by Linsey Hall
He growled again, the scent of rotten fish washing over me.
“Your magic is rank.” I kicked him in the stomach, and he hissed in pain, stumbling backward. I kicked again, aiming for the same place.
Without my sword, it was my best bet.
Finally, he stumbled off the back ledge, not realizing that he’d already reached it. His shocked eyes met mine as he tumbled into the darkness.
A splash sounded below.
I didn’t hang around to watch. So not my style.
Instead, I spun and raced back into the house. The smoke had dissipated some, but it was still hard to see.
“Idun!” I called.
“Back here!”
I hurried through the cluttered room, dodging furniture and other bits and bobs. The decor was ornate for such a weird place, but all of it looked to be old and in disrepair. Near the back, chained to a wall, I found a beautiful blonde woman. Her white dress was dirty and her hair knotted. A basket of shining red apples sat next to her.
“Idun!” I fell to my knees at her side, inspecting the chain around her ankle. “Is there anyone else here?”
“Not if you killed the guard and Mímir. Who are you?”
“Bree Blackwood.” I picked up the heavy chain. “Valkyrie Dragon God.”
“Oh.” Interest sounded in her voice. “Isn’t this my lucky day?”
“I hope so.” I gripped the chain in both hands and yanked, praying my new strength would do the job.
The chain rattled and clanked, straining, but didn’t break.
“Shit.”
“You really think you can break that?”
“I have Magni’s strength.”
“Oh. Well, try again, then!”
I didn’t have a shot at breaking the metal, but it was sunk into the stone wall. That had potential.
“Move over,” I said.
She shifted left, and I braced my feet against the wall, gripping the chain and yanking with all my might. Magic flowed through my muscles, giving them an unnatural, godly strength. The chain strained, and the stone seemed to creak. Finally, the stone cracked, the chain’s anchor pulling out.
I flew backward, slamming my head onto the ground.
Pain flared as my vision doubled.
Fates, I need to practice.
“Well done!” Idun said.
Aching, I scrambled up. “Thanks.”
She grabbed her basket of apples and handed one to me. “Here. This will give you strength.”
“It won’t make me live extra long, right?” I wanted a nice, normal-length life, ideally departing the world at the same time as my sisters and Cade. I didn’t want to hang around after they were gone, twiddling my thumbs and lonely.
“No. Just greater strength and better health for the next few days.”
I could definitely use some of that. I took the apple she handed me and bit in, chomping down as I bent to pick up her chain. I chewed and spoke at the same time. “Let’s get out of here.”
I carried the chain that dangled from her ankle, polishing off the sweet fruit as we hurried down the tunnel. At the exit into the well’s shaft, I stopped and peered down. All was quiet and calm.
Which meant that the serpent had eaten the demon and was waiting once again.
“I don’t know if I can climb that,” Idun said. “I tried before and failed.”
“That’s okay.” The apple really had made me feel strong. Combined with Magni’s strength, I could probably fly us out of here. “I think I can carry you.”
“Really?” She gave me a skeptical look.
I flared my wings out, and her brows rose. “I’m willing to try.”
“Then so am I.”
“Great. Hold on to your apples.” I held out my arms and picked her up, damsel-in-distress style. “I feel like a knight in shining armor.”
“What is that?”
Right. They’d come about five hundred years after the Vikings. “I’ll explain later.”
I walked to the very edge of the tunnel. Idun felt light in my arms, which was really freaking strange. I sucked in a deep breath and jumped off the ledge, flaring my wings wide.
We fell for half a second, then my moving wings caught the air, and I hurtled upward. Below, a splash sounded. I looked down.
The serpent shot out of the water, headed straight for us.
Shit!
I gave it my all, flying as hard as I could, and shot from the well, high into the sky. The serpent breached the mouth of the well, its fangs snapping the air right below us. Idun's arms tightened around my neck.
Then the serpent fell, missing its target. I laughed and shot higher, searching the ground for Cade. He and Mímir were having a standoff. Mímir on one boulder, Cade on another. Mímir hurled potion bombs at Cade, who dodged them. Mostly.
What should we do with Mímir?
It wasn’t my place to kill him, even though he was evil. We didn’t have time, anyway.
“We’re not going to take out Mímir,” I said. “Let’s just get out of here.”
“Agreed.” Idun’s voice was eager.
“Cade!” I shouted. “Let’s get out of here.”
He looked up and grinned. A swirl of golden light flashed around him, and he shifted. The giant wolf leapt off the boulder and raced for the portal that led out of Mímir's realm.
I flew over his head, following Cade. The wise man looked up, his crazed eyes meeting mine.
“Thief!” he screamed, spit flying from his lips. I’d never seen anyone so enraged.
“Kidnapping psychopath!” I yelled.
For good measure, I sent a bolt of lightning at him. He dodged, but it kept him busy.
As quickly as I could, I flew after Cade, Idun in my arms. It was surprisingly easy to carry her now that I had Magni’s strength and had eaten the apple.
When we were far enough away that Mímir was no longer pursuing us, I landed next to Cade, who shifted back to human. Carefully, I set Idun on the ground.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Do you know how to get us back to Asgard?” I asked.
