by S. T. Bende
We all sobered at Johann’s reminder. Tore called for the Bifrost, and without another word, we stepped into the rainbow. Vidar’s warriors wouldn’t be able to help us for another few hours, which meant we needed to have an airtight plan in place by the time they arrived. Who knew what Nott could do to Bodie in that time? And who knew what kind of army she was amassing on her end? Not that any of that mattered. We were going to bring our friend home.
No matter what it cost us.
CHAPTER SEVEN
BACK IN CANADA, WE wasted no time getting to work on an extraction plan. Operation Breakout Bodie would require total focus, which meant recovering Gud Morder’s missing pieces had to wait. We hunkered down in the living room to map out our strategy. Johann threw some logs in the fireplace, and Killer made himself at home in front of the flames. The big, black dog chewed contentedly on a corner of the area rug, and it was a testament to Mack’s love for Tore that he spoke nothing of the travesty. But I did notice an unprecedented twitch in the light elf’s jaw. And he disappeared for a solid minute, returning in a hurry to deposit an enormous tree branch in front of the canine. Killer shifted his oral focus to the branch, eliciting a relieved sigh from my tidy protector. Once Killer’s teeth were redirected, Mack stood at attention beside the window, arms folded behind his back and eyes staring at the rug-chewer. I had no doubt that he intended to steam clean the carpet the second he got the chance.
Johann and I took seats on the floor beside Killer. I buried my fingertips in the dog’s fur, taking comfort in the happy grunts coming from our oversized pet, while Tore paced angrily around the couch.
“Listen up,” Tore barked. His heels hit the hardwood floor with more force than I was accustomed to. “Vidar’s team won’t report in for three and a half hours, and I have no intention of sitting on my butt until then. Mack, do a quick inquiry into the conditions in Vanaheim.”
“Vanaheim?” Johann looked up.
“Ja. I thought we could pay your dads a visit. Hjalmar was stationed in Muspelheim on his last tour, right?” Tore didn’t stop pacing.
“He was,” Johann confirmed. “You think he can give us information Vidar can’t?”
“I think your father can give us perspective that Vidar won’t,” Tore corrected. “I don’t trust Revenge to look after anything beyond his own agenda. For all I know, he’ll feed his intel team information that pushes Asgard straight into war with the fire giants. I want to extract Bodie safely, but I want to make sure we cause as little damage as possible doing it.”
“Fair enough.” Johann pushed himself up. “Do you want me to call my dads and let them know we’re coming?”
“Yes,” Tore confirmed. Johann nodded as he walked into the hall. His boots pounded on the stairs as he jogged up to his room and, I guessed, his phone. A while back, I’d asked Mack how the guys made off-realm calls. Apparently, they’d incorporated a chip developed by some Asgardian super-brain into standard issue smartphones, extending the device range to include the whole entire cosmos. Guess there really was an app for everything.
“Good.” Tore nodded. “Johann will contact his fathers. Hjalmar should be able to give us good intel.”
My fingers dug deeper into Killer’s fur. Today was a big day for meeting my protectors’ parents. I hoped Tore was going to let me shower before we took off again. Maybe put on blood-free clothes while I was at it. We’d had so much going on, I hadn’t had time to process the fact that Bodie was gone, I had a new piece of Gud Morder, and now I was responsible for keeping a dragon’s soul from dying. Yeesh.
“Mack.” Tore kept pacing. “As part of your inquiry, confirm there are no active hostilities in Vanaheim. Then prepare our travel weapons.” Tore ripped his beanie off his head and shoved it into his back pocket.
“On it.” Mack gave Killer one more wary look, before stalking into the hallway and heading for his room.
“What do I do?” I asked quietly.
Tore ran his hands over the snarled mess of his hair. “You just try to keep me sane, Allie.”
My heart melted. Oh, Tore. Without a word, I tucked my feet beneath me and stood before crossing the living room to wrap my arms around my boyfriend. Tore’s torso tensed before he relaxed into my embrace. With a heavy exhale, he pulled me tight against his chest and rested his chin on the top of my head.
