Myths and Magic: An Epic Fantasy and Speculative Fiction Boxed Set

by K.N. Lee

  Kara wrinkled her nose. Slab of meat...

  “He’d have killed you a second ago if the Lone Ranger here...” She patted Konner’s cheek. “If he hadn’t stopped him. Primarily, these two guys are FBI agents. They do what they’re trained to do. They’re lovers, second, if that. They’re driven by their jobs.” She strode back to Kara, each booted step striking the floor like an ice pick. Standing inches away, she said, in a low voice, “And, with all your enhanced Valkyrie skills, you are an enemy to them. You can never...ever...tell anyone who we are.”

  Kara gulped. “Come on, we’re magical and all that. Trained warriors...”

  “We are, true. But humans can be devious. If there’s a will, there’s a way. How could we do our job if we’re always looking over our shoulders?”

  Kara tried to arch away from Fraya.

  Fraya’s hand slid around the back of her neck, squeezing hard. “I’m not finished with you,” she hissed.

  Kara’s eyes darted back and forth...anywhere but at Fraya’s livid face and glowing eyes. “Ace seems to know. Why didn’t we all die already if what you’re saying is truth?”

  “Good question.” Her gaze slid up, as if thoughtful, and back to Kara. “He’s not simply a human. We’re not sure what he is. Like you, his true nature has not yet been revealed. That’s what you’re supposed to be helping us figure out.” Her attention pivoted to Bork.

  He lounged against the door frame, his arms crossed loosely over his powerful chest. “Are we done here? I think you’ve made your point.” Bork directed his attention to Kara. “You got the message, right?”

  “Clear as a bell,” Kara said. She gave a crisp salute.

  “Good.” He held out his crooked arm for Fraya. “Shall we?”

  “We shall.” She cast her fiery gaze back at Kara. “As for you, this moment here should be the least of your worries.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kara asked.

  “Do your job and figure it out.” Fraya snapped her fingers and she and Bork disappeared.

  An alarm rang through the halls, followed by a voice blasting over the hall sound system. “Security! Security needed in room 1107. Repeat. Security needed in room 1107.”

  “That’s Ace’s room. He’s in trouble.” Kara glanced at Jaidon and Konner.

  Coming out of their stupor, they both shook their heads, as if confused.

  “Hey,” Jaidon called. “Where are you going? I’m talking to you!”

  With a swish of her hand, she dismissed him. “Sorry, there’s trouble.”

  She darted out of the hall, nearly colliding with the dazed doctor she’d shoved out into the hallway. Is Ace already dead? She poured on the power, hoping she’d make it to his room on time.

  12

  Kara raced for the elevator, pushing past hospital staff filling the halls. The room where her body lay at Sisters of Mercy hospital in Boston grew distant. She skidded in front of the lift, and pounded on the elevator button with her fist. When the door opened, there wasn’t a square inch of room inside the small space.

  Security officers, mixed with hospital staff, packed the elevator.

  Behind her, Jaidon yelled. “We’re with the FBI. Let us through.”

  Thinking fast, she reached inside the lift and pressed the buttons for every floor. Then, she yanked the red Stop button, setting off an alarm. She leaped out as the doors began to close.

  “What are you doing?” one of them yelled through the slit in the doors.

  “Saving lives,” she shot back. Hopefully mine and Ace’s.

  Turning, she shoved open the door to the stairwell, folding into the slew of armed guards storming up the steps. As she made her way up the six flights of stairs, she wondered if she had wings on her feet, not just her back. She easily maneuvered past younger men, all bearing muscled physiques, all armored like they were about to face a terrorist attack instead of the one weak man she suspected was the cause of all this mayhem.

  “Hey! Watch it!” One of the guards shouted at her, as she elbowed him out of the way.

  “No time,” she responded, taking the steps two at a time.

  When she reached the eleventh floor, she whipped open the door. Racing down the hall, she powered through the double doors labeled ‘1107. Must be accompanied by a staff member to enter’.

  Ace stood in the center of the room, wearing nothing but a hospital gown and soft blue scrub pants. Blood spatters stained his top. He clutched a scalpel, waving it at any who approached him.

