I took the joint from her, and they cheered. Marcus grinned wildly, and warmth spread through me as I put it to my lips and inhaled deeply. I began to have a coughing fit, and he patted my back and handed me a beer. I chugged half of it in one gulp.
“I told you a little drink ain’t never hurt nobody.” Marcus grinned and squeezed my shoulder.
The force of the alcohol didn’t hit me as hard as I thought it would. I was a little lightheaded, but I smiled and nodded. He was right; one drink didn’t kill me. I took another hit from the joint and passed it on, but I didn’t cough as much this time. Another round of beers came, and I drank this one much slower.
I lost count of how many drinks I had that night as I stumbled out of the lounge with Marcus at closing. I shook my head; I couldn’t see straight or walk properly.
“I think you’re drunk.” Marcus laughed as he steadied me by holding me around the waist. I placed my arm over his shoulder.
“I told you I don’t drink.” I hiccupped and tried to touch my lips, but they were beyond numb. I couldn’t feel my tongue either.
“You’re also high.” He chuckled. “I’d take you home, but you haven’t been able to give me a straight answer for the last hour, so you can crash with me.”
“Oh yeah?” I wiggled my eyebrows and gripped his shirt. “Let’s have some fun.”
He leaned down to kiss me …
“Hey, boy!” someone behind us yelled. “Get your hands off her!”
We turned around to see a group of white men running toward us, bats and crowbars in their hands. It was night, and the color of my skin was questionable.
“Go away!” I screamed at them, but they thought I was talking to Marcus. I was too drunk and stumbled in my steps. They pounced on him, knocking me down to the ground in their efforts, my head bouncing on the concrete sidewalk. I was dazed as I heard the sound of bones crunching and cries of pain. I shook my head, my chest heaving rapidly at the sight before me. My wings unfurled, and I screamed a war cry as I plucked through them like they were nothing but lint on my shoulder. My wings sliced their skin, and their bodies dropped to the ground like flies. When I finally got to Marcus, he was covered in crimson and barely breathing. I cradled his head as he gasped.
“You’re … an angel,” he breathed.
“No,” I shook my head, “I’m not. But stay with me, Marcus. Stay with me.” I picked him up and took to the skies for the nearest hospital.
17
My body felt like elastic as I stretched beneath the covers, every inch of me satiated. I replayed last night’s events in my mind. We’d started in the living room and fucked in every part of this apartment and no matter how many times we climaxed, it wasn’t enough. Not for Fen. He was always hungry for more. I don’t even remember sleeping. That thought alone brought a small tug to the corners of my lips.
An arm slithered to my hip, over the sheets, and turned me over. Fen was on his side, leaning on his elbow, his head resting on his hand. He began drawing soft circles on my bare stomach with his free hand. “I thought you’d never wake up,” he muttered.
“Did I even sleep?” I raised a brow. A cold breeze entered the room, hardening my nipples.
“I let you sleep for an hour,” he smiled smugly.
“How generous of you,” my eyes narrowed, “but playtime is over.” I looked over at the sun streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the city and could tell it was late in the morning. I peered around the room and noticed we were in his bedroom. Last night was a daze, but at least we landed somewhere comfortable. Stretching and sitting up on his king-size bed, I pushed his hand away from me before standing. Due to the lack of curtains and privacy in the room, I covered myself with the sheet.
“Raven, you wound me. How about one more game.” He ripped the sheets away from me, leaving me exposed.
“Fen!” I shrieked. “Haven’t you heard of curtains? Give me the damn sheets!”
He chuckled. “That’s what you’re worried about? You didn’t care when we were fucking against the window last night.”
Heat creeped up my neck and face. I took deep, calming breaths before I spoke. “Are we going to have a problem?” I asked, standing naked before him. I noticed his bits were conveniently covered up by the comforter.
Fen shrugged. “I have no problems. But I do think we should discuss rules of this little engagement.” He waved a finger between us.
