by Leia Stone
“You need to leave, Synna.” Bodie stepped away from the fireplace. “Allie’s hurt, and Greta needs to focus on healing her—”
“Oh, Allie, is it?” Synna leaned over Tore and held out her hand. It could have been an accident that she positioned her boobs right in front of his face to greet me. But it probably wasn’t.
“Hey.” I shook the fingertips Synna offered and immediately pulled back. A jolt of icy energy ran up my arm and pressed against my heart center, like it was trying to break in. This girl was bigtime bad news.
Synna raised one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “I’m Tore’s girlfriend. Funny, he’s never mentioned you.”
“Huh.” I shrugged, ignoring the churning in my gut. “I live with him, and he’s never mentioned you, either.”
“Burn.” Johann chuckled.
“You’re not my girlfriend,” Tore corrected. He pushed Synna’s shoulder away, so her boobs were out of his face, then moved closer to me so his arm draped firmly across my shoulders. The contact sent a different, considerably warmer, pulse of energy through me. Much better.
“I know.” Synna pushed out her bottom lip. “We’re on a break. But we were supposed to have our chat a month ago, and you’ve been too busy with work. So I decided to come to you.”
“Fine.” Tore sighed. “Greta, can you get started healing Allie’s ankle? A bone break like this will take her a few days to heal on her own, and I really need her operational sooner than that in case there’s another attack.”
“Of course.” Greta picked her backpack off the floor and removed a small box. Her delicate fingers sorted through the contents before removing a crystal, two small bottles, and a vial with a stopper.
Tore squeezed my shoulder. “Greta’s the best healer we’ve got. She’ll get your ankle fixed with minimal pain.”
“Can’t hurt more than it already does,” I said lightly. I was trying really hard not to let Synna affect me. I liked the way Tore’s arm felt around my shoulder, and I wanted him to keep it there without some boob-wielding ex lurking around, thank you very much.
“Right.” Tore pulled his arm away from me and stood. “Synna, let’s talk outside. Guys, hold down the fort while I’m gone.”
Bodie furrowed his brow. “You sure, man?”
Tore shrugged. “Gotta deal with it sometime.” He turned on one heel and stalked from the room, pulling the front door open without a backward glance. “You coming?” he called from the porch.
Synna smirked. “On my way, lover.” She stretched her long legs in front of her and stood, sauntering languidly after Tore. Her hips swayed with each step, and I tried not to envy her curves. Or the relationship she seemed to believe she had with my favorite protector. Dear Universe, Please let her be delusional. Please, please, please. Thank you, Allie.
“Well, that was awkward.” Johann stated the obvious. “Maybe she’ll go home sooner than later.”
“I’m so over dealing with Synna.” Bodie shook his head. “I hope Tore’s ready to cut her loose for good this time.”
My gut clenched. “So they do have a thing?”
“Tore and Synna have been on and off for years.” Bodie rolled his eyes. “We can’t stand her. She brings out the worst in him.”
“Synna suffers from low self-esteem,” Mack said sagely. “Her father is mostly absent, so she relies on peer male approval to validate her worth. She doesn’t understand that if she learns to love herself, she’ll be able to walk her path in peace without external validation.”
I nodded at Mack’s words of wisdom. I also made a note to be careful with what I said around him, so he wouldn’t psychoanalyze me, too. With my background, I probably had all kinds of issues I wasn’t aware of.
“You learn that mumbo jumbo in your Women’s Studies class?” Johann threw a pillow at Mack.
“It’s called awareness, you idiot.” Mack threw the pillow back. “Try it sometime.”
“Ignore them, Allie.” Greta moved her tools to the coffee table next to the ottoman. “Whatever Tore’s dealing with, it has nothing to do with your injury. And right now, I need you to focus all of your energy on that ankle. Can you do that for me?”
“Sure. No, wait.” I winced as my shifted attention sent a stabbing pain up my leg. “Maybe I don’t focus on the ankle.”
Greta smiled. “You’re a demigod, ja?”
“Uh, yeah.” The pain ebbed infinitesimally. “Why?”
