Only the Strong, стр. 39

For her part, Lily seemed fully recovered. Cormack had found a pacifier for her to suck and the baby enthusiastically moved her cheeks as she watched the show, all signs of distress absent from her round features.

“Yes, you would’ve eventually figured it out,” Cernunnos agreed. “However, I solved the problem quicker. That gives us time to talk about what happened this afternoon.”

“How do you even know about that?” Zoe’s agitation was on full display. “Were you there?”

“No, but because I’m fond of you, I know when you leave this plane. I ... felt you ... move to another plane. I want to know how you did it, because it certainly wasn’t via the door we’re watching on Belle Isle.”

“It was another gate,” I volunteered, taking over the conversation. I worried Zoe and Cernunnos would circle each other for hours if I didn’t point them in the right direction. “It was in the basement of a house, one located not far from here.”

“Really?” Cernunnos’ expression was perplexed. “That shouldn’t be possible.”

“And yet when we crossed over, we found another three openings that seemed to lead to different locations.”

“I don’t understand.”

I explained the setup to him, recounting our afternoon. When I was finished, he shook his head. “You didn’t completely cross over. You only partially crossed over. That could be why your scent was so faint.”

“I think I sensed you, too,” Zoe admitted. “I felt something familiar, but I couldn’t put a name to it. I’m guessing that was you.”

“And now we’re back together again,” he teased. “How happy that must make you.”

“Yeah, that’s not what I was thinking.” Zoe leaned back in her seat and regarded the wild-haired god. “What do you have to do with this? I mean ... you mentioned being able to take me to different worlds fifteen years ago. Is this what you meant?”

“Yes ... and no. What’s happening right now could be disastrous for all those involved. That must be our focus. As for what I do, there is no limit. Right now, this is our main concern. We need to focus on what’s happening with the revenants. They were never meant to cross back over.”

I stirred. “You told me you believe the revenants have been bleeding back over for a long time without tipping anyone off.”

“I do believe that. What confused me was how they were doing it. If individuals are creating gates for them to travel by, then things could be even worse than I realized.”

“Oh, good,” Braden muttered. “I love hearing things like that.”

I patted his knee but kept my eyes on Cernunnos. “What do we do?”

“We find out where the gates lead, and who might have gone through them.”

That seemed like a simplistic answer. “Are we going right now?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Tomorrow will suffice. We need to make sure the house is empty, and we can’t do that unless the occupant is at work. I believe that will be your chore for tomorrow.” His gaze landed on Cormack before it shifted to Lily. “That is a beautiful child.”

“I know,” Aisling, Griffin, and Cormack said in unison, causing me to grin.

“She’s going to give you constant headaches, Mistress Mouth,” he said to Aisling. “Some might call that karma.”

Aisling sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of.”

“She’ll be fun, too.”

“Oh, I have no doubt.” Aisling rubbed her forehead. “Go back to these gates. Are you saying that revenants have been crossing through them for years? If so, how do we know the entire reaper council hasn’t been overtaken with them?”

“We don’t,” Cernunnos replied. “We don’t know anything, except that the bulk of the revenant army remains trapped in the world that was created to house them. That’s a good thing ... and yet there are bad things to worry about. I have no doubt whatsoever that revenants have been escaping to this side for years, even decades.”

“They must have a stronghold somewhere,” I pressed. “That’s the only thing that makes sense. They couldn’t be working individually. There has to be a master plan.”

“I agree. We can’t figure out what that plan is until we know who is in charge. Obviously we have one suspect. He cannot be the only one involved, though. We have to be smart, which means destroying the doors without tipping off the individuals in question that we’re the ones who did it.”

“I’m all for that,” Zoe offered. “If I get to blow something up, I’ll be happy.”

“Yes, you always were easily amused,” Cernunnos agreed. “You’ll definitely be part of the team.”

“Yay.” Zoe clapped her hands.

“Me, too?” Sami queried.

Cernunnos hesitated long enough that Aric answered for him.

“Absolutely not.” Aric was firm. “You can stay here and torture whichever Grimlock might be present. I’ll be going with your mother to take down the gates.”

Sami jutted her lower lip out. “But ... you might need my help.”

“We might,” Zoe agreed, sliding in smoothly before Aric could shut Sami down. “Since we’re still figuring out what we’re dealing with, it’s best to keep our secret weapon hidden. That way, if we have to unveil you later, you’ll be a surprise.”

Instead of being happy with the answer, Sami narrowed her eyes. “You’re full of it.”

“I am,” Zoe agreed. “You’re not going, though. I don’t care how much you pout.”

“Whatever.” Sami made a face that only a father could love, and it was enough to have Cormack beaming at her.

“We’re having an omelet bar for breakfast tomorrow morning,” he offered. “That might help the situation.”

“I guess.” Sami remained sour. “I still want to go.”

“Well, you’re not,” Zoe said. “I’m putting my foot down.”

“Listen to your mother,” Cernunnos chided. “She knows what she’s talking about ... at least this time. As for me, I love an omelet bar.” His smile was so wide it swallowed the lower half of his face. “I’m really looking forward to dinner and breakfast. Speaking of that, where is my room?”

Cormack was clearly caught off guard.