“That’s the second time you said hags. Do you mean Norns?”
“Yes. They are the only deities who work in threes.” He continued to sweep the room. “They can be anyone at any given time. Men. Women. Children.”
I looked around for the elderly couple with the little girl, but they were gone. Could they really be Norns? The last time our paths crossed, they’d wiped my memories.
“Aren’t Norns supposed to be good?”
“Some are. There are evil Norns behind natural disasters, but I’ve never dealt with them. They don’t deal with individuals like the “good” Norns. And I use the word good lightly. Good Norns are the ones in charge of destinies. Most of the gods just accept what they have set as though written in stone. Even my mother is perfectly content with the future the Norns weaved for her. Being raised as a Mortal on Earth gives me a different perspective on things. I don’t want anyone choosing my destiny. That is also the cause of Raine’s problem with them. She refuses to go along with what they’ve planned for her, so they are locked in a constant battle, which makes their good intentions seem pretty evil.”
“Are you saying you won’t take over for your grandfather and rule Asgard?”
He grinned. “That is one future I don’t mind. I want to take over, but I also want to choose what works and reject what doesn’t work for me. You should start taking lessons with Einmyria. According to the Völva my grandfather spoke with, Asgard will fall and the surviving gods will build new halls. I plan to make sure my mother survives as well as my sister, and of course, you.”
“Your father?”
“He survives and joins the rest of the gods in the new halls. Now can we get out of here so I can start to practice saving you?”
I laughed. “Not yet. Tell me more. What is a Völva? Which gods are supposed to survive?”
“I’ll tell you everything you need to know once we leave.”
“I’m not running away, Eirik, just because a Norn got inside my head. No, she tried to get inside and failed because I fought back. The last time one was inside my head, she’d triggered the memories erase button.”
“Don’t remind me. I keep reliving everything that’s happened to you since we met. If I lost you, Dimples…” A growl escaped him.
It was time to distract him. I tilted my head, planted a kiss on his neck, and rubbed my nose along the column, loving how powerful it was, his scent. I kissed his chin and pulled his face closer for a longer one.
Everyone and the food court disappeared, as he became the focus of my senses. His scent was in my nose, his warmth wrapping around me, and his pounding heart beating a rhythm underneath the palm of my hands. I could kiss him for hours and never want to stop.
When I lifted my head, he mumbled, “How did you know this was one of my fantasies, Stjärna mín?”
“Being seduced in public by your girlfriend?” I whispered.
“No, being groped in public,” he said, laughter in his voice. “Your hand, if you haven’t noticed, is under my shirt.”
I punched him. “Groped? Eww, you are gross.”
“And a willing partner, which makes that word totally inappropriate.” He took over the kiss, his incisors elongating, but he didn’t pull back. He was no longer hiding from me, and I loved it. The taste of him changed, his mouth scorching. I lost my ability to think, breathe, or hear. When he lifted his head, his face was out of focus and my ears were ringing.
He pressed a kiss on my temple and whispered, “Let’s rent a movie and watch it at your house instead of going to the theater. We can go to your room to make out.”
I loved the idea. “But it’s Trudy’s day, and we promised her a real theater experience with mega popcorn and slurpees. We could go to the theater in Windfall instead of here. They’re showing the same movies.”
“She’s going to owe me big for this.” He glanced behind me and stiffened. I followed his gaze to the others. Alejandro had joined them and typical him, he was all over the new girl. He’d acted like that with Hayden a few weeks ago.
“That’s Alejandro, Zack’s friend. He’s one of us. Or, one of our childhood buddies.”
“No, he’s not. Let’s go. Up. Up. I’m taking her back to your place, and he’s not invited.”
I didn’t move. “No. You are not storming over there and grabbing Trudy like some big brother from Hel because you have a thing against… what? Tall, beefy guys with a cute smile?”
“Cute? Dimples, you have five seconds to get up or I’m carrying you across the food court to get Trudy.”
