by Leia Stone
I somehow managed to drag my sluggish body out of bed to throw on some clothes, brush my hair and my teeth, and swipe on a coat of waterproof mascara. While I had no idea what Asgardian Weapons Training later would entail, I had a pretty good inkling it would involve sufficient pain to evoke tears. I made a mental note to stick close to Mack. He seemed like the gentlest—or, at a minimum, the least prone to torture—of my protectors.
I padded out into the hallway, sleep still weighing down my steps. I was so not ready for a day of classes—my trip aboard the rainbow crazy train, not to mention my virtual all-nighter, had totally wiped me out. Rally, Allie. Don’t let them think you’re weak.
“Morning, Sunshine.” Bodie’s cheery voice greeted me as I made my way into the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Please,” I grunted. My energy was pretty dormant until it got its daily serving of caffeine.
Mack looked up from the stove, where he spooned up scrambled eggs. When the waffle maker beeped, he turned his attention to the device and removed a steaming treat. “Vafler, Allie?” he offered.
“Please,” I grunted again. When I’d plopped myself down on a stool at the center island, I accepted the warm cup Bodie handed me. “Thank you.”
“Around here we say takk,” he corrected. “Those of us with Asgardian heritage attempt to retain our connection to the Norse Midgardian language.”
Guys who spoke multiple languages were hot. Maybe I could pick up some words while staying with them. “You guys are all Asgardian, right?” I sipped my coffee. Mmm. Liquid gold.
“They wish.” Bodie winked as Johann slugged into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “God morgen, Sleeping Beauty. Nice of you to join us,” he teased Johann.
“Shut up, Bodie.” Johann went straight for the coffee pot. He poured a cup and shuffled over to the stool to my left. “Hei, Allie.”
“Hey,” I replied.
“As I was saying, we’re not all Asgardians. Asgard is home to the primary gods, demigods, and warriors and healers who protect the nine realms. We can’t all be go-getters, though. The sleepyheads live in Vanaheim.” Bodie tilted his head at Johann.
“I said shut up, Bodie,” Johann groaned. “Let me drink my coffee in peace.”
Looked like Johann wasn’t a morning person either. Preach.
“Johann’s from Vanaheim.” Bodie took two plates from Mack and sat on the stool to my right. He set one plate in front of me before digging into his. “That’s the home of the secondary gods, and general slowpokes. No offense.”
“You do not want to fight me before I’ve had my coffee,” Johann threatened. “I won’t have the fortitude to not outright kill you.”
“Gentlemen. We are not animals.” Mack frowned over his shoulder.
“Mack’s from Alfheim—he’s a light elf, and they’re all about the manners and sensitive feelings,” Bodie continued.
Shut up. The big beefy dude rocking the Viking beard was an elf?
“But you don’t have pointy ears,” I blurted.
“Excuse me?” Mack looked confused.
“Your ears. They look like mine. The night elf who attacked me the other night had pointy ears. And so do the elves in those movies about the ring.” I bit my bottom lip, worrying I’d offended Mack. But he let out a guffaw that echoed around the kitchen.
“Do you believe everything you see on your television?” Mack chortled.
“No.” Maybe.
“I’m a light elf, Allie. And while it’s true some light elves do share the ear shape of our dark elf brethren, you’ll find most of us are indistinguishable from humans.” Mack’s easy smile let me know all was good between us. He returned his attention to the stove.
“Yeah, Mack’s a light elf all right. That’s why he’s so in touch with his feminine side,” Johann chimed in. The caffeine must have hit his system. He was back to heckling Mack.
Mack turned around, a heaping plate in each hand. “If you would like any vafler, I suggest you put on your kindness hat.”
Johann saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Oh my God, he just said kindness hat. So cute.
Mack crossed to the island and lowered his massive frame onto the last available stool. He set the plates down and opened up the newspaper that had been sitting on the countertop. “Huh,” he muttered.
“What is it now?” Bodie looked up from his eggs.
“Another mudslide in Los Angeles. This one took out a dozen homes and killed a group of hikers.” Mack stared at the paper. “I knew this much rain after their drought would be dodgy, but I thought their parks department could handle diverting the overflow.”
