The Fire Within The Night (Night Aberrations - Book Two)

by JD Nelson

  The man offered me his arm as we began to walk toward 85th Street. I didn’t take it, just kept walking. I wasn’t born yesterday.

  His lips quirked at my reaction. “My apologies. How easily I forget the distrustful natures of the females of Midgard. Although, I do not know how I could have. Emelie’s personality is very similar to your own.”

  “Is Emelie your wife? I didn’t see a wedding ring.” I clasped a hand over my mouth, horrified at what had just come out of it. Did I just say that? I gave myself a mental slap in the face. I’d been hovering between the fear of him assaulting me and wanting to take his clothes off with my teeth since we’d met. I needed to pull myself together—quick. “Sorry, I don’t know when to keep quiet.”

  “That statement is truer than you know,” he said, with a cryptic smile. “To answer your question, no, Emelie is not my mate. My true-mate is yet to be revealed to me. But even if I were mated, male elves do not wear wedding rings.”

  There was something clandestine about the bemused smile his face held after his answer, as if he knew something I didn’t. Huh? I didn’t understand all the mate and true-mate stuff he was going on about, but I heard the concept of him being single loud and clear.

  His rich laughter rang out into the night, confusing me. “What are you laughing about?”

  “It is your thoughts. They are at war with one another. Everything moves so fast, it is hard to keep up.”

  How long did it take me to go from zero to panic? Oh, about point zero-three seconds. “Wait. Let’s back up. Did you just say that you could hear my thoughts?”

  “Yes, quite clearly,” he said, amused by my response to this news. “But you need not be embarrassed. I am complemented by your … admiration.”

  There was a fleeting moment in which I wondered if anyone had ever died from embarrassment. Why couldn’t he have mentioned that he was a telepath before I made a total ass of myself?

  He stopped walking. “I promise you. That was not my intention.”

  I nodded without looking at him, trying hard not to lose my count of the sidewalk cracks. It was either that or obsess over every impure thought I’d had for the last few minutes. The way I’d been drooling over him, he probably thought I was some sort of a nymphomaniac.

  “What is your name?” he asked, ignoring that last thought. “I am Jakob Väsen of Svartálfaheim,”

  That made me glance up. “Jakob? Elves have regular names?”

  Grinning (which on him was a mind-numbingly sexy sight), he added, “And regular lives, just with magic included.”

  “Where is Svartálfaheim? Is that another planet?”

  “What is Svartálfaheim is the question you want answered. It is a world of the Norse-lands—just as Midgard is, but it is unlike the planets you know in your solar system. It is another dimension.”

  I was starting to understand what the term ‘mind blown’ meant. I was stunned. “What?”

  “Midgard, or Earth, is one of the nine worlds that make up the Norse-lands. The others exist on a different plane.”

  Of course, he was from another plane of existence. I could have never found this perfect embodiment of my dream man on Earth. I almost wanted to check behind us to see if he had a line of women following him down the street. Surely, he would attract attention. “So, does that mean elves are aliens?”

  He chuckled at the comparison and shook his head. “Not exactly. You have yet to answer my question. It is your turn.”

  Question? What question? Oh yeah, what’s my name. “I’m Erin Doherty.”

  “Was your mother Irish, lass,” he asked in a thick brogue, trying to lighten the mood.

  I laughed and shrugged. “Doherty is the name the state of New York gave me. I’ve never met my biological parents.”

  He sighed. “I wish I could say that this is an uncommon occurrence with the children of Odin, however, it is far from it. The majority of them will never have the opportunity to meet their father, and there are a lot of his children who do not know either of their parents. I am interested to know who your mother might be. She cannot be a human. He has not ventured out of Ásgard in centuries.”

  “Ásgard? Is that another plane? Can you take me to meet Odin? Wait. Is it even a good idea for me to meet him? What do you think I should do?”

  “Slow down, Erin. Let us take this one step at a time.”

  I nodded my compliance. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bombard you. You just have no idea how big this is for me. I have a parent. You’re positive that it’s Odin, right?”

