Wow. Completely humbled by his beautiful story, I didn’t know what to say. The tears that sprung were totally unexpected. He gave me a gentle kiss.
“You are my sheshen, Lana.”
I wanted to be his everything. His Lanókà, his sheshen, his gàlò, or any other endearment he might use later. And I wanted to hear more about his past.
“Now let’s talk about your parents. Where the hell are they? And how could they leave you like this?”
His anger didn’t surprise me. “Our parents aren’t bad or neglectful. They are the most amazing people you’d ever meet, but they can’t be in two places at the same time.”
“What do you mean?”
“My baby sister needed help, so they went to find it for her. I don’t know where they went. We tried to open a portal to them, but the portals kept fizzling out.”
“That’s strange.”
“I know. I thought they might be in trouble, especially after wiping out the family account.”
The look on Syn’s face said he was reevaluating his earlier stance. “They could be. Or maybe your artavus can’t create portals anymore. When was the last time you used it to create one?”
“When you and Echo came to my school.”
“Do you have it?”
“It’s in my bedroom. Do you want me to get it?”
“No, I can use mine. Can I see their pictures? I need a visual to find them.”
I led him to the living room. A few family pictures were placed around the room, but the latest ones were on top of the fireplace.
Syn studied the pictures and frowned. “This is your baby sister?”
“Yeah. Her name is—”
“Hannah,” Syn said.
My gaze flew to his face. “How do you know?”
“Has she been astral projecting?”
“Since she turned one. She is crazy powerful. How do you know her name?”
“I know where her astral self is.”
“What?”
He explained about Hannah hitching a ride on the astral body of Goddess Hel’s son’s fiancée and putting her in a coma. “Your sister is in Eljudnir under the care of the goddess’s staff. Raine is supposed to find Hannah’s family. Your family. You should talk to her. I can find her and arrange a meeting.”
I nodded. “Please. Oh my god, Hannah. I can’t believe it.”
“Would you like to see her?”
Was he serious? “Go to another realm?”
“To Helheim, yes.” He grinned at my expression. “I told you it was possible. You’ll see your baby sister tonight, and I’ll show you around.”
“This is surreal. Wes and Talia won’t believe it.” I grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him down for a kiss. For one brief moment, I forgot about my news and just enjoyed him. When he lifted his head, I was reluctant to let him go.
“Helheim?” Wes asked, entering the room. Talia was behind him. “Does that mean he is a Grimnir?”
Chapter 9
“Yes, Wes,” Syn said. “I’m a Grimnir.”
“You won’t believe this, guys,” I cut in, hoping to delay the impending doom. “Hannah’s astral self is in Helheim, and we are going to see her.”
“I’m not going anywhere with a reaper, Lana,” Wes snapped.
“Syn is not like that. He is kind and caring. He bought—”
“Don’t!” Syn said.
I shook my head. “No, they need to know the truth. I didn’t buy any of these tonight.” I waved at the groceries and explained what had happened. “It was humiliating. I left the groceries behind and used what was left in the account to get us pizza for dinner. Syn did this.” My gaze met his again. “You didn’t have to, but I appreciate it.”
He shrugged. “Like I said, I have money and no one to spend it on, so I don’t mind.”
“We don’t need your charity, reaper,” Wes snapped, moving closer to me. “I told you I could fight and make us money.”
“You know that’s not an option, Wes. I pawned some of Mom’s jewelry to keep us going until we can find other means of making money.”
“I can fight, Lana,” Wes insisted.
“You could get hurt. Your runes and powers are off, and if anything happens to you, I’d never forgive myself.”
“How am I going to get hurt when I can add more healing runes?”
I hadn’t planned to discuss the shared blade thing until later, but Wes wasn’t going to listen. He looked ready to throw Syn out of the house. “There’s a reason you both keep getting injured. The runes are not working because we share the same blade.”
Wes scowled. “What do you mean by not working? And why are we discussing this in front of him.” He pointed at Syn.
