“Raine!” I called again.
“My man is kicking ass,” she said. “Let me enjoy this.”
“Look at Niorun and her guards,” Trudy said. “They are fighting with the Grimnirs.”
“And so are the rest of the Druids,” Jess added.
The Dark Elf was armed with two swords, but she used her body, dropping low to sweep her leg under the Elven prince, who danced away, easily evading her. From her expression, she was getting angry.
“Ouch,” Raine said. “Echo just landed on his back. Do you want me to help him?”
Echo’s opponent was trying to hack him into tiny pieces. Come on, Echo. Get up! I cringed when the blade barely missed him and sank into the snow. He twisted his legs, spun on one shoulder, and used the momentum to lift himself to his feet.
“Holy shit,” one of the girls said. Yep, that was impressive.
The giant rushed him, but Echo was ready, attacking left and right, ducking and coming from below. He came from the left and kicked the man on the side of his knee. The giant’s knee buckled, and he went down. Echo unleashed a roundhouse kick and caught him on the side of the head.
The second the man went down, three of his men went after Echo. These were regular size, and they didn’t carry swords. I might love to see my man mow other men down, but I couldn’t let those bastards gang up on him.
“Guys, do something,” I said.
“I got it,” Raine said. One of the men tripped and landed on his back, but another swept the snow and plowed into the crowd.
“Whoa!”
“I didn’t do that.” Raine pointed at Celestia, who was peeking through her fingers.
“I hate fighting,” Celestia mumbled. “It’s stupid.”
“Not when your man is winning,” I said and high-fived Raine, as our men ducked and threw punches, dominating their opponents. More men started from the sideline, but fire shot from above and cut them off, forcing them to step back.
“No ganging up on one person,” Eirik bellowed from above.
I looked up at my brother, refereeing from above. Rhys and Nara joined Echo, and the three fought like parts of a well-oiled machine. I grinned, watching them. For a spiritual people, they sure knew how to fight.
Raine pinched me.
“Ouch. What’s that for?”
“It’s time to stop this. My man is bleeding and so is yours, and the giants keep shifting forms. Tell them to stop. You are the only one right now who can walk down there and make it happen. Instead, you are grinning like you get off watching your man kick ass.”
“I do. He’s kicking ass. I didn’t see the whole picture in my vision. I didn’t see Torin, his Druid brothers, or Niorun.”
“Torin is fighting a giant right now, and that won’t do. Walk down there and do your goddess thing, because if I go down there, roots will shoot through the snow and your mother won’t be happy with the mess I’ll leave behind on her landscape.” Her expression said she would do it.
“Party pooper,” I grumbled.
“Bloodthirsty bitch.”
“Goddess to you,” I corrected her.
“Still a bitch, Goddess.”
“And don’t forget it.” The others laughed. I opened a portal and could see Echo on the other side. There was something about a man in his element that was hot, and I loved a good sport. Despite the blood on his shirt, he didn’t have any cuts or wounds. I wondered what had brought on the fight.
I stepped onto the field and the fight stopped as though someone had thrown a switch. I got bows, some stiffer than others.
“Thank you for the entertainment, but it’s time this stopped.” I looked up at Eirik and waved him over. “Celestia needs you.”
Eirik whooshed down and landed, snow flying everywhere. The bands on his legs and neck shifted and became a suit, covering him from neck to toe—the same outfit I’d thought looked like a scuba diving suit. He ran to a doorway and disappeared into the glass hallway. Torin followed him.
The rest of the guests drifted away, leaving behind the Druids, including Dev. They were smirking and backslapping each other. I turned my focus on Echo.
“Had fun?”
“Oh, yes. They’ll never forget who I am. Can I have a hero’s kiss and a hug?”
“I don’t think so. You are bloody, and I’m wearing a one-of-a-kind gown.” He started to close the gap between us. “Echo, don’t you dare.”
He laughed. “Sweetheart, never dare a man on an adrenaline rush, especially when it’s about what he needs.” He reached me and gripped the back of my head. “And right now, I need to kiss you, Cora-mia.”
I forgot about his bloody clothes when our lips touched. His kiss was addictive. When he lifted his head, I was clinging to him.
