Struck: (Phoebe Meadows Book 1)

by Carlson, Amanda

  I straightened my spine, dropping my grip on his arm. “It’s clear you have no idea who you’re dealing with either.” I placed a single finger on his chest. “I’m not going to cave just because my possible father tells me to. We pledged ourselves to each other last night. You’re the one who saved me from death, not Odin. You’re the one who’s standing here with me now, willing to take on my fight, and I will do the same for you. You never deserved to be locked up in the first place. Together we can make him understand.”

  “He will never understand.”

  “If you walk out on me right now, it’s over between us. But that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to fight for you. What Odin did to you was wrong. You said I took your heart. Why can’t you have a little faith in me? Faith that I’m my own person who can choose her own path?”

  Fen raised an eyebrow. “I know you’re strong, Valkyrie, but that doesn’t make you immune to your father.”

  “Huggie is proof that my father doesn’t always get what he wants.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean Huggie wasn’t here because my father ordered him to come.” Fen looked skeptical. “He was here because he made a promise to my mother. The raven told me that he wouldn’t tell Odin about us unless Odin asks specifically. The bird is doing his own thing. The raven could’ve turned us over to Odin immediately, but he didn’t. He’s the one who gave me information about the ally and told me where to go. I’m assuming when we get to the Valkyrie stronghold, they will offer us some protection against the Norns, and Odin as well, if needed.”

  Slowly, Fen nodded, his face pensive. “They may. If they decide to take up our cause, they will fight—possibly even Odin if they care about you and your mother deeply enough. The only thing that tops following Odin, for a shieldmaiden, is another Valkyrie. They are loyal to each other above all else. If there are enough of them in residence, and trouble arrives on their turf, the odds would be in the Valkyries’ favor.”

  “Okay, then.” That was a relief to say the least. “That’s our plan. We find the ally and then get ourselves to the Valkyries. You’re going to have to trust me on this, Fen. Just like you said before—without trust we have nothing. I didn’t get a say in who my parents are.” I was determined to make him understand. “In fact, I haven’t had a say in any of this so far. But I do get a say in who I choose to support and where I put my loyalties. You fought for me, and I will do the same for you. My loyalty is to you first, everyone else second.” I crossed my arms, daring him to say otherwise. Emotion seeped out of me, my mind not allowing me to think of moving forward without him.

  Fen finally bowed his head. “Okay, Valkyrie. You win. For now.” He brought his gaze up. “Although I am not happy about who your father is, I agree it was not your choice. I will ride this out to the end, wherever that will be. We will find the scarred man and move on from there.”

  “As a team,” I concluded.

  “Yes.”

  I glanced out the window—dawn was breaking—then back at Fen. “First, we’re going to get you some real clothes and a meal. We have some time until midnight. I know a quiet diner where we can make plans.”

  Fen moved forward, encircling my waist, his hands moving inside my robe. “First things first, Valkyrie.” He nuzzled my ear. “We will go after we pledge ourselves to each other one more time.”

  26

  __________________________

  ____________

  It was almost midnight. After a long day of running around New York, buying clothes, and trying to locate a fresh trail for the scarred man, I was more than anxious to have the mystery solved.

  Fen had refused to elaborate on who he thought the man was, but we’d had some good, in-depth conversations about what we both wanted moving forward.

  At the top of the list was freedom.

  Not having anyone hunting us down was a top priority. Figuring out how to do that was the tricky part, and something we hadn’t solved. It would take more than one day.

  The docks were deserted and chilly, most of the boats buttoned up for the winter. The entire area had a dark, shrouded feel to it. A cold breeze shifted off the Hudson River, swirling around us, penetrating our mild protection, making my teeth chatter.

  I was dressed more appropriately than before in jeans, a sweater, a new coat, new boots, and a hat and scarf. Fen looked dashing in his new jeans, big-soled boots, black T-shirt, and black leather coat.

