Bjorn Cursed

by N. J. Walters

  He threw back his head and howled, the mournful sound breaking her heart. His big body shivered and shook. He fell to the ground, writhing in obvious pain.

  …

  Pure agony pierced every cell of his body. For the first time in centuries, man and beast were at odds.

  Damn Odin and his curse. The wolf was compelled to do as the god commanded. Whereas the first time around, Bjorn had embraced it, this time he fought it with every ounce of strength inside him.

  Anja.

  He inwardly bellowed her name, saying it over and over as a talisman to fight the god.

  Kill. The wolf wanted blood and wanted it now.

  Protect.

  The wolf paused, and some of the conversation around him bled into his consciousness.

  Then her hands were on him. Her presence, her love centered him, gave him strength. He threw himself into the change. His wolf didn’t want to go. Not because he still wanted to kill her. No, he’d understood her, and the original curse—the one sealed with blood and bone—snapped into place.

  He would kill anyone who harmed his wife.

  Bjorn cried out as his wolf finally released him, the two of them in accord once more.

  “What is this?” Odin asked.

  Sweating and panting, he rolled to his hands and knees and shoved himself to his feet. When he swayed, Anja was on one side to steady him, Sven on the other.

  “This is family. This is love.” Something the gods knew little about and understood even less. He’d been blessed with two families in his life—Anja and their children and then the Brotherhood. He’d gladly forfeit his life to protect them. “Loki pulled Anja from Freya’s Hall. I suspect it was as a favor to one in another pantheon.”

  “Even Loki wouldn’t go that far.” Odin spoke slowly, as if not quite as sure as his words proclaimed him. “You are lying.”

  “Then ask him here. Confront him.” Bjorn prayed the god’s curiosity would demand he get answers.

  “To what end?” Freya crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “Even if he did as you said, so what? The result is the same. A woman left the afterlife. Someone must pay the price, be the lesson to others.”

  He wanted to howl in frustration.

  “They would look weak to the other gods and their followers if they admitted Loki was responsible,” Anja interjected.

  She placed her hand on his chest. “Don’t you see, even if they privately chastise Loki, and I suspect they will, it matters not. They still need a scapegoat that is not one of them. And I am it.”

  He hated the certainty in her voice, the sense of inevitability, as though fate had lined events up this way at their births and they had to play out the ending.

  “No.” He would not survive without his Anja. He wrapped his arm around her. “Whatever you do to my wife, you do to me.”

  “You’re mine,” Odin said, turning to him.

  “And if Anja is banished to the void, her life ended, you will have had a hand in it. By your own directive, I will have to kill you or die trying. Why don’t we just skip the middle part and get straight to the end.”

  There was no fighting this. The gods were too powerful for anyone to stop. He was glad the Brotherhood had left them alone to let this play out. It wasn’t desertion—they’d already gone above and beyond just by being here.

  “I will kill you both,” Sven stood, legs spread, axe at the ready. “You will have to go through me to get to my parents.”

  “I am so done with this.” Odin flicked his hand. Sven flew through the air and smashed into the ground. He was rolling as he fell and popped right back to his feet.

  Giving a bloodcurdling yell, Sven charged Odin.

  Anja yanked her sword from the sheath at her back, gave a yell, and went to protect their son.

  Bjorn shifted and threw himself at Freya.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  This was insanity. There was no way to kill a god, let alone two. Not with an ordinary sword.

  And if by some miracle they managed, the repercussions would shake the foundations of the universe.

  Sven’s attack had caught her off guard. Heart racing, chest tight, she raced after him.

  Have to protect him.

  Her son had been taken from her before. He might be a grown man, an immortal warrior, but he was still her child. She would battle until she gasped her final breath and the last drop of blood spilled from her body.

  There’d be no hope of the afterlife this time. Only the void. Even Helheim wouldn’t have her for her audacity at attacking the gods.

  But this time, she was not protecting her child alone.

