Collateral Damage

by Susan Harris

  Jerking back her chair with a screech, Ever stood up as fast as her legs would allow. “That is none of your business, Mom. You’re overstepping.”

  “I was not the one stupid enough to tie herself to a man who will not age, who will still be young when you are old. I am not the one who expects the dog to stay faithful when his mate is withered and aged. Seriously, Ever, for someone as smart as you are, you have done a very foolish thing. This obsession you have with the supernatural is driving your actions, but you, my dear, are too blind to see it.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, hurt punching a hole in her chest. Did her parents really feel this way? That she had ruined her life by mating with Derek? That he would eventually leave her for someone younger, more beautiful, with a longer shelf life?

  A growl reverberated inside her skull. She should protect her thoughts better.

  But, what if her mom were right? After all, look at the fight they had just gotten into.

  But a goddess cannot die, can she? Or are you so quick to dismiss that you are indeed one of the most powerful beings on this earth right now? You could smite down Samhain without breaking a sweat. You only have to speak the words, and you will be free.

  Samhain smiled a triumphant smile. “Ah, I am so delighted you are seeing sense. Now, I have a shaman who can sever the link. You can have your life back, Ever. I understand promises made in the heat of the moment—especially by such a handsome man—but you are making the right decision. And who knows who you may meet in the States? Perhaps someone who is better deserving of your love and loyalty, better than a werewolf with control issues.”

  Ever closed her eyes to halt the tears that threatened to spill over and was hit with a vision.

  Freya paced the inside of her cabin, rage flooding in waves from her core, her face red and eyes wild as she ranted and raved at Ever.

  “I wanted better for you, Ever. For my child who would rule a kingdom, I sought so much more. And you tell me that you have chosen a champion who challenges you, who fights you at every corner and is unwilling to submit to you even should you be crowned queen?”

  Ever dug her sandals into the sand beneath her feet, seeking comfort in the grains as she glared back at her mother. “That is the type of champion a queen deserves, Mother, not some simpering fool who obeys me on bended knee. I am a warrior down to my very core. Is it hard to believe I would want a champion who is my equal, not lesser than I?”

  Freya threw her hands up in frustration, stormed over to Ever, and placed her hands on the side of her face. “You are his better. And you always will be, my child. You are the daughter of two gods—a Valkyrie queen in the making. I cannot stand by and watch you make this mistake. I will not watch it.”

  Ever placed her own hands over her mother’s and with a defiant stare simply said, “Then leave.”

  Freya stumbled back. “What did you say?”

  “I said leave. If you cannot stand to watch me become queen with Deryck as my champion, then you should go. Valhalla will be my domain to rule, not yours, Mother. You do not have to approve of my choices, but soon I will be your queen, too. Do not forget that.”

  Freya’s lips curled up in a sneer. “Looks like my daughter finally grew some balls. Be mindful, Ever—some decisions made in the heat of the moment cannot be reversed. Odin will seek you out, and if you are too blinded by lust, we shall all be slain, not just your arrogant champion.”

  Freya whipped around, disappearing into the shadows, and Ever let the tears she’d been holding back escape to trickle down her face.

  “Some decisions made in the heat of the moment, Ever, can’t be reversed. We are so fortunate that we can right your mistake this time.”

  The anger that her vision-self radiated seemed to overtake her waking self. “How dare you. How dare you come into my home and demand that I do this. Have you stopped to ask me what I want? Of course not, because the great and powerful Samhain Chace has laid down the law, and I am just supposed to abide by it. Is that right?”

  “You are a naïve little girl who has craved love all her life, and the first strong-willed male who can offer you that security has trapped you into mating with him. We have always been honest with you, Ever, your father and me. But you have always wanted more than we could offer you, defied us at every turn, and now—now, after years of seeing off potential suitors, I am forced to try and scare off this damned wolf.”

  Alarm bells rang in her head. “Did you set Derek up, Mom?”

  “Oh for Hecate’s sake. No, I did not. If I wanted the wolf gone, it would be quiet and discreet. Do you think me so cruel and unfeeling that I would murder some innocent girl just so you could be free of him?”

