Slaine glanced down at Thor. “Son, it’s safe, we are safe. They are friends, not foes.”
Thor glanced up into the eyes of the giant who stood in front of him and wondered how anyone that big could be nice.
Colum got down on his haunches. “Son, on my honor I will never harm your mother. Do you believe me?”
Thor’s stare never flinched. “I don’t know you well enough to believe you but if I am around you enough maybe I will learn to trust you.”
Colum smiled at the young boy who was being so brave for his beautiful mother. “Fair enough, son. Now, would you take my hound here, and her pup, and find her a bone. She loves to curl up by the fire and have her belly scratched after a long day.”
Thor looked at the wolfhound that towered over him. She stood at attention near her master. The pup that was under its mother’s belly saw the look as an invite and hurled itself at Thor. Thor was flat on his back, laughing and trying to push the young pup off him. “I don’t need a bath. I had one a week ago.”
Colum then turned back, looking at Slaine. “I would say the pup has a new owner.”
Colum stood and took Slaine’s hand again. “Will you do me the honor of sitting by the fire and telling me about your family, I see you have a wee one.”
Slaine looked down at her baby who had woken up and stared in wide eyed wonder at the man who stood in front of him.
Slaine tried to turn her son but the little one buried his face in his mother’s breast, as if for comfort.
Colum knew his size was a bit intimidating for children. Until they got used to him, they seemed to be frightened and intimidated. Thor seemed to accept Colum, but the little one who pulled back Slaine’s bodice, started to suckle, stared up at him in wide eyed fascination from his safe haven.
Slaine smiled up at Colum. She motioned for servant to get more seats around the roaring fire and food and drink to be brought in. Sleeping pallets were moved aside. Sleep would be very late coming tonight.
“Come we will sit and you can rest yourself.”
The High King sat with Cormac and Elsabet. “It would appear that your son has found a possible wife in my daughter Slaine?”
Elsabet smiled, “Ever the matchmaker Brian.”
Cormac took his wife’s hand, smiling at her remark. “Nothing would make us happier than to have a union of two great families.”
* * * * * * * *
Slaine woke up to her maid’s bustling around her room. Thor was up and laughing at Olaf’s antics. The two boys were so much alike, and Slaine smiled as she crawled out of her bed. She was the only one who had a real bed in the castle. A proper bed, of such a size that no one could believe, had been delivered a fortnight before. That was after the arrangements had been made for her marriage to Colum. Gifts of every kind had continued pouring in. In return, her brothers had sent one hundred and forty horses to Colum’s parents. She had slapped Donnchad when he’d said, “That’s an awful stiff price, even for you sister.” In reality, Colum had asked for nothing. His father, who ruled over the Ring of Kerry and the west, had said that he was just happy to finally have the two great families together, at last.
Slaine was to travel after the Holy Week, but from rumors, it sounded like she would no sooner be wed than all the men, including her father, brothers and new husband would be leaving for Dublin to squelch the rebellion which had been building.
Chapter 1
The Humvee picked up speed and flew over small hills as it headed back to the base. Inside was a crew of four.
Thor looked over at his brother, Odin, who was looking over a map. Brent and Justin were in the back arguing, as they always did after a mission. Too much energy and not enough to destroy. Thor always thought they would make perfect vampires, since they already had an inner need for blood.
Odin yelled to the back, “Would you guys shut up. I can’t concentrate. I’m trying to find the coordinates to where we heard those bastards were hidden. It’s right about...”
Their vehicle went over a slight rise, came down and then it was launched after a deafening boom, the explosion hurling the Humvee into the air. They flipped over too many times for Odin to keep track of. The explosion had been on the driver’s side. He saw his brother’s closed eyes. As they came crashing down the last time, he saw Thor’s eyes open fast and wide. They both yelled each other’s names and then Brent and Justin’s. No sound came from the back.
