“You also used magic,” I said.
“To do good, not hurt people. During the peak of the Iron Age, we were everywhere—Britain, Ireland, Gaul, and Celtic Europe. My family came from Gaul.”
“We’re almost there. The sign is on the left. Where’s Gaul?”
“A region that covered most of western Europe, present day France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, northern Italy, Netherlands, and Germany. My father was an important official, so I became a novice to a priest at a young age. It helped that the head of the Druids at the time was my uncle. By the time I was seventeen, I had learned all the verses by heart.”
“Verses?”
“Sacred teachings passed down from Bards, Ovates, and Druids to novices. We weren’t strong believers in keeping records or writing down our practices. Everything was oral. Spells, charms, incantations—they were all memorized. When Rome attacked Gaul, I was eighteen. We were a peaceful people. We didn’t even join the military, but the Romans were determined to destroy us.” His hands flexed on the steering wheel. “Once they conquered Gaul, they slaughtered my people and outlawed our religious practices. I think they targeted us out of fear because the Gaullish society was dependent on us, yet our teachings were sacred and not shared with non-Druids. Is that the sign?” he asked.
A white sign with the words “Kayville Point” was ahead. “Yes. Go on with your story.”
“Some of us were forced to fight back using magic. The scholars took to the forest, hiding and moving from place to place. My group managed to survive for two years when a traveler from Otherworld visited.”
“An alien?”
He laughed. “That’s a more recent term.”
He pulled up on the gravel embankment with parking spaces clearly mapped. Only one car was parked in the area, its windows foggy.
“Is this the go-to place when students want to make out?” Echo asked.
It was. “Yes and no.”
He switched off the engine and faced me. Runes appeared on his body, a few lighting up his face and the interior of the car. I could never get enough of looking at him when his runes were engaged. He looked beautiful, yet dangerous. Then I noticed his narrowed eyes. It wasn’t the I-can’t-wait-to-kiss-you look he’d worn at Drew’s place. “What is it?”
“You come here a lot?” he asked.
“No, just a couple of times. The football team holds crazy parties up here after games. They don’t come for the view, even though it’s amazing.” I pointed to our left. “There’s a sharp drop over there with more beer bottles than the city dump.”
Echo’s eyelids dropped as he pushed his fingers through my hair and gripped the back of my head. “You and Drew ever drive up here, doll-face?”
He spoke softly, but I heard the jealously in his voice. “No. We didn’t have that kind of a relationship. I mean I kissed him, but it was a one-time thing.”
He studied me as though trying to see if I’d lied. “Eirik?”
He’s coming back… You were all he was concerned about before he left… “No. We, uh, I don’t want to discuss Eirik. Tell me about Otherworld.”
Heat flashed in Echo’s eyes. “What happens if he comes back?”
I shrugged. “I don’t care. He’s not who I though he was.”
“Yeah, he’s a freaking god among Mort—”
I pressed a finger to his lips. “Let’s not talk about Eirik, okay. He never understood me, and he wasn’t there when I needed him. You get me, and you are here.”
He kissed my knuckles and smiled.
“Yes, I get you. Just a second.” He stepped out of the car, pulled the blade from his back pocket, and went into high speed. I got out of the car and watched him, but he was a blur, so I focused on what he was drawing on my car. He was etching runes. So many of them.
“Excuse me?” a guy said behind me, and I whipped around, my stomach dropping. The couple from the other car peered at me.
“Cora?” the girl asked.
I recognized her from school. Kendra something or other. Her date looked familiar, but I couldn’t place his face. “Hi, Kendra.”
“What are you doing up here alone?” she asked, studying Echo’s coat curiously. She didn’t introduce her date, and I didn’t really care.
“I’m not alone.” I glanced at Echo, who as still scribbling. Of course, they couldn’t see him. He slowed down, and I caught his smirk before he disappeared inside the car.
“So are you guys just hanging out?” I asked lamely and tried not to cringe.
