by ST Bende
Ew.
With a flourish, the creature holding a bow plunged his hand into the bird’s chest cavity. There was a gurgling sound as blood rushed out of the animal. Then the creature withdrew his hand, holding aloft the bird’s lifeless heart. He let out another cry, then shoved the heart into his mouth. He bit down, grinning as blood dripped over his lips and onto his enormous hands. He wiped them across the fabric of his strangely fitted robe, streaks of crimson staining the yellowing fabric.
My gut heaved as I doubled over, emptying the contents of my stomach onto the dirt. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end while I prayed my outburst hadn’t outed my location. Whatever those creatures were, they weren’t friendly. They’d taken down a bird that probably out-weighed me by a few hundred pounds. Who knew what they’d do if they found me on the other side of their wall?
I was psyching myself up to make a run for the forest when I heard the voice. Smooth. Low. Simultaneously grating and sexy.
Elfie.
I knew Ull would have wanted me to grip my necklace and get out of Dodge. But curiosity clutched me by the hand and dragged me back to the peephole. I pressed my eye to the space in the stone as the slick voice called from inside the courtyard.
“Friends.”
Elf Man stood in the center of the square, arms out and head high. Unlike the creatures in their strange robes, he wore plain clothes—slim-fitting black jeans, and a loose black shirt. His hair was slicked back, and his calculating eyes shot sparks. He was here on a mission, and he was determined.
“Ara galough.” One of the creatures crouched down. His head lowered as if he were about to charge.
“I come in peace.” Elfie held up his hands. “Can anyone tell me where I might find Surtr? I brought a gift for your king.” He held out a package.
“Here,” a guttural voice barked. Another creature emerged from the castle, but this one wore long purple robes caked in sparkling stones. Light bounced off their mottled green surface, projecting patterns onto the courtyard walls with each step. “Why have you come?”
“Ah, Your Excellency.” Elfie dropped to one knee. He bowed his head, holding the package out with both hands. Surtr crossed the courtyard slowly, one leg dragging slightly behind the other. When he reached Elfie he took the gift. Elfie bowed his head as he drew himself up before the monarch. He clasped his hands in front of his waist. When he looked up, his face bore a terrifying grin. “I’ve come to share the most glorious news.”
“Well?” Surtr didn’t mince words.
“The Norns have seen the fall of Asgard. It is nearly time. But I need the strength of the fire giants to ensure nothing disrupts my little war.”
“You want me to fight your battle for you?” Surtr grunted.
“No, my liege. I want you to fight it with me. You are the last piece of my puzzle—the proverbial checkmate to ensure the fall of our mutual enemy. Will you join my cause?”
“And risk the lives of the few men I have left? Odin’s annihilation following the rebellion was practically genocide. I cannot afford to put my people at risk.” Surtr shook his head. “You are on your own.”
“I see.” Elfie tapped his fingers together. “And I had so hoped… never mind.”
“Hoped what?” Surtr crossed his arms over his chest.
“You see, Your Highness, I had hoped you would rule Midgard after the battle. With the chaos that will follow, I won’t be able to handle the realms on my own. The female humans could assist in the repopulation of Muspelheim, and your constituents would have two realms at their disposal. But if you prefer to remain here, numbers depleted, food sources dwindling…” Elfie eyed the group of giants at the edge of the courtyard. Those who weren’t crouched defensively toward him were still picking apart the truck-bird. Its meat was long gone; now they were chewing on bones.
“They are starving.” Surtr stared at the scavengers. “Odin stripped the forest after the rebellion. The birds are all that is left.”
“So terrible.” Elfie clucked his tongue. “I don’t know how you’ve managed all these years.”
Surtr’s eyes narrowed. “You are playing a game.”
“I assure you, any game I play will only benefit you. I need brute strength to debilitate the gods. Without it, well… I hope I do not have to think about that possibility.” Elfie held out a hand. “Do we have a deal? Will you help me?”
Surtr thought for a long moment. His eyes darted between the scavenging soldiers in the courtyard, and Elfie’s outstretched palm. After a prolonged hesitation, he tucked the gift behind his back and shook Elfie’s hand. “We have a deal. I will help you bring down the Aesir. And when we do, my people will avail themselves of Midgard and its resources.”