“Well, like most immortals, only a dark magic malady can kill you. A break like this could be a conduit for a lethal infection, so I want to make sure the night elf didn’t inject you with any darkness before I set the break. If there’s any darkness in you, I’ll trap it in the vial and banish it to another realm. Let me just run a test.” Greta picked up her crystal and held it over my swollen joint.
“That sounds like a good idea.” I shuddered. Please don’t let my leg be filled with dark magic. Also, please don’t let Tore be making out on the porch with the supermodel. M’kay?
Greta kept the stone in place for a full minute. I felt the vibration of its chalky white minerals, but it didn’t seem to be connecting with me. “Oh, good.” Greta exhaled. “It’s not drawing any darkness. You’re clear. This will be an easy break to mend.”
“Awesome.” That was good. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to kill a night elf, meet Tore’s smokin’ hot ex, and have dark magic extracted from a broken bone all in one day. A girl could only handle so much.
“Sit tight, Allie.” Greta uncorked one of the small bottles and poured its contents over my ankle. “I’m going to use flower essences to shut down the pain receptors, but this will still hurt.”
I gritted my teeth. “Bring it on.”
Mack jumped up from the armchair and crossed the room to hold my hand. “Just look at me, Allie. Tell me about your Gran. What was your favorite dish she used to cook for you? If you describe her best meal, I’ll bet I could replicate the recipe.”
A fond memory danced across my mind. “Gran’s Norsk waffles were my favorite, but she also used to make this amazing rose hip soup. She kept a gorgeous garden, and every year at the first bloom, she’d pick a bushel of—holy mother of pearl!” I screamed as pain overtook me. Mack squeezed my hand tightly. I sensed the compassion coming from him, but kindness did nothing to still pain. White-hot needles seared my ankle at the same time a loud crack rang through the living room. “Oh, God! What did you just do?” I shouted at Greta.
“I know this is awful.” Greta sounded genuinely sorry. “But that was the worst of it. I promise. Your bones are reset, and now I just need to administer the essences that will facilitate the healing for your greater good.”
“Well, administer, sister. Because this is most definitely not my greater good.” I clamped my mouth shut as waves of pain radiated throughout my body.
“I’ll bet your grandmother’s soup was wonderful.” Mack shifted so his face was directly in front of mine. I zeroed in on the fine hairs of his beard and willed myself to examine the variants in their chocolate hues—anything to distract from the pain. “My mother used to make a similar dish with a flower native to Alfheim. I’ll work on adapting the recipe, and after your next kill, we can celebrate.”
My next kill. Right. Thinking about the onslaught of night elves hell bent on claiming my soul made Greta’s ‘healing’ almost bearable. A few minutes of insane ankle agony would be way better than an eternity of soul misappropriation at the hands of some dark elf, right? Right.
“You’re very sweet, Mack.” I kept my eyes locked on his while Greta rubbed something on my aching joint. A faint floral smell drifted to my nose. “Thank you for being so kind to me.”
“It’s truly my pleasure.” Mack squeezed my hands again, and Greta stepped back. “Is she healed?”
“She will be.” Greta closed the vials, then placed them carefully back in her box. “The bones are in place, and the essences will expedite the fusion. With her healing powers, I’d say she’ll be back to one hundre
d percent by breakfast time.”
“Thank you.” I grimaced at the healer. “Sorry I yelled at you.”
“No worries, I know it hurt.” Greta winked and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She swapped places with Mack, bending down low to give me a gentle hug. “If it’s not better in the morning, have the boys call me, and I’ll come back.”
“You’re going back to Asgard?” Bodie’s shoulders drooped.
“I have to.” Greta sighed. “The healing unit’s full at the moment. But I hope to visit soon, under better circumstances, of course.”
“See ya, Greta.” Johann gave a jaunty wave, and Greta returned the gesture.
“Hang in there, Allie.” Greta gave me a warm smile. “I’ve known these boys a long time, and they’re a lot to deal with. Especially that one.” Greta tilted her head toward the porch. “But they’re the most loyal bunch I’ve ever met, and their hearts are pure gold. All of their hearts.” She gave me a meaningful look.
Message received, healer.