“What rules?” I frowned. “We said we wouldn’t mix business and pleasure.”
“And I want to make an amendment.”
I sighed loudly. “You can’t just add shit, Fen. This isn’t going to work with you making up rules as you go.”
He wagged a finger. “No, no, listen to what I have to say before you dismiss me. You might like what you hear.”
“Fine, but give me the sheet.” I pointed to the white ball of fabric he held. He tossed it to me, and I covered myself before sitting at the edge of the bed, a healthy distance away from him.
“I want to help you get sober. The right way,” he said, holding up his hand to stop me when I tried to interrupt him. “This cold turkey shit you have going on isn’t the way to do it. When you have the urge, you’ll come to me and drink in a safe environment, not that filth of a den you were in. We’ll continue having fun together in the process, obviously when you’re sober, as an incentive. What do you think?”
My mouth hung open in confusion as he laid casually on the bed, his obsidian eyes watching me with mild curiosity.
“I don’t understand, Fen. Why are you doing this? Why do you care?”
He shrugged. “I don’t necessarily care, but I need you at optimal strength, which means you need to be clean. I assure you I’m doing this for selfish reasons.”
The no was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to scream it, but a part of me I didn’t recognize willed me to agree to this ludicrous plan that would help me sober up and also have a partner in my fight with Odin. Not a partner I could fully trust but one nonetheless.
“You’ll help us imprison Odin?” I shifted nervously.
He nodded. “But if I see the sword, I will take it from you.”
“Not if I grab it first.”
He grinned. “Then we have a deal.” He stuck out his hand for me to shake.
“The others won’t trust you,” I said as I took his hand.
Fen’s smile widened. “I’m not asking for trust.” His grip on me tightened as he pulled me toward him onto the bed. “Now, let’s put business aside and play.”
I could barely walk out of his apartment as we went to his car in the garage of his apartment building and headed to Charlie’s place. Fen had been a busy bee since arriving in Midgard from the Fae realm. He’d rented out a luxury high-rise and a sports car that was worth more than whatever salary Will would ever make in his lifetime. I’d have asked where his hellhounds were but we weren’t at that level of trust yet and he wouldn’t tell me, but they were at my disposal when needed.
“Whatever you do, keep your mouth shut,” I said as we walked up the stairs to Charlie’s door. “Let me do the talking.”
“As you wish.” Fen whistled a tune, and I knew then and there this would be a disaster. He didn’t know how to keep quiet.
I rummaged through my pockets for the keys and unlocked the front door. Waiting in the living room when I poked my head inside were Charlie, Will, and even Verdandi. The latter looked worse for wear, but she was there, and I could only assume I was the one who’d put the worried looks on their faces.
“Raven!” Charlie called out as I made my way inside. “We’ve been up all night searching for you. Where have you—” She was cut off mid-step and sentence when she saw who came in behind me. “You,” she growled, and I had to keep the smile from creeping on my face.
“Charlie,” I tried to tame her, “let me explain.”
“What is he doing here?” Will stomped over to Charlie. Verdandi stayed seated in the living room. She probably couldn’t m
ove much of anything.
“He has no business here!” Charlie yelled, and I could see something building up inside her.
Fen cleared his throat. “I didn’t expect the welcome wagon, but you lot sure know how to make a lad feel welcomed.”
“Shut. Up,” I gritted through my teeth.
“If Raven and I could put our differences aside, I’m sure we can as well.” Fen spread his arms as if expecting a hug.
I turned to Charlie. Her cheeks were rosy pink, and she had strands of hair sticking to her blotched face, and then she shrieked.