“Want to see my quarters?”
I nodded. We were the last to leave the field using the same door Eirik had used. “Why don’t you just create a portal from out there?”
“Because of the magic in this realm, a portal outside the halls can shift to any place. That’s why we use the caves. Don’t ever create a portal to leave the hall or enter it.”
I kept the information for later. He created a portal to his quarters. His place was smaller than Eirik’s and consisted of a bedroom and living room. On the walls were murals of stone henges and another of an old man in a white robe and a flowing dress cinched around the waist with a sash. He held a staff in his hand. I didn’t need to be a genius to know he was a Druid. On the table and in display cases were more Druidic collectables. The bedroom had a giant bed and an enlarged photograph of me on his wall.
“Where did you get that?” I asked.
“I took it when you first bought me my cell phone, and I had it enlarged.” He pulled off his shirt and glanced at me. “I’ll be out as soon as I can. Unless you want to join me.”
“Really?”
He laughed. “Just kidding. Your parents know you are here.”
“No, they don’t.”
“Oh, yes, they do.”
He disappeared into the bathroom. While he showered, I studied his Druidic knick-knacks. When he returned to the living room, he had pulled on pants and a T-shirt. He wrapped his arms around my waist and nuzzled my neck. I leaned against him and sighed.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
I turned to face him. “Then do something about it.”
He shuddered. “I would, but your father scares the crap out of me. Come on. I’ll walk you back to your quarters.” He linked our hands, and we left his place. Instead of using a portal, we walked.
Each door had a runic symbol instead of names. We passed Grimnirs heading to their quarters. Some stopped walking and bowed. I told them not to, but after the first hallway, I gave up and just smiled.
When we reached the rotunda, Echo stopped, completely ignored the guards, and cupped my face. The kiss he gave me was both sweet and hot.
“I’m going to wish you goodnight now, sweetheart. Can you have breakfast with me in the morning?”
“At your place or in the Grimnirs Hall?”
He chuckled. “In the hall. We’ll have all the time in the world to be together. For the next year, I’m courting you and winning your father’s approval.”
“You have Mother’s.”
“I know, but he counts, so I have to win his, too.”
I sighed and laid my head on his chest. “Why were you fighting out there?”
“A few princes said I was hiding behind your skirt, that I wasn’t a man enough to accept their challenges, so I showed them.”
“Mom said no fighting in her hall.”
“We were outside.”
“Semantics. I was very impressed and proud of you tonight. You kicked some serious ass, and you are going to teach me how to pull those moves, too. But now, I gotta go to bed.” I kissed him. “Love you. I’ll see you tomorrow for breakfast.”
He waited in the hallway until I entered the room.
There were no sounds from my parents’ bedroom, yet th
e door opened before I was halfway across the room. I turned and faced my parents.
“How bad was the fighting?” Mother asked. Trudy was right. Nothing happened in her hall without her knowledge.
“Not that bad. They seemed to enjoy it. It wasn’t Echo’s fault,” I added quickly. “They insulted his honor, and he had to defend it.”
“Unfortunately, our people can be unstoppable when they want something. They will continue to challenge him until the two of you are officially married,” Father said.
“He will rise to the challenge, and his brothers have his back.” I grinned, remembering the way the Druids had rallied behind him.
“Don’t forget your brother. He will never let anything happen to him because of you,” Mother added.
I noticed that. Eirik was an amazing brother. “And he has me. I’m going to start training tomorrow.”
Mother grinned with approval, but Father looked worried.
“What about your work with souls and your abilities?” Father asked.
“I’ll train when I’m not on soul duty. Right, Mother?”
“Right, Daughter. She’ll be fine, dýrr mín. I’ll work with her, too, when Echo is busy. Goodnight, Daughter.”
“Night, Mother, Father.”
I couldn’t wait for the next year to pass so Echo could officially be my consort, but I was also looking forward to learning more about my new family, other realms, Mystic Academy, and exploring my abilities in the coming months. My life was as perfect as it could possibly get.
Epilogue:
A Weekend Later
“Where are they?” Mom whispered.