“Thanks, Greta. I hope I see you again.” I meant it. The Asgardian had genuinely good energy. And after weeks cooped up in a house full of guys, I could use some girl time. I just hoped the girl I’d be spending time with in the near future was the gentle healer . . . not the ice queen doing who knew what on the porch with my favorite protector.
As Greta let herself out, Tore’s angry voice shot through the open door. The tone was quickly replaced by his throaty laugh. What? A minute later, the bright lights of the Bifrost filled the window. I reached out with my energy to sense the signature of my new friend leaving for Asgard. Greta was gone, but Synna’s ice-cold signature remained on the cabin’s porch. And her shrill laugh rang through the now-closed front door.
Good Lord, what was going on out there? How were they both yelling and laughing? Ugh. They were probably one of those really immature couples who fought like crazy, then had passionate sex before getting back together. And since they’d just been on a break, I could only guess what stage they were about to enter now. The thought formed a lump in my throat.
“Hey Mack, I’m tired. Would you mind helping me to bed?” I raised my arm. Mack looked at the front door before nodding at me. He lifted my butt off the couch and helped me to my room.
Once on my bed, I thanked him. He was quiet for a long time, and I figured he was mulling something over. When he finally spoke, he kept his voice soft. “Allie, Synna was there for Tore when his mom died. That’s the only reason he doesn’t tell her to screw off. He feels like he owes her something.”
I just nodded. After a minute, Mack left the room and closed the door. When he was gone, I let my head fall back against the pillow and permitted myself one frustrated exhale. I hadn’t realized how much I’d started to like Tore until I heard him laugh-screaming with his ex. His tall, exotic, totally not me ex. Ugh. I’d always been that girl who built guys up in my head; made them into more than they were capable of being. Like my high school boyfriend Jamie Foster—I’d given him my virginity senior year, and he’d asked another girl to prom three weeks later. I’d thought maybe a demigod could actually live up to the seemingly reasonable expectations I set for a potential boyfriend. But apparently, continuing to crush on Tore meant settling for being second fiddle to his on-and-off ex. And I was done settling. I wanted a guy who actually deserved me. And if Tore wasn’t that guy . . . then my crush was officially over.
For good.
****
The next morning, I awoke a new woman. Gone was the push-over who waited for jerks to intuit her feelings and make a move. If the right guy came along and wanted me, great. If not, peace out. I slipped into some yoga pants and a sports bra and tied my hair into a bun. This morning needed to start with coffee and meditation, or someone was getting stabbed.
Upon exiting my room, I immediately heard Tore’s voice in the kitchen. The commanding tenor was paired with the enticing scent of bacon. My two favorite morning things . . . until last night. Now my one favorite morning thing, and my totally platonic roommate. Yup.
I rounded the corner, following the scent of cured meat to a serving platter on the island. Mack and Tore looked up from their stove-side chat as I selected a plate and dished up. Tore slid a cup of hot coffee over the counter. “Looking good, Pepper. Leg all healed?”
My mouth popped open in surprise. I’d totally forgotten about my leg! I flexed it experimentally, astounded not to feel a single ounce of pain. Well done, Greta. I wrapped my fingers around the coffee mug and settled back on my stool, sipping the liquid joy and ignoring Tore’s question.
“So . . .” Tore pressed. “You went to bed early last night . . .”
I looked up, giving him the universal female expression for don’t talk to me, idiot.
“Mmm-hmm.” I sipped my coffee. “Hey, Mack. Wanna do yoga with me?”
Yoga with Mack accomplished two things: One, avoiding Tore, and two, working out with the only guy in the house who understood that yoga wasn’t a waste of time; rather it exercised both body and mind simultaneously.
Mack raised one eyebrow. He glanced at Tore and then at me. “Sure.”
I snatched one last piece of bacon off of the plate and popped it into my mouth before chugging the rest of my coffee.
Tore watched me behind narrowed eyes. “You feeling okay this morning?”
I gave the best fake smile I could muster. “I’m fine.”
Instead of saying anything else, Tore just stood there with his arms crossed, a frustrated expression painted on his perfect face. Apparently, the demigod was too dense to understand that if a woman told him she was fine, there was only one prudent response.
