, Valerie.” I pressed the dripping ends of my hair against the towel still wrapped around my body and squeezed out the excess water. “You’re god wants a virgin bride, so I guess that leaves me out. Who’s the next candidate? The princess from the blood clan? She seemed like an absolute joy. I’m sure the demon god will love her.”
“You have both marks, Talia.” Valerie was not amused. “The only person who does not see this as the honor it is, is you.”
“I think there are a lot of people outside of the Prudhoe Bay area who would agree with me. You should probably widen your poll to include more zip codes. You’d get better results.”