Odin unbuckled and slammed his fist through the window. He was on the radio for help then sent out a beacon for the family to find them. One way or another he was going to get everyone out of here in one piece. As he crawled out the window, he heard Thor scream in rage. Grabbing his M16 at the same time he was unbuckling his Glock, he turned and saw Thor dragging his body out his side. He was covered with blood but with a quick assessment he knew, just from sight, his brother would be healing quickly. Giving a quick scan, he didn’t see anyone around, but that didn’t mean anything. He punched the window to the back door, grabbed the handle and gave the door a vicious yank, taking the whole thing off. He checked Brent’s pulse. He was still among the living, just knocked out. He climbed over him and saw Justin looking up.
“Sir, do you think we will get back?”
Odin looked down and saw that part of one leg was blown open. At the rate Justin was bleeding, he would bleed out soon. “We are going to get out of here, I promise you.” His mouth watered as he viewed his friend’s leg blown open, blood flowing like a river. He pushed the thoughts and urges back. Now was not the time.
“I don’t know, I can’t feel anything,” Justin said, his eyes closing and then opening.
Odin had never had to change anyone but knew this was the moment he should do it, if he was ever going to.
“Justin, listen buddy, I can guarantee I can get you out of here, will you trust me?”
“Anything, sir,” was his faint reply.
Odin felt his brother’s eyes burn into him as he sank his fangs into Justin’s neck.
Thor jumped to the sound of gunfire. “If that isn’t friendly fire covering our ass, those hostiles are going to find out quickly what they just messed with.”
“Yeah, a nest of frigging vipers,” Odin said as he sat back and wiped his mouth.
Odin looked down into Justin’s face. His face had lost its pinched look and was all smoothed out. His wound had stopped bleeding and would be healed enough in minutes to where it would resemble a bad tear. Within an hour, it would be completely healed, especially with new blood Justin was about to get. Justin’s eyes opened wide and he started screaming.
Odin grabbed Justin by the front and shook him. “Shut the fuck up and listen to me now!” He hissed in his ear. “Now here is a quick rundown, Justin. We hit an IED. Brent is coming to, you are OK, but may have the urge to sink your teeth in something. Don’t bite Brent. Go after the men who are responsible.”
“Odin, ETA five minutes for one of our own choppers to come get us,” Thor said.
Odin looked over at his brother. “Where are the hostiles?”
Thor pointed back over his shoulder. “I think over the hill there.”
Odin grabbed Justin by the shoulder. “We are going headhunting. Brent you stay with Thor.”
Brent crawled through the overturned Humvee and crouched next to Thor. “What did your brother mean by he and Justin were going headhunting?”
Screams rent the air.
“I’d say they have found their prey, I mean their objective.” Thor rested his head back on the Humvee and waited for their chopper to come get them out of this hellhole.
* * * * * * * *
Odin and Thor pushed open the door of their barracks and were met with one of the guys coming out. “Well, well, if it isn’t the Brothers’ Grimm...”
“We love you too, Smith.” Guys got up and walked up to shake their hands as they walked to their bunks.
“Hey, Thor, you two have a pile of mail.” Both Thor and Odin went to their respective bunks a
nd opened up the packets that waited for them.
Odin quickly looked through the envelopes and saw the one he was looking for. He saw one was from his Uncle Travis. He would read that later. The one from Sally was the one he wanted to read. Looking over at his brother he saw he was reading a letter. He looked too serious.
Ripping open the envelope from Sally, he saw that it was a two page letter.
Dear Odin,
I know that’s not how I usually start my letters but things have changed. When I was younger I remember Colum telling you and Thor that neither of you guys were to touch me, that even if you liked me you couldn’t touch me. I know you guys were my bodyguards and all till I went off to college. I couldn’t very well bring you two down here now, could I? Besides, things changed as I got older. You two were like the big brothers I never had, and then I noticed looks from you and your brother. I’m not stupid, I’ve had a couple boyfriends and I know Colum had to step in to protect them from you two Neanderthals...BUT none of those guys ever measured up to you or your brother.