Kendra looked at her date. “Yeah.”
Her date peered at the car. Thankfully, the door opened and Echo stepped out.
“Oh, there you are,” I said with relief.
He completely ignored the couple. “Come on.”
“Nice seeing you again, Kendra.” I opened the passenger door and slid inside.
Echo opened the back door and fumbled with the driver’s seat until it folded, creating more space. “Back here. If we’re really going to talk, let’s get comfortable.”
I tried climbing over the tray with the coffee holders, but the duster kept getting in the way. Growling in frustration, I sat back in my seat and opened the door.
Kendra and her friend were walking back to their car. They turned and waved. I’d normally be embarrassed if anyone saw me crawling into the back seat of a car with a guy, but not this time. I could make out with Echo anywhere and not feel ashamed. Not that we were planning on making out now.
I got in the back seat and sat on the folded seat facing him, but the duster got caught in the door. How did he move around wearing it? Worse, my car had little legroom.
“Easy, sweetheart. That’s my favorite coat.” Echo decided to help by undoing the buttons. A grin curled his lips when he spied my ripped shirt.
My face grew warm. “And this was my favorite top.”
He removed his artavus from his back pocket, lifted my shirt, and etched runes on it. I’d assumed he drew the runes, but it turned out that a light shot from the blade to the fabric. The fabric of my shirt shifted and remolded, until the rip was repaired. It wasn’t perfect, but I was covered now.
“That looks awful. I’ll buy you a dozen to replace it.”
“With what? Mortals don’t trade in souls. It takes cold, hard cash to buy goods.”
“I have money, mainly in gold.” He pulled me down on top of him and stretched his legs over the folded seat. It was a tight fit, but we made it work. He tucked my head under his chin, and I sighed. He smelled amazing, and I loved listening to his heartbeat.
“I want to hear the rest of your story,” I said. “You were at the part with the aliens from Otherworld.
“I just told you I have gold.”
“And this should interest me because…?”
“You’re a new Grimnir and haven’t accumulated anything. I’ve had millennia to collect stuff, properties, money, expensive toys, which means I can give you anything I want. Women dig that stuff.”
I opened my eyes wide and fluttered my eyelids. “Oh, Echo, you’re so rich. Can you buy me an island?”
“Sure. Which one?”
I laughed. “Quit showing off and tell me about the aliens that visited your people.”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. I loved that chuckle. It was dark and sexy and never failed to send a shiver of pure excitement through me.
“Not aliens,” he said. “Beings from other worlds. We believed that other realms existed. What I didn’t know was how often they—Valkyries—recruited from among my people. The secret was well kept. The selected few went through intense training, learning about the realms and magical runes. I was twenty when I became an Immortal. It usually took years of training before one started reaping, but my case was unusual. Within a year, I was reaping souls for Valhalla.”
“You were a Valkyrie?”
“Yeah, but not for long. My people were still in hiding, still being hunted down like animals. My sisters…” He
released air. “Died horribly, stoned to death when they weren’t even sorceresses.”
My heart squeezed. He stared bleakly into space, but I could see him struggle to gain control. I touched his face, wanting to comfort him, but what words could convey how horrified I was by his story? So I let my lips speak for me.
I kissed him. Gently at first, then deeply, trying to absorb his pain. Make him forget even if for just a moment. I didn’t stop until he took over. His lips eased from mine and pressed on my forehead.
“The Roman emperors were wussies, scared of old men and women, novices too young to shave,” he said, speaking slowly. “We couldn’t be Druids and Roman citizens. I was in a position to rescue as many of my people as I could, so I came up with a plan and rallied the support of a group of Valkyries, all former Druids, and told them what I’d planned. I didn’t give them a chance to refuse. I told them they owed it to our people, that we were Druids first and Valkyries second. We started rescuing our people. I might have said before that there are rules I break and those I don’t, but the circumstances were different then. We bent some and broke quite a few.” He became quiet.