  Pursing his lips, he cast his troubled eyes in my direction. “Of that, there is no doubt.”

  I wasn’t convinced. “But how could you know that already? We met tonight.”

  He reached a hand out, as if to touch my face. “May I?”

  “Yes.” My reply was breathless with the anticipation of his touch. What happened to that tough New Yorker with the fight or flight response from a few minutes ago?

  Smiling at my reaction, he cupped my chin with his warm hand and tipped it up to peer into my eyes. “I did have my doubts when I saw you come out of your shop. Your eyes are not the color of Odin and his descendants; they are similar to my own. The giveaway is your signature. It is almost identical to your brother’s. Soren is mate to the female, Emelie, I mentioned before.”

  I furrowed my brow in confusion and embarrassingly disappointment when he took his hand away. “Signature?”

  It didn’t go unnoticed. Barely keeping the smirk from his face, he explained, “Every creature of the Norse-lands has a signature—a sort of essence, if you will, that distinguishes them from each other. You have your father’s classic signature.”

  I guess that couldn’t be any stranger than any of the rest of what he was telling me. It was more than ludicrous. I couldn’t be a demi-god. I didn’t dare hope that his words were true.

  “You can trust me, Erin. It is the truth. Odin is your father, and you have a village of siblings. You couldn’t possibly remember them all. My friend Soren is the oldest of them, and there is a great chance that you are the youngest. How fitting it will be for him to show you to your new world,” he mused, a slight curl at the corners of his mouth.

  I tensed. My new world? What did he mean? He wasn’t going to try and take me somewhere was he?

  “I do not mean to keep frightening you. It is unintentional. I thought that you might want to leave Midgard—I mean, Earth, to live on another world of the Norse-lands, perhaps Ásgard. It is closer to those in your family. Forgive me for the mistaken assumption.”

  I was starting to feel bad about him always having to apologize for being himself. He wasn’t from here. I’m sure he was just as bewildered with my conduct as I was of his. Taking a bold step, I slid my hand into his much larger one and was shocked at the tingling sensation that shot up my arm. “There’s nothing to forgive, Jakob. You never know, I might move there one day.”

  In other words, if he lived on Ásgard, there was a strong possibility that I would go there. I couldn’t deny that I was attracted to him. Hell, that smile was reason alone to up and move to another dimension.

  He brought my hand to his full lips, never taking his eyes away from mine. “I like the way you say my name, Erin. Your voice is a perfect accompaniment to your extraordinary beauty.”

  Rendered speechless by the deep, sexy delivery of his compliment, I was unable to articulate even the simplest of words. How I wished I could hide my impure thoughts, so that I wouldn’t ruin this moment. He would know how much I wanted to feel those lips against my own … and elsewhere.

  He covered a look of surprise with a grim expression. “Let us go, Erin, before Soren murders me.”

  I was confused by his statement, but more than thankful that we were walking again. One more second at a standstill and I was sure that I would have tried to kiss him.

  At that thought, Jakob turned his smile my way and gave my hand an almost imperceptible squeeze. I thought I might hyperventilate. Did th
at mean that he liked me, too? Taking a deep breath, I held it. He was right, I needed to slow down and take one thing at a time—my brain was overheating. Or was it just warmer? In the time it had taken us to walk to within a couple blocks of the cafe, the air outside had turned unseasonably warm. I took off my scarf and stuffed it into my coat pocket with my free hand, not wanting to let go of him quite yet.

  “I should have warned you that I was going to warm the air. Your hands were cold. I could not stand for you to be in discomfort.”

  “Can all elves do that?”

  “No. Light elves can command nature based magic, such as the ability to manipulate plants and animals, whereas dark elves excel at mastering the elements.”

  “That makes you a dark elf then, correct?” I had no doubt that he was an elf now. No human could perform that kind of magic. The telepathy, maybe, but warming the air? That was just…unreal.

  “Yes. I am a dark elf.” He glanced up ahead and returned the wave of a striking couple standing outside the door of the cafe. “Erin, do not be alarmed.”