I rubbed her arm reassuringly. She was tense, and Dad was wiping his glasses, a sign that he was nervous. Echo had brought them to the hall from Kayville and left to find my other set of parents.
“They’ll be here, Mom. Dad, your glasses are clean.” He gave me a sheepish grin, put his glasses back on, and studied the ceiling.
“This is fascinating. Just fascinating. Will you show us around?”
“Of course, Dad. We have the whole weekend after the wedding.”
I wasn’t sure what Dad found fascinating, the architecture of the hall or the wedding decorations. Strings of crystal lights formed a canopy along the ceiling, and silk bows decorated every column. Pink-ice protea plants and assorted tropical plants in full bloom lined the walls and continued through the Waiting Hall to the Banquet Hall, where the wedding would take place. Maera told me she’d found the plants in Álfheim. According to her, the realm had lush vegetation and fertile soil.
Mother and Father’s voices reached us from the hallway leading to our private quarters, and I blew out a breath. I was nervous. I wanted my two sets of parents to like each other. Bond. They all shared an equal place in my heart, and I wanted them to get along.
“Here they come,” I said, and Mom gripped my hand. Dad adjusted his glasses.
Father wore his signature gold and white clothes while Mother’s moss-green gown had a dropped waistline and intertwined runes in gold along the hem and sleeves. They didn’t wear cloaks, which would have made them look even more intimidating. Echo walked behind them. Mom released another deep breath beside me, and I glanced at her.
“She is striking, nothing like I’d imagined,” she whispered.
“I know. You’ll like her,” I reassured her.
The last week had passed quickly. Eirik had taken Celestia to visit friends in Jötunheim and Vanaheim while we prepared for their wedding. They were coming back tonight. Raine, Torin, and Dev had left, but were returning for the wedding with the rest of the entire Kayville crew—Svana, Lavania and her husband, Femi, Hawk, Blaine, Ingrid, and Andris. Raine was still looking for Baby Hannah’s family. They’d moved, and someone was stopping her from opening a portal to wherever they were.
Helping with the wedding were Celestia’s aunt Genevieve, Tammy, and Hayden. Celestia’s uncle wasn’t going to make the ceremony, but Zack was already here. Tristan and the Grimnirs had been invited, too. The setting was in the Banquet Hall and, the last time I’d checked, everything had looked perfect. I didn’t think the people from Asgard would show up since this ceremony was really for the benefit of Celestia’s family, but Mother had hinted at a surprise visitor.
“Welcome to Helheim,” Mother said, shaking Mom’s hand and then Dad’s. Father hugged Mom and kissed her on the cheeks, making her blush. He even surprised Dad with a manly hug. His warmth eased the tension. Echo came to stand beside me, and I inched closer.
It was amazing to see both sets of parents smiling and comfortable with each other. For the next hour, Echo and I stayed with them as they toured the hall. They included us in their conversations. I had to stop the dads when they started on Echo.
When we reached the gym and headed upstairs to watch the Grimnirs, the men bonded over sports. They settled on seats to watch a basketball game.
“They’re not going to leave, are they?” I asked, and both my mothers shook their heads, looked at each other, and smiled. I loved seeing them bond over the similarity in their husband’s behavior.
We left the men, including Echo, and went toward the Sorting Hall. The goddess explained to Mom what I’d been doing with souls, and when a soul reached out and touched me, I listened and reassured her.
“Isn’t she something?” I overheard the goddess whisper.
“Yes, she is,” Mom said. “From when she was baby, she was drawn to them. It scared us so much, and that was why we used special warding runes to stop her from seeing them. I’m sorry if that stopped you from feeling her.”
“No, it’s not your fault, and I will not allow you to blame yourself,” the goddess said firmly. “I didn’t know she was alive, so I didn’t look. What did you think about Echo when she brought him home?” she asked, smoothly changing the subject.
And that was my cue to leave. I went in search of the girls and stayed with them until Maera came to announce that dinner was served. Echo and I ate with my parents. The conversation flowed effortlessly. Each hour I spent listening to them get to know each other meant the world to me. My world was perfect.
Eirik and Celestia arrived right after dinner. We’d already told Modgie to warn us when they entered the realm. I got the girls and ran to the front entrance to wait for them. Genevieve, Tammy, and even the parents joined us.