The soundwaves were directed at Fen and hit him hard and fast. He dropped to his knees, his claws and canines coming out as he tried to cover his ears that had now begun to bleed. He roared out in pain, and I knew Charlie could easily kill him. Well, maybe not kill him since he is part god, but she was capable of causing heavy damage. She could put him out of commission until this whole mess with Odin was done and over with—maybe until we got the sword back—but I’d made a deal with him too, and I made good on my deals even if he didn’t. I took a deep breath and stood in her line of fire, taking the brunt of her wail. The high-pitch scream pierced my eardrums. I could feel my equilibrium shift, but I stood tall, giving Fen the break he so desperately needed.
“Raven,” he drawled, but I ignored him.
Will instead shook Charlie hard enough that she quieted and turned to him. I gasped and dropped to the ground. Fen was at my side, checking me for injuries.
Charlie turned her doe eyes to me, shame filling her gaze. “Raven … I-I’m so sorry,” she stuttered.
I waved her off. “It’s fine.” I tried to smile, but everything in my face hurt. The power of a banshee was no joke and could make people explode. I could only imagine the amount of restraint she’d used with Castellano to have left him in one piece.
“It’s not fine,” she sobbed. “Why are you with him?”
Will stroked her back, but I kept my questions about the two of them to myself.
“He could be of use to defeat Odin. And with the sword missing, we have a common goal.”
“You told him?” Verdandi asked.
I nodded. “No point in having another enemy chasing us for something we don’t even possess.”
Verdandi groaned and stood from the sofa, her bones creaking as she walked toward us and stopped in front of Fen. Her dark-brown eyes gazed into him as if she were trying to find his truths. Maybe she was. I still didn’t fully understand how the Norn’s powers worked.
She grunted. “He is here to help Hrefna. I see it.”
“You had a vision?” Charlie adjusted her glasses.
We’d all hoped Verdandi would get a damn vision about this evil since the one about the fires and she’d gotten nothing.
“Yes. I see clearly,” she mused. “I see it all.” But she didn’t remove her gaze from Fen. She stared him down as if there was something else being spoken between them. I was going to push, ask what the hell was going on, but then Verdandi looked at me and shook her head.
I looked at the others. “We need to talk about Castellano.”
Charlie tensed. “I don’t want to talk about him.”
“Well, you’re going to have to. Get over it,” I said with a little more bite than intended. I handled Charlie with kid gloves all the time, but if she was capable of killing someone in cold blood, maybe it was time the gloves came off.
“Maybe now’s not the time.” Will angled his body to shield her.
“We don’t have the luxury to pick and choose when is a good time to discuss things that are relevant. Castellano knew more about the evil headed our way, and I didn’t get the opportunity to talk to him because of your vendetta,” I accused Charlie.
“He was lying.” Her voice trembled and her bottom lip quivered.
“And you know this how? Because he knew stuff he shouldn’t have which, in my book, counts as a lead. One you easily dismissed.”
“She made a mistake, Raven.” Will gripped Charlie’s wrist behind him. “It’s a very human thing to do.”
I laughed harshly. “She’s not human, or did you forget?”
Will released her as if she’d burned him, and Charlie flinched. I didn’t want to hurt them, but I didn’t know another way. This was too dangerous for them.
“What are you trying to say, Raven?” Charlie’s whisper was barely audible.
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “What I’m saying is, I can no longer keep involving you. Either of you. This partnership we had is over.”
Charlie’s eyes widened as if I’d slapped her. “You can’t face Odin alone.”
“I won’t be alone. I have Fen and Verdandi.” Saying it was bitter in my mouth, but it had to be done for their safety.
Will stepped forward. “I know what I said, but I didn’t mean it, Raven. I was just upset about Thompson.”
I shook my head. “What’s done is done. I’ll pack my things and get out of your hair as soon as possible.”
“You’re moving out?” Charlie shrieked as she followed me out of the living room and to my bedroom.
I’d spoken to Fen on our way here and made my own amendment to our plans. I wanted Charlie and Will safe and out of this mess, and the only way to do it was if I was out of their life completely.
“There’s no point in me staying here, Charlie—”
“I’m sorry about Castellano! It was brash and I should have listened to you. I’m sorry!”