“Their parks department was downsized considerably, remember?” Bodie took another bite. “Budgetary cuts under the new leadership.”
“That worked out nicely for Nott, didn’t it?” Mack folded the paper and pushed it away.
“Lots of things in this realm are working out nicely for Nott lately,” Bodie agreed.
“Are you guys saying Nott caused the mudslides?” I balked, my coffee mug frozen mid-sip.
“Nott caused the decay in the earth, which contributed to the destabilization of the land, thereby priming it to be more susceptible to a slide,” Mack explained. “A few years ago, the Los Angeles County Parks Department had the manpower to divert the overflow from the kinds of rains they’re getting this season, but apparently, their hands are now administratively tied. Nott or one of her night elves may have put a bug in those administrative ears, or the humans could have done that to themselves. Either way, it resulted in hiker deaths, home destruction, and a freeway that will take months to repair. And that’s just one location. Over the past year, Midgard’s environmental disasters have grown to five times what they were three years ago. Nott’s got her claws into this planet; that’s for sure.”
Jeez. It brought everything home, in a very disturbing way.
There wasn’t much to say after that, so the four of us sat, eating waffles in silence, while a light snow fell outside the kitchen window. After a minute, a deep voice broke through the quiet.
“Well, isn’t this cozy. You dewdrops enjoying your breakfast?” Tore sauntered into the kitchen. He turned his back to us as he pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge.
Oh, God. His black workout pants hugged the sides of his butt, and despite the snow, he’d opted to wear a tank top that left no doubt as to which of the realms his arms were from. Asgard, all the way.
“There’s a warm plate in the oven.” Mack nodded at the stove.
“Thanks, but I ate before my run.” Tore turned around and leaned against the counter. His eyes moved over Mack and Johann before settling on me. “Morning, Allie,” he murmured. “Sleep well?”
His sultry tone caught me off guard. Coffee slid down the wrong pipe, and I coughed before answering. “Slept great for one hour,” I croaked. “Thanks.”
“Good.” He tipped the bottle back, and downed its contents before tossing it into the recycling bin. “Because I’m picking you up from school when your last class gets out, and then we’re going to the complex.” He moved across the kitchen and opened the back door. He stepped through and pulled it closed behind him, heading into the snow without bothering to put on a long-sleeved shirt. Apparently, the ‘Professor’ wouldn’t be following me to my classes. It seemed he had more important things to do.
“What exactly is the complex?” I asked the guys. Nobody had explained what the physical portion of my training would entail. I just assumed I’d be getting my butt handed to me, times four.
Bodie and Johann exchanged a look over my head. “For us, it’s a giant playground,” Johann began. “But for you . . .”
Bodie shook his head with a grin. “Get ready, Allie. Today’s gonna be one Hel of a ride.”
Great. I couldn’t wait.
****
The rest of my day slugged on. Even with three more coffees in my system, and three hypervigilant protectors sitting behind me, I could barely pay atte
ntion in my last class. Normally, I would have appreciated the lecture on what our culture could do to combat climate change, but today the professor’s lecture went right over my head. When she finally dismissed us, I shoved my books into my bag and tripped on my way out of the classroom.
Mack caught me by the arm. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I lied. His eyes narrowed in concern, and I outed myself. “I’m freaked out about training, okay? I read up on Asgardian weapons at lunch, and I’m kind of scared about what Tore’s going to do to me.”
“You’ll be fine, Allie.” Mack squeezed my elbow gently, but there was no denying the worry in his eyes. We made our way to the parking lot, where Bodie and Johann gave me a look that said nice knowing you; you’re probably going to die in training today. Maybe I was being a tad dramatic . . . but I definitely caught a look.
A loud honk caught my attention. The boys stepped back as Tore pulled up to the curb in a white Range Rover. I tried to retreat with them, but Bodie pushed me forward.
“Moment of reckoning, girl. Get in,” he said.
“Gee, thanks,” I replied.