The look on Celestia’s face when she saw the decorated hall was priceless. She teared up and punched Eirik’s chest when she realized he’d known all along. Then she kissed him. We whisked her to the guest room where Maera had been closeted for days. She’d refused everyone entry, including Trudy.
Maera pulled Celestia into the bedroom and told everyone to wait in the living room. It took forever before she opened the door, and Celestia stepped out in an exquisite, white princess gown made with illusion netting and shimmering floral appliqués.
Our jaws dropped, and awe filled the room. Now I knew why Maera had refused to show anyone the gown. It was one of those creations that made you sigh and tear up when you first saw it. Celestia grinned as she watched our reactions.
“What do you think?” she asked, turning.
No one spoke, but we got up to admire her from all angles. The bodice came to just around her belly button, but the naked-illusion pattern extended along the sleeves to her wrists, except the back, which had a single row of pearl buttons. Because it didn’t have the floral appliqués, it looked like she wore pearls along her spine. The full, frothy skirt made with sparkle-flecked tulle flowed down to the floor, making her look taller and ethereal.
Every one started talking at once, but I went to Maera and knelt to look her in the eye.
“Please say you’ll design my wedding dress,” I whispered. “Something like hers. I mean, not exactly alike, but just as unique and gorgeous and amazing.”
Maera laughed and cupped my cheeks. “It will be an honor, young goddess.”
We made Celestia tear up again, but that was nothing compared to the
next day when Mother entered her changing room with Celestia’s grandmother, the surprise guest. According to Hayden, Celestia’s grandmother had raised her and nurtured her gifts, taking the role of mother when hers had disappeared.
The wedding was just like in my vision. Echo, Rhys, and Torin were groomsmen, and Karle was Eirik’s best man. Hayden was the maid of honor, and Jess, Trudy, and I were the bridesmaids.
We stood together, a close-knit family, and listened to Celestia’s vows.
“From the moment we met and I thought I was meant to help you, I knew you would change my life,” she started. “I didn’t realize then that you’d end up helping me. Before you, I’d been blind to my potential and strength. I can now see. Before you, I’d merely existed, but now I can feel. I can hear the right words that encourage, support, and uplift, and not those that hurt and destroy. I can touch love, because you embody that word. You have helped me triumph over challenges and encouraged my personal growth. You’ve chased away my demons and fought dragons for me. You’ve gone without sleep and food for me. You’ve hurt when I’ve hurt, shed tears when I’ve cried, and laughed with me. You’ve shown me what true love really is, and that I’m worthy of it.”
There was not a single dry eye when I glanced at Raine and the others.
“Remember that I love you and value your opinion, even when I don’t take it,” Celestia continued. “Remember that I love you and never keep score, even when I’m winning.” Laughter trickled through the room. “Remember that I love you when I’m angry and throw things at your head or when I complain about your arrogance. Remember that I love you when I cringe as you kick ass, because on the inside, I’m cheering for you. You are my rock. My dragon. My best friend. There’s no place I’m more content than by your side, and I’ll always love you.”
Eirik cleared his voice, and we expected him to be a goofball. He surprised everyone.
“In the presence of our families and friends, I take you, Celestia, to be my mate, my love, my consort, and my wife. Together, we can accomplish more than I could ever do alone. I will never let the pressures of the present and uncertainty of the future stop me from loving you, because you are my partner in mayhem, my enabler in trouble, and my companion in a life full of unexpected, strange adventures. I will encourage you to try new things and revisit the old to refresh your memories. I promise to celebrate our love daily, snuggle with you often, and make you laugh out loud. I vow to lend you my strength only when you need it, and to cheer you on from the sideline and support you when you don’t. I pledge to nurture and be respectful of your talents and quirks even when they involve dead animals.” He glanced at a raven in the back of the room, which I’d assumed was one of Odin’s. “You have a huge, kind, and giving heart, and I’m the lucky man you’ve given it to for safekeeping. I promise to never give you a reason to doubt my love for you, because this is just the beginning of our journey together. We have forever, and I will love you always.”
Goddess: A Runes Book Page 30