Slade hid his smile again on Magnus’s broad chest. The man said some of the best things ever. No one, not Kir, not even Logan, made him feel as safe as Magnus did.
Slade needed that sense of safety, of belonging, to extend to Sylvia as well. If he had his way their mate would join them sooner rather than later, and they’d be able to consummate their mating once and for all.
No one could take this joy away from him now. Not Odin, not Frigg, not the Fates themselves. Slade knew how to bide his time, how to wait in the shadows, unseen and unremarked. He’d keep watch over Sylvia without any of them ever knowing. He could slip away before any of them even realized it, just as he had when he’d called to warn them that Odin was coming for them. He’d learned long ago how to keep Odin’s wards from detecting him when he didn’t wish it. As strong as Logan’s wards were, Slade could slide through them with ease, and would do so should the need arise.
Sylvia would be safe as he’d never been. Slade would see to it or die trying.
This wasn’t the way things were supposed to happen. Sylvia had prayed that they’d let her in, that they’d see how desperately she wanted to get away from Frederica and her desire to destroy Logan Saeter and any who chose to side with him. Instead, Kir and Logan had sent her right back into the mouth of the dragon.
Not even chocolate chocolate-chip ice cream could fix this level of depression.
“Well?” Sigyn, who’d taken the mortal name Sydney Saeter, opened the door of their shared apartment with a hopeful expression.
Sylvia shook her head. “They want us to spy on Frigg and find out what she’s up to or they won’t let us join them.”
Sydney’s shoulders slumped. “Porcupine balls. That won’t be easy.”
Sylvia took Sydney’s hand and led her into the apartment, closing the door behind her. “We can do this, Syd. If we find out what Frederica is up to, they’ll accept us.”
“Sure. Easy peasy.” Sydney groaned as she dropped ungracefully into her office chair. “Why don’t they ask for the moon? It would be easier.”
“I know, right?” Sylvia settled on the sofa, the bright blue cheering her as it always did. “Logan looked good, by the way.”
“Good.” Sydney smiled softly. “After everything he’s been through he deserves some happiness.”
“He’s found it.” Sylvia was aware of Sydney’s lingering feelings for Logan, but there was little she could do about it. Logan had fallen in love with Kir long before he’d been tied to that mountain. Worse, he’d never loved Sydney. He’d married her in order to cement his position in the Aesir, and because it was expected of him.
Sydney had adored him from day one and had believed in him when no one else did. In return he’d left her behind, running with Kir and hiding from all of them for centuries.
It was the best thing he ever did for Sydney Saeter, and he probably knew that. He was far more intuitive than Frigg gave him credit for.
Sydney had been forced to stand up for herself, to face the accusations that she was the one who’d freed him. But Odin had used his powers on her, the truth spilling forth from her like the poison of the snake that had tortured Loki. She’d gone to empty the bowl of venom, as she did whenever it filled. As she’d poured it away, she’d realized Loki wasn’t crying out as he normally did. Without the bowl, the venom would land on his skin, burning him. He always cried out when she was forced to leave him in order to empty the bowl.
When she returned, he was free of his shackles, gone without a trace. And she had no idea who had done it.
Odin’s use of the apples of Idunn had saved Sydney from being killed by Vali, the Avenger. She was innocent, by Odin’s decree, but now she was terrified of Val Grimm. Whenever the large man entered the room Sydney would go still and quiet, afraid he would turn on her at any moment. He’d terrified her then, and still did. That he’d joined willingly with Kir and Logan only meant he was up to something, and Sydney was determined to find out what. She would not allow her ex-husband’s happiness to be ruined by a spy of Odin’s.
Too bad neither she nor Sydney had been aware of Odin’s murderous intentions until it was far too late to do anything about it. Perhaps they could have helped more, done more. Things might have turned out far differently. Maybe Sydney wouldn’t have this overwhelming fear of Val, because Sylvia had seen the way Sydney eyed Vali when she thought no one was looking.
Her friend had the hots for the Avenger, but was terrified of him at the same time. She denied it by believing Vali to be an enemy, one she had to harden her heart against.