“It’s too late for that,” I muttered as I packed the few belongings I did have, which wasn’t much.
“Why, Raven? We’ve been through so much. Why are you quitting on us so easily?”
“Because I can’t trust you!” I whirled around to face her. “I can’t have anyone I can’t trust on my team.” I hated saying it. I trusted Charlie unconditionally, but it was easier if she hated me instead.
She left me alone to pack the one duffle bag I had, and when I walked back out to the living room, it was completely silent. Fen and Verdandi stood by the door, waiting for me, while the others sat near the window in the living room.
My heart splintered at the sight of Charlie’s tears. Since Marcus, it had been decades since I’d allowed myself to get attached to anyone and now I had not only become attached to one person but two. The realization that my heart had thawed unnerved me because caring for another left me with a weakness, and I hated it. One of the first things I was taught as a valkyrie: no attachments. Cutting them loose and keeping them safe was the only way. They deserved a normal life, and they wouldn’t get it with me around.
Before I took off, I turned around and faced Charlie and Will. “Lock the doors and stay inside tonight. The dead might still be lurking.” And I left for good.
18
The ride back to the cemetery was as uncomfortable as one could imagine in Fen’s tiny sports car. Verdandi’s frail body was squashed in the backseat, and Fen didn’t understand the basic rules of the road. I could’ve kissed the ground when we finally reached our destination. I requested to drive back to his place since that’s where I’d be staying from now on, according to our amended deal. It was safer for Charlie and easier to help with my sobriety.
Fen had helped walk the Norn back to the crypt while I grabbed her belongings from the trunk. I was halfway across the graveyard when I heard their murmurs. I hoisted the bags up quietly, made my way closer to the angel statue, and stood behind it so I could listen.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Norn,” Fen said dismissively.
“But you do,” Verdandi crooned. “I saw it all. You know who it is, but you won’t say.”
“Then you were lying—”
“I don’t lie,” the Norn interrupted. “I spoke the truth. You will help Hrefna.”
There was a silence before he said, “This conversation is no longer private.”
I slowly closed my eyes. I forgot about wolves’ sensitive sense of smell, and my scent was all over Fen. He could fin
d me across the world at this point. But what surprised me the most was why Verdandi allowed this conversation out in the open. She was always so careful about making sure we only spoke in the crypt. Did she want me to listen? What game was she playing, and what did she want me to hear?
I came around the statue with the bags and a broad smile. “All right, Verdandi, you’ve got everything you need.”
She nodded toward the crypt and we went inside. “I will have Odin’s cage ready by the full moon. Only thing we need now is the sword.”
Fen sighed. “I can have a replica made. I’ll have to call in some favors, but I can get it done by the full moon.”
“Do you think Odin will be fooled by a fake?” I frowned. I didn’t know about them, but I could feel the energy of the sword. There’s no way I’d believe a fake.
“It’ll have to do.” Fen shrugged. “We don’t have a choice unless the sword magically appears.”
“Which it won’t.” I sighed.
“I still have the tracker on it,” he said. “If someone unsheathes it, I’ll know.”
“But you won’t tell us.” I pressed my lips into a thin line. He’d made it abundantly clear that if he got his hands on the sword, it was every man for themselves.
We spent the next few nights in a haze of fighting the dead that climbed out of their graves. Nutcases were all over the news talking about how they saw skeletons walking the streets, some even captured pictures, but no one took them seriously. What was still being talked about were the fires. It was too coincidental. Nothing new had hit us, but I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t tired. I didn’t have the same energy I used to have, and fighting every night drained me.
The full moon was finally upon us. My hands trembled as I brought the glass of amber liquid to my lips. I needed some liquid courage for tonight. I wouldn’t be able to do it alone.
“You okay?” Fen whispered as he brushed my hair to the side and kissed my neck. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” I chugged the drink and poured myself some more. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
The Sword of Souls Page 12