  The giant wolf leaped toward Freya. The goddess raised her hand. Bjorn slammed into some kind of force field and was thrown back. Growling, he rolled back to his feet and charged again.

  Odin was more old school. Manifesting a giant sword, he deflected the first swing of Sven’s axe. Sparks flew from the metal. “So you think to take me on, do you, boy?” The god laughed. “I expected the wolf to attack, not you.”

  And that was why they hadn’t. Her men were smart. Freya knew Sven’s weaknesses, but Odin did not, and vice versa. And any edge they could get, they desperately needed.

  Anja gave a war cry and lunged at Odin. He slipped his sword under hers and yanked, pulling the blade from her hand with ridiculous ease. He swung back. She dropped to the ground and rolled, barely keeping from being decapitated.

  “Get back,” Sven roared.

  She kept on rolling until she was beyond the reach of Odin’s sword. Springing to her feet, she ran to Bjorn’s side. Freya was on the other side of the barrier, looking more bored than anything.

  The futility of it all drove Anja to her knees.

  “Stop.”

  Her voice was lost beneath the howls of the wolf.

  “Stop!” she yelled. Bjorn’s head swung in her direction. He was by her side in a heartbeat, a man once more.

  “Are you hurt?”

  She nodded.

  “Where?” He patted her back and arms and stomach.

  Sven backed up until he was between them and their foes.

  “My heart is shattered. We cannot beat the gods.”

  “Finally some sense.” Freya waved her hand, and the barrier dropped. “We must leave. If Odin agrees, the wolf can come with you.” She glanced at the god and got a curt nod. “And, since I’m such a sucker for love, I’ll release Sven from my service. He can stay here on this puny planet and have whatever life he can carve out for himself.”

  In a repeat of the first time around, she would be without her children, but she would not be alone. Bjorn would be with her. He tightened his arm around her and helped her to her feet.

  They would be together in death. “Whatever happens, know I love you.” She pressed her lips against his.

  “I love you, and I will find you no matter if it takes eternity.”

  Sven watched them both, his face a cold, expressionless mask. It hurt her to see him like this, but she understood. He was protecting himself in the only way he knew how.

  “All I have is yours,” Bjorn told him. “Contact Maccus for details.” The leader of the Brotherhood’s curt nod gave her some solace. Sven would not be alone this time. Bjorn’s friends, his Brothers, would help.

  It would be challenging for him to settle in this strange world on his own. She wished she would be there to help and learn alongside him.

  “Are they done yet?” Odin asked. His sword had vanished, and he appeared as impeccably dressed as ever. Not a hair out of place. Meanwhile, she was damp with sweat and utterly exhausted, but not defeated.

  This was a victory. Sven would live.

  It was time.

  “No, we are not done.” Maccus came toward them, a wave of menace rolling before him. Why was he interf
ering now that things were settled?

  “Stay out of this, Christian.” Freya’s brows lowered, her patience spent. “This has nothing to do with you.”

  Maccus tilted his head to one side. He was no more intimidated by the goddess than her husband or Sven were. These men were truly amazing.

  “He is my Brother.” Her heart clenched at the simple but heartfelt words. Bjorn had chosen his companions well.

  The others stepped up alongside him—Morrigan beside Maccus, Asher and Jo off to their left, Alexei and Cassie to their right.

  It touched Anja deeply. She didn’t really know any of them. Yet, they were here, standing beside them, putting themselves in jeopardy simply by being here.

  Bjorn squeezed her hand. She stared where their fingers were joined. His hands were so much larger than hers, his skin darkened from the sun. “Anja?” She understood what he was asking and nodded.

  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You are the greatest friends a man could have,” he told the assembled group. “Look out for my son. Our son,” he corrected.

  “Bjorn,” Asher began, but he raised his hand to silence his friend. Anja knew what it was costing him to not fight, but Bjorn was doing it to protect his friends, his extended family. He feared they’d get involved and be hurt.