I lifted my head and peered at him, the runes on his forehead gave a soft glow that made him look even more exotic than usual.
He smiled. “Actually, we broke a lot. The dying ones, we took their souls to Valhalla and Falkvang. We didn’t care whether they were fighters or not. The rest we marked with healing runes and turned into Immortals. It is against the Valkyrie laws to turn Mortals into Immortals, not without proper training and the right artavo.”
“Is artavo like artavus?”
“Artavus is one. Artavo is plural. I became friends with dwarves, makers of weapons, and convinced them to make us more artavo, which we used to turn my people. When the gods discovered what we’d done, we were hauled before the Council. The sentence was harsh. We got Hel duty for eternity.”
I studied his face, the furrows of his brow, and the downward turn of his sensual lips. At first he couldn’t meet my gaze. When he finally did, I sucked in a breath. There was so much torment in his eyes.
“You did the right thing, Echo.”
“Did I?”
“Of course, you did. Your people were being slaughtered. You did what you had to do to save them. So you broke a few rules…”
“I forced my friends to follow me, Cora, and condemned them to eternal servitude to Hel.”
“They didn’t have to follow you. You didn’t threaten them with bodily harm.”
The laugh that escaped him was derisive. “Actually, I did. The ones I couldn’t guilt into joining me, I threatened.”
Of course, he had. He wouldn’t be Echo if he hadn’t. “What are a few bruises among Valkyries. They self-heal, don’t they?”
“True, but they’re not happy serving Hel.”
“Then they are a bunch of wussies,” I retorted.
“They hate me. I started an underground band, and until recently, I was the lead singer. Things got so bad I decided to quit.”
The Reapers. No wonder Kicker almost recognized him. I’d so love to hear him sing. “Their loss.”
He chuckled, lifting my leg over his hip and running a hand up and down my bare thigh. My skirt had ridden up under his coat. “I killed two of them.”
He spoke so softly I thought I misheard him.
“Two of what?”
“Druids. Well, Grimnirs. Even after a couple of millennia, I still think of them as Druids, which is rather funny because I’ve given you a hard time over calling us grim or—”
I gripped his face and forced him to look at me. “Why did you kill them?”
“They were coming after you, Cora.”
Wow. He’d killed his own people for me. How was I supposed to process that? It was obvious he felt terrible about it. His golden eyes were shadowed. I’d noticed how they became golden when he was excited or aroused, but the green ring grew larger when he was sad. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I couldn’t let them take you from me.”
It wasn’t just the words, but how he said them, with unwavering conviction, that had my insides turning into warm goo. I loved the feeling, but at the same time, it was scary. No one had ever made me feel like he did. “Will you get in trouble?”
“Only if the goddess finds out.”
“Why did they want me?”
He was silent.
“Echo?”
“Goddess Hel had sent you on a secret mission, something she does with us whenever she’s interested in a particular soul. Usually, she calls one of us to her throne room for a private meeting. In your case, you approached her while you were still with the Norns and asked to work for her. That’s how we met, in Hel’s Hall. You seemed out of place, cold, and angry. She hadn’t decided to trust you, but then again, she has trust issues.” Echo paused and frowned. “Was that your stomach?
My stomach growled again. Heat crawled across my face. “Don’t mind it.”
“Have you eaten?”
“I had half a slice of pizza at Drew’s, but food can wait.” I made a deal with Hel? What was I thinking? “I can’t believe I’m evil.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as to call you evil. You seemed driven when we first met. Norns rarely associate with the gods or work willingly with them. None ever dared approach Goddess Hel. Even Valkyries hate working for her. That’s why quite a few of her reapers are old and ghostly. She recruits Grimnirs among the souls under her care, which explains the depiction of reapers in Mortal folklore.”
I heard him without commenting. There was something wrong with me. How could I have made a deal with Hel? What was I thinking? “What was my mission?”
