Goddess

by Julie Anne Lindsey

  I glanced at Liam for help. Nausea churned my stomach.

  “She died. After she saved you from the water, she climbed the dam and interjected herself directly into a situation I specifically told her to avoid. All she had to do was wait in the car.”

  Justin nodded. “Figures.”

  “Hey.” I shoved him. “If I’d stayed in the car, you’d have drowned. So, yeah. You’re welcome.”

  He grabbed the front of his shirt and puffed it away from him. “No. I’m immortal. You got yourself killed for nothing.”

  “She took a sword for Allison, but the blade pierced them both.” Liam’s words were ice over the heat boiling between us.

  Justin’s luminous green eyes flashed brighter. His emotions were a repeated punch in the gut. “Allison’s like this too? She strung me along all this time, letting me make mafia theories. She brought me pages of research on aliens.” He stomped his foot against the floorboards and fidgeted. “Is anyone not lying to me? Is anyone in this town not dead?”

  Liam touched my shoulder. “There’s something else you should know.” He ended the sentence with a grimace in the rearview.

  I shook Liam’s hand off me and glanced at Justin. “Allison’s not like us. Her story’s more complicated.”

  Liam touched me again. “Callie.”

  My grip whitened on the steering wheel. “I have the fate of the entire literal world on me and this one holds out on information. I’m ready to abuse my power.”

  Justin perked. “You’re the boss of him?”

  “Yeah.”

  Justin’s laughter lifted my heart with hope.

  Liam didn’t laugh. “She’s the leader of the Vikings, prophesied to unite warring clans. Not my boss.”

  Justin smiled. “Tom calls you boss. I thought that was a weird Pittsburgh thing.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “He wanted to call me queen or princess, but that’s ridiculous, and he refuses to call me Callie.”

  Justin nodded. “It’s a show of respect. You have no idea how much I like that guy right now.”

  “He’s a good guy.”

  Justin frowned. “Does Allison know any of this?”

  “No.” I turned onto the long gravel driveway outside Justin’s farm. “Allison’s human and she can’t know about any of this. I didn’t save her life to ruin it. She deserves a beautiful, ordinary existence.”

  “But she died.”

  I held Liam’s gaze in the mirror. “I asked Zeus to spare her life and he did. She didn’t come back on her own. That was a favor to me.”

  The Jeep rocked and bounced in silence over the pitted drive to Justin’s home. I parked outside the barn and shut down the engine. “You’re taking this really well.”

  “I expect to wake up soon.” He looked at me closely, letting his gaze travel over the line of runes on my left arm. His Viking eyes making them visible to him for the first time. “Since I’m clearly dreaming…” He slid a hand behind my head and pressed his lips to mine.

  I froze.

  Liam grabbed Justin’s face and pressed him back against his seat. “Do not do that again.”

  Thoughts fled from my mind, being pulled into a vacuum. Justin dropped his hands and leaned away, gaping at me.

  Liam complained under his breath about rampaging emotions and erratic behavior.

  Beside me, Justin’s chest rose and fell in quick bursts. “I think I read your mind. I’ve got to go.” He jumped out of the passenger door and dashed toward his home at blurring speeds. He stopped to look at his arms and legs, swore, then pulled the screen door off his house.

  “He’ll get used to the strength,” Liam said.

  I tucked the ignition key above the visor and climbed down from the Jeep. Liam joined me and we headed for the main road, where Tom was likely waiting. I stopped halfway there.

  Liam stared down at me, brooding. “What’s wrong?”

  “I think he really did read my mind. It felt like he pulled the thoughts right out of my head.”

  “What did he find?”

  “You. How much you mean to me and how much it kills me to see him hurting because of me.”

  Liam took my hands in his. His wide thumbs brushed the tender skin of my palms. “Then stop.”

  As if it was that easy. “I can’t stop. My path changed when I met you. He’s still on that trajectory, but I’m over here now, in love with you in cosmic, time-rending ways.”

  Liam’s surprise and pleasure incited a smile. “Really?”