“Yes. There’s a portal just a couple miles away from here.”
“You can ride on my back,” Cade said.
She eyed him appreciatively, and I kind of wanted to step on her foot. But I was bigger than that. And it was a good idea.
Cade shifted back to his wolf form, and Idun climbed on. I took to the air, and we hurried toward the portal, Idun directing the way. It didn’t take long to reach it, and as we stepped in, I was certain I heard Mímir's angry cursing following us back to Asgard.
13
By the time we arrived in Asgard, I was ready to get the hell out of there and get a shower. The stink of the well water clung to me, and I felt like I was covered by a thin layer of slime.
Idun had a definite pep in her step, however.
“Thank you so much for rescuing me,” she said as we climbed the stairs to Odin’s palace. “I was so stupid, walking alone near Mímir's well. He hasn’t lived there for years.”
“He escaped Odin, though I don’t know how.”
Idun frowned and shook her head. “I always thought it was a bad idea, keeping his head like that.”
“Will he survive without your apples?”
“I don’t know. His head probably will, because Odin enchanted it. As for the rest of him…”
“It’s Odin’s problem,” Cade said.
I liked the sound of that, because I didn’t want to see creepy birdgoatman again if I could help it.
Before we stepped through the great doors, I turned to Idun. “I wouldn’t have been able to rescue you without the help from Hraesvelgr the eagle or the ice fox in Jötunheimr. They requested an apple, though. Will you give them one?”
She smiled and nodded. “I know the fox and the eagle. I’ll see it done.”
“Good.” I smiled, relieved. “Because I really don’t want either one coming after me for failing to fulfill my end of the bargain.”
“No, you certainly do not.” She stepped through the great door, and I followed.
Odin and Frigg were waiting for us when we were shown into their throne room. They both rose off their throne as we entered, grins splitting their faces.
“Well done, Valkyrie!” Odin boomed.
“Idun!” Frigg swept off the dais. “Are you well?”
“I am, thanks to Bree.”
Frigg turned appraising eyes to me. “You truly are worthy of your magic.”
Odin strode toward us, inspecting me. “You did well. I witnessed your heroics from my throne. Some of the gods even gave you challenges, and you passed.” He looked at Idun. “As for you, it was wise for Mímir to hide you in his well. You were hidden by knowledge I did not have. I sought him there a few months ago, but found neither hide nor hair of him.”
“He’s stronger than we thought,” Idun said.
Odin tsked and shook his head. “My mistake.”
“It was.” Frigg gave him a stern look, then turned to me. “As for you—the gods will grant you what you request. And I will be able to give you a shielding charm that will protect you for twenty-four hours. I’m afraid it’s the longest that any charm can hold up against the powerful magic flowing through you.”
“Thank you.” Twenty-four hours would be hugely helpful.
“Wait here.” She drifted away.
Odin reached out, touching Idun’s chain, which I still gripped in my hands like a weird leash. It disintegrated, and she grinned, handing him an apple.
Odin just grunted and turned, walking back to his throne and chomping on the fruit.
A man of few words.
Idun turned to Cade and me. “Thank you again.”
“Of course,” I said.
She left the room, her basket of apples clutched in her hand. She passed Frigg on the way, handing her an apple. The goddess took a bite, seeming to glow with health as soon as she swallowed. By the time she reached us, she looked vastly younger. Twenty-five, at most.
Frigg handed me a little vial of potion. “Drink.”
I did as she commanded, swallowing the sweet liquid. Magic shivered over me, and I felt insubstantial for just a moment.
“Now the Rebel Gods can’t find me?”
“For twenty-four hours,” she said. “Ready for the rest of your magic?”
“I am.” That wasn’t the whole truth, but I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter. This was happening no matter what.
“Odin!” Frigg called. “Make the circle.”
Odin got off his throne and ambled toward the center of the room. He drew a golden sword from the ether and pressed the tip to the stone floor. Light glowed brightly, shooting out from the sword and creating a circle. Magic pricked on the air, dozens of different signatures.
“He’s calling the gods,” Frigg said.
“They’ll come here?” Cade asked.
“Not physically, no. But they’ll be here.” She gestured for me to enter the circle.
I did, the magic sparkling over my skin as I stepped into the middle. It felt like being submerged in a bath of champagne.
Odin and Frigg met my gaze.
“It will take everything you have to succeed against the Rebel Gods,” Frigg said.
“And succeed, you must.” Odin’s voice was heavy with seriousness.
“But you are the champion of the Vikings,” Frigg said. “You have proved that here today. You are capable, Bree. And we believe in you.”
It was the last thing I heard before the lightning struck me. Pain shot through me, followed by the electric pulse of magic. So many signatures, so much power. I could hardly bear it.
I staggered, going to my knees.
All around, shadows appeared. They were human shaped, but indistinct. The gods?
One by one, powers flowed into me. Magic that I didn’t recognize, but would hopefully learn. I tried to stay conscious, but the pain was too much. Overwhelming.
Cade’s shout was the last thing I heard.
I woke up in Cade’s arms. The air was chilly and smelled of Scotland. He was carrying me across the Protectorate lawn, but he was the only thing I could see.