“No, you’re not.” I stood, turned, and straddled him before he realized my intentions. He blinked, either shocked by my boldness or surprised. I couldn’t tell because his eyes became slits. I knew I wasn’t playing fair, but his reaction toward Alejandro didn’t make sense. “What do you have against him? I’ve known Alejandro since I was in preschool. When Zack wasn’t around, he was my ride home or last line of defense against bullies. Leave him alone. I don’t want you embarrassing Trudy and spoiling her fun.”
His eyes went to the others before snaring mine. His expression said he had every intention of doing exactly that. I wiggled and grinned when he groaned.
“Okay, you win.” He put his arms around my waist, pulled me closer, and buried his face on my neck.
“Awesome.” I hugged him.
“Don’t move.” He pulled up a chair and propped up his feet, the position bringing me flush with him—hip-to-hip, chest-to-chest. I loved cuddling with him, but this was a whole new level of cuddling. I really hadn’t thought this through.
“What’s up with you and Alejandro?” I asked to distract myself from the crazy thoughts going on inside my head.
“Forget about him. I like this.” Eirik slipped his hands under my kimono and feathered the skin along my waist. “I can open a portal right now to your place.”
“No.”
“To the car?” His hand inched up my back as he kissed my neck. The effect on me was immediate. I shuddered. I needed to distract him fast.
“I’m ready to tell you about what happened with Einmyria.”
“Not right now.”
“When she and your grandmother arrived at Niorun’s place, she was terrified.” His hand slowed down to lazy caresses. “Then your grandmother demanded I come out or she’d hurt her. The next second, her screams filled the yard.” The caresses stopped. “I used the cloak and reached her side without your grandmother realizing it. The cloak had blocked her from finding my energy.” I told him the same version I’d given his mother. “Einmyria blamed you for her suffering. Your grandmother must have fed her a pack of lies about you and your mother.”
A growl swallowed my last words. “That’s so messed up, but it explains her hot and cold attitude toward me and Mom. I need to talk to her.”
“And tell her what?”
“I don’t know. Something. Anything. Find out what Crazy Granny had planted in her head, so I can destroy it. Even when bound and gagged, she’s denying Mom her happiness.” He cursed. “I should have killed her.”
“You gave her a chance to change, which is more than I would have given her, but she wasn’t interested. Let her suffer for eternity knowing she failed to destroy your family.” I tried not to think about Anne Marie.
“You would have given her a chance, too.”
He wore blinders where I was concerned. I didn’t forgive easily. I might put up with Marguerite and her concerned mother routine, but that was because I wanted to know what she and Anne Marie were up to.
“If you say so.”
“Now, about the Norns, if you see these girls again, point them out. I may not be able to read their energy the way you or Raine do, but I can see through their disguises.”
His eyes went to the group behind me and annoyance crossed his beautiful face. He was still hating on Alejandro. I smacked his chest to get his attention.
“You win. Let’s rescue Trudy from the Big Bad Alejandro.”
“Good.” He booted me off his lap and smirked when I glared at him.
“Seriously. When did the two of you meet, and what did he do?”
He glanced at Alejandro again, who was laughing and high-fiving Zack. “He has douchebaggery written all over him.”
“Very eloquent.” He smirked. Now I was even more curious.
We dumped our trays and went to join the others. Alejandro clammed up the second we joined them. Eirik didn’t bother to hide his feelings. He stared down Alejandro with narrowed, cold eyes the entire time. Something was definitely weird between the two, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed it.
“We gotta go, guys, if we want to make it to the movies,” I said.
We gathered our things and headed for the car. Just before I got in, the telltale feeling of being watched returned. I glanced back and my eyes met those of the three girls by the mall’s entrance. The blonde smirked as though enjoying a private joke.
“Turn around slowly and check the left side of the entrance,” I whispered to Eirik without looking away. “The three girls, one blonde, one brunette, and the last one black.”