  He no longer resembled something out of a storybook running through the streets of New York and looked more like he belonged here. Even though he still came off as ethereal if you happened to stare too long. Like our waitress did. The woman almost fell over bringing him his breakfast. She had insisted he was a movie star, and we went with it. It was the easiest way to fob it off. He even signed a napkin for her.

  “Aren’t you cold?” I asked for the third time. “A T-shirt and leather jacket are no match for a New York winter.”

  Fen chuckled. “No, Valkyrie.” His big arm went around me, tugging me close. “It takes more than this to cool me down. After so many years on Muspelheim, my body has become perpetually warm.”

  I could vouch for that. Cuddling up with him was like snuggling against a heater. Which actually wasn’t all that bad, especially now.

  As we neared the end of the dock, Fen stopped abruptly, dropping his hold on me.

  “Do you sense something?” I asked, my voice holding some excitement. After a few false trails today, I wondered how accurate this tracking thing really was.

  “Yes.” He lifted his nose in the air and took in a long, decidedly animalistic breath, dragging it over his tongue, his mouth open. His face darkened. “It’s just as I thought. Though, I am puzzled as to why he would be on this plane. Prepare to fight, Valkyrie.”

  “Fight?” I asked, alarmed. “What do you mean fight? Huggie said he was our ally, not our enemy!”

  “We will see if the word ally truly applies. I have my doubts. As I told you many times today, the bird could seek to entrap us. We must be wary.”

  “I’m always wary,” I grumbled. “And I shouldn’t have to remind you, we don’t have any weapons other than Gram.” Finding a decent broadsword in New York was harder than it would’ve seemed.

  “I will fight with my bare hands.”

  “Great. I’m sure my mighty fists will be a huge asset.” I raised them in a mock fighting stance. “They pack quite a punch.” I threw some air punches. “He’ll be cowering at our feet in no time.”

  Fen slid his arm around my waist, chuckling. “No, Valkyrie. What you need to harness is inside here.” He placed a hand on my abs. “You have incredible power inside you, enough to stun a man, or even a god, for a short time. That is a Valkyrie’s greatest defense. Stun with your energy, and then go for the kill.”

  My stomach did a flip-flop, and not because Fen was touching me.

  Other than the demons on Muspelheim, I’d never killed anything bigger than a spider in my life. “Um,” I hedged. “I think it’ll be a while before I can tolerate doing something like that. I’m not a very blood-thirsty gal.”

  Fen replied stoically, “When your life is in imminent danger, and you have no choice other than to kill or be killed, you will choose to save your own life or the lives of those you love. There is no contest.”

  I sighed. “Would it be too much to ask that Asgard be peaceful? Made up of big, fluffy clouds, serenity, and lots of hot yoga? Why does it have to be even harsher than Midgard? It sounds like war and fighting all the time, with more war and fighting lined up for the future.” I couldn’t think about what Fen had told me about Ragnarok without getting a stomachache. Too much devastation.

  “We all seek power.” Fen shrugged. “It is coded into our bodies from the day of our birth. It cannot be helped.”

  We proceeded toward the end of the dock slowly and cautiously, Fen at the ready. In front of an empty slip, second from the end, Fen stopped, tugging me behind him as he called out in a
booming voice, “Come out and face me, you coward!”

  Nothing happened for a full minute.

  I whispered, “Maybe he’s not here—”

  The air around the vacant spot began to waver, like hot steam erupting out of a tea kettle. Then a small houseboat solidified into view.

  It was a rickety two-story structure. The second level appeared to be an afterthought, pieced together with plywood and rusted corrugated metal. The thing looked like one strong gust of wind could topple it.

  A moment later, a huge figure loomed in the doorway on the second level, which sat just below the dock line.

  I cringed back, hanging on to Fen’s arm.

  Yep. I was a badass.

  “I said, come out and face me like a god,” Fen growled. “Or are you scared I will tear into your face again and leave you with a bigger scar?”

  Wait, what?