“Precisely.” Elf Man nodded at the gift, and Surtr shifted so he held it between them. “For you. Something for your guards to play with.”
Surtr placed his hand in the box and withdrew a silver rod. He tilted it from side to side. The orange sun bounced an intricate pattern off the shiny surface, but other than that it looked like any ordinary rod. “What is this?”
“Aim it at the south wall,” Elfie suggested. I pressed my face against the stone. Which direction was south? If the sun rose in the east and set in the west like it did on earth, then judging from the positioning of the orange orb overhead…
Oh, crimeny. I was beyond the south wall. Elfie knew I was here the whole time. He was playing me… again. Which meant that little silver stick was going to—
I jumped to my feet and bolted for the cover of the woods. The explosion came as soon as I started to run. Stones flew thirty feet in the air, breaking apart mid-flight and landing in a spray of shrapnel. I covered my head with my arms and fled, never stopping to assess the damage.
“There she is! Seize her!” Elfie’s voice rang across the clearing. The sound of thundering footsteps echoed behind me as I ran a serpentine pattern through the redwoods. I stumbled on the oversized roots more than once, giving my pursuers time to close the distance between us.
I pumped my arms in a pointless effort to pick up speed. The balls of my feet burned as I pushed off them with every ounce of strength I had. But no sooner had I rounded a corner into a dense grove, then I heard the “whoosh” of fire and saw the blaze at my feet. Surtr had shot the silver rod directly at me… and now an inferno blazed in the forest. I turned away from the heat to run in another direction, but the fire closed its circle, encompassing me in a rapidly-shrinking cell.
My feet felt hotter than a desert in July. I glanced down and stomped at the fire. It was pointless—the flames were growing, and closing in on all sides. But I couldn’t just stand there. I had to at least try to save myself.
“Sweet Kristia,” Elf Man called from the other side of the fire. “Still think you can outwit me?”
I turned a slow circle, looking for any out. The ring of fire was shrinking around me. Within a minute it would swallow me up. This couldn’t be happening.
“Pity, really. You could have been my crowning glory. My queen, perhaps. Who’d have thought Muspelheim would be your undoing? Such a waste.” Elfie’s laughter echoed off the trees. “See you in Helheim.”
In that moment I knew it would never end—for whatever reason, I was his white whale. He’d chase me to the ends of the cosmos until he ended my life. And if I didn’t learn to get a grip on these visions, I’d be handing myself right over.
My hand flew to the necklace that had saved me before. I should have used it to escape the minute I heard Elfie’s voice, but I’d let myself get distracted. So stupid! I squeezed hard, willing it to work. When nothing happened I squeezed again. And again. The flames danced closer, lapping at the hems of my pajamas. I jumped back as the heat burned my ankle. With Elfie’s cackles closing in from all sides, I gripped my necklace with both hands. Sending a silent prayer, I squeezed tightly.
And once again I was tumbling through a black abyss.
Chapter Four
WHEN I CAME TO, my c
hest heaved with sobs. Cold sweat cloaked my body from my forehead to the backs of my knees. My hair was damp, my pulse was racing, and my fingers gripped the sheets so tightly my knuckles ached. I was in my room at Ýdalir, the one place I had always felt safe. Only now I was absolutely terrified.
I ripped the covers off and wrapped my arms around my legs. My nose twitched at an unfamiliar smell. I pulled the cord on the bedside lamp, and looked around to see what might be burning. There was no smoke in the room; all of the furniture seemed to be intact. But when I glanced down, I saw the hems of my pajamas. They were black, singed from the fire I’d desperately hoped had been part of a dream.
This time things had gone too far. If my smoldering pant legs were any indication, being injured in a vision could have far-reaching worldly consequences. And if Elfie had come that close to killing me…
Ull had his rules, but I no longer cared. I jumped out of bed and raced down the hallway. When I reached his door I pounded on the distressed wood. Tears streamed down my face but I didn’t bother to wipe them away. The downpour was too intense; it wouldn’t have done any good anyway.