“I don’t know. I asked around the last few days, but no one seemed to know anything. When you failed to deliver, the goddess sent Grimnirs to find you. Two succeeded, and I had to take care of them. I distracted the others, but they’ll be back. Grimnirs are resourceful.”
I knew I could be a bitch, but there was no way I could be evil. Or maybe the Immortal Maliina had done something to make me evil. Whatever the reason, I was being hunted now. No wonder I was back at home with my parents. A thought flashed through my head. Could I be putting them in danger by staying with them? Echo was already breaking laws to help me.
I sat up, completely straddling Echo. He circled my waist and pulled me closer until our hips locked. The position was intimate despite his jeans, so I wasn’t surprised when his body responded.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“Nothing.” I shrugged his coat. It was too bulky.
“You’re not a ‘nothing’ kind of girl. You spit and scratch. You…” His lips brushed against mine in a gentle exploration, as though he was savoring the texture of my lips, memorizing it. Then he moved on to the moist interior as his tongue darted between into my mouth. “You are full of surprises,” he whispered against my lips. “A week ago, I’d never have imagined this.”
I shook my head, not understanding. “What?”
“Holding you in my arms. Telling you my darkest secrets. You weren’t a talker or a listener. We had sex and played mindless games. I don’t know what happened, but I like the new you. You are sweeter. You make me wish—”
“Yes?”
He twirled a lock of my hair and smiled. It was a sad smile. “It doesn’t matter. I will protect you and help you finish your mission. Once we do, Hel’s fury will disappear and we can go on with our lives.”
We? I liked it. Obviously he saw a future for us. I put my arms around his neck and wiggled on his lap. He groaned, and I grinned.
“And who will protect you, Echo?”
“You, Cora-mio. We are a team.”
I loved the way he said my name and liked the idea of protecting each other. “How does one kill a Grimnir?”
“I told you before. Decapitation or you yank the heart out of his chest.” His arms tightened around my waist, his fingers grazing
my skin. I shivered.
“That sounds gruesome,” I mumbled. “Can Grimnirs do that to Mortals?”
“No. Valkyries and Grimnirs can’t kill Mortals without being punished. The ones who attacked you and your parents weren’t playing by the rules and deserved what they got. When I followed them from the hospital, I thought they were out to settle old scores. You know, going after mine to get to me. After they bragged about their mission, I couldn’t let them go through with it. No one goes after what is mine and gets away with it.”
Mine? Did that make him mine, too? I hoped so, because I didn’t mind claiming him. I forced myself to focus on our conversation. Despite his assurance, he had killed his own people to protect me. That couldn’t be good.
“Maybe I should go home now,” I said.
“Maybe you should not.” He slipped his hands under my shirt and stroked my back, his eyelids drooping. The warm pressure of his palms sent anticipating through me.
“Why not?”
“Because I want you. First, we’re going to my place, where I’m going to feed you so your stomach can stop growling every few seconds. Then you can have your wicked way with me. When you are done, it will be my turn.”
Heat crept up my face. He had a way with words, and I loved it. Despite my heated cheeks, I was drooling with anticipation. “Do we have time?”
“Your parents don’t expect you home for several more hours. Second, I will not allow you to run and hide at home because Hel’s private army is after you. You are not a coward. You wouldn’t be with me if you were.”
He made it sound so simple. He was used to bending and breaking rules while I… Yeah, what about me? Miss Make-a-deal-with-Goddess-Hel. I was just like him. Gah, I wished I could remember what the Norns had taken from me. Remember what I was thinking when I chose to go to Hel’s Hall and offered her a deal. Remember my past moments with Echo.
I touched his face, the chiseled jaw and the sensual lips. He didn’t stop me, just watched me with hooded eyes. “You and I are alike,” I whispered.
He cocked his eyebrows. “How do you figure?”
“We live by our own rules. Good or bad. One day we’ll cross a line.” I already had. “The Norns probably erased my memories because I’d betrayed them by joining forces with your goddess.”
Runes #03 - Grimnirs Page 12