  “Yes, really.”

  “No more kissing Justin.”

  I eyeballed him. “That last time was an ambush.”

  Liam carried my hands to his lips. “I love you.”

  “Good.”

  “I’m monumentally pissed about the kissing. Don’t think I’ll let that go. I plan to discuss that with him further.”

  “It’s not his fault. I told you. He hasn’t been himself. I think the new girl in school has something to do with it.”

  His green eyes smoldered. “The time preceding our transitions is intense. We do impulsive things, perhaps things designed to lead us to our human deaths.”

  “Are you suggesting kissing me might lead to death?”

  “His, yes.” He smiled. “I meant other men, other things. I’ve always wondered if we sense the change is coming and live a different way in the last days, act out of our human character, maybe. It would explain why we never live long human lives.”

  The theory made sense. I hadn’t seen a Viking who looked older than thirty. “So, Justin’s excused? What about me?”

  Liam bumped the toes of my shoes with his. Love and passion clouded over us. “You’re newly reborn. An anomaly among us with twice the burden who stubbornly refuses to give up her human ideals and responsibilities.” He wrapped his arms around me and pulled my cheek against his warm chest. “I haven’t been here for you the way I should have. In trying to protect you, I’ve pushed you away.”

  “So, stop it.”

  He lowered his face to mine. “I’ll try.”

  I kissed his cheek. “Deal, but no kissing. I’ve been kissed one too many times today and I killed a giant.” I pressed my palm to his chest. “Can we just go home and figure out what to do about Justin?”

  He bowed. “As you wish.”

  I laced my fingers with his and towed him toward the road. “Points for referencing my favorite movie.” I’d introduced him to The Princess Bride during one of our few normal dates. He’d seemed more interested in my reaction to the scenes than the scenes themselves, but apparently they’d stuck.

  “It was a good movie, though Buttercup was a bit of a waif. I’ve always preferred strong women.”

  Tom waited in the Town Car at the end of Justin’s drive. He smiled when he saw us walking hand in hand.

  “Untrue. You liked me before I changed, back when I was still a weak little human.”

  He kissed my head. “Untrue. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. Immortality didn’t do a thing to change that.”

  * * * *

  Chester and I shared the couch with Mom after dinner. We muddled through awkward conversations about the day, both of us holding back and neither pressing for details. I told her work was dull and I studied while I was there, which was true for four minutes. She told me she’d helped Dad box up Ginger’s stuff so he could mail it to her family. I bit my tongue to death, trying to keep it still. She’d spent the day in her old closet packing her ex-husband’s dead girlfriend’s things while he mourned. What a tragic, ridiculous scenario. My recent strangulation aside, she’d had the worse day.

  Mom settled a bowl of air-popped popcorn between us and started another episode of her favorite reality show. “I’m so glad you didn’t have to work all day. It was nice having dinner together on a Saturday.” She adjusted the volume and settled against her favorite pillow. “I always wanted to learn to dance.”

  I s
hoved Chester’s nose away from the bowl. “Is that why you stuck me in every class Sugar Apples Dance Academy offered?”

  She snorted. “No. I wanted you to try things and have fun life experiences. I had no idea what you might fall in love with, so I let you try everything. Your friends loved Sugar Apples. I didn’t want you to miss out. Allison still attends, doesn’t she?”

  “She teaches Toddler Tap in the summer. She’s a natural. I was horrible.”

  Mom giggled, stuffing popcorn between smiling lips. “The worst. Then you discovered swimming.”

  “Well, we can’t all be Sugar Apples.” I tossed popcorn in the air and tipped my head back. One piece bounced off my chin. Another doinked my eye. “Gah!” I waved my hands and rubbed my stinging eye.

  Mom laughed. “You’ve done that for years and never gotten any better. Maybe pick another trick. Stick a spoon on your nose.”

  I collected the fallen pieces and shoved them in my mouth. “Hey. I can hit my eye almost every time. Maybe that’s the trick I’m doing.”

  “Oh.” She drew out the little word, smiling proudly. “You’re very good.”