  My voice trembled with fear. “Who are they?”

  He patted the hand that was strangling his own, reassuring me. “I alerted Soren to the discovery of his sister as we walked. He insisted on coming to meet you in person. The female is his mate, Emelie.”

  Soren walked the half block to meet us and bowed a complicated bow that I was sure I could never duplicate. “I am Soren Vidar of Ásgard.”

  I took the opportunity to study his appearance as he spoke. He might have the same accent that Jakob did, but the similarities ended there. How unusual he was with his pale fair skin, white hair trailing down his back, and intense red eyes. There was no hope of him passing as a human.

  Sheepish, I introduced myself to the intimidating man. “Hi, I’m Erin…um, Doherty.”

  His calculating face broke into a startling grin that almost seemed foreign against his harsh features. “Allow me to introduce you to my mate, Emelie. She has been looking forward to this moment for some time.”

  “Hi, Emelie,” I offered, smiling at my new sister-in-law. I wondered if Soren meant that she could see the future. If looks were anything to go by, she might. Emelie didn’t appear to be elven, like Jakob, or a human. In all honesty, it was pretty hard to believe that she had ever lived here at all, looking the way she did. She was petite with blonde, flyaway hair and a kind smile that lit up her unheard of metallic silver eyes. In a word, she was stunning. How odd they were compared to Jakob and me. I was sure their arrival in the cafe would cause a spectacle.

  “I can assure you, it will,” Jakob said.

  “Gosh, I am so sorry if you heard that! I don’t mean anything by it. I just…” I broke off, horrified at my insensitivity. What kind of idiot forgets that her thoughts can be overheard?

  Soren laughed. “It has been too long since we have been bombarded with stray thoughts, has it not, Jakob?”

  Jakob chuckled. “It has. Two years too long, I would say.”

  In a blur, Emelie launched herself from Soren’s side to engulf me in a massive hug. She swayed as she spoke. “This. Is. So. Awesome!”

  Three seconds into the attack, I found myself struggling to stay upright when a tingle started running up the length of my body, feet first. When Emelie let go, I stumbled and thought I would pitch forward, but Jakob’s lightning fast hands reached out to steady me. To my surprise, he made no mention of it, and I found myself appreciative for the first time, in a while, that a man…err…male was willing to help me for nothing in return.

  Jakob put his arm around my shoulders, pulling me tight into his side. I couldn’t resist resting my swimming head on the soft black cotton that stretched across his muscular chest. Who could have? “Uh, maybe I should go home. I’m feeling a little woozy.”

  “Erin, allow me to see you back to Álfheim with me. I believe Emelie has given you an inadvertent boost of magic. You need to lie down.”

  Soren seemed irritated by Jakob’s idea. “I can read her just as well as you can. There is no need for you to trouble yourself with her comfort or living arrangements. As her brother, I will be more than happy to do this myself.”

  “Be sensible, Soren. Long-term company so soon in your mating? That is not an ideal situation for a couple as … close as you are, and Emelie’s old room is available for her.”

  I blushed at what Jakob eluded to and had an urge to cover my ears, so that I didn’t have to hear about my brother’s sex life.

  Soren caught his meaning and nodded his immediate acquiescence after seeing my expression, although he did it without any of the embarrassments I expected. “Fine, Jakob. Take Erin with you, but if you lay one hand on my sister—”

  Emelie placed a finger over her mate’s lips. “Soren, you know Jakob can control himself. It’s Nils you have to worry about.”

  “You’re right, little one.” Changing tactics, he continued, “Jakob, I am making you responsible for her. Fenrir is not to come within five meters. Her beauty is sure to make her a target for his advances upon first sight.”

  “Nothing will happen. Besides, your sister can take care of herself.” He smiled down to me. “She almost pepper sprayed me tonight.”

  “You did?” Soren asked me, laughing.

  I answered from the safe cocoon of Jakob’s arms, still feeling fuzzy from Emelie’s magic. “I thought he might be a rapist.”