  Fen had scarred the big, terrifying man?

  “I don’t fear you.” The low, deep voice issued from the boat as the door creaked opened. The guy was so big he had to duck to get through the opening.

  I gasped as he came into view.

  He was definitely the same guy who’d accosted me on the subway stairs. He even wore the same grimy hat. I couldn’t smell him from here, but I was certain he would still smell like putrid old garbage, stale food, and body odor.

  “What are you doing on Midgard?” Fen asked. “Seems lowly, even for you.”

  Did Fen just dis Earth? Sure, it was cold tonight, but other than that, it was a wonderful place to live. Much better than the realm we just came from.

  “Toss your insults, wolf,” the man said, a note of fatigue in his voice. “I came here for the same reason you did.”

  “And what reason is that? To exact revenge on those who locked you up for centuries, left to rot like a dog?” Fen snarled. “No, that can’t be it. I see no bindings cuffing your wrists. I see no chains cinched tightly around your arms. I see a free man standing before me. One who has a choice whether to come or go.”

  The guy stepped to the very edge of the boat, a single streetlight illuminating the top of his head, casting a pool of deep shadow around him. “My freedom has been taken from me as well. And what are you talking about? You’re here with the girl.” He gestured to me. “You came to protect her, same as me.” He seemed smug in his assessment of the situation.

  But if he was here to protect me, he hadn’t done his job very well. Where were you when the ettins took me? Huh, tough guy?

  Fen seemed a little taken aback and cleared his throat before he said, “How would I know anything about this girl when I was being held prisoner in Muspelheim all these long years? It is where I’ve spent my days since you tricked me into taking a wager I could never win, then delivered me to the pits of despair bound by Gleipnir.”

  Wait, this guy was responsible for Fen’s imprisonment?

  Who was he again?

  Fen had told me his name, but I’d been under duress at the time and couldn’t remember.

  “I have long regretted that,” the man answered. “What has happened between us can’t be undone. The future is the only thing that matters now, and it seems our paths have collided yet again, as we both seek to keep the girl safe.”

  Why do you care about me? Who are you?

  I had so many burning questions.

  Fen snarled. He sounded like a caged animal. If I hadn’t been holding on to his arm like a sissy, he would’ve been pacing back and forth on the dock in front of the boat like the wolf he was. “You will have nothing to do with her,” he raged. “We cannot trust a word you say.”

  “It would be a mistake not to hear me out.”

  “The mistake would be not fighting me. You owe me that much.”

  The man took a small step closer. The next one would be from the boat to the dock, but he would have to jump to make it. “I will fight you. Then you will listen. We don’t have much time.”

  “Remember,” I urged Fen, tugging on his arm, “Huggie told us he’s an ally, not an enemy. He might be able to help us.” Even though he was still scary and worrisome. “We should hear him out.”

  “He will betray us,” Fen answered firmly. “There is no trusting him. After we fight, we gather information, and then we leave.”

  “You would do best to listen to the girl,” the man agreed. “I will tell you what I know, and then we will all leave this place together. They are coming.”

  Who was coming? The Norns?

  The man leaped off the boat onto the dock. It was the smoothest jump I’d ever seen, almost like it had taken zero effort.

  What happened next went so fast, I couldn’t track it.

  One moment he stood in front of us. The next, both men were rolling around in a large mass, throwing punches. They tumbled precariously close to the edge. If they made a wrong move, they’d both topple into the frigid waters of the Hudson.

  The dock vibrated angrily at the intrusion of the extreme violence on its decking. The concrete pilings groaned as the men shouted at each other, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. There was so much noise and clamor.

  I glanced around, hoping no one else noticed the uproar. There were other boats docked nearby, but they were dark. I didn’t think anyone lived on them.

  “You will answer for your betrayal!” Fen raged as he threw punch after punch.