  “Kara, they’re here. They’re after me,” he cried.

  “Does this door lock?” she asked. “I’m with the FBI.” She retrieved the badge she’d plucked from her hospital room, flashing it briefly. “I’m in charge of this patient. Lock the doors. There are about two dozen armed guards about to storm the room.”

  A white clad nurse quickly secured the door.

  Kara slipped into her FBI persona. “Back away, everyone. I’ve got this.”

  The staff eyed one another. Then, they shuffled backward.

  “Easy, Ace. It’s going to be okay.” Her hands palm out, she took a few slow steps toward him.

  His dark wavy hair stuck out in all directions. “They’re everywhere. Can’t you see them?” His gaze flitted about the room like a wild stallion caught by a rope.

  “Yeah, I see them,” she said, not seeing them at all. “But I’m here and you’re safe.”

  “You said that before and look what happened.” He made a swipe at the air, stumbling.

  She arched back, yanking her hand away. “Honey, put the scalpel down. I’ve got this. You’re safe.”

  “I don’t believe you. You lied to me about being a Val...”

  She quickly shut him down. “About being a valiant warrior? Only a joke, I assure you.”

  “But you have win...”

  “Winning ways, I understand,” she said.

  He took another slash at the air. “They’re going to get me. They’re going to finish me off and take me to the bad place you told me about.”

  “Now, now...no one’s going to the bad place.” She wished she could shove a sock in his mouth. Even if the staff took him as a raving idiot, she had no way of knowing what he would say, if they’d believe him and if her kind would therefore die. “Hand over the scalpel, Ace. Give it to me. Come on.” She put out her hand, palm up.

  He took a swing at her.

  The bloody blade whistled near her skin.

  She jerked her hand away.

  Boot steps pounded outside in the hallway, followed by fists hammering against door.

  “Open up! This is the police!” came a male voice.

  “We’re with the FBI,” said another voice, sounding like Konner’s.

  Kara’s head whipped around. “Don’t let them in, whatever you do,” she yelled. She turned back to Ace. “Ace. Calm down. Let’s think things through.” Eying the mushrooming blood stain forming at the front of his gown, she said, “You’re weak, honey. You’ve lost a lot of blood. You need to hand over the scalpel.”

  His gaze dropped to his gown. He lifted the front of the gown, and gasped. He stared, his eyes round, the whites showing. His chest began to pump like a bellows. “Am I dying? Are they going to finish me off?”

  She shook her head and gestured with her fingers. “Not on my watch, Ace. Never on my watch. Hand it over.”

  For several seconds, their eyes locked. Kara projected as much calm assurance as she could muster.

  Ace sighed, and then nodded. Slowly, with a shaking hand, he extended the scalpel in her direction, placing it in her palm.

  When his fingers grazed her skin, a spark ignited between them.

  Curling her palm over the scalpel, she tossed it to the ground.

  A staff member lunged for it.

  The nurses all seemed to exhale as one.

  “Everyone, out into the hall,” she said, keeping her attention on Ace.

  The nurses, doctors, and orderlies tiptoed out of the space
.

  Someone said, “Don’t go in there. She’s got this. She’s FBI.”

  A male voice, sounding like Jaidon, said from the hallway, “I knew it. That explains it. She’s undercover.”

  Kara turned her attention back to Ace.

  “Give me your hand.” She searched his eyes.

  Like a trusting child, he reached for her.

  She took his cool hand, squeezing gently.

  The spark between them grew into a warm current of electricity.

  His eyebrows drawn together, he trained his gorgeous blue eyes on her face. “What’s happening?” he whispered.

  “I don’t know,” she whispered back.

  A strong current flowed from her hand into his.

  “I... I think I’m healing,” he said. “Look under my gown to see. I’m afraid to look away from you.”

  “Right,” she said, smiling. “You only want me to view your nakedness.” She started to pull her hand away.

  His fingers gripped her tightly. “Don’t let go. Whatever you’re doing is working. I can feel it. Check me out. Please. No funny stuff from me. I only want validation and I don’t want you to let go.”