Mack opened the passenger door for me and bowed his head slightly. That boy was one in a million. I sincerely hoped I lived to thank him for being such a good guy. I offered a halfhearted wave as I slipped into the car and fastened my seatbelt. My stomach was tied in knots, and my body already ached, anticipating the pain that was surely in my near future. But since Gran hadn’t raised a weak woman, I turned to Tore and met his steely blue gaze.
“Bring it.” I spoke with a confidence I didn’t feel. Tore just smirked and gunned the gas.
Dear Universe, Kindly have mercy on my fragile bones. Thanks. Xoxo, Allie.
****
Two hours later, I lay on the mat, panting like a woman in labor. Tore stood over me, glistening with a fine sheen of sweat that only increased his hotness. My sweat was neither fine nor sheeny. It was a gushy, sticky mess that in no way improved my attractiveness.
“Get up,” Tore demanded.
My back was on fire. Muscles burned that I didn’t even know existed. I was flat out in the center of the complex—a large, open gym space made from a converted pole barn. The structure housed the guys’ physical conditioning equipment and an insane arsenal of torture-inducing weapons.
“Why can’t I just pepper spray the elves?” I groaned. My abdominal muscles tried to kill me as I forced myself to sit up. If I could just spray everyone, then I wouldn’t need to train.
“Because night elves eat pepper spray for breakfast. Come on, Allie. I thought you were in shape?” Tore rolled his eyes.
Oh, no he didn’t. I shot up quickly, gritting my teeth as I took my fighting stance. My body was used to working out—I exercised to ground out the energy of the day—but it wasn’t used to being thrown around a room, bouncing off a wall, and slamming into the floor. I mean, honestly. Whose was?
Tore’s twinkling eyes suggested he found my irritation amusing. Jerk. “Enough blocking techniques. Let’s get to the weapons. Bodie? Bring out the basics.”
Finally, something cool. Mack approached from the left, carrying my shoulder armor in his hands. He held it up to my arm. “Let’s get you suited up, Allie,” he said. “I know you’ve worn this once before, but you need to know that there’s a light magic infusion woven throughout this piece. It will activate the crystals in any Asgardian weapon you wield, making it deadly to those races susceptible to light magic. Quick physiology lesson: the only thing that can kill a light god is dark magic. Darkness is light’s energetic opposite, and our systems can’t sustain the duality. For dark beings, it’s the other way around. Light magic infused weapons can kill dark creatures. Like night elves.”
I nodded, “Right. Of course.” What?
As Mack helped me strap on my shoulder piece, Tore grabbed a sword from Bodie. It lit up like a lethal, blue beacon at his touch, but the only thing he wore on his top half was a clingy, sweaty tank top. His arms were completely bare—no magic armor.
“How come Tore can make his weapon light up without an arm piece?” I directed my question at Mack, but Tore was the one that answered.
“Because I’ve been using Asgardian weapons all my life. You’re still a baby. The power of the crystals in the weapons would tear you apart if you didn’t have the necklace and armor to channel the energy. Your body isn’t used to this yet. You’ll get there.”
My brows furrowed. “Did you just call me a baby?”
Tore grinned. He held his left arm out and drew two fingers toward his palm, motioning for me to come and get him. Bodie handed me a thin sword with a yellow-gold engraved hilt. When I grabbed it, energy shot from my necklace to my armor, before settling into the weapon. The tip glowed with a blue fire. I grinned. Wicked.
Tore held up one hand. “Disclaimer. Since you and I are demigods, if this were a dark energy weapon and it was to pierce one of our hearts, we would die. These are light energy weapons, and our systems aren’t averse to the power they wield, but they can still do some pretty major damage. So be careful.”
Shut up, I’m a demigod. Right. I forgot. I forced my trigger-happy arm to take a downer. “Got it. But what if it just cuts us?”
Tore shrugged. “You bleed a bit. Probably be completely healed within a few minutes.”
My eyes bugged. “A few minutes?”
Bodie sighed. “Demigod perk. Super jealous. It takes the rest of us an hour.”