“Hey.” The words were scratchy in my throat.
He looked down, so handsome it was hard to believe. “Hey.”
“I love you.”
His brows rose, a look of surprised happiness on his face. “You do?”
“Of course.” I felt it like the warmth of the sun, radiating out from me. Or maybe radiating out from him. Whatever it was, it was warm and wonderful. And it was definitely love.
“You’re hardly conscious. Are you sure you want to stick by that?” he asked.
“I’ve known for a while. And I wanted to tell you when it was the right time. Not when I was just repeating your words back to you.”
“That’s now?”
“Definitely.” Maybe the timing was kind of weird, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
I leaned up and pressed a kiss to his lips, falling into the joy of him. I didn’t add that now was the time because I wasn’t sure if I would survive the fight to come.
Instead, I focused on the feel of him. It was impossible not to. He clouded all of my thoughts.
He stopped walking, giving the kiss everything he had. My head swam and my heart expanded. The new magic inside me ricocheted around, bouncing through my body like fireworks.
By the time he drew away, my head was spinning.
The sound of running footsteps caught my ear, and I looked toward the castle. Rowan and Ana raced toward us, Mayhem flying behind. Chaos and Ruckus trotted alongside, their fangs and horns glinting in the sun.
“I’ll take a rain check on that kiss, if you don’t mind,” I said.
“Aye.”
“I can walk.”
Slowly, he put me down. My legs wobbled a bit, and flashes of memory burst in my mind—different powers flowing through me, magic tearing me apart and putting me back together. I didn’t know how much new power I had, but I seemed to have a lot of it.
Rowan and Ana stopped in front of us, panting.
“Well?” Rowan asked.
“I got it,” I said.
“I feel it.” Ana’s eyes widened. “You are packing some serious heat.”
“Thanks. I think.”
“It’s a good thing,” Rowan said. “We’ll need it to defeat them.”
“Come on.” Ana gestured for us to follow. “We need to come up with a plan. And you look like you need some dinner.”
My stomach grumbled like it could speak English.
We followed them into the castle, heading straight down to Hans’s lair, where the air smelled like baking bread and was warm from the oven.
As if they’d known to expect us, Jude and Hedy were sitting at the table. Ali and Haris were already halfway through bowls of stew, which was no surprise. Thundering footsteps sounded behind us, racing down the stairs.
Caro spilled into the room, platinum hair glinting. “I’m not late, am I?”
“Nope.” I took a seat next to Ali, my stomach grumbling at the sight of his stew. The savory scent made my mouth water.
Hans bustled over, a big bowl in his hands. I almost teared up when he put it in front of me.
I looked at him. “You’re the most amazing person alive.”
He grinned and withdrew his hand from behind his back, presenting me with a tall cup filled with purple liquid. “And your juice!”
I smiled and took it. “Thank you, Hans.”
He watched me expectantly, and I sipped the juice. He nodded, satisfied, and turned. Hans really had a thing for juice.
Cade sat next to me, gratefully accepting his own bowl, and everyone else gathered around the table.
“Is it just me, or are we using the kitchen more than the round room these days?” I asked.
“It’s not just you,” Jude said. “But that’s how you know you’re onto something big. There’s only enough time to eat
and talk if you do both at the same time.”
Speaking of… I dug into my bowl of stew.
Beef and vegetables, I determined. And it was amazing.
I scarfed it down while Ana and Rowan told an adventurous tale of hiking through the mountains in Nepal to retrieve the three crystals we would use to set our trap and store our power.
Ana finished it by saying, “The crystals are in Hedy’s office now.”
“I’ve found a way to transfer your magic to them,” Hedy said. “We can perform the spell right before the ambush.”
“Perfect,” I said. “I have twenty-three and a half hours before Frigg’s concealment charm wears off. At that point, I think the Rebel Gods will come for me.”
“That gives us time to rally our allies,” Ana said.
“We have allies?” I asked.
“The FireSouls, obviously,” Ana said.
“Aerdeca and Mordaca,” Cade said. “Maybe even the lions that you saved. They like a good fight.”
They had a point. We really did have allies. “The Valkyries agreed to fight on our side. I’ll have to go get them.”
“I can get Oya and her mercenaries,” Cade said.
“That’ll cost a pretty penny,” Haris said.
“They’ll give me a discount.”
“The Protectorate will help, of course,” Jude said. “And I think the ambush should take place in the grove where you hunted Nessie. There’s a section there that prohibits transporting. If we can get the gods in there, they can’t transport out to escape.”
I recalled the section of forest that she was talking about. A clearing about the size of a football field, with thick tree cover all around. “It’s perfect.”
“Then we have a plan.” Rowan smiled. It was thoroughly bloodthirsty. “In twenty-three hours, we’ll destroy the Rebel Gods.”
An hour later, I returned to Yggdrasil. I wouldn’t have expected to be back so soon—especially not when I needed a nap so badly—but I needed to give the Valkyrie the time and location of the final battle. At least this time, I knew exactly how to get here.
It didn’t take long to deliver my message, and the Valkyrie promised to come at the appointed time, bringing with them twenty winged warriors.
It would help immensely.