“This is my fault,” he rumbled. His chin moved against my scalp as he spoke.
“No, it’s my fault,” I corrected. “Bodie was trying to save me.”
“Ja, but I’m the one who left him up there to protect you. That was my job—not his. I should have sent him down after Mack and Johann.” Tore’s chest shuddered. His wave of remorse was so fierce, it washed over me, too.
“You’re all my protectors. You took an oath to the Alfödr, remember? Bodie knew what he was signing on for.” My thumbs made circles at the small of Tore’s back. “But we’ll get him back. I promise, we will. His energy’s too powerful to be overtaken by anyone—even Nott.”
“Gods, I hope you’re right.” Tore’s lips brushed against my hair.
“I’m glad I got to meet your dad today,” I offered.
“I’m not,” Tore growled. “My dad’s a monster. I wouldn’t have gone to him if I’d had any other option. But I knew he’d help us. He’s wanted to take down Nott for a long time.”
“Why? What did Nott do to him? Try to kill his mistress or something?” The thought of the big-boobed, raven-haired chick set my teeth on edge. She’d treated Tore like his mere existence was a mighty burden on her otherwise perfect life.
“Yes,” Tore replied.
Oh.
He didn’t say any more. Since I knew he was still teetering on the edge of losing it, I changed the subject. “And now we have a dog. Big day for pets, around here.”
From his place beside the fire, Killer let out a contented chuff.
“Right, the dog.” Tore pulled away from me to study Killer. “I’d better call someone to watch him while we’re gone. He’ll break right out of the training complex, and Mack would probably kill me if I left him in the house, huh?”
“I think you’re pushing Mack’s inner clean-freak pretty far today. Can you imagine what will happen when we find a way to bring home the dragon? Poor guy might actually have a heart attack.”
“We’re going to need a bigger safe house.” One corner of Tore’s mouth tugged up in a smile, and I gave myself an internal high five. Mission accomplished.
“Who are you going to get to babysit Killer, anyway?” I asked. “I’m pretty sure we can’t bring him to a kennel. He’d scare the other dogs.” Or maybe just eat them.
Tore kissed me lightly, then walked toward the stairs. “I’m going to ask Greta to come watch him for a few hours. She needs to know what’s happened to Bodie anyway, and I’d rather she heard it directly from me.”
Oh, God. “You want me to be with you while you tell her?”
“No.” Tore’s long hair brushed against his shoulders as he shook his head. “Bodie’s under my command; it’s my job to make these calls.”
“Just because it’s our job doesn’t mean you have to do it alone,” I said gently.
“I know that.” Tore looked back over his shoulder. “I’d have turned back into the head case Revenge wants me to be if you hadn’t been there to ground me today. You make me a better man, Allie Rydell.”
My insides promptly melted into a warm, gooey mush. Could he be any sweeter?
Without another word, Tore turned back around and resumed climbing the stairs, leaving me to stare at his absolutely spectacular butt as his words spun around inside my head. Who’d have ever guessed the jerk I pepper sprayed on campus would win my heart?
“Wait,” I called feebly after him. “What do you need me to do?”
He tilted his head to wink over his shoulder. “Go take a shower. I know you want to wash all that blood out of your hair. And knowing you’re naked and wet somewhere in this house will make getting through my next few minutes a hel
l of a lot more bearable.”
All of the blood that didn’t immediately rush to my cheeks headed straight south, creating a slow burn that made me very glad Tore had turned back around. Holy hell. Did he really just say that? By the time Tore made it to the top of the stairs and rounded the corner, I needed that shower for reasons that exceeded dragon blood removal.
I retreated to my room and got to work removing the physical evidence of my day. When my skin and hair were scrubbed free of blood and my heartbeat had returned to a somewhat normal rate, I put on a clean tank top and a fresh pair of pants, tied my hair into a tight braid, and brushed on some light makeup. As I opened the door that led from my bathroom to my bedroom, the massive blond figure holding court on the edge of my bed made me jump. Tore kept himself perfectly still with his head tilted down to study the piece of paper he clutched in his hands. My heart skyrocketed at the sight of his wet hair, low-slung cargos, and tight t-shirt. He’d cleaned up, too. And he looked really good.