It was a conundrum only time and proximity would cure. Sylvia planned on getting Sydney both.
Odin’s use of the apples had kept them all happy little lambs, doing his bidding without a qualm. The only one who hadn’t been affected was Logan, who hadn’t deserved half the ire he’d received over the years. Without the influence of the apples, the Aesir and Vanir were finally able to see Odin and his machinations for what they were: a desperate attempt to stave off Ragnarrok.
It was too late. Ragnarrok was coming and nothing could stop it. Already the prophecies were coming true in ways none of them could have predicted. Thor was dead by the serpent’s hand, but instead of Jörmungandr—the world serpent—being the murderer, it had been Odin—the betrayer—the true serpent in their midst. Loki had been killed by the Guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, Heimdall, but instead of it being the real Loki it had been Rina Sutherland, Odin’s mistress, wearing Loki’s face. She’d tried to trick the Guardian, but he hadn’t been fooled. He’d seen right through the facade to the heart of the jotun beneath, and had killed her. She’d returned to her original form upon death, but she’d died wearing Loki’s face.
It had all of them, Frederica included, looking at the prophecy with new eyes. What else had they gotten wrong all those years ago? If Fenrisúlfr wasn’t meant to kill Odin, then who was the wolf destined to take his life? Or could Fenris only kill him at a specific place and time, when Odin would be vulnerable? Was there something Fenris would have to obtain in order to gain the power to kill him? And if so, would Vali prove to be a traitor after all and wind up killing Fenris? Prophecy said he would kill the wolf that destroyed Odin, but if that were true he’d be killing Logan’s son.
Sylvia wasn’t certain he could do that, unless…
No. It wouldn’t do to start doubting now. She’d set her course and she would sail these seas no matter what.
“What do they want to know? Please tell me they didn’t send us in blind.”
Sylvia played with the white hair bracelet Slade had given her. “I’m not sure.” Sydney whined, but Sylvia ignored it. “They said they wanted to know what she’s up to, that she’s been far too quiet lately.”
“Huh. They’re right about that.” Sydney moved from the office chair and flopped down on the sofa. She pulled her feet up and wrapped her arms around her knees, a pose Sylvia had grown used to over the years. Sydney was scared, but her mind was racing. “She’s been closeting herself with Henry and Luther a lot.”
Sylvia grimaced. “I thought she was sleeping with them.”
Sydney shot her a grin. “Well, they’re doing that too, but I think they’re plotting as well.”
“Then we need to find out what in order to get what we want.”
“Freedom.” Sydney drawled the word with longing.
“Freedom.” Sylvia nodded. “So. How do we do this?”
“Bug their bedroom.”
Sylvia blinked. Sydney could be strangely abrupt, but her ideas usually had merit. Without Logan to protect her Sydney had been forced to come out of her shell. She was still a bit odd, but her intelligence could no longer be questioned. “Not a bad idea. We can record what we find out and hand it over to Kir and Logan.”
Sydney nodded. “How, though? They lock that room up tight.”
Sylvia plucked a golden
hair from her head. “Leave that to me.”
“Then I’ll get the equipment we’ll need.” Sydney uncurled from the sofa. “Give me two days and I’ll have everything.”
“Excellent.” Sylvia stretched. Somehow working with Sydney always seemed to make things better. “Pizza tonight?”
“Ugh. So tired of pizza.” Sydney sat at their computer and began typing. “Chinese?”
“Thai?”
The women exchanged a glance. Sydney looked back at her screen with a grin. “Extra hot, and you’re on.” Sylvia picked up the phone as her best friend began cackling like a loon. Whatever was on the screen had made her a happy woman. “Come to mama, baby. You’re my little puppy now.”
Sylvia shook her head. Syd was certifiable, but at least she was fun. Too bad she didn’t let this side of her out when around other people. Instead she tended to revert to the meek and mild ex-wife of Loki.
Sometimes she wondered if Logan would have left if he’d seen this side of Sydney. Then again, if he hadn’t left she doubted anyone would have seen it.