“He is Lana’s boyfriend, so it’s okay,” Talia cut in. She didn’t seem bothered by Syn being a reaper. “Mom and Dad didn’t say anything about runes not working.”
“Syn explained a few things to me. I’d planned to share them with you later after we visited the academy.” I explained about the artavus and how ineffective it was when shared. Talia didn’t mask her shock, but Wes grew angry and was pacing by the time I finished.
“Are you saying they knowingly used the same artavus on all of us and messed up our transformation and our powers?” he asked.
“I don’t know if they knew what would happen, Wes,” I said, trying to placate him. “We won’t know for sure until they come back, but we can’t depend on runes or the artavus anymore. We’ll have a chance to fix all this at the academy. They will offer us sets of artavo, so we each have our own.”
“This is bullshit!” Wes snarled. “Why should we trust him or believe anything he says?” He indicated Syn with a lift of his chin. “He’s a reaper.”
“I trust him,” I said. “He’s the one who dropped off the envelopes with admission letters from Mystic Academy. He’s also the one who came to my school last week to ask about Mom and Dad and why our names were not in the Immortal Registry. Getting us into Mystic Academy is the only reason they wanted our names in the registry.”
The shock on their faces changed to suspicion. Even Talia stepped away from Syn and crossed her arms as though to create a barrier between them.
“He needs to leave, Lana,” Wes snarled. “Right now.”
I sighed. “Syn is not like the others, Wes. He’s proven that. He’s done nothing but give me information since the day I met him. There’s a lot you don’t know about reapers. They’re not as bad as we’ve been led to believe.”
“He’s playing you, Lana. That’s how reapers do things. They’re users. Chances are he’s been feeding you lies.” He glared at Syn. “We don’t need your charity, so take your groceries and get the hell out of our house. I’m the man of this family, and I will take care of my sisters.”
I was losing patience with Wes, but at the same time, I understood his suspicions. We’d never heard anything good about reapers.
“He’s not leaving, Wes. I want him to stay.”
If I’d reached out and punched him, Wes would not have looked so shocked.
“You’re choosing him over our family? After everything we’ve been through together? I’ve watched your back since we first met, Lana.” He didn’t mask his hurt.
“I know, and I’m not choosing anyone.” I caught the spasm that crossed Syn’s face. “I’m letting him into my life because I trust him.” I wanted him and needed him in ways I couldn’t explain to Wes without hurting his feelings.
“Is it because you share the same gift? You’ll meet other Immortals who do,” Wes said. “Just not a reaper. He needs to leave.”
I knew he was lashing out because of what he’d learned about Mom and Dad, but his reaction was ridiculous.
“I can’t let him go, Wes. If you get to know him—”
“Not interested.”
“Wes, please.”
“Then you’ve chosen him over me. Great. Just fucking great. First, our parents desert us. Now you.” Wes brushed past me.
I tried to grab his arm, but he pushed my hand away, and I staggered. Syn was beside me, glaring at Wes.
“Don’t do that, man,” he said. “Get mad at Lana. Hate me. But you don’t put your hand on her.”
“Screw you, reaper. You don’t know Lana like I do. She’s my family.” A stricken look crossed his eyes and disappeared. “She was.”
“Wes, don’t be like this,” I said.
“Like what?” He glared at me. “I’m done with you, this farce of a family, runes, and the whole immortality crap. And I’m not going to the stupid academy.”
“Then we can’t go either,” Talia wailed.
Wes threw Syn a triumphant smile and started out of the kitchen. Now he was just being mean.
“Where are you going?” I asked, following him.
“To my room, unless I have to ask the reaper’s permission to do that, too.”
I sighed, defeat washing over me. Talia slid beside me and took my hand.
