“So he just has to grab your sword, rip the stone out, and he’s alive again?”
“It’s not quite that simple. He has to own my sword.”
“And he does that how?”
“By killing me with it.”
Titus sat in stunned silence. “He has to kill you with your own blade.”
She nodded.
“Wonderful.”
She faced him a little more. “Look, Ingvar can help me. I think. So long as she didn’t shift her studies to creating natural dyes from plants or healing with herbs. If she stuck to the track she was on—practicing magic, working with runes, and reading the future—she should be able to help me get rid of Leif. Even if she is working on another aspect of study, she should still remember the ritual required to eliminate a wraith. She performed it plenty of times.”
“I hope you’re right.” He put his hands on the wheel. “Do you think we should get her hooked up with Alice and the coven?”
Jenna nodded. “I’m absolutely going to toss that out there. She may not need their help. And really, her magic isn’t the coven’s kind of magic. But our seers can be incredibly powerful, and as this wraith is so connected to me, she should be able to deal with him pretty quickly.”
“I really hope you’re right.” He pulled out of the driveway.
“Me too.”
Titus sat at the bar at Howler’s with a ginger ale in front of him. He’d picked a seat that allowed him to stare into the mirror behind the bar and perfectly see the booth Jenna was in. He wouldn’t be able to hear her. Not clearly, anyway. There were too many other conversations going on in the restaurant for him to make out distinct words. But if she needed him, all she’d have to do was get his attention and he’d be there.
That was also why he wasn’t drinking. He needed to have his faculties about him. If Ingvar really could help them with the wraith, there was no telling what she’d need from them. The last thing he wanted to do was slow things down because he’d had a beer.
Jenna was in the booth alone since Ingvar hadn’t shown up yet, but they’d arrived early. Two waters and two menus sat on the table. Every once in a while, he’d catch her looking at him in the mirror. She’d smile, but it was tentative and strained.
He understood. He felt the same way, although he knew it was worse for her. She was in danger through no fault of her own. Being hunted for following orders. That was enough to set anyone on edge.
Jenna’s head came up. She smiled and slid out of the booth.
He looked toward the door.
A tall, thin woman in a long black and burgundy dress flowed toward Jenna. She had black hair and dark eyes but a bright smile that helped offset her smoky makeup and the piles of strange jewelry she had on.
Everything she wore seemed to be made of bones or feathers or fur or decorated with skulls or carved with runes.
And there was an undeniable presence of power about her. In Nocturne Falls, people would easily assume she was a witch.
Jenna confirmed this was Ingvar by greeting her with a hug. The woman hugged her back. They seemed genuinely happy to see each other.
Good, Titus thought. Because Jenna was about to need her friend’s help.
The two sat and fell into deep conversation. Their server came over, but Jenna sent her away with a kind smile and a few words that Titus understood was a request for more time.
He watched them, sipping his ginger ale and occasionally giving Bridget a shake of his head to let her know he didn’t need anything.
Ingvar had the same proud bearing as Jenna. He took that to be a valkyrie thing. She wasn’t traditionally beautiful, but her strong features were captivating. At the very least, there was something interesting about her. It was hard not to look at her, actually.
At the moment, her brow was furrowed as she listened to Jenna’s story. Ingvar was nodding and seemingly listening with great intent. She reached across the table to take Jenna’s hands.
Titus took that as a good sign. A gesture of I’m here to help.
Her gaze flicked to him suddenly. Jenna’s did too. Then she waved him over.
He picked up his ginger ale and went to them.
Jenna reached for him, taking his hand as he joined them. “Ingvar, this is Titus.”
Ingvar smiled at him. Then she blinked hard, and a cloud seemed to settle in her gaze. Another blink, and the cloud was gone. “You’re…a wolf,” she said softly. “It’s my pleasure to meet you.”
“You too.” He glanced at Jenna. “Did you tell her?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Seers just pick up on things.”