Well. At least it would be fun to watch the two of them interacting. Perhaps Sydney would be herself around all of them when this was done. Sylvia would give a lot to see Logan deal with this side of his ex.
But in the meantime, she had a lock pick to make.
Chapter Two
Magnus couldn’t believe what had almost happened.
Sylvia wanted to join them?
And Slade believed they were all mates?
It was as if every wish he’d ever had was finally going to be fulfilled. When the doorbell rang, he almost expected to see Sylvia on the other side, but instead it was his brother Morgan with his lover, Skye.
“You okay, bro?” Morgan tugged on Magnus’s arm. “I heard something happened during your walk with Slade, but not what. Logan’s been alternating between terrified and seething, and the Wonder Twins are plotting something.” Morgan paused long enough to give Slade a huge hug. “Hey, brother.”
Slade laughed, the husky, sweet sound going right to Magnus’s cock. “Hey to you too.”
Magnus rolled his eyes at his twin brother. Ever since Morgan had finally gotten the Norn of his dreams he’d been nagging Magnus to find his life partner. He’d been thrilled to find out Slade belonged to Magnus, and treated the shifter as if he were blood kin. “It’s all good.” He tugged Slade closer. Slade was still shaky, healing from the brutality Odin had inflicted on him. Despite his healing gift, it took a while to repair the damage done by a fucking skinning.
Skinned. Magnus shuddered. Slade had told him, in the darkness, under the covers, what Odin had done to him over and over again before they’d arrived to put a stop to it. Even thinking about it, knowing what his mate had been through while Magnus was on the Rainbow Bridge, had him seeing red. He wanted to find Odin and plant Mjolnir in his face a few dozen more times.
It might not kill him, but it would make Magnus feel a hell of a lot better.
When Odin found out Slade wasn’t the loyal, mindless beast everyone had thought him to be he’d taken the man into the barn and beat him within an inch of his life, flaying the skin from him with a silver knife. He’d waited for Slade to heal, then begun all over again, removing his hide while in horse form until Slade finally broke and became a man.
Then he’d skinned the man.
It was a good thing Slade had his father’s healing abilities, but not even the supernatural healing of the jotun could handle all that damage. It was leaving scars on his beautiful mate, scars that made Magnus clench his fists every time he looked at them. Odin would pay for what he had done to Sleipnir, and pay dearly. Losing Rina, his lover, was nothing compared to what he would go through when Magnus finally figured out how to kill him.
But Oliver Grimm, aka the god Odin, was a wily bastard, and not easily cornered. With the death of Rina he’d disappeared. Magnus wondered if he was busy licking his wounds the way Slade was, or if he was off plotting against them once more.
Magnus was willing to bet it was the latter. His grandfather would want to take them down even more now. He’d been fond of Rina, far more than his other lovers, and Magnus was willing to bet that her death had hit the Old Man hard.
“Slade, are you feeling any better?” Morgan’s tone was soft, protective, as he entered Magnus’s condo. Everyone spoke that way to Slade, as if afraid their tone alone could damage the fragile shifter.
Magnus probably appreciated that almost as much as Slade did.
“Yes, thank you.” The husky tone of his soon-to-be-lover’s voice was happier than he’d expected. Slade touched Magnus’s chest with a smile. “Your brother is taking very good care of me.” Slade leaned his head on Magnus’s arm with a serene little sigh that never failed to make Magnus feel ten feet tall.
The touch of that soft, white hair, the faint brush of his hand on Magnus’s arm, one look from those dark, mysterious eyes, and Magnus was putty in Slade’s hands. He would do whatever it took to make sure his mate never felt another moment of pain, let alone grief.
“I hear Sylvia stopped by.” Morgan crossed his arms over his chest, but Magnus could see the gesture for what it was. Morgan was worried for him. “What did she want?”
“She wants to join us.” Magnus smiled as Skye, Morgan’s fiancée, joined them. The Norn had lost her memory and had just gotten it back, and Morgan was as protective of her as Magnus was of Slade. “So Logan and Kir set a little test for her, to make sure she was on the up and up.”
Magnus watched as Skye and Slade exchanged hugs. The two had started a tentative friendship they both seemed to enjoy.
