by Linsey Hall
Yeah, I’d made the right decision.
I scrubbed off with the towel, then dressed in the replica clothes. They felt just like mine, but sparked slightly with magic.
I gathered up the old clothes and towel and headed back down the path. When I reached the longhouse, it was quiet, the fire banked.
“Where’re the bedrooms?” I called out.
“There’s just the one.” Cade stepped out from behind the wicker wall to my left. Shadows cast his face in darkness.
“Big enough for two?” I asked.
“Barely.”
“That’s fine.” We’d slept together before. Though this would be different. This was after the time that we’d agreed to see where things would go between us. So that made this very different, indeed.
“I don’t mind bunking on the floor,” he said.
“No, it’s fine.” I blushed. “I’d kinda like it. A snuggle might be good.”
“Might be?” There was a smile in his voice.
“All right. It would be. Let’s go to bed.” Although heat burned low in my belly, I was too tired to take this any farther than sleep. Well, maybe not too tired. But almost too tired, and definitely too smart.
I joined him in the dark little room and shucked off my boots, socks, and jeans, then joined him in the bed. I snuggled up to his warmth, sighing at the extreme sense of rightness I felt.
This was so good.
“What did you mean about being in a dungeon when you were a kid?” The words popped out of my mouth before I’d even registered them in my brain.
He stiffened slightly, then relaxed. “I said that?”
“Yeah, in the dungeon in Svartálfar. You were clearly really bothered by it. Way more bothered than you are when you fight giant monsters single-handedly.”
He squeezed me close. “I prefer the monsters, to be honest.”
“Who put you in the dungeon?”
“My family.”
I gasped, rearing back and looking up at him. “Why?”
“They were afraid of my magic. We lived in a compound in rural Scotland. Near Inverness, just inside the Cairngorms. It was a group of supernaturals who didn’t want to be supernaturals.”
“Those exist?”
“Not in great numbers.” His voice was grim. “It was like any cult, really. And the beginning of my life was fine. They didn’t realize how strong my magic was. My mother thought I was just a shifter like her. Then they realized what I really am.”
“So they didn’t name you Belatucadros, then?”
“No. That name was given on my ninth birthday, when a seer clarified who I really am. About that time, the rest of my powers came in. My wolf grew, my speed increased. I found the shield in a field, waiting for me. I could throw it, and it would return.”
“Then what?”
“Then they threw me in the dungeon. I was too strong. I think they harbored some fantasy about bringing someone in to take my magic.”
“No!” That was terrible—I’d felt that. The Norns had shown me what it was like. “That’s the worst thing they could do to you. Like tearing your soul out.”
“In their eyes, I was already the worst thing.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “This is terrible. Did you escape?”
“I did. When I was thirteen, I was strong enough to tear the prison apart with my bare hands. I left that night, and never went back.”
“You haven’t seen your family since then?”
“Never. There’s nothing for me there but pain and misery.”
My heart ached, feeling like it was splintering in my chest. I hugged him close, trying to push warmth and caring into him. “I’m glad you left.”
“It was the only thing I could do.”
“Where’d you go? You were only a boy.”
“I joined a band of mercenaries that I met in Edinburgh. We worked together for ten years, all over the world.”
“That’s how you made your money, Caro said.”
“It was lucrative. But some of the jobs were—” I felt him shake his head. “Not for me. So I joined the Protectorate. It’s more in line with what I want to do.”
“And you’ve been there ever since. Except for when you go fight in wars on behalf of those who need you. Like a deadly hobby.”
“Something like that, aye.”
“Why don’t you ever talk about it? You do amazing things and never say anything.”
“I just help out here and there. It’s nothing.”
I squeezed him again, liking his modesty.
“What about you?” he said. “Now that I’ve bared my soul, you can bare yours.”
“Nothing to bare.” Kinda a lie.
And he called me on it. “That’s not true. There’s sadness in your eyes when you think no one is looking.”
“Really?”
“Really. Is it because your sister is missing?”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “I miss Rowan.”
“And you haven’t been able to find any trace of her?”
“No. We spent all our money hunting clues. But we turned up nothing. Just poof! Gone into thin air. She might be dead, but I doubt it. I’d feel it, you know?”
Fates, I hope I’d feel it.
He pulled me closer. “I know. And as soon as this is over, and your power is secure, we’ll look for her. I’ll help you.”
Tears smarted my eyes. “Thank you.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Of course.”
I snuggled into him, absorbing his warmth as thoughts of Rowan flashed in my mind’s eye. She was all I could see as I fell asleep, and I prayed to fate that maybe this time, with Cade’s help, we’d find her.
The next morning, a shrieking sound woke me.
I lurched up in bed, gasping. “What’s that?”
“Roosters.” Cade groaned. “Haven’t heard roosters in years.”
I blinked blearily, finally able to place the weird noise that I’d only ever heard on TV. I flopped back onto the mattress. “Man, that’s a pain.”
Cade chuckled, then rolled out of bed. I followed, excitement finally hitting me.
I was going to learn to anchor my powers. To keep my magic. The crazy haywire crap that had been going on was finally going to stop.