  “Stay out of this, Egyptian bloodsucker.” Odin manifested his staff and pointed it at Asher. “And you, whatever you are.” He glared at Alexei. “You are a true abomination.”

  Alexei glared at the god.

  “And you.” Odin pointed at Morrigan. “A former bounty hunter for Hell.” Then at Jo. “A human vampire hunter, but you’re immortal now. Interesting.” He studied Cassie. “Are you human? I cannot read you. Can you read her?” he asked Freya.

  “I don’t care what any of them are. This is ridiculous. I’m taking those two”—the goddess waved at her and Bjorn—“back to my Hall so all can see justice done.” She waved her hand in the air.

  Anja’s skin tingled. She tried to swallow but her throat was too dry. She clung to Bjorn’s hand. This was it.

  Only it wasn’t. She didn’t move. Neither of them did.

  Freya frowned. “What’s going on? Are you doing that?” she asked of Odin.

  …

  What now?

  Bjorn didn’t know what the hell was going on. Something was dampening Freya’s power, keeping them all here. His skin prickled. His wolf gave a low growl.

  Sven was pale, every muscle in his body delineated, pulled taut. Somehow, he was using his connection to the goddess, the piece of her inside him, to block her.

  His son had just thrown away his chance for a life. No way would Freya let this go unpunished. He wanted to yell at Sven, but he swallowed it back. Pride made his chest swell. His son was trying to help, tossing away his mother’s sacrifice. Anja would have fought to the end if it were the two of them against the gods.

  Freya’s golden gaze slammed into Sven. “You.” The accusation snapped with righteous anger. Wind whipped up around her, driving her hair back from her face. Her modern clothing disappeared, replaced by a feathered cloak that flowed all around her. “After all I’ve done for you.”

  “You used me to your own end. And I have served faithfully, never questioning. Until today. I will use all I am, all I have to protect my parents, my true mother.”

  Was that pain on Freya’s face? It was gone so quickly, Bjorn couldn’t be sure.

  The goddess raised her hand and brought it down swiftly. Sven’s knees slammed into the ground. His face contorted in pain. He drove his knuckles into the ground and threw his head back, the cords of his neck taut.

  He released Anja and went to Sven. Turning his back on the gods, he crouched and took his son’s face in his hands. “Let go. You can’t stop this.”

  Anja joined him and brushed her hand across Sven’s hair. “Listen to your father.”

  Sven roared and let go. The release of power would have toppled Anja if Bjorn hadn’t caught her. “It’s not fair or right.”

  “When has that ever mattered? We know the truth.” He glanced at his Brothers standing behind him in solidarity. “We will be avenged.”

  Odin laughed. “Speak of vengeance if it makes you feel better, but there is nothing you can do to us.”

  Bjorn knew then and there he would spend eternity in the afterlife trying to find a way to hurt the god for the pain he’d wrought. His wolf rumbled in agreement.

  A dagger slammed into Odin’s shoulder, knocking him back a step. “Don’t be so sure.” Maccus offered Bjorn his hand. He stared up at his friend and took it. What passed between them was more than words could ever express. Hundreds of years of loyalty, of friendship, had made their bond stronger than even he’d known until it had been tested.

  Odin yanked on the blade. It wouldn’t come out. “What is this? Christian, you have no power in my world.”

  “Power comes with age.” Maccus held out his hand and the blade flew back, the handle fitting perfectly in his palm. “And I am very, very old.”

  “You do not want to start a war,” Freya warned. “We Norse live to fight.”

  “Then leave us in peace.” Bjorn looked to his friends. “We have all of us fought, some for thousands and thousands of years. All we want is peace.”

  Freya shook her head. “What was done cannot be undone. It must be addressed. If you come now, I will do what I can to see if Helheim will take you. It’s better than the void.”

  It was a huge concession from the goddess, and he knew it. Anja clasped their hands together once more. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Not so fast.” Odin held up his hand, the wound in his shoulder already healed. “I have been insulted.” His golden staff appeared in his hand.