  They rolled a few more times, the stranger gaining the advantage. “You will stop being pigheaded and listen. I am not your enemy.” He lifted one of his arms, and the sleeve fell back. His hand was missing. I’d forgotten that vital piece! For a man with one hand, he was holding his own.

  “You were my only friend,” Fen growled, “and you became my greatest enemy. I will kill you for deceiving me!” Fen knocked him down, railing on him.

  If the scarred man had been mortal, he would’ve been long dead by now.

  “If you could end my life, which is doubtful,” the man grunted while he spun Fen to the ground, “you would miss out on information that will keep the girl alive.” His lone fist landed hard on Fen’s chest, the sound of rock hitting stone. “And she must stay alive at all costs.”

  “Why do you care?” Fen huffed. “She is nothing to you!”

  “You have that wrong. She is the key to both of our well-being.”

  Fen landed a particularly hard punch, angling his fist up under the man’s chin. There was a loud crack, and the guy flew backward, sliding to a stop right in front of me.

  I gaped down at him.

  Fen staggered to his feet. Both men were bruised and bloody, but as I watched, their wounds began to heal. At this rate, they could keep fighting forever.

  I coughed into my fist, gathering my strength, refusing to back away from this fight. “I think you guys need to calm down,” I interjected. “This isn’t getting us anywhere. We need information, Fen. Once we hear what he has to say, we can figure out what to do.”

  Fen stalked forward. “We need nothing he has to offer. I will end him, then we will leave.”

  I held up my hand. “No.” Fen stopped, his face flashing his surprise. I’d uttered it harshly, like a command. “I know you’re upset,” I began, “but we are in desperate need of allies. Huggie said this guy can help us. It seems like he has vital information to share, and he’s willing. We need to give him a chance to tell us what he knows, then you can decide what to do.”

  The man stood, wiping the blood dripping down his chin away with his coat sleeve.

  He was taller than I remembered, and standing this close, he was terrifying. His rancid odor wafted up my nose, and I tried not to act like I noticed. His scar was dark red and ragged, just like I remembered. Fen must have been in his wolf form when he injured him.

  “I will share what I know,” the man agreed, the wounds Fen inflicted on him all but gone. For a moment, I wondered why the scar on his face had never healed. “But we should leave this place. Now that I have revealed myself, they will make haste.”

&
nbsp; “Who?” I asked.

  “No,” Fen said firmly, crossing his arms. “You will tell us here. We are not going anywhere with you.”

  “You are making a grave mistake, wolf. You are just as stubborn as you’ve always been. Your time away has not changed that.”

  “Before we go any further,” I interjected, “I have to know why you care about any of this. About me. Who are you?”

  The man turned, examining me from the top of my head down to my toes. His thorough examination made me antsy. I rubbed my arms through my coat while I waited for him to answer.

  Finally, he said, “My name is Tyr. I am your brother.”

  27

  __________________________

  ____________

  My brother? Of all the things that could’ve come out of his mouth, that was the very last one I’d expected. My knees went weak, my arms pinwheeling to stop me from smacking on my backside. Fen rushed forward, steadying me, his strong arms rooting me in place.

  I couldn’t find my voice. I was too stunned. The way he’d said his name sounded like tear, as in the things threatening to fall from the corners of my eyes right this minute. I expected Fen to start shouting and fighting with the man again.

  Instead, he responded, almost in a dead tone, “So it’s true. She is the daughter of Odin.”

  “Aye, it is,” Tyr answered, scratching the back of his neck. He seemed relieved that Fen had chosen to listen. “She is my half sister, and my duty is to protect her at all costs. The Norns have enlisted whoever they can find to do their bidding. They want her taken back to their realm, dead or alive. The price on her head is gold and riches like none has ever encountered. Things crafted by dark elves promising magic, a purse so heavy it would drag on the ground, you get the idea. Whatever their heart desires.”

  Fen started to say something, but I interrupted. “I don’t understand any of this. I haven’t done anything but live my life. I just want to be left alone.” I was ready to shed some big, fat, ugly tears.