God, I don’t know where this letter is going to lead, except I finally know who is the right one for me. I mean I can’t think straight and my grades are failing ‘cause I am at a loss at what to do. I can’t sleep, can’t eat. Olivia nags me, and you know Olivia., she thinks everyone should eat six meals a day. BUT until I tell one of you who I want, this is the way it is going to be. Then, there is the wait-to-see which one of you writes or calls back. Will you even care? Perhaps you won’t. Maybe being who you are, maybe you don’t even really want me. I don’t know. Maybe this is all a girl’s fanciful imagination and wishful thinking that a guy like you would even remotely like me, never mind be attracted to me. So then this letter will be all a stupid mistake and I will go through life just a normal human in a relationship with a regular human and not the vampire who I so desperately want to get to know better and find out if he is truly the one for me.
So I better get this out. I have chosen you, Odin.
Odin read the letter again and again. Feeling his brother’s eyes on him, he knew Thor was watching him. He glanced up, seeing Thor sit there with a stupid grin on his face,
“She chose you, didn’t she?” he said in a whisper.
Odin wanted to jump up and start cheering but he knew it wouldn’t be the thing to do, not with his brother hurting right now.
“Yeah, man, I’m sorry bro...”
Thor got up and went to his brother. Sitting down on his bunk he noticed it sink with the added weight. They’d had special bunks made just for them, but at the size they both were, this bunk wouldn’t last long given the combined weight of close to...
“Hey, don’t worry. I’ve known for some time she would pick you. It was a given. I mean, who did she cry out for when she fell off her horse and busted her leg? Our Uncle said she would call your name out at night when she had nightmares. I always saw her looks towards you. I’m glad she has finally figured it out. There won’t be any fighting over her now.” Thor took a breath and looked at his brother straight in the eyes. “Don’t worry, besides, Olivia has been writing to me more. Who knows, maybe it will be a double wedding someday.” Thor pumped his brother on the back and laughed.
Odin wasn’t fooled. He knew his brother was hurt, but he was too good of a brother to ever hold a grudge.
“I can’t imagine you and Olivia not fighting, God that’s all you two do when we are all together. You guys can never get along or agree to disagree.”
Thor stood and saw the bed sigh with relief. “Who knows, maybe her growing up will help. I mean, where can she find a guy like me? There aren’t any on campus, that’s for sure.”
Chapter 2
Odin drove slowly down Waterman Street in Provincetown in hopes of catching Sally coming out of one of the campus buildings. His Jag XK purred like the big cat it was named for as he drove slowly, looking, watching as students came out of buildings. He knew she was in the area. Her GPS on her phone said she was. He just couldn’t quite pinpoint her location. She was somewhere in that cluster of buildings off to his right.
Some of the football players came out of one of the buildings and saw the dark green Jag cruise by. They saw his license plate, THRILER. They all groaned in disgust. “How are we supposed to compete with that? Not even normal royals who go here flaunt themselves like that.”
One of the guys shook his head. “They’re different, she’s different. Have you seen her family of men? It’s said her mother married into that family, and with it came those, those...” his words were lost in the thunder that followed. Another Jaguar drove by, a black XK. The plates read BCKnBLK. Both cars had tinted windows and both had sound systems that were blasting.
“They must be joined at the freaking hip. Both of them are playing AC /DC.”
“Yeah, well, I think they are full of themselves.”
Another shook his head. “No, they are decorated war heroes. They have a right to be the way they are.”
“Still doesn’t give any of us a chance.”
They all watched the drama unfold as Sally MacNamara came out of the building just in front of them. They could see her friend Olivia walking up the sidewalk. Olivia, dressed in her bright colors, stood out. The two Jaguars stopped and simultaneously their driver’s doors opened. The guys watched as little Sally, as they called her, stopped and stood stock still. She hadn’t looked very happy but as soon as she realized who was getting out of the cars a huge smile broke out on her face. She ran and jumped into the arms of the larger, dark haired giant.