  Stepping closer, she slid the forefinger of her left hand under the neck of his hospital gown. Peering down at his strong, solid chest caused flutters in her belly. The stitched cuts and ragged tears were mending before her eyes. Chills ripped up her back. “Holy crows, Ace. I’m literally watching your wounds heal. How on earth am I going to explain your miraculous healing to the hospital staff?”

  “You’ll think of something. You’re amazing,” he said. He cast a beguiling gaze her way. Then, his eyelids lowered. His lips parted and he dropped his gaze to her mouth.

  Her insides stirred with wet heat. She swallowed, wanting to pull him close and kiss him deeply. “This is hardly the place, Ace,” she whispered.

  “I know.” Suddenly, his body jerked and his eyes grew wide.

  “Ace, what’s happening?” She clenched his wrist.

  “I don’t know. I felt great and then...this is...what you’re doing to me is...it’s too...” His eyelids began to flutter. “Don’t ever leave me again.”

  He released her grip, falling to the floor in a dead faint.

  13

  The double doors to room 1107 swung open with a crash.

  Kara‘s gaze flew to the entrance.

  A tall, beefy, white-blond man stood in the entry, his back to Kara, propping the door open behind him.

  Kneeling on the floor next to Ace, she stared up at the blond giant. Who is he?

  Ace, still unconscious, lay crumpled on the floor, his head in her lap.

  “I’m Special Services,” the huge man said, waving some sort of badge around at the people bunched around the doorway. “This man is under my protection.” He whipped around to face her, letting the door slam shut.

  Kara nearly laughed at the sight of Bork Delling, dressed in the typical suit, and tie her FBI profession wore. His huge muscles strained inside the fabric, making the suit look like it would split apart at the seams at any moment.

  “Agent Delling,” she said, hiding her smirk. “So, this is one of those cloaking moments Fraya told me about where you get to blend in?” she whispered.

  He answered with a quick, curt nod. He strode toward her, his usually kind and cheerful face now lined with deep grooves.

  Crouching next to her, he said in a low voice, “This is serious. You’re in a mess of trouble. Fraya is livid. I could barely hold her back from coming and dealing with you herself. Finally, she sent me to intervene on your behalf. I can’t save you, but I can offer an assist.”

  Certain her face was chalk white; Kara’s smirk fell from her lips. “What kind of trouble? Did I almost get someone killed again?”

  “It’s uncertain. But healing someone such as you did...” His words trailed away and he shook his head. “Let’s simply say there are security breaches and then there are security breaches.”

  “Oh, come on,” she spluttered. “How was I to know that would happen? I keep finding things out by chance. My academy training was far from adequate.”

  Bork put his hands out in a placating manner. “Fraya said she told you we had to fast-track your training due to the situation with your dying self and this guy….” He stabbed his thumb at Ace. “A few details may have been missed. Things got real critical, real fast.”

  Her hand shot into the air, whirling in a circle. “Meanwhile, the entire race could die because I wasn’t told basic things like, ‘oh, don’t even mention what or who you are or you’ll wipe out our kind, like that’.” She snapped her fingers in the air.

  “I get it. Point taken. But let’s sort things out at another time. In the meantime, we need to get this whole fuckery sorted.” He gestured between her and Ace.

  She let out a cold laugh. “Fuckery? Oh, that’s precious. My other body’s about to die, Bork. Plug pulled. Brain functions cease, then....” She dragged across her neck and made a “kkk” noise. “Meanwhile, this guy I met recently and have been made responsible for, knows nothing except he’s being hunted by the Drascatu. And I, the half-trained Valkyrie, know less than he does. All I did was prevent him from being shot by my fiancé who thinks I’m an undercover FBI agent or the lunatic cousin of my half dead body lying in a coma a few floors down. And you call it mere fuckery?” She shook her head. “I call it the worst cluster fuck times a thousand I’ve ever been involved with.”

  Ace stirred in her lap, his long lashes fluttering against his cheeks. When he opened his eyes, his gaze landed on Bork.