  My phone buzzed on my lap and I flipped it over, expecting Liam to ask again about Justin, who I still hadn’t heard from. A giant blue eye filled the screen. “It’s Justin.”

  “I’m outside. Can we talk? Alone.”

  Mom tugged a blanket over her knees. “Invite him in. We have plenty of leftovers in the fridge and I can make more popcorn.”

  “’Kay.” I stood and Chester claimed my seat beside Mom, licking the couch where I’d dropped the pieces of popcorn.

  Hope carried me to the front door. I grabbed my coat, crammed thermal-socked feet into rubber boots, and slipped outside.

  Justin’s Jeep sat at the curb.

  I climbed in and reveled in the warm, spicy air. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” His knuckles whitened around the steering wheel.

  I scanned the area, hoping to spot Tom and no giants. “How are you doing?”

  “Not great. I died today.”

  “We all die sometime.” I tried out my perky voice. It was stupid.

  Justin didn’t smile. “Do you know what this means for me?”

  “Yeah. Pretty much. It’s my life, too, you know. I’m scared and frustrated all the time. Worried about Mom, you, and Allison. It’s not perfect, but it is what it is, and it’s not the worst either. We call you guys Vikings. You’re immortal, inhumanly strong, and fast. You’ll win every rodeo until forever.”

  The foreboding sky looked more like Hollywood special effects than a rural Ohio night. The stars were masked in gray clouds on a black velvet backdrop. The moon cast a dreary glow on us. Silhouettes of storm-haggard trees swayed in the distance. Two enormous ravens sat on streetlamps several yards away. Huginn and Muninn. Odin’s ravens had started keeping tabs on me the night I heard the Hales moved to town, but I hadn’t seen them in a couple weeks.

  The scarier scene sat beside me. Lines crossed his forehead, marring his usually happy eyes. The downturn of his lips caused me physical pain.

  He released the steering wheel. “Immortal. What does that even mean? Huh? It’s a comic-book word. It’s not supposed to be real. I can’t get my head around what this means. Am I going to grow old like Gandalf? Sport a beard and a hooded cape? Am I eighteen forever?”

  “We won’t age.”

  He vibrated with nerves and frustration. “Seniors forever? How are we supposed to cover that up?”

  “No one will notice for a decade. We’ll figure it out. Let’s go to Hale Manor and talk. The rest of the Vikings are staying there for now. They’re all eager to meet you.”

  Justin removed my hand from his and set it on my lap. “What about my family, Callie? I wanted to own a ranch one day, train horses, and have kids. You’re telling me a day will come that my son looks older than me? I can’t do that. I can’t live to see everyone I know die. You sit there like this is going to be okay, and I just don’t see it.”

  His emotions warped through desperation to anger and back until I had mental whiplash. “When I think of all the things you’ve kept from me, the lies you’ve told, how do I know what’s true?”

  “I wanted to tell you.” My stupid voice cracked.

  “I know why you lied, but understanding the reason doesn’t make the truth easier to live with. I’m still getting used to the fact you chose Liam and now I get to see the two of you together for the rest of my life. Which never ends.”

  “I can’t help the way this all went down. I know it’s a mess right now, but this is the way our lives were meant to unfold. Before we met, before we were born, there was already a path for us. Destiny orchestrated it and we can’t fight it. When you have a chance to clear your head, you’ll see. As far as love? You’ll find the right girl, the really right girl and you’ll be glad things went this way. I wish I could hurry the whole thing up.”

  He looked into my eyes for the first time since I’d climbed inside his Jeep. “Can Vikings even date? You said we’re all men.”

  “There are nymphs. Probably other things too. I’m still learning.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t want to know what the hell a nymph is. I don’t even care. I’m freaking balls over here. Holy hell, Callie. What the fuck?” He beat the steering wheel a few times and it dented. “Shit!”

  “The temper’s a Viking thing. Liam says we start feeling the transition coming before we die. It’s probably why you’ve felt so strange these last few days. I freaked too.”