The door flew open and Ull stood on the other side. He wore a loose pair of grey sweatpants and nothing else. Oh hot bejeebus. There was no way this guy was for real. It just wasn’t humanly possible to look that good.
Oh, right. Ull wasn’t human.
Despite the agony coursing through my awakening consciousness, this was a moment of glory I’d remember forever—the first time I saw Ull’s naked torso. His sweats hung low on his hips, affording me a view of the cut just above the bone.
Holy Lord.
“Kristia?” Ull rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He took in my matted hair, tear-streaked face, and shaking hands. “Great Odin. What happened?”
He pulled me to him, crushing my face against the muscles of his chest. The knot in my stomach loosened infinitesimally. Just being near Ull gave me peace, but being this near Ull was like taking a sedative. Breathing in his woodsy smell made my panic subside. And when he pressed his hands against me—one to my hair, the other against the small of my back—my gut knew I was safe. Nothing bad could happen to me so long as I was in Ull’s arms. I inhaled again, letting his familiar scent fill me from the inside until my shaking stilled. Then I pressed my lips against his skin. Hard.
“Sweetheart?” he asked again.
“I had another vision and it freaked me out. Can I sleep here tonight?” I didn’t take my lips off his chest as I spoke. I couldn’t. He tasted divine—like spruce and soap and home. There was a very real possibility my mouth might be permanently adhered to his flesh, like a kid who’d tried to lick a frozen railing. Only this was far less unpleasant.
“Of course.” Ull guided me to the king-sized sleigh bed. He helped me climb into it, tucking the downy comforter around my legs before crossing to the door. “I will be right back.” He returned ten seconds later, and handed me a glass of water. “Drink,” he ordered as he climbed into bed. I took a few sips before I put the glass on the nightstand. Between the terrifying vision, my singed PJ’s, and the half-naked god in bed next to me, hydration was the furthest thing from my mind.
I was fixated on the spectacular planes of Ull’s pecs, the deep ruts outlining each individual stomach muscle, and the angular line that ran on a diagonal from his ribcage toward his belly button. Obliques, I remembered memorizing in anatomy class. A light trail of hair ran down the center of his chest, ending somewhere beneath the elastic of his sweatpants. An involuntary whimper escaped my lips before I could stop it.
“Now tell me what happened.” Ull rested his back against the headboard. He lifted me by my hips, nestling me against him. He pulled me back and wrapped his arms around me. The butterflies fluttered comfortably, now that we were in our happy place.
“I saw Elf Man again,” I admitted. My fingers hooked around Ull’s forearms and I squeezed my eyes shut to push out the image of the flame-throwing demon.
“Do you know where you were? Was it here?”
“No. We were with fire giants. He was talking to someone called Surtr.”
“Their king?” Ull drew a sharp breath. “What did he say?”
I buried my head in Ull’s ribcage.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Ull stroked my arm. “It is okay. We do not have to relive it.”
“They were talking about Elf Man’s plan. Ull, he wants to destroy the gods—all the gods. I think he’s the one orchestrating Ragnarok.”
Ull’s arms tensed under my fingers. I could feel the shallowness of his breaths as he attempted to calm himself. “What did he do to you?” The words were so clipped that I barely understood them.
“He tried to burn me,” I admitted. “My pajamas got singed. But I’m okay—I grabbed my necklace and I came out of the vision. I’m sorry I woke you. I know you’re exhausted, but—”
Ull silenced me with a finger to my lips. “Do not ever apologize for coming to me. I will always look out for you. Always. It is my duty and my honor.”
I closed my eyes. “I was terrified.”
“I bet you were. But you do not have to be afraid. I am here, and I will take care of you.”
“He’s going to kill everyone we know.” My cheeks flushed as hot tears streamed down my face. “And then the fire giants are going to take over earth and eat us, or make us their slaves, or… I’m not sure. Either way, it’s going to be awful!”
“Shh.” Ull reached up to wipe the tears from my eyes. “I will not let that happen. Any of it. You are safe now.”