  Ever’s response came out in nothing more than a hushed whisper. “I don’t really know what you’re capable of, Mom. I know that you don’t understand, but I love him.”

  “Love him?” Samhain spat out. “You barely know him. Three weeks is all he’s been in your life, and you say you love him? Now you sound just like your father, spouting declarations of love after a mere meeting.”

  Her mother and father’s story had been a favorite of hers growing up. Memories of the countless nights her father had tucked her into bed and recounted the night he’d met Samhain and had known he would marry her. It was like a fairy tale made real, and now here was Samhain, speaking words that would tarnish those memories.

  “You don’t really believe that, do you?”

  “Of course I do. Faoláin may have been in love from day one, but I was sensible. I took my time until I was sure he was the right man for me. You should have done the same, so you wouldn’t have become leashed outright.”

  “That’s enough!”

  A roar sounded behind her as Derek stalked into the room. He came straight over to Ever and rested his chin on the top of her head for a moment.

  “I will not stand by and let you speak to my mate like that. What happens between us is none of your business.”

  “I raised her, wolf. She is my business.”

  Ever could feel Derek’s jaw twitch.

  “That is where we differ, Samhain. I see Ever as my equal, not as less than I am. If Ever decided to walk away from me, then I would fight like hell to make her stay. I will never stop fighting to be worthy of her. Your opinion of me doesn’t matter. Hers does. If she asks me to leave, then I will. But I will use every fiber of my being to prevent her from doing that.”

  Samhain rose from her chair, very slowly and deliberately. “What happens when she ages? If she gets sick, or is dying? Will you still stand by her, as youthful as you look, and hold the hand of an old woman breathing her last breath?”

  “Yes.”

  It was all he needed to say. Ever stretched her hand up and cupped his cheek. His hand squeezed. For three whole weeks, she had avoided this conversation with her mother for this very reason. Ever felt as if she were being forced to choose between her mother and Derek… but the answer to that choice shocked her more than she cared to admit.

  “How can you keep her safe? Three weeks ago, while in your care, she roamed out into the woods and almost died. Where were you then?”

  “Mom…” Ever began as Derek’s body shuddered from behind her.

  “I learn from my mistakes, Samhain. The question is, will you?”

  Magic soaked the air, and in her mind, Ever could feel Derek’s wolf rise up to the challenge. She stepped out of Derek’s touch and stepped in front of Samhain. “Temper your magic, Mom, or you will not be welcome in my home.”

  “You would choose him over me?”

  “He’s not the one making me choose.”

  Samhain rooted in her handbag and tossed a jewelry box on the table. Ever glanced at the box, and then shifted her eyes back to Samhain’s.

  “I had a feeling you might be foolish enough to back the wolf and disregard my worry for you, Ever, so I made you a gift. When this starts to crumble—and crumble it will—simply slip on the bracelet in the box, and it will shut out
even the strongest of mating bonds. He won’t know where you are or be able to scent your trail.”

  Samhain snorted. “Think of it as a mating present. I’ll take my leave now.” She gathered up her belongings and edged around Ever, who grasped her elbow.

  “Please, Mom, let’s not leave it like this. Can we just sit and talk calmly?”

  Samhain shook off her hand. “You made your decision, Ever, even if it is the wrong one. When you come crawling back to me, which you will, then we can speak. I can’t sit by and watch you make the biggest mistake of your life.”

  To Derek she said, “If you love her like you say you do, you’ll let her go. She deserves so much more than you.”

  “She does deserve better than me, but as long as she’s willing, I’ll be here, possibly even after that.”

  “For Hecate’s sake, I hope I’m wrong.”

  Samhain walked to the door, looked over her shoulder and added, “I know the company you keep, Mr. Doyle. Misfits and outcasts. People who shirk their responsibilities. My daughter does not belong in that category.”

  And then she was gone, a freak storm who’d blown in, caused as much damage as possible, and then disappeared, leaving a wake of destruction behind them. The front door slammed, and Ever let go of a sob.