  He lifted his chin. “And our kiss?”

  My cheeks burned. “Probably happened because you were impulsive and I’m a sucker for your dimples.”

  He smiled wide and his dimples caved in. “I meant the other thing. It felt like I read your mind. Can we do that?”

  “No. I mean, I don’t know. Vikings can’t do that. I don’t think. Liam and his brothers have the gift of influence, but they’re Watchers. They use the influence to help new Vikings choose the right clan. Well, they did. Now we’re mostly one clan.”

  He grimaced.

  “The Hales are direct offspring of Bia, Kratos, and Zelus. I think maybe you picked up on my thoughts because we’re so in sync anyway. Our emotions were high and maybe it just seemed like you read my mind when really you were being intuitive. There’s not much you don’t know about me.”

  “Now.”

  Now that he’d had his full memory returned. Now that I’d finally been honest with him.

  He rubbed his eyes. “Listen, I can’t stay. Tell the guys I appreciate the offer, but I need some time. My head’s been screwed up for a couple weeks, and I need to get away for a little while.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Camping. Dad gave me a pass for school Monday. Sometimes being outdoors is better than anything else to get ourselves straightened out. My grades are solid. He gets it. I need a day off. I’m leaving now. I wanted to let you know before I lost cell reception and you called in the mythical military.”

  I swiveled in my seat. The back was loaded with everything he needed for a week in the woods. “Are you sure that’s a good idea with the weather we’re having?”

  His droll expression shut me up. “Immortal.”

  How could I argue with the immortal card in play? “You’ll be miserable. Alone. Cold. Don’t go. Come inside where it’s warm. You can meet the others and get your questions answered by guys who’ve been through this. They want to help. Let them. Come on.” I tugged his sleeve. “Let’s do this right.”

  “Right?”

  “Yes. Right means together.”

  “Right used to mean together. Now right means you’re in love and I’m the undead and I’ve got trailer tons of shit to sort out. I don’t care if I freeze my ass off. I want to. I want to recognize something is still the same.”

  Instinct told me I should stop him, but love and respect won out. If he needed ti
me, he should have time. “Fine. Be stupid. You’re coming back though?”

  “Yeah.” He grinned a pathetic little grin, designed to make me feel better when pain seeped off him. “Tell Liam I need a rain check on that ass kicking. Hale Manor isn’t the place for me tonight.”

  A tear ran over my cheek. I didn’t touch it. Maybe he wouldn’t notice. “I need you to come back to me.”

  He planted a kiss on my forehead and dried the path of my tear with his thumb. “I’ll always come back to you, Callie.”

  I slid onto the sidewalk and lifted my fingers to Tom, standing in the corn. “He’s okay.”

  The Jeep lumbered away from the curb and into the darkness.

  His brake lights looked a whole lot more like good-bye than I cared to admit.

  Chapter 14

  I hurried to battle practice Monday morning ready to embrace my role as Viking leader. I’d avoided sword training too long and defense alone wasn’t enough when we were facing off with giants. Like it or not, I had to lead a bunch of male warriors. Hiding behind my shield wouldn’t do the job. Half would be killed protecting me. I took out my stress on the heavy bag first.

  Oliver appraised me. Clearly he and his brothers had discussed Justin’s disappearance and my part in it. Hopefully they didn’t discuss the fact he’d kissed me. Thanks to that kiss, I hadn’t slept. Information like that could cause unease among the ranks, start rumors or fights. I had to be seen as worthy of their allegiance, loyal and true, the opposite of how kissing Justin made me look. That kiss was somehow Nym’s doing. I wasn’t sure what she stood to gain from it, but I’d find out. More reasons I was ready to practice attack moves for a change.

  My fists hit the bag with increased intensity. Beads of sweat developed on my brow and temples. The stiff leather rejected my tiny fist, barely jostled by my effort. Every smack of the unyielding weight against my skin roused a fighter in me. One who had never quit before and wouldn’t fail now.

  Oliver grabbed the bag as it began to swing. “Are you sure you’re ready?”