“Give him time to cool down. He’ll come around. He’s mad at our parents and needs a target. Syn just happens to be the closest.” She glanced at Syn. “Thanks for the groceries and for getting our names in the registry and the invite. We’ll be there. We all want to, even Wes.” She squeezed my arm and whispered, “Don’t listen to Wes. He’s only jealous you found someone and don’t need him anymore. He’ll get over it.” She kissed my cheek. “Thank you for always looking out for us. Wes will see that, too, once he calms down.”
Tears rushed to my eyes as I watched her leave the room. I fought to control them. Today had been emotionally draining, and I wished I could crawl into bed and shut out the world. No, I’d rather slide into Syn’s arms and shut out the world.
As if he knew it, Syn pulled me into his arms. For a moment, I let him comfort me. I wanted to stay wrapped in his warmth forever, but I knew I couldn’t. I had to talk to Wes. Taking a deep breath, I stepped back, forcing him to let me go.
“Please, go.”
Panic flashed in his eyes. “You don’t mean that. I can’t walk away from you. From us.”
“No, I don’t mean that. Go find out about our parents. Wes needs them. But come back to me.”
He exhaled and hauled me into his arms. The kiss that followed was possessive and scorching.
“I thought you meant to send me away.”
I couldn’t even if I wanted to. He had crushed through my defenses and touched my heart. Where our relationship would lead from here onward depended on us.
“I could never do that, Syn. About Hannah, we can see her some other time.” I glanced toward the bedrooms. “Right now, my brother needs my parents.”
Syn pulled out an artavus and opened a portal. I could see a gleaming foyer with hardwood flooring and a winding staircase. Reluctant to leave, he reached out and stroked my cheek.
“Thank you for trusting me and letting me in,” he said.
Like I had a choice. He got me in ways I never knew possible. “I should be thanking you. You opened my eyes to many things and made me believe in the impossible.”
“No, you’ve given me the impossible, sheshen. A new purpose. A new beginning. I’ll be back with Raine.”
The second the portal closed, I headed toward our bedrooms and knocked on Talia’s door. I didn’t wait for her to say I could go in before pushing the door. She was on top of her bed, lying on her stomach with her laptop open.
“Did he finally open his door?” she asked, looking up at me. “I tried talking to him, but he said he wanted to be left alone.”
“I haven’t checked on Wes. Syn just left, but he’s coming back. He’s gone to find out about Mom and Dad from Raine.”
“Are we really going to another realm?”
I nodded. “Maybe not tonight, but we will. You’re okay with who and what Syn is?”
She shrugged. “Yeah. He hasn’t done anything to cause me to distrust or hate him. Besides, you are allowed to date whomever you please. Wes needs to get over himself. Look at these pictures of Helheim.”
I joined her and studied the pictures. They looked scary, and the Goddess was a hag with half of her body withered and the other normal. There were dead people all around her.
“Do you think it’s really like that?”
I didn’t know what to think. But after everything Syn had told me, I doubted it. I told Talia some of the things Syn had said about Raine and the Witches helping her find the rogue Immortals, Eirik and Celestia, their wedding, and of course the daughter engaged to Echo.
“There’s so much out there we don’t know about, and the internet doesn’t have the answers either, so I don’t think the goddess’s place looks anything like that.” I stood and blew out a breath. “I’m going to check on Wes. Maybe drum some sense into his thick skull.”
Talia followed me, and we exchanged glances when he didn’t respond to our knocks. We tried to open it, but it was locked.
“Move out of the way,” Talia said. Then she proceeded to use a hairpin to unlock the door.
Wes was not in his room. And from the mess he’d left behind, he’d packed in a hurry. His window was open, so I knew he’d used it. His wrestling clothes and bag were gone.
I texted him.
“How are you going to find him?” Talia asked, watching me from the doorway of my bedroom as I changed.
“He’d told me some guy in Seattle had asked him to fight in an underground fight club. I’d bet that’s where he’s headed. I’m opening a portal to wherever he is and not leaving until he agrees to come home.”
“But Syn said our artavus might not be working.”