  Derek wrapped his arms around her and simply held her to him, her face buried in his chest as she let go of her tears. When she had finally rid herself of her grief, Ever stepped back and raised her head.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  She shook her head, clearing her throat. “Not right now.”

  “Good, I’m not going anywhere.”

  Still in shock, she simply said, “I can’t believe she was like that.”

  “Parents get overprotective sometimes.”

  She just wanted to sleep and process everything. Things were so all over the place right now, and who knew what tomorrow would bring? She rubbed her eyes and slipped around the breakfast bar to fill a glass of water.

  “You want to talk about it?”

  She took a gulp of water, then gave her head a little shake. “I’m too tired to talk. I just want to go to sleep and forget that all this just happened.”

  “I’m sorry you’re mixed up in all this, Ever. I would never hurt you.”

  “I know that.” She moved to stand beside him, rose up on her toes, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Now, just go and warm up the bed for me. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  He tilted his head and raised his brow in question.

  “I’m fine, I promise. Go on—I’ll be five minutes.”

  Derek brushed his lips over her forehead, and she watched him walk out of the room. She did love him, right? Samhain couldn’t be correct, thinking she was just infatuated with him because of her interest in supernatural creatures.

  “You’re making that face you like to make when you start thinking too hard.”

  Ever jumped at the voice behind her and turned to see Erika standing in the doorway, popping gum in her mouth as she grinned at Ever.

  “I so do not make a face when I’m thinking too hard.”

  “Yeah, you do.”

  Ever gave the girl a small smile. “I guess you heard everything that went on?”

  “Pretty hard not to.”

  When Ever opened her mouth to apologize, Erika held up a hand. “Don’t even start. You have no reason to be sorry. We can’t pick our family.”

  “Don’t you wish we sometimes could?”

  “That’s why we have friends. Aren’t they supposed to be the family we choose for ourselves?”

  A strange feeling welled in Ever’s chest. “Why do I have the feeling we’ve had this conversation before?”

  Erika’s whiskey-coloured eyes twinkled. “Maybe we have.”

  Ever laughed, shooing the girl away. “Go away, you, and let me go to bed. I’m absolutely wrecked.”

  “Try and keep the noise at a minimum please, Ever. I have work in the morning.”

  Ever tossed a tea towel her way, smiling as the mysterious girl sauntered from the room, popping her gum as she left. Allowing herself a few quiet minutes alone, Ever then turned out the lights, slid Samhain’s box into her pocket, and headed to her bedroom.

  Slipping into the darkened room once more, she made for the ensuite and closed the door softly behind her. After freshening up, Ever removed the box from her pocket. Without even checking what was inside, she opened her medicine cabinet and placed it inside.

  Best to keep it, darling. You may need it when Odin wakes.

  Pretending the voice in her head hadn’t spoken, Ever exited the bathroom and cast her eyes toward Derek lying in her bed. She could see the broad outline of his bare shoulders. Quickly undressing, she picked Derek’s discarded T-shirt from the floor and pulled it on over her head. It would cover her in his scent, and from years of studying wolves, she knew it would make him happy.

  Lifting up the covers, Ever lay down next to Derek. She closed her eyes and listened to the steadiness of his breath, knowing full well that he wasn’t asleep. She turned her back to him and shivered. His arm was around her seconds later, pulling her closer, and he brushed his lips against the nape of her neck.

  “Good night, Ever.”

  “Good night, Derek.”

  His arms snaked around her waist to rest on her stomach, and Ever felt all the unease, all the tension and doubt, evaporate.

  And as Derek’s breath tickled her neck in the moonlit darkness of the bedroom, Ever’s last conscious thought before she fell asleep was that this was how she wanted to fall asleep every night—tucked safely in the arms of the man she loved more than her next breath.

  Erika stepped out into the cold night air, her hair whipping against her face as she closed the patio door behind her. Gravel crunched beneath her boots as she ventured off the patio and into the shadow of the trees that surrounded Ever’s home.

  “You can come out now, Freya. I could sense you creeping about out here.”

  Stepping from the shadows, her Dr. Val disguise dropped away. The deadly warrior, dressed in normal attire much like the combats and tee Erika wore, now showed her true face.

