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Real enough.
"Hello?" she whispered, her voice small.
"Why does a wolf seek a god?" a voice echoed around her.
Fen cleared her throat. "I want to know what runs in my veins."
Cool power built around her, her senses and magic all lighting up at once. It felt similar to Khan's magic, full of water and life, and she now knew where it came from.
The water at the end of the cavern parted, and a god stepped through. He was dressed like the statue in the temple, in armor made of fish scales and wings stretching from his back. His tightly curled black hair and beard gleamed with water, and his black eyes shone.
The potency of his power hit her, and Fen quickly dropped to one knee, not knowing how to properly address the gods of Aaru.
"Hmm, you are not what I expected," he said, standing before her. "A woman from far away, wilfully abandoned by her gods, who now seeks the council of one she pays no homage to. Interesting."
There was no question in that statement, so Fen lowered her head and kept her mouth shut.
"Stand up," Ea commanded, and she quickly obeyed. "You want to know what's in your veins? Why do you think there would be anything different to another person?"
"I was abandoned because of it." Fen found her tongue moving of its own accord as she told him of Freya and Odin and their conversation.
"Even more interesting. Give me your hand," Ea asked. He took it and studied her palm. Before she suspected him, the god bit her finger.
"Fuck!" she growled but didn't pull her hand back. Ea ignored her outburst and sucked the drop of blood off her finger. He swirled it around his mouth thoughtfully before he started laughing, mischief and power dancing in his eyes.
"What is it?" Fen asked.
"What is in your veins is blood and rage and magic and trouble of the best kind," Ea answered, looking her over again. "And they sent you here. Very foolish of them. You are going to be good for this land."
"Stop talking in riddles and just tell me!"
Ea raised a brow. "Hmm. I don't know if I should. It would be more amusing to watch you squirm."
"So you're just like every other god. I thought you were a god of magic and wisdom and would actually be able to help me," Fen snarled.
"Careful of that temper, little one. I haven't said no," Ea replied, crossing his arms. "For one, you are asking a question you already know the answer to, so tell me, who is your father?"
Fen only knew what her mother had always said. Her hands bunched into fists. "It's impossible."
"Is it? Gods love to fuck just like all men and beasts. A trickster's appetite is more voracious than most, especially those with a wolf inside of them. Something you would do well to remember." Ea lifted her chin. "You never stopped to wonder why the power came so easily to you? Why you can feel the divine when others cannot, even in a world you were not born in? Or why your gods would fear you enough to watch over you so closely?" Ea chuckled softly. "I'm in a benevolent mood, so I will give you the advice you did not ask for but need to hear. Are you listening?"
Fen's jaw locked tight, and she nodded.
"Do not do what your gods expect. Like the rest of the world, they want you to play the game by their rules. You are not made for that, and that is why you are a threat to them. You have the power to bring change, shape worlds, or break them into pieces. Never forget that you are not like the others, so stop trying to be like them," Ea said, his eyes flashing with golden power. "Fight the destiny they are trying to force on you, and take what you want."
"Why are you telling me this?" Fen asked, unable to look away from his shining face.
"Because I enjoy chaos." Ea's smile was pure devilry. "And it takes a trickster to know a trickster." Still laughing, he pushed Fen backward into the wall of water. She screamed, water filling her lungs as she was sucked into the darkness.
Thirty-Five
Fen came to with Khan's arms around her. She flailed, dragging in the breath that Ea's waters were going to choke out of her.
"I have you, Fen. I have you," Khan said urgently.
"Holy fuck." She curled into his chest, and he held her tight. "What the fuck is in that water?"
Khan let out a huff of relieved laughter. "You were out for a while. I was starting to worry. Are you okay?"