Sally felt herself being engulfed in the arms of Odin. She was crushed into his jacket. She stayed like that for a minute, taking in his musky, earthy scent. Pulling away, she looked up into his face. Being as petite as she was, it took a bit. He was 6’7” and built like a giant. His eyes were smiling and a deep Kerry green, as she called them. As a family they had gone to visit one of the family castles that was in County Kerry, Ireland last summer. She’d decided then that that was the color of Odin’s eyes; at least when he was happy and relaxed. His eyes didn’t change quite as much as Colum’s. She had only seen them really change on one occasion. That was the day her Mom had died and had been reborn.
“How’s my little elf?” Odin was becoming aware that people were watching him and he was trying to keep it light. Sally felt Odin tense and knew it was because of Thor. “I’m fine.” She gave Odin’s arm a squeeze and turned to the other brother who stood close. She jumped down and ran into his arms, gave him a quick hug and a kiss on his cheek and stood back. Then taking both their hands she looked at the brothers. “Are you guys OK with each other?”
Thor smiled and reached out and hugged Sally. “I’ve known for a while how it was. It’s OK. But my big brother better realize now if he hurts you...”
Odin stepped in and Sally could hear a growl low and menacing come from deep in his throat. She looked from one brother to the other.
“Boy, you guys haven’t changed any.” Seeing them glare at one another she tried to think quickly. “Listen, Olivia and I are done till after the New Year, we want to go home for Christmas break, and thought that we were going to have to drive ourselves, how about a ride?”
Olivia, who had just walked up to the group of three, smiled at Sally. “Yeah, it would be a lot easier to ride than drive.” She looked up at Thor. “Since it doesn’t look like it would be too comfortable to ride with them, do you think I could catch a ride with you?”
Thor looked down at Sally’s sidekick, Olivia, who had always given him a hard time and had been featured in his thoughts a lot lately, and a little too vividly; the one who loved to cook, but loved to harass him more. He smiled down at her. “OK, as long as you plan on baking me cookies for the next year and sending them to wherever I am.”
Olivia craned her neck to look up at him, to see if he was joking.
“I mean it, cookies for a year or no ride.”
Olivia sighed. “You have a deal. Let’s go pick up our bags.
We’re all packed since we were going to drive right after classes.”
Thor wrapped his arm lightly around Olivia’s shoulder. “OK, master chef, let’s go get them.”
Sally smiled at Olivia as they went to separate vehicles. Odin opened up her door, closing it after she climbed in. She sat and watched as he walked around the car. Despite his size, he was graceful. She couldn’t believe it was turning out like this. She had dreamed of this day and now she felt like the skittish filly that had come to her two years ago. She took in everything, the smell of the car that reflected him. As Odin climbed in, she felt the raw size and power of him. She never took her eyes off him, or his hands, as he pushed the button to start the car. It came to life and she sank back in her seat.
“Buckle, even if we are only going a little less than a mile.”
Sally buckled and smiled at Odin who, for a moment, just sat and studied her.
Odin let his hand caress the steering wheel wishing it were Sally, but that would have to wait. He would go slow. She had given the green light, but he didn’t want to be a bull in a china closet. “Can I ask you something?”
Sally let the air out of her lungs. She hadn’t really been aware that she had been holding it. “Anything,” she said in a whisper.
“Why me?”
Sally looked down, playing with a hangnail. “Because you were calling me. I heard you, not Thor. Elsabet said that would happen when it was time. She said it would become clear some day and it did. It’s been that way for months and I can’t function anymore,” the final words coming out in a rushed whisper. Still picking at the offending hang nail, she glanced up through her lashes saw that Odin’s eyes had gone a darker green. She sucked in her breath and bit her bottom lip. She heard Thor’s car take off as it went down Waterman Street. Her eyes hadn’t left Odin’s face, though. Unbuckling her seat belt and as quickly as a tiny, elfin sized woman could, she was on Odin’s lap, straddling his legs. “I’m doing this before I lose my nerve,” she said as she leaned down catching his face with her hands, then kissed him soundly.
I've Been Waiting for You Page 2