He’d have thought, after years of living in this town, that he’d be used to people with extra abilities, but it was still a little unsettling to have a stranger suss out what he was within seconds of meeting. He let it go and smiled back. “Again, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Ingvar. Jenna speaks very highly of you.”
Jenna slid over and patted the seat. “Sit down. Ingvar thinks she can help. Not just with the wraith but with the spells that we’re under.”
He sat beside her, putting his ginger ale on the table. “That’s fantastic.”
“I’m glad you think that.” Up close, Ingvar’s strong features made her look worldly wise. Considering what she was about to help them with, that seemed like a plus. She also looked a little world-weary, which probably wasn’t as good. Or maybe she was tired from traveling.
But then what did he know? Maybe she always had dark circles under her eyes and a gauntness about her.
She shook her head. “But you may change your mind when I tell you what needs to be done.”
He leaned forward. “I might, but do we have any choice?”
She frowned sympathetically. “No, not if you want to protect Jenna, and for the sake of my dear friend, I pray the sacrifice is not in vain.”
“Sacrifice?” Jenna wasn’t as much worried for herself or Titus, but for Ingvar. The truth was her friend looked a little frayed at the seams. Jenna hated to even think such a thing, but there was no better way to describe Ingvar’s current appearance.
The seer nodded. “You have to offer yourself as bait. You know that. And we’re not on a battlefield where we can work in the open and set our trap wherever it suits us. There’s a lot more here to protect. We have to draw him to us, to a place that will keep all the unsuspecting safe. And there’s no better way to draw the wraith out than with the thing he most desires. You and your sword.”
Jenna sighed. “Yeah, I pretty much suspected that would be the case.”
Titus frowned. “I don’t like you being in harm’s way.”
“I’m in harm’s way now,” she said. “What’s to stop him from materializing right here in the middle of Howler’s?”
Titus looked around like that was a possibility he hadn’t considered. “You think he would?”
Ingvar’s dark brows bent. “A wraith has one singular focus. To regain the life they believe was stolen from them. Nothing else matters. A public place isn’t going to deter him. Neither is killing anyone who gets in his way.” She leaned in. “And as he grows stronger, as he’s already doing, according to Jenna, he will get even harder to stop.”
Titus shook his head. “But he’ll eventually become solid enough to kill, right? So he won’t be impossible to stop then.”
Ingvar lowered her head slightly. “I’ve seen a berserker kill fifteen men with a blade through his shoulder and an eye swollen shut from the blow of a mace. I saw another doused in burning oil, then shrug off his blistering skin and fight on as if nothing had happened. These are not ordinary men. They are supernatural warriors. Imagine a being like that wandering the streets of your town in search of Jenna.”
Titus grimaced, but Jenna spoke before he could respond. “No, we have to find him soon, while I can still subdue him. The time to do this is now. But…”
Ingvar looked at her. “But what?”
Jenna didn’t want to hurt her friend’s feelings, but
this was a conversation that needed to be had. “You came here for rest and relaxation. You told me that much. Now you’re in the middle of this, and I’m asking you to use your skills to help me. How taxing is that going to be for you? Because, to be honest, you look like you could use the rest.”
Ingvar’s smile was gentle. “I could, it’s true. This last year of studies has been exceptionally hard. Far more trying than I would have imagined. But I would rather die than sit idly by while you fight this battle alone.” She reached out and took Jenna’s hand. “We’ve always fought side by side. Why should this time be any different?”
Jenna squeezed her hand. “When this is over, you’re coming to stay with me at my house. For as long as you want.”
Something flickered in Ingvar’s eyes, a brief moment of unreadable emotion. Then she smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
Titus cleared his throat softly. “What do you need us to do?”
Ingvar looked at him. “Nothing. That is, your help is not needed for this, wolf.”
His eyes narrowed. “I want to help. Besides, Jenna and I can’t be more than a hundred feet apart, so if I’m going to be there, you might as well put me to use.”