“Hey.” I breathed, trying not to die at the knowledge that Tore Vidarsson was sitting on my bed. Ninety more degrees and he’d be lying down. And then I could—no, Allie. Not the time. Focus.
Tore looked at me with a sexy lopsided grin. “You know it took every ounce of control I possess to not pick that lock and join you in the shower.”
Screw focus. Jump him now. Right now.
I wiped my suddenly sweaty palms on my jeans and took slow steps across the room. “The door wasn’t locked.”
Tore’s Adam’s apple rose and fell. His eyes deepened a shade as he raked his bottom lip between his teeth. He set the paper on the bed and shifted his body to face me. Seriously? Now? His timing couldn’t have been worse. Our friend desperately needed our help, and our rainbow-ride was due to drop in at any minute. But good God, Tore was a beautiful distraction—one my overworked brain and gutted heart desperately needed to focus on to keep from going insane. I stepped determinedly forward, completely intending to distract myself to the full extent our time constraints would allow. But as I reached the edge of the bed, my eyes fell to the piece of paper. It wasn’t a paper at all; it was a photograph. My jump-Tore plan came to a screeching halt as I took in the familiar-looking blonde woman on the page.
“Tore?” I asked, all dirty thoughts wiped totally clean. “Is that . . .”
He followed my sight line to the picture. When he spoke, his voice shook a little. “It’s my mom.”
Oh. My. God.
I plopped onto the edge of the bed next to him, partly because my knees were weak and partly because I had no idea what to say. Holy hell. He’s going to talk about his mom? Gratitude and anxiety wrestled for control over my heart. I didn’t want to screw this up.
“I figured after meeting my epic jerk of a dad and his play thing, I needed to tell you about the amazing woman who raised me and put up with Vidar’s crap.”
My heart hammered so hard, dizziness threatened to overcome me. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, the moment where Tore finally trusted me enough to open up to me. With one finger, I carefully touched the edge of the photo. The similarities between Tore and the woman standing near a waterfall were striking. He had his mother’s blonde hair and radiant smile. And the dimple in his left cheek was a slightly less pronounced version of the one on his mother’s right one. I glanced up, and my fourth center warmed at the loving way Tore stared at the photo. It was clear his mother had once been his world—and I was beyond honored that he was showing her to me now.
I stayed quiet, not wanting to spook Tore. Sharing this part of his life with me was a huge step, and I wasn’t sure how he wanted to proceed. When Tore continued to stare silently at the picture, I threw out a lifeline.
Dear Universe, Please make Tore say something. I really don’t want to guess wrong here. Xoxo, Allie.
After a full minute of silence, the universe answered my plea in the most unexpected way. Tore shifted so he looked me square in the eye. Then he took a deep breath and dropped his energy shield.
Holy mother. Tore. Vidarsson. Dropped. His. Energy. Shield.
I tried not to make a big deal out of it, but I couldn’t stop my gasp; Tore had caught me by surprise. And now that he was away from his father, his underlying energy was breathtaking. It was a deep magenta with wide streaks of radiant Liv-blue. The resonance of his centers revealed his bravery and his deep capacity for unconditional love. But near his heart, there were hooks of black and brown, emotional injuries that he hadn’t yet allowed himself to heal.
I reached out and took one of his hands in both of mine. He met my gaze with one of intense anger. Whoa.
“I was an unplanned pregnancy.” He spat out the words. “My father met my mother, and after a few weeks of dating they, you know. Then he bailed on her for the next thing.”
I could see now why he looked so upset.
“Demigods aren’t easy to create,” he continued. “A titled god and an untitled god are rarely able to produce offspring. But when they do, the baby is treasured by the realm. My father had always wanted an heir, and when my mom found out she was pregnant, she tracked my dad down and shared the big news. He was surprised, but also happy. His ego wanted a demigod of revenge. My mom was fully prepared to raise me herself, but my father said he wanted to marry her and raise their child together. I imagine he was genuinely trying to do the right thing. My mom, of course, was thrilled—she’d been in love with my father since their first date.”