Slade glanced over at the brothers and smiled. “They set Sif and Sygyn to spying on Frigg.”
“Sylvia and Sydney, sweetheart.” Slade still hadn’t gotten used to calling them by their mortal names, and Magnus often found himself reminding the man what to call everyone.
“Right.” Slade grimaced. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it eventually.”
The more he spoke, the hoarser Slade’s voice became. He’d spent so much time in his horse form he wasn’t used to talking in his human one. “Sit down, Slade. I’ll get you some tea.”
The relief on Slade’s face told Magnus his mate was hurting far more than he let on. Slade settled gingerly on the sofa, his gaze glued to Magnus as he chatted softly with Skye.
“Are you sure he’ll be all right?” Morgan followed Magnus into the kitchen. “He should have healed fully by now. And I know I’m not the only one upset that he’s not.”
Magnus understood, but none of them knew the full extent of Slade’s injuries. They’d all assumed that the whip was the only thing Odin had used on him, since that had been in the Old Man’s hand when they’d burst into the barn. “He is, at least for now. He’s finally got people willing to protect him. Let him lean on me, I can take it. I want to take it.” And Magnus would, for however long Slade needed him to. He’d been abandoned, left to Grimm’s non-existent mercies for centuries.
Let Slade wallow in the fact that Magnus would take care of him for as long as he needed it. When Slade was finally ready to stand on his own, Magnus would be right beside him, cheering him on. Slade’s strength fascinated him, as did his innate grace, but even the strongest had times when they were weak. If Magnus was as damaged as Slade currently was, he had no doubt a healthy Slade would be just as protective, just as devoted as Magnus was toward Slade.
“And what about Sylvia?” Morgan grabbed the honey as Magnus began to prepare the tea. “Does Slade know how you feel about her?”
Magnus smiled. “He claims Sylvia belongs to us.”
Morgan dropped the honey, neatly catching it before it cracked on the countertop. “He’s like Fenris? I mean, one sniff and that’s it?”
“Apparently.” Not that Magnus was complaining.
“Whoa. You get two mates?”
>
“Do I detect jealousy in your tone, Morgan Tate?” Skye’s voice was filled with amusement.
Morgan paled. “Of course not, dear.” Morgan swirled honey in the bottom of Skye’s cup with a shaking hand. “You’re twice the woman Slade is.”
Magnus reached up and slapped Morgan upside the head. It would have been a harder hit, except he could hear Slade laughing in the background, something he could spend the rest of his life listening to. “Asshole.”
“What are we going to do to help Sylvia and Sydney?” Skye stood behind them, watching them make the tea. “I don’t like the idea of them being alone in this.”
“Neither do I.” Slade joined them, once more leaning against Magnus. His raspy voice was worsening by the moment. “We need to help them.”
“How?” Magnus settled his arm around Slade’s waist while the tea steeped. “I’m more than willing to do what’s necessary, especially with Skye’s endorsement.”
The frown on Slade’s face was fierce. “We should be helping because Sylvia is ours, not because Skye said so.”
Slade was right. “Sorry, love.” He gazed down at his mate, and what he saw in Slade’s expression sent a shiver of anticipation down his spine. “You have an idea, don’t you?”
Slade nodded, his frown dissipating quickly. His mate was turning out to be remarkably practical in most things. “Yes, I do.”
“Tell me, sweetheart.” Magnus kissed Slade’s forehead. “Tell me and I’ll see that it gets done.”
“Talk to Travis and Val. I’m willing to bet they’d help set up surveillance on Frigg.” Slade shrugged when Magnus gaped at him. “What? I wasn’t that far out of the loop. I know that Travis owns a detective agency, and that Val works for him now. Hell, more than once I stood there and listened to Odin gripe that Tyr wouldn’t work for him anymore. Have them help. If anything, they can watch Sylvia and Sydney as well. If they can report to Logan and Kir that the women are doing their best to uphold their end of the bargain maybe my fathers will relent and let Sylvia come to us.”
Not Broken: True Destiny, Book 5 Page 2