“That’s a chance I’m willing to take. You stay here and tell Syn where I went when he returns.”
“This is the dumbest move Wes’s ever pulled,” Talia grumbled.
“He’s taking this mess Mom and Dad created hard.”
I shrugged on a jacket and decided not to wear gloves. I took the money I’d gotten from pawning Mom’s jewelry and retrieved our artavus from its hiding place in my panties drawer. At least Wes hadn’t taken it, or I would have been screwed. I took half the money and handed it to Talia.
“For safekeeping,” I explained. I didn’t want us to be destitute if anything happened to my stash. Talia chewed on her lower lip and studied the money with a scowl before taking it.
“I don’t like this,” she said. “I should come with.”
“No. Someone must stay here to tell Syn what happened.” It was a lame excuse, but I was happy she didn’t see through it. Syn could open a portal to wherever I was headed. The fact was I didn’t know where I was going or what I’d find. She was safer this way.
She followed me into the bathroom and watched me create a portal. It fizzled. I tried again. Nothing.
“Stupid artavus,” I grumbled.
“We’re in deep shit,” Talia said.
“Everything will be okay once we make it to the academy and get new artavo.” How the hell was I going to find Wes when I couldn’t open a damn portal?
“Lana, I, uh… Maybe you shouldn’t give me this money.”
Our eyes met in the mirror. Not liking the stricken look on her face, I turned to face her. “Why not?” Her aura became a deeper shade of pink. Guilt. “What did you do?”
“Promise not to get mad. I didn’t know things were that bad. I swear. You said we were running low on funds, so I assumed we had a few thousand left. My clothes from last year are not really fitting me anymore, and the debit card was right there on the counter.” Her voice grew faint. “I bought some things online a few nights ago.”
“Oh, Talia. How could you? I thought Mom and Dad cleared the account. And you used the card without asking me first like we’d agreed.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what to say to you right now.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her eyes bright.
“You should have asked me.” God, I was so mad I couldn’t think straight. I turned to walk away, but I knew I couldn’t leave. She loved to shop, especially when
she was in a crappy mood, and she might really need new clothes. If our parents were here, they would have allowed her to buy some.
Sighing, I faced her. She was crying. I pulled her into my arms. “Stop crying.”
“I’m really, really sorry.”
I held her, but I couldn’t linger. I had to find Wes. I leaned back and cupped her face. Her chin trembled.
“Stop it,” I said. “I mean it. You are a Longhorn, an Immortal. Well, more of a mongrel, but that means something.”
She laughed through the tears. “You’re the best sister ever.”
“No, I’m not. You will make up for taking the credit card and draining the account. So don’t expect any allowance for a while. And you must tell Mom and Dad when they return.”
She groaned.
“I sent them text messages and left voice mails, Talia. So you either tell them or it’s the thrift store for summer clothes.”
“Are you serious?” she asked, looking horrified.
“Yep.” I etched the runes before I remembered the artavus didn’t work. I dropped it on the bathroom counter and turned away, but then screams reached me.
“It worked,” Talia whispered.
The mirror had dissolved into a portal, and through it, we could see a packed room. I studied the people on the other side. The room was dingy, but the crowd sounded enthusiastic. If Wes got hurt, the owner of this place would pay. I glanced at Talia one last time. She was chewing her nails.
“I’ll bring him back,” I vowed.
“Be careful,” she warned.
“Promise.”
Chapter 10
I joined the crowd on the floor, the portal closing behind me. A few people stared at me, but I ignored them. The place might be dark, but strobe lights focused on the two female fighters circling each other inside the ring. They didn’t wear protective head gear like Wes and his teammates often did during practice or competitions.
One woman feigned a left and threw a punch with her right. Her opponent ducked and came up with an uppercut, catching her on the chin. The force caused her to stagger. She rushed her opponent, who caught her and threw her over her shoulder while the crowd cheered.
[Mystic Academy 01.0] Fated Page 9