I stroked Tore’s hand, unable to take my eyes off the dark brown energy hooks in his heart. The more he talked, the bigger they grew.
“So, they were married. And I was born. And instead of doing the right thing and being a decent husband,” Tore’s nostrils flared, “or at the very least, just bailing on her so she could find someone else, he screwed around on her. He cheated, verbally and emotionally abused her, and made her life a living Hel. She took it because she loved me, and she wanted me to have a father that was around.”
“I’m so sorry.” I told him, unable to stop the tears that had formed in my eyes.
He shrugged. “One night in high school, when I was away on a camping trip . . .” His voice trembled, and he paused to take a breath. “My dad had a lot of enemies; he knew that. Instead of staying at home to protect my mother while I was gone, he was off with one of his side whores. My mother was burned alive in our family home by some dark realm thugs who had beef with Revenge.”
I gasped. “No.”
Tore clutched the picture so hard that his knuckles turned white. “He let me stay on my trip for the rest of the week, didn’t come to tell me. What kind of prick does that? I came back to a new house; no mother, no funeral, nothing.”
Tears streamed freely down my face. I mopped them away with one hand. “I can’t imagine.”
“I ran away after that, stayed with Bodie for a bit, spent some time with Johann and his dads. Mack’s parents even took me in for a while—the Alfödr partnered Mack and me up when we enlisted, probably thought Mack could meditate me out of my issues.” Tore sighed. “I haven’t been home since then. Well, until today.”
I leaned forward to press my forehead against Tore’s. “I wish I could have met your mom.”
He smiled. “She would have loved you. That’s part of why I pushed you away for so long. I never wanted to care about someone, then fail them, again.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I knew Revenge had enemies, and I knew my mom could be their target. But I went on that camping trip because I stupidly believed my father was god enough to protect his family. He wasn’t. I should have known that. And that puts her death on my shoulders. I should have protected my mother, Allie. But I will protect you. Still, fear haunts me. What if I’m not around and something happens to you? Gods, I would die if—”
I shut him up with a kiss, pressing my lips hard against his. He responded immediately, setting the photo down and framing my waist with his hands. Shifting positions, he lifted me b
ackward onto the bed, then swung one leg over mine to straddle me. “Allie,” he murmured, before sliding his hands up the back of my shirt and crushing his mouth against mine again. I sighed as the weight of his torso shifted against me, pushing me down onto the mattress. When my back was nestled deep in the plushy comforter, Tore lowered himself on top of me. The full length of his body pressed against mine, from the rock-hard muscles of his pecs to the thick trunks of his thighs.
Oh. My. God. Please. Yes.
I reached up to snake my hands inside Tore’s shirt, feeling the corded muscles of his back while I pulled him closer to me. He moved his tongue against mine before he shifted again, sending a tremor rocking all the way through my body. Holy hell, if this was what kissing Tore fully-clothed was like, I couldn’t wait to get him naked. Naked . . . the thought sent another tremor through me, and if we hadn’t been minutes away from catching a Bifrost out of Vancouver, I’d have ripped his shirt off right then. Instead, I exercised tremendous restraint and moved my hands up to cup his cheeks. I withdrew my tongue and planted a chaste kiss on his bottom lip. He raised his head and looked down at me through hooded eyes.
“Too fast?” he panted.
“Not fast enough,” I countered. “But I’m going to need a lot more time than we’ve got right now. And besides, I have a question.”
Tore groaned and rolled onto his back beside me. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Shoot.”
“Well.” I rolled onto my stomach and rested my forearms on his chest. “You said fear was part of why you pushed me away. What’s the other part?”
Tore reached up to tuck an errant strand behind my ear. “Really? I have to remind you of the assault you committed at our first meeting?”
Embarrassment coursed through my energy centers, but I shirked it off with a playful eye roll. “Meeting? I would hardly call stalking me in the park a meeting. Let it go.”
One corner of his mouth pulled up in a lazy smirk. “Kiss me like that again, and I’ll let it go.”
“Mmm. Maybe I will,” I teased.