“But I’m not!” I tilted my cheek into Ull’s palm and sobbed. “There’s nothing I can do to stop the visions. They just keep coming. And they’re getting scarier and more real, and this time my pants were actually on fire. He’s going to kill me, Ull. One way or another, this guy is going to hunt me down until he finally catches me. And then what am I going to do?”
I gave in to the panic I’d felt in the forest. Sobs wracked my body as I turned to face Ull. I cried until my throat was hoarse and my eyes burned, while Ull stroked my hair. He didn’t try to reassure me, he didn’t tell me to get a grip, and to his credit, he didn’t ask me why I hadn’t used my necklace to exit the vision the minute I’d realized I was in it… even though he’d asked me to do just that on several occasions. Instead he just held me and let me work through my fear.
When it was over, he lifted my chin with one finger. He wiped my eyes with the pads of his thumbs, and lay a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“Stay with me tonight,” he commanded. “But know that we are going to find a way to stop him from getting into your head. And I am never, never going to let him hurt you. I vowed to protect you, and nothing is going to stop me from keeping my word. Nothing.”
“I’m scared, Ull.”
“I know. I am uncomfortable with what happened tonight. But you are with me now, and I propose you never leave.”
“Okay,” I whispered. I buried my face in his chest. We lay together for a long while, the tension slowly evaporating into the high ceilings.
“I love you.” Ull brushed my forehead with his lips.
“I love you, too.” I kissed him back, my mouth warm on his chest.
In that moment something shifted. Ull brought the palm of his hand up to my bottom. He gave a gentle squeeze, and I lifted my head, curiosity getting the better of me. This wasn’t like him—usually he was King of the Boundaries, and I’d expected our location would make him even more restrained. But the look in his eyes said differently. It was stern, searing, almost overwhelming in its longing.
It was sexy.
I threw myself on top of him and touched the hard muscles of his torso. Thick biceps wrapped around my arms, pinning me firmly in place. Ull’s mouth found my chin for the briefest possible moment. His lips felt hot as he kissed a line down my neck to my shoulder. He nipped at the bone with his teeth, sending me spiraling down the side of a steep hill I hadn’t realized I was standing on. As he kissed a trail to the hollo
w of my neck I fell faster, harder, adrenaline coursing through my veins and a thousand dormant nerve-endings springing to life. I sighed, giving in to the pulse of hormones pounding a rhythm against my skin. Ull’s mouth found mine, and I lost myself all over again. But as much as my body wanted to stay where I was, my brain’s need for oxygen prevailed; I pulled my head back with a gasp.
Ull stilled. He eyed me levelly, and very gently lifted me off him. He nestled me in the crook of his arm, and turned so he could place one hand on my stomach. He raised the fabric at the bottom of my thin camisole, and stroked soft circles on my belly with his thumb. My eyes rolled closed. Even this tiny touch was almost more than I could handle.
“You are to sleep here tonight. In the morning we will talk to Olaug about these visions. She and Elsker need to figure out how to help you block them. We know you can exit the visions using your necklace, but there must be some way to avoid them completely. I do not ever want you to come to my door crying again.” He raised an eyebrow. “Although I do rather like you in my bed.”
“I like it too,” I confessed. “I feel safe here.”
Ull nipped gently at my ear, once again giving me the not altogether uncomfortable feeling of spiraling out of my body. I inhaled deeply, then rested my cheek against his bare skin. No matter what had happened an hour ago, in this moment I was exactly where I wanted to be.
“Well then, sweetheart. This is where you shall stay.”
A few days later, I’d managed to push my latest nightmare to the back of my mind. Elsker had been less forgiving than Ull—she’d given me quite the lecture when she found out I stayed in the vision, even after I knew Elfie was there. When she stopped her tirade, she instructed me to grip my necklace and say her name immediately on entering a vision. I wasn’t to engage the monster again, or listen in on his conversations—even though spying on him could give us valuable Ragnarok insight. For now my only job was to call for her. She promised she would come find me in whatever realm the vision took me to, and get me out. But her extraction would only work if she wasn’t being detained. We both suspected Elf Man was working with a good-sized network of monsters, and in all likelihood any move he made to take me out would be preempted by debilitating my Norn. It was extremely clever. And even more terrifying.