  He twitched. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Bork Dellen. Occasional gladiator and full time companion to Fraya, the head of her organization.” He crouched and stuck his hand out to Ace.

  Ace took it and shook it tentatively. “What organization is that? One of those reality entertainment shows where guys get to see if they’re strong enough to take you down?”

  “One on a need to know basis.” Bork flashed a thin-lipped smile, his gaze flicking to Kara and back. He stood, towering over her and Ace.

  “Well, this is rich. Let me go back to being unconscious, snuggled in the lap of my warrior princess here.” Ace burrowed his face into Kara’s thigh.

  “Sorry, we don’t have time for that,” Bork snapped. He gestured toward Ace. “Here’s the plan. I’ll head out there and make something up about you and how I need to question you when you’ve had a chance to rest.” He pointed at Kara. “You...get Romeo here into a bed to rest up. We’ll need to get him to a secured room. He looks somewhat restored but still weak. And then...” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll leave it to you to figure the rest out.”

  “Great plan, Bork.” Kara scoffed.

  “What can I say? I’m a warrior. I do better with a sword in my hand and a crossbow on my side.” He winked at her. “You should see me on a battlefield. I rock.”

  He got to his feet before extending a hand to Kara.

  “I’ll bet,” Kara said, trying to picture it. She took Bork’s hand and both she and Ace rose from the floor.

  “Let me think.” Bork stood with his hands on his hips, looking like his uber-sized warrior self. “Yeah, I got nothing else.” He put his hands out, palms up.

  “Great,” Kara said, dusting off her rump. “Any clues on this healing thing? Anything else I need to be aware of?”

  “You’ll have to talk to Fraya about that. But I’m sure she’ll tell you-—it’s not like you can bring people back from the afterlife or anything. But it can enable you to assist a warrior in battle...if he’s not dead.” He grinned. “And if a warrior has been made ready to die but is still useful on the battlefield...then, you can defer his death so he can grow and increase in his abilities before he crosses over.”

  “So, he’ll be made more useful to Odin, right?” Kara assumed the same hands on her hips position Bork did.

  “Pretty much.”

  “Odin seems to use the chosen for his
own gain. I’m liking that god less and less,” she said.

  “He’s all right. He’s a hell of a lot of fun to party with.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” She turned to Ace who had stood silently, watching her and Bork’s back and forth conversation. “You ready?”

  He shrugged.

  “Go do your thing, warrior,” she said to Bork with a wave of her hand.

  “You’re a spitfire. I like you,” Bork said.

  “Thanks. I like you, too. Now go!” She swished her hand at the door.

  He pivoted on his heel and, like a true warrior, strode out the door, his voice booming. “This man is a witness. He’s under protective custody. He escaped our watch. I need to question him. But he needs to rest first. In a private room, mind you. Security guards all around. All patients need to be moved to another floor. This one’s a crime scene. Let’s move, people. This isn’t a reality show, everyone. Back to your jobs.”

  Two nurses scurried into the room, looking awestruck or terrified, Kara couldn’t decide. They no doubt wanted to ride the stallion known as Bork—either that or run away from him screaming at the top of their lungs.

  Kara chuckled. If they only knew.

  They gestured for Kara and Ace to follow. “Let’s do as the agent says and get you to a private room.”

  Before exiting, Kara scanned the hallways for signs of Jaidon or Konner. No one milled about in the halls. Instead, it looked like an emergency room on crack. Activity happened all around her. “Christ on a cracker, everyone must have jumped at Bork’s commands.”

  Patients were being wheeled along on gurneys. The ones who were ambulatory were shuffling toward their destination. Others were pushed in wheelchairs. Clearly, the hospital staff had responded swiftly to Bork’s command.

  Still, she hugged the hall walls and kept her head down as they scurried to Ace’s new room.

  Once the nurse showed them Ace’s new room, complete with a view of Boston’s skyline, Kara finally let her shoulders fall away from her ears.

  One of the nurses helped Ace into the bed pushed against the wall. When she started to insert an IV needle into his hand, he said, “I don’t need that.”