  Emelie burst into helpless giggles, and Soren arched an eyebrow. “I see your opinion of him has changed.”

  Had it ever! I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be. “Yes. I have no problem staying at Jakob’s. So, I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

  “Tomorrow night,” he corrected. “I want to take a look at that book of yours in the morning.”

  “Okay,” I loosened my grip on Jakob (with reluctance) and dug the book out of my bag. “See you tomorrow.”

  Emelie grabbed Jakob and me in a hug, singing out, “Group hug! See you guys tomorrow! I can’t wait! Oh, call Chase and ask her to take over the shop for a couple days, before you forget.”

  I could still hear her tinkling laughter on the wind even after they’d disappeared. Whoa. That was unexpected. I looked up to Jakob, feeling safer than I’d ever felt in my entire life. “Why would I forget?”

  Grinning down at me, he spoke. “It is sometimes better not to question Emelie. If she tells you to do something, you can rest assured that there is a reason for it.”

  “Can she see the future?”

  “She is a Norn. She makes the future.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yes, it is a responsibility that no one would cherish, yet she does. Do not let her carefree personality fool you. She is dedicated to giving creatures who’s fates she aligns the best possible future.”

  “I see, and Soren? Why is he so … scary?”

  “Soren’s long existence has been rife with strife. Your father’s misdeeds and ill treatment of his ‘subjects’ makes him hated among the Norse-lands. I am sure that has had some bearing on his character. I promise you have nothing to fear with him, or with myself.” He reached into his pocket and produced a pale blue stone. Seeing my confused face, he explained, “I cannot travel using my own magic as Emelie and Soren do. It is not an ability gifted to the elves. I must rely on a shifting stone. You, however, will be able to travel without one—once you learn to control your magic.”

  I eyed the stone. “What should I expect?”

  “You will see a blinding white light and then my chamber.”

  Closing my eyes, I gripped him tighter. “Okay, let’s go to…uh, where are we going again?”

  “My home is in Álfheim, the realm of the light elves. Hold on tight.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  My first thought was that Jakob’s bedroom wasn’t much different from my own with its Spartan bed, desk, and dresser. My next thought? Unadulterated, sheer agony. I fell to my knees, my screams reverberating off the walls of the small room in time with the throbbing pa
in.

  Jakob was frantic, wringing his hands, unable to help. “Where is the pain? Erin, please!”

  “My back!” I hiccupped through my sobs, just as the door burst open and two unknown males tumbled in. One was dark, similar to Jakob. The other was how I pictured a Viking warrior, muscled and wild eyed with a fair complexion and unkempt, blondish-brown hair reaching his collar.

  “What the fuck is going on?” The rugged stranger asked as he strode toward us.

  Jakob answered without taking his eyes off my face. “I am not sure. May I examine your back?”

  The other male crouched down to where I was on the carpet. His bright green eyes were sympathetic. “I believe it is the valknut, Jakob. Is the pain in the right shoulder, härlig kvinna?”

  “Hon är en vision av skönhet,” the Viking added.

  I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my coat and took a deep breath. The pain was starting to recede. “Yeah, my right shoulder. What’s a valknut?”

  Jakob bent and helped me to my feet. “It is your father’s mark, Erin. Every creature of the Norse-lands is born with it. Come with me.”

  He gave the other men a significant look, and they made themselves scarce so fast I wasn’t one hundred percent sure if I hadn’t imagined them being here.

  Jakob chuckled. “You did not imagine them. That is my brother, Viggo, and my friend, Fenrir, who goes by Nils. We are house-mates.”

  “What did they say?”

  “They said that you are a vision of beauty,” he said, leading me into the adjoining bathroom and opening the closet to reveal a three-way mirror. He paused to gaze at my reflection for a long moment. “I will leave you to your privacy. You should be able to see the mark on your shoulder with the mirror.”

  He was leaving? I still had no idea what I was looking for. “Wait, Jakob. What am I looking for? Is it some kind of tracking device?”

  A strange expression crossed his features. “One can hope that is not the case.”