He whipped around, scales appearing under his skin and his eyes slitting. Invisible runes dotted on his body, and he was gone. I followed the blur, but the ladies were gone by the time he reached the entrance. He came back, and I saw his face. He looked worried.
Norns. What did they want with me?
CHAPTER 9. FORGIVENESS
CELESTIA
“Trudy gets to choose the movie,” I called out over my shoulder as I headed to the kitchen for drinks. Zack and Hayden hadn’t arrived yet. They’d stopped to get popcorn.
The second bowl of fresh fruit on the counter said Dad had done more grocery shopping. He hated doing it. I peered inside the fridge. It was packed with fresh vegetables, non-fat yogurt, and cold cuts, things he rarely bothered with. The groceries had his new girlfriend’s name written all over it.
“Please, no chick-flicks,” I overheard Eirik say and pulled my head out of the fridge.
“Show me how to use this,” Trudy said, her voice rising with excitement. I was sure “it” was the online movie channel on the TV screen.
Dad’s car was missing from the carport, and a note on the fridge door said he’d be gone most of the evening. He was probably on a date. Again.
Zack and Hayden pulled up outside the house, and hauled out two large bags of caramel popcorn. I loved caramel popcorn. Hayden carried two one-liter bottles of soda—ginger ale and Sprite. I grabbed plastic cups and large bowls, and went to open the door for them.
“What happened to going to the movies?” Hayden asked.
“Trudy is tired and just wanted to hang out at home.” As soon as she’d heard about the Norns, she’d insisted on not going to the theater. Eirik didn’t pull punches when he wanted to get his way. That was a part of him that could be really sweet because he put my needs above others, and maddening, because he didn’t care who got hurt in the process. He got lucky this time because Trudy understood.
“We can go to the movies next time,” Trudy called out. She sat on a side chair, surfing the online site for something she liked. The movies were by genre and she was going through animations.
“What are we watching?” Hayden asked, eyeing Eirik, who’d already commandeered the couch.
“Trudy gets to decide.”
“As long as it’s not chick-flick, I’m good,” Eirik said and pounded fists with Zack. Hayden and I snickered. They were not going to decide anything.
“How about this one? I’ve never watched all of it. Just bits and pieces.”
Nemo. I liked the movie too.
“You watch movies in Eljuh… At the hall?” Zack asked.
“Yes and no, but I’ve watched people’s memories as far back as I can remember. If they watched a certain movie that affected them deeply, I get to see it too. The problem is they never remember the whole thing because it’s about the emotions they experienced watching a certain scene or the person they were with. So I get scenes and kissing or sex scenes.”
“No way.” Zack scooted closer to her. “Like live porn?”
Trudy frowned. “What is porn?”
Hayden used speed runes and slapped a hand on Zack’s mouth while Eirik laughed and Trudy watched them with confusion.
“Porn is short for Popular Online Rentals and News. Behave,” Hayden told Zack and then rejoined me in the kitchen. “He’s so terrible.”
“So, you two watch some?”
“No. I’d kill him,” Hayden said while Trudy continued to explain her pastime. “What happened outside the mall? You looked spooked and your man pulled the Flash.”
“Three Immortals were stalking us at the mall. At least, I thought they were Immortals.”
“Eirik’s groupies or enemies?”
“Norns.”
“Really? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“There was no time. I’d seen them from the corner of my eye, but when I turned around, they were gone. It was like they were playing mind games with me.” Laughter came from the living room. “Thanks for today. I don’t know if Trudy would have enjoyed herself as much if you weren’t there.”
“I know. You two tend to get wrapped up in your little world. Hey, I’m not complaining,” she added. “It’s about time. And your man is getting antsy.”
Sure enough, when I looked into the living room, Eirik was staring. He’d picked a few pillows from my room. He cocked an eyebrow. I blew him a kiss.
“Let’s talk later about Einmyria. I saw her.”
“What? When?” Hayden nipped at my heel. “You’re keeping way too many secrets, woman.”