Jenna smiled. “He’s right. We might as well include him.”
Ingvar seemed unconvinced. “Jenna told me Leif seems afraid of you, that you’ve scared him off twice now while in your animal form. I believe that’s because he was a wolf warrior. It’s very possible he thinks you’ve come to chase him from the mortal realm.”
“A wolf warrior?” Titus asked.
Jenna nodded. “Most berserkers recognize the bear as their sacred animal, but there were others who chose the boar or the wolf. Leif’s alignment as a wolf warrior would absolutely explain why he fears you. To him, you’re the symbol of loyalty, stout-heartedness, devotion to the cause. Everything he should be, but also everything he turned his back on to follow the path of personal glory.”
Titus nodded. “Okay, I understand that. How about if I don’t shift?”
Ingvar sipped her water. “I suppose that would be all right. Also, you’d need to stay as far away as you can. We can’t risk scaring him off. Once he knows what we’re doing, we won’t get a second chance.”
Titus frowned, clearly unhappy with that option. “Fine.”
He didn’t sound fine with it to Jenna, but she let it go. He’d be there, that was going to have to be enough. She smiled at Ingvar, trying to cut through the tension a little. “I can get Tessa to be there too. Can’t hurt to have another valkyrie when we’re dealing with a wraith.”
“No.” Ingvar shook her head, causing her feather earrings to tremble. “Leif wants you and you alone. Even I’m going to stay hidden until things are set in place. I don’t think you understand what a fine line we’re walking here. If we scare him off, he’ll be wise to our plan. He’ll only end up biding his time until he’s strong enough to take your sword without much effort.”
Jenna let out a frustrated sigh. “So it’s just going to be me against him? I don’t like those odds.”
Titus growled softly. “Neither do I.”
Ingvar glared at both of them, anger flashing in her eyes. “You think I do? You have to trust me. Trust the runes I will cast for your protection. I haven’t spent years in study, trading my health for knowledge, to let my friend be hurt.”
This time, Jenna took Ingvar’s hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply I think you aren’t capable or that I don’t trust you. I just know how powerful a wraith can be. Facing one alone is not going to be a picnic.”
Ingvar’s anger turned to sincerity. “But you won’t be alone. I’m going to pour everything I have into the runes I cast for you. This is how we’ve always done it. A valkyrie and a seer.”
Jenna nodded. “I know. But this is the first time a wraith has wanted to kill me.”
Ingvar bent her head slightly. “Odin’s protection will be with you.”
Titus made a little growl. “I’d rather she have my protection.”
Ingvar’s glance held some bitterness. “You may not believe in or understand our ways, wolf, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t powerful.”
He sighed. “I didn’t mean to imply—listen, I’ve lived in this town long enough to know that all kinds of magic can work in all kinds of situations. That’s not what I have a problem with here. It’s leaving Jenna vulnerable when it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Ingvar’s expression softened slightly. “And I’m telling you that for us to have the best chance at taking this wraith down, it does.”
Jenna put her hand on his arm. “You’re only going to be a hundred feet away. Less than that, probably. If I need you, you can be there in seconds.”
“And what if seconds make all the difference? Do you know everything that wraith is capable of?”
She hesitated, because the truth was hard to put into words. “No one does, really. Each wraith is a little different. Stronger in some areas, capable of different things.”
“If you’re trying to make me feel better, it’s not working.” He raked a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to like it.”
“Understood.” She squeezed his arm. “Thank you.”
He nodded. She got the sense that while he understood they were done talking about this in front of Ingvar, the conversation would be continued when they were alone. That was fine with her. He was allowed not to like how this was going, but the wraith came from her world. Getting rid of it would take magic from her world.
Titus would just have to find a way to be all right with that.
He shifted his gaze to Ingvar. “How do you think it is that the wraith came to build and set that magic bomb? Can a wraith work that kind of magic? Do berserkers have that level of skill?”
“No,” Jenna said. She should have told him that.