Run.
****
An hour later, sweat dripped from my brow, and my muscles groaned as I held my side plank. Yoga could hurt like a mother. But I held my pose without complaint—no way was I letting Mack show me up.
We were about to shift into cobra pose when the door of the complex burst open, and Tore and Bodie ran in. One look at Tore’s face, and I knew something was horribly wrong.
I pushed myself to my feet, my chest heaving as I caught my breath. “What’s going on?”
“Allie . . .” Tore didn’t say more, so I looked at Bodie.
“Bodie?” I wrung my fingertips together. “Talk to me.”
Bodie swallowed hard. “Your mom . . . she was attacked.”
The news caught me totally off guard. “No!” I whispered. My legs gave out, and I dropped to my knees.
Tore crossed the complex in quick strides to kneel in front of me. “She’s alive, but . . . it’s bad. We need to get your weapon assembled so we can kill Nott and stop the energy drain. Now.”
My head swirled with the need for more information. “How the hell did Nott get into Asgard? Why wasn’t my mother better protected?”
Tore looked every bit as furious as I felt. “The Alfödr is looking into it.”
Mack growled beside me. “Eir’s safety should have been the Alfödr’s top priority.” His energy seethed. “May Nott burn in Helheim for all of eternity!”
Rage burned inside me, filling every last pore. My fingernails dug into my clenched palms as I struggled to speak coherently. “Take me to see my mother first; then I want to go to another realm. I don’t care if we don’t have any leads, I’m getting every last piece of Gud Morder back. And then I’m going to destroy Nott and everyone who helped her.”
CHAPTER NINE
“ONE OF THE RAVENS just dropped this off.” Mack’s low whisper broke through the calm of my mom’s little house. I held up my pointer finger to quiet him, and he fell silent.
After my diva-warrior fit, the boys had taken me back to Asgard. The plan was to say goodbye to my mom before Bifrosting to the frozen wasteland of Jotunheim. We still didn’t have any leads on where the remaining pieces of my weapon were, but the Alfödr’s ravens had spotted a lingering dark magic burst in the frost giant’s realm. It could have been a night elf looking around, or it could
have just been the jotuns being their sunshiny selves. Either way, it was the only intel we had, so we were following it.
Right after I had a moment with my mom.
“What is it?” Johann whispered back.
“It’s the coordinates of the dark burst.” The rustling of papers let me know the boys were passing something back and forth. I raised my finger again, this time following it up with a glare.
“Gentlemen,” Tore hissed. “Go outside if you want to talk.”
“Sorry, Allie,” Bodie offered. I turned my head away from my mom and gave a curt nod.
“I’ll walk them out,” Greta offered. She rose from the table at my mom’s bedside, where a densely-stocked healing box lay open. “Allie, I trust you’ll come and get me if her condition changes.”
“I will,” I whispered.
“We’ll leave you alone. Let us know if you need anything.” Mack placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Thanks, Mack,” I said. “I appreciate it.”
“You can go outside, too,” I said to the only protector who hadn’t filed through the door with his friends.
“Not on your life.” Tore spoke fiercely. “Somebody broke in here and corded the Hel out of your mom’s energy centers. We were lucky the healers were able to stop the drain before her essence was completely wiped out. I’m not leaving you alone.”
“Don’t trust that I can take care of myself?” I challenged.
Tore stepped beside me and crossed his arms. “I don’t trust our enemies. If you’ve got a problem with that, then too bad. I failed to protect Gud Morder. I’m not about to let you down again.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Tore. You can go outside already.” I crossed my arms and leaned forward, mirroring his posture.
“I took an oath to protect you. Remember?” Tore’s too-intense eyes bored into mine.
“Right.” I fought to keep the bitterness from my voice. Obviously, his oath was the only reason he stuck around me. I hadn’t seen the Bifrost last night before I went to sleep, which meant Synna stayed at the safe house past midnight. Lord only knew what she did with Tore all night. And possibly into the morning. I certainly wasn’t going to ask, but I didn’t appreciate his arm around me one second and then . . . Ugh. I didn’t want to go there.