Quickly, I tugged on my clothes and boots, then turned to Cade. He was dressed, looking clean and rested and handsome. “Ready?”
“More importantly, are you?”
“Born ready. Let’s go.” I was excited to see the Valkyrie again. They were so damned cool.
We went out into the living space and found the fire stoked and a kettle of porridge hanging over it. I scarfed mine down, following it with water and wishing for coffee. Apparently the Valkyrie realm wasn’t perfect, but I was so excited that I didn’t need the caffeine. Sigrún had said that it would be a trial to anchor my magic, but I was ready.
The sun was peeking over the mountains by the time we made it outside. Sigrún waited for us, along with twelve other Valkyrie. They all looked at me with solemn eyes. Their magic radiated from them, strong and fierce. Battle magic. The women wore leather, but no chainmail or helmets. Their hair gleamed all shades, but it was their wings that caught my eye. White, silver, gold, red. They were amazing.
Nerves replaced some of my excitement, but I was still ready.
“Come with us,” Sigrún said.
We followed the contingent through the village and deeper into the valley. By the time we stopped at a crystalline pool, I was vibrating with excitement and nerves.
The Valkyrie turned to face me, standing in a semicircle between me and the pool.
Sigrún stepped forward. “You’ve been chosen as the Valkyrie of the DragonGods. As such, the Viking gods have each given you a bit of their power. But this does not come without a price. You must anchor those gifts within you, or they will devour each other.”
I nodded.
“We Valkyrie have the key to anchoring your power, but you must earn it.�
� She turned and pointed to the pool. “Enter the Well of Power and complete the test. Face your fears and unite the magic inside of you.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. I wasn’t a great swimmer, and I had no idea what the test would be.
But I was no quitter.
I stepped forward. As I passed, Sigrún leaned in and whispered, “Your weakness is that you jump too quickly. Learn restraint. It will save that which you love most.”
Her words reminded me of what Jude had said. I nodded, then kept walking.
The water was cold and brisk. I could see straight through to the pale gray rocks on the bottom. I went farther, wondering what the hell was going to happen when I got deep enough that I couldn’t breathe.
When the water was up to my neck and no one spoke, I sucked in a breath and kept walking. This was crazy, but everything else had been pretty damned crazy as well. And I could swim to the surface if I didn’t like what I found underwater.
Right?
By the time the water closed over my head, I was vibrating with tension. My lungs burned. I opened my eyes, surprised to see that nothing was distorted or weird.
Something inside me compelled me to open my mouth and breathe, so I did.
Fresh air flowed into my lungs.
Weird.
I walked deeper into the water, feeling as if I were walking on dry land. Was it my gift over water that allowed this, or the Valkyrie’s trial magic?
In the distance, a short white pedestal protruded from the seafloor. I approached it, climbed on, and stood in the middle. I was still a bit confused about what the heck was going to happen, but it felt right.
The first monster appeared with a flash, leaping for me. My heart jumped into my throat, and a scream almost escaped me. A chain tugged it back, stopping it just before its teeth sank into my neck.
Panting, I studied it. The beast was skeletal and stank with evil, even through the water. It lunged and snarled, red eyes gleaming. The chain rattled, looking like it would break. Sweat broke out on my skin.
Then another beast appeared, and another.
All of them leapt for me.
All about to break their chains.
Ice chilled my veins. My muscles ached to jump into action.
This was the worst. The waiting was always the worst. They were chained, but the chains were snapping. One link had already broken on the first beast’s chain. It held together barely—one rattle and the chain would slip free of the broken link, and the monster would be upon me.
Sweat rolled down my spine—something that should be impossible underwater but wasn’t—as I drew in a ragged breath.
I called my sword from the ether, ready to dive off the pedestal. I couldn’t take this—couldn’t wait any longer.
Something gentle touched my arm. I jumped, about to lash out.
The ghostly figure of Sigrún stood next to me.
Her words flashed in my mind. Your weakness is that you jump too quickly. Learn restraint. It will save that which you love most.
She disappeared
Was that what this was about?
I gritted my teeth, eyeing the terrifying beasts that leapt and snarled. More links broke on the chains, snapping on one side of the metal rings. If the beasts let up tension on their lines, their chains would slip free of the broken links.
The desire to jump off the pedestal and fight my attackers was so strong that my muscles cramped and ached. The fear was a sickening acid in my stomach.
Something warm glowed at my side. I looked over. Mayhem fluttered there, pressed against me. Her presence gave me strength, settling my heart a bit. It still felt like it might break my ribs, but at least it wouldn’t break out of my chest.
Mayhem shot a blast of fire, then jumped, startled. Still wasn’t used to the new dragon magic, it seemed.
Her fire surprised one of the beasts, which shrank backward. The slack loosened his restraint, allowing the chain to slip free of the half broken loop.
A lightning bolt of fear struck me as the monster jumped, hurtling right for me, ready to tear out my throat.
Everything in me screamed to fight. Every muscle and bone and sinew. But I held still, my mind buzzing with fear.