  “I will remind you that I do not creep, Erika. I could kill you whilst you slept, and no one would know that I had happened by.”

  Erika cracked the muscles in her neck. “You took a chance coming here tonight, Freya. Ever is remembering more and more. Your presence could tip her too far over the edge.”

  “Freyr is dead.”

  Blinking in surprise, Erika didn’t know what to say. Freya and her brother had a strange relationship, but he was her blood kin and a loss was still a loss.

  She bowed her head and fisted her hand over her chest. “May his soul be reborn unto a better time. So shall we meet again.”

  Freya paced back and forth. “Freyr was a fool who slept his way through his immortal life in the beds of those he shouldn’t.”

  Erika folded her arms over her chest. “How did he die?”

  Freya chortled. “I would love to say of his own stupidity, but it seems he died of heart failure. Simply fell asleep and did not wake.”

  “Gods do not simply fall asleep and forget to wake.”

  If a God could die, then what chance did a Valkyrie like her have?

  “It’s Ragnarók come upon us. I feel him stirring, as if his mere awakening is tightening a noose around my neck. We do not have much time.”

  Thunder sounded in the distance, and Erika shuddered.

  “Great, like we need him to turn up now and screw things up.”

  “Push her, Erika. Remind her who she is, or Odin will rise and lay waste to us all.”

  Freya disappeared into the shadows, and Erika felt her aura disappear. Standing in the wind, waiting for the rumble of thunder once more, Erika hugged her arms.

  Shit was about to get real.

  The unmistakable sound of jazz flooded the streets of New Orleans. Harrison Avenue was a beacon for foodies, lovers
of music, and lovers of life. People flitted from pub to club, each seeking their own kind of high. She watched them revel, wishing she were free to soak in the atmosphere of good ol’ New Orleans in the ‘50s instead of hiding away in a darkened corner, fearful for her life.

  She had remembered her past lives quicker this time, the memories of her kin, of blood spilled in the name of a maddening god who wanted to usher in a change of his own making. Ever crossed one leg over the other, her pantsuit already making her stand out from all the dress-clad women jiving and moving to the toe-tapping music.

  Ever lifted a bourbon to her lips, relishing the burn in the back of her throat. Erika was supposed to meet her in this bar; supposedly, it was the one place in New Orleans where magic of any kind was not permitted. If Odin had begun his search for her, had sent his berserkers to find her, then hiding out in this bar was the best course of action. She was without her beloved sword, but Erika would soon arrive and reunite her with it.

  She continued to sip away on her bourbon, her eyes darting throughout the room, looking for potential assassins sent to do Odin’s dirty work. Erika called her paranoid, but Ever saw danger in every corner, every shadow, and she constantly looked over her shoulder.

  Her glass empty, she lifted two fingers to the barman, who nodded. Ever rested her chin in her hands, her toes tapping along to the beat of the drum and the rhythm of the saxophone. The barman, a handsome young man, set the tumbler down on the table. She reached inside her pocket, and he waved her off as she made to pay him.

  “No, ma’am. Courtesy of the gentleman at the bar. He hopes you enjoy it.”

  She still slipped him a rather large tip, then lifted her eyes to scrutinize who had procured her drink. Her heart leapt in her chest, and the lights in the room dimmed when his hazel eyes with the barest hint of amber clashed with her own. Her pulse quickened as he lifted his own tumbler and gestured in her direction. She echoed his gesture, trying to ignore the slight tremble as she did so.

  He shouldn’t be here. Not now. It meant she had little time to strengthen herself to fight Odin. Her father might not be able to hunt her, but her champion—or rather, his essence and soul—would be easy to track. As she ran her gaze over him, her Deryck, that same cocky smile that melted her insides played on his lips. His brown hair was slicked back, and a dark suit devilishly framed his muscular body. He appeared exactly as he had in all her previous lives, but though she was cursed to remember every meeting, every kiss, every touch, and every death, her champion would only feel an intense pull to her, like gravity. They would always find their way back to one another, unless she failed and died her final death at the hands of her father.