An hour? No part of me had ever completely healed itself in an hour, much less a few minutes. “But I don’t get the speed healing, right? Because I’m . . . I don’t know, tethered to Midgard or something?”
Mack actually laughed at that, and Tore gave an all-out grin. “Pepper, since you put on that necklace, you’ve had your demigod ability to heal. Your power is doubly effective, since you’re a descendant of Eir. Don’t you remember breaking your rib last night with the elf?”
Oh my God. I did break it. I knew a bruise shouldn’t have hurt that much. But I’d been walking—well, limping—off the injury by the time the guys brought me home. What the hell? I healed my own broken rib?
“Hei.” Mack put his hands up. “Let’s not lump all elves together.”
Tore nodded in Mack’s direction. “Right. The night elf. My bad.”
Whoa. I can heal super-fast? Do I have any other new abilities? “Can I—hold on. What is that?” I looked down at my blade. I’d forgotten there was a weapon in my hand until it vibrated. “Uh, it’s moving. Or something.”
Tore shrugged. “It’s bored. Stop talking, and let’s train.”
It’s bored? It? Like it’s conscious? The blade is conscious? I couldn’t tell if Tore was kidding or not, but the energy the weapon gave off suggested it was very much alive. Or at least, it wasn’t a run of the mill inanimate object. Tore advanced on me, and I took my standard fencing position. He lightly clacked against my sword with a move I blocked with ease. But the reverberation from Tore’s blade was much more intense than a fencing sword’s. It took a few parries for me get a feel for this weapon. While I batted his blade away, Tore barked orders. “Jab! Feign left! Roll!”
I was just trying not to do anything stupid like cut my hair off. Note to self: Next time wear a bun.
Tore moved languidly around the complex, swinging his sword with seemingly no effort. He may have actually checked his watch while still keeping speed with me. Meanwhile, I flailed about, trying to get used to the heaviness of the weapon and the power of the energy surge it gave off when it struck something. When it looked like I might actually be putting Tore to sleep, I let out a frustrated sigh.
Tore raised one eyebrow. “Am I not going hard enough on you, Pepper?”
“You’re obviously bored. Don’t you think I can handle myself?” I challenged.
Tore didn’t respond. Instead, he kicked out his foot and struck me in the ankle, scooping my legs out from under me. As I went down, I dropped my sword and grabbed him by the neck. I landed flat on m
y back, the air rushing out of my lungs as Tore came down on top of me. He managed to retain control of his weapon, while slowing his descent with his free arm. He bore his weight on one arm, and while it meant he didn’t crush me, it also meant his hips were pinned against mine. All kinds of crazy hormones suddenly pinged around my body. At this proximity, there was zero way to not notice how good he smelled. Or how good he felt laying on top of me. Jeez, Allie. How long has it been since you went on a date? Clearly, the answer was too long because I so did not need to see Tore in that light. My once annoying protector, who also held the prize as Jerk Numero Uno in my new little social circle, was in no way the sexy, misunderstood bad boy my hormones were painting him to be. Get it together, Allie. There’s a time and a place. This moment, in the training room, this is neither.
Tore’s pupils dilated as he breathed slowly in and out. Each inhale brought increased pressure of his pelvis on mine, making my thoughts go all mushy. Again.
“Nice going, Pepper,” Tore whispered. “You almost stabbed yourself by falling on your sword, and brought your attacker down on top of you. But I can’t complain about the view.” His eyes slowly scrolled down my face to my neck. What? Did he just hit on me?
Before I could think up a witty reply, Mack hissed. “Night elves.”
Tore rolled off of me and jumped up like he’d been burned. His eyes scanned the complex as his sword flared to life with blue fire. “Where?”
Mack closed his eyes, breathing in and out deeply. “The same spot we killed their scout. Down the road.”
Tore snapped his fingers at me. “Take the armor off and keep quiet.”
Johann grabbed a large sword for himself and tossed another to Bodie. The boys were suiting up for battle, and they expected me to cower in the corner?
“No way. I want to help,” I replied. Tore blurred to my side in a movement so fast, I could barely track him.
“You’re not ready, and the armor might lead them to you. Take. It. Off.”