Ingvar frowned. “Not even remotely. He must have found someone in the dark realm to help him. A witch who took pity on him. Or more likely, one he promised great riches to once he was made mortal again. Who knows? Maybe he even promised her power. Or something else she wanted.”
“Great,” Titus said. “Someone else to worry about.”
“No,” Ingvar said. “I don’t think so. That deal would be between Leif and whoever he got to help him. It’s not something we have to be concerned about.”
“Good,” Jenna said. She smiled broadly, eager to move things forward, and picked up a menu. “Should we order while we keep talking? It is dinnertime, and they have great food here.”
Ingvar shook her head. “I should go. I have a lot of preparation ahead of me.”
Jenna put the menu down. “But we haven’t discussed what’s going to happen. Or where. Or when.”
Ingvar took a breath. She looked very tired. Jenna’s heart went out to her. Was she really capable of helping them with this? “As for how, we’ll do it the same way we always did when we were in service. As for where… Where did you see the wraith last?”
“In the attic of the house that’s for sale,” Titus answered. “Same place the bomb went off.”
Ingvar pondered that. “Where else?”
“In the forest,” Jenna offered. “Behind where Titus lives.”
Ingvar nodded. “That’s better. Open space, without the remnants of human energy. I can work there. Harvest the forces of nature to do my work. Tomorrow evening. I can be ready by then. Text me the address, and I will come to you. Now, I must rest for the work ahead.”
Jenna didn’t like the sound of that. “You could take some food with you. A veggie burger or a salad—”
Ingvar smiled. “I’ll eat later. I need to rest first. I’ll talk to you soon.” She glanced at Titus, giving him a nod. “Until tomorrow.”
He nodded back. “Tomorrow.”
She left, and Jenna sighed as she walked away. “I know you don’t like this.”
“No, I don’t. But then, with the wa
y I feel about you, did you expect me to?”
She gave him a weak but understanding smile. “Hopefully by tomorrow night, you won’t feel that way anymore.”
He looked so conflicted. “You really think Ingvar can do what Alice can’t?”
“I think Alice could absolutely do it, if she had more time. But Ingvar’s been training in the ways of the seer for years now. And while dealing with the wraith isn’t going to be easy, she’s done it before. We’ve done it together. There aren’t two people more suited to do this.”
He nodded. “I suppose that’s true. Do you think we should get Alice involved? Maybe to back you guys up?”
Jenna tipped her head and did her best to keep her tone light and amused. “Did you hear any of the conversation that just took place? What part of adding another person seems like a good idea to you?”
He sighed. “It was just a thought.” He sighed. “You really trust Ingvar?”
“With my life.” She smiled at him. “It’s going to be okay. Ingvar is really good at what she does. As seers go, she’s Alice-level good. I promise. I’m not exactly a slouch either.”
He looked at her, deep into her eyes. Slowly, as she stared back, his took on the wolfy gleam she’d come to recognize as an increase in his emotions.
He leaned in and kissed her. Just a brush of his lips against hers. “Okay.”
She was shocked by what had just happened. “You, uh, just kissed me. In public. In Howler’s. There’s no way your sister didn’t see that.”
His eyes rounded slightly, then he shrugged. “So what? Alice told us to stop fighting the spell.”
“Yeah, but when the spell is gone, we’re going to be left with a whole lot of friends and family who think we’re a thing.”
“Is that so bad?”
“Them thinking we’re together?”
“No, I meant us being a thing.” He was smiling now, looking very pleased with himself.
“But we aren’t going to be a thing.”
“We could be.”
Did he really mean that? Of course he didn’t. It was just the spell talking. Once that was gone, he’d be back to the Titus she’d always known. The one who wanted nothing to do with her or any other woman. The one who thought she was totally annoying. “Titus, I don’t think we should make plans for a future we can’t see clearly.”
The Werewolf Dates The Deputy (Nocturne Falls Book 12) Page 15