Pain and heat burst at my back, a strange sensation of something exploding out of my shoulder blades. I screamed, instinct propelling me upward.
I shot out of the water like a rocket. Cold air whipped past my hair, my shoulders, my wings.
Wings?!
I looked back, catching sight of massive silver wings spread out behind me. I was a hundred feet up in the air, my wings holding me aloft.
Holy fates.
I had wings.
Valkyrie wings.
My breath caught. I flew high into the sky, gritting my teeth at the pain in my wings but forcing myself to ignore it and fly higher. This was amazing. In my chest, my magic felt more complete, more whole.
I did a loop-de-loop, the land soaring by under me. I caught sight of Cade, his face turned toward the sky and awe in his expression.
I slowed, landing in front of him and the Valkyrie. My wings still hurt like the devil, but hopefully that would go away.
“Well done.” Sigrún stepped forward. “You completed the first test.”
“I didn’t expect to get wings.”
“All Valkyrie have wings. Now you have yours. They will help you anchor your power and give you control. But you are not finished yet. There is one last challenge you must complete for the pain in your wings to fade and for you to keep them permanently.”
“What is it?”
“You must prove yourself worthy of your wings by using them in battle, and you must do it soon. Else you will lose your wings, and the pain will stay.”
I swallowed hard, nerves skating through me. “And I won’t be able to control my magic. Eventually I’ll lose it, and my soul.”
“Precisely.”
Panic rose in my chest, but I swallowed hard, trying to force it away. Panic had never gotten me anywhere in life. I could do this—whatever the challenge was, I could do it. “You said I have to use my wings in a battle, fighting for what is right?”
“Yes.”
“But do you have any idea what battle?”
“No. Only that you must prove yourself worthy, which is not easy. Facing one’s fears is never easy. Mastering one’s own weaknesses is even harder.”
I stored that tidbit away for later. “I think that maybe I have to fight the Rebel Gods.”
Understanding glinted in Sigrún’s eyes. “Yes. That is possible. Have they been trying to find you?”
“Yes.” Excitement drummed in my chest. I caught Cade’s eyes, and he looked keenly interested, as well. “Do you know who they are? They’re hunting me and my sister. I know they’re dangerous, but I don’t know what they want exactly. Or who they are.”
Sigrún nodded. “I think this may be how you will get to keep your wings. You must win a victory against them, but it won’t be easy. The Rebel Gods are exactly what their name suggests. They are gods from various pantheons who disagree with the other gods’ decision to create the DragonGods.”
“Why?”
“They’re purists. They don’t believe that godly magic should be shared with mortals. They want it all for themselves. When the first DragonGods were created thousands of years ago, the Rebel Gods formed their own faction, breaking away from their pantheons. They come from all the ancient religions. Norse, Greek, Hindu, Phoenician, Native American, and many more. They have one goal—to find the DragonGods and steal their power, using it for their own evil deeds.”
“And that’s why they’ve hunted us. They’re the ones my mother was hiding from.” A dark desire for vengeance rose in my chest.
They’d killed my mother.
“Exactly. After the last DragonGod died three hundred years ago, they lay low. They have their own magic, but not enough to fuel their work. But when you were born, their purpose was revived.”
�
�What do they do?”
“Their main avenues of interest are murder, enslaving, and kidnapping—all meant to grow their wealth and power. To have influence over the earth and mortals.”
I grimaced.
“If you find them and beat them, I believe that will be enough to prove that you are worthy of your wings. But you must use everything at your disposal. You are not just your wings, and it will take everything you’ve got to beat them.”
“Beat them? Like, kill all of them?”
She laughed. “That is impossible. They are as eternal as the gods. But perhaps you can destroy one of their strongholds that exist in the ether. They use halfway points between the godly realms and the earthly one. These are places where they can walk and so can humans. In rare cases, a god may walk the earth, but it takes great power. Strongholds in the ether are the answer to that.”
“I’ve never heard of them,” I said. This magic was way above my pay grade.
“They are places that should not exist,” she said. “But with great magic, they can be built. From the strongholds, the Rebel Gods send their minions out to do their bidding. If you can destroy one of these places—and the records they contain—then you could save some of the people that they are inevitably trying to hurt. It will set their operation back by months. Maybe years.”
“Okay. I can do that.” I wanted to do that. To put the hurt on these evil jerks.“But where do I find a stronghold?”
Sigrún turned to the Valkyrie who stood behind her. “Gunnr, what do you think?”
Gunnr, a Valkyrie with shining red hair, stepped forward. “Our records suggest that there may be an entrance to a Rebel God stronghold in one of the ancient Phoenician cities. Byblos, Carthage, or Tyre, perhaps. It is hard to say where exactly. You may be able to find the entrance in one of those cities, most likely through a temple, as the Rebel Gods are obsessed with being worshiped.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“You must hurry, though,” Sigrún said. “Your wings will only become more painful. Eventually, you won’t be able to use them at all.”
8
We arrived back on the main lawn at the Protectorate around noon. The sun shined brightly, a beautiful late summer day.