“Later.” I ran from her when she tried to grab me. I was still laughing when I joined Eirik. The couch we took wasn’t meant for sleeping but we made it work. I settled between his legs and used his chest as a pillow, while he piled my pillows behind him. Trudy sat crossed-legged on the floor, a bowl of popcorn and a drink on the coffee table, and her eyes on the screen. It was much more fun watching her than the movie.
Dad called toward the end of the movie and asked me what we wanted for dinner. When he arrived an hour later, he had enough burgers and fries to feed an army. We pigged out and started a second movie. It had barely started when I dozed off.
“I’ll be back,” Eirik whispered. I heard him, but I didn’t open my eyes. The next thing I knew he was carrying me to bed. “Go back to sleep.”
“What time is it?”
“Ten. Sorry I was gone for so long.”
“You were gone? Where?”
“Kayville. That darn cat came to get me.” He entered my bedroom.
“Why? Where’s everyone?” I whispered.
“Living room. Trudy is making a list of movies and shows she plans to watch and Hayden is helping, or not helping. Depends on how you look at it. I think they want to watch another one.”
“Put me down. You should have woken me up.” Why was I so exhausted?
“Between the homework, running around looking for your mother, and the Norns draining your energy, something they should never do”—anger laced his words—“I’m surprised you stayed awake this long. I’m taking Trudy home, but I’ll be back.”
Since I regained consciousness, he’d spent the night at my place. I loved waking up surrounded by his scent. And he was right about my energy. Why would the Norns drain mine? What would they hope to gain? I knew about evil Witches sucking someone’s life force to become even more powerful. What if those three were Witches?
I changed into pajamas. My contact lenses holder and solution still sat by my toiletries. Hmm, maybe if we burst into Einmyria’s room before she woke up, we might catch her without her contacts. Grinning at my thoughts, I brushed my teeth and went in search of the others.
Dad was talking to Trudy, and I caught the tail end of his words. “…always welcome here.”
“Thank you, Chief Deveraux.” Then she hugged him. I fought a grin when our eyes met. He
was still awkward with hugs. He patted her back.
I walked Hayden to Zack’s car. “See you on Monday. I’m going to focus on the packets tomorrow, so no distractions.”
“Got it. Are you nervous?”
“About?”
“Going back to school after everything that went down.”
I hadn’t really thought about it. I didn’t care what other students thought about my absence. “Not really.”
“Can I use your car as a portal? Now that you know about me, I don’t have to drive to school. I can just portal to your car.”
That would be cool. “Sure. How often do you portal to school? Wait a second. Those days when you claimed your mother dropped you off…”
“Yep. But now you know, and I can use your car. Once you start using portals, we could use one of the bathrooms and just stop driving.”
I couldn’t imagine using portals to and from school. That would be too weird. I didn’t respond. Just hugged her and whispered, “Thanks again for helping today.”
“She’s nice. Most of the time, anyway. Wes and Alejandro were all over her. Maybe we should invite them when she visits again.”
Wes? Yes. Alejandro? I don’t think so. Not until I knew why Eirik disliked him. It didn’t make sense. “Let’s talk on Monday.”
“Oh yes, we will. I want to hear about the fake sister,” she added, hugged me one last time, and went to join Zack. I waved to my cousin and went back inside where Eirik and Trudy were ready to leave, the shopping bags by her feet and a portal already opened. She hugged me tight.
“Ouch… Ouch… You. Are. Bruising. My ribs,” I said in a moan and she laughed.
“Thank you for today. It was perfect, and I can’t wait to do it again. See you next weekend.” She grabbed some of the bags and Eirik took the rest. He promised to be back in a few and followed her. I joined Dad in the kitchen, where he was making a pot of coffee.
“How did it go?”
“Very well, actually. No shifting or drama.” He looked happy and relaxed. “So when are you going to make an honest woman out of Mrs. Perkins?”
“I’m not discussing my love life with you.”
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