  Freya rolled her eyes. “Everything insults you.”

  Odin frowned but didn’t deny it. He pointed at Cassie. “I sense nothing from you. You will be a fitting sacrifice. I doubt anyone will miss you.”

  “No.” Bjorn leaped between the god and Cassie as Odin fired a god bolt from his staff. It slammed into him, launching him through the air. He hit the ground, his entire body convulsing as the power threatened to tear him apart. His wolf’s howl quickly turned to a whimper, his vision dimmed.

  Anja screamed.

  She couldn’t touch him. He had no idea if the energy would transfer. Pain seared every ounce of flesh. His cells were trying to explode. He shifted back and forth from man to beast.

  “Let me go to him,” Anja screamed. She was close. Bjorn squinted, wanting to see her one final time. Sven had his arms around her, holding her back. Their son would take care of her. But she would be alone in the afterlife, and he’d promised he wouldn’t leave her.

  He dug deep, searching for the flicker of Odin’s power that resided inside him. Sweat bled from his pores. Blood seeped from his nose, ears, and eyes. It was impossible to think, to reason. Relying on the wolf’s instincts, he grabbed onto the spark of the god. Odin had made him. He should be able to harness it.

  Gritting his teeth, he ignored the agony that pummelled him as his body was devoured alive by the god’s bolt. He gripped the energy and stopped fighting, trying to absorb it instead. Bit by bit, he let it combine with his cells until finally the two stopped fighting each other for supremacy and merged.

  His entire body jerked off the ground and floated in the air.

  “What’s happening?” Anja yelled.

  “Stay back.” Sven pulled her farther away.

  Bjorn could see them all now. His vision cleared, becoming even keener than before. His wolf howled, not in pain but triumph. The energy from the god bolt didn’t leave him, but became a part of his blood and bones, his very DNA.

  …

  Anja fought Sven’s hold, but he was too strong. The agony on Bjorn’s face made her lungs seize. When would the pain f
inally end? His skin was on fire with a flame that didn’t burn, yet was somehow consuming him.

  “Make it stop,” she begged. Pride had no place here. “Please.” But Odin paid her no attention. It was locked onto Bjorn.

  “Is there nothing we can do?” she asked Sven.

  “I’m sorry. No one survives a direct hit from a god bolt other than another god. Maybe a demigod.”

  And Bjorn was neither. He was strong and determined, a creature of legend, but he was no god.

  She glanced at the Brotherhood. Maybe one of them could help, but their faces were pale, reflecting shock and horror. The soul-crushing pity in the women’s eyes was too hard to bear so she looked away.

  “I will lose him again.” Tears rolled down her face. She didn’t bother to try to hide them or wipe them away. “Let me go,” she pleaded with her son. “I will go where he goes.”

  His lips flat, his eyes filled with pain, Sven released her. No words were spoken, but a wealth of understanding passed between them.

  She reached Bjorn just as his feet planted solidly on the ground. Was the glow fading from his skin? How was he even upright? “Bjorn.” She raised her hand to touch him but dropped it back by her side. Were those flames dancing behind his blue eyes?

  “I must finish this, Anja.” His voice was deeper, his glare laser-sharp and locked on Odin.

  “Whatever happens, we do it together.”

  Odin roared and tossed another god bolt at them. Bjorn’s hand snapped out and caught it.

  The brutal blast of energy flung her back. She raised her hands to protect herself from the bright flash. Gods, was Bjorn still alive? How much could he take?

  She blinked to clear her vision. Shock reverberated through her, making her entire body quiver, when she could finally see. Power sparked and twined around her husband’s arm, but it didn’t consume him. It was more a caress.

  “I don’t understand.” For the first time, Odin appeared worried. Freya took a step back.

  “I am made of you. As Sven is made from Freya. He harnessed her power to try to stop her. I decided to try the same.”