Death vanished as quickly as he’d arrived, leaving utter silence in his wake.
“What’s it going to be?” Bjorn asked.
Odin grabbed Loki by the shoulder. “I’m going to forget I ever knew you,” he assured Bjorn. “Just as I’ve done for hundreds of years.” He shook Loki. “This is all your fault.” The two men disappeared.
“It seems I will be deprived of justice.” Freya pulled her cloak firmly around her. “But, since your soul is no longer in the timeline, all will assume you’ve been dealt with. Farewell.”
“Will this affect my other children?” she asked.
The goddess shook her head. “They are safe. I want nothing to do with any of you ever again.” Then she was gone, leaving only Lucifer in their midst.
“Don’t look at me. I need new souls to torture.” He tipped a nonexistent hat and was gone.
“Do you believe him?” Bjorn asked Maccus, who seemed to know the devil better than any of them.
“He looks out for himself first and foremost, so yes. And if I think he’s forgetting, I’ll pay him a visit.”
“It’s truly over.” The tension melted from her muscles, and she took her first deep breath in what seemed like forever. They were free from the wrath of the gods and they were together. Forever.
I’m immortal now. Just like Bjorn.
That was a lot to wrap her head around. Thankfully, she had plenty of time to figure things out. She glanced at the other women, who were all smiling. And help.
“Not quite.” The wolves all ranged around Bjorn, watching and waiting. “See this woman.” He pointed at Anja. “She is my wife. Spread the word that she is not to be harmed. I will leave you all to live your lives, but I will be watching. I’ve neglected you in the past, but that is done. Leave others in peace and I will leave you alone. Kill wantonly, decide a bounty is worth a woman’s life, and I will be the hand of justice that smites you. Now go.”
The wolves melted into the woods, leaving the Brotherhood behind.
“Well, that was intense.” Asher flashed some fang when he smiled. “I’m hungry. Is anyone else hungry?”
Anja started to laugh. She understood why these men were her husband’s friends. They fought hard and loved hard.
“There’s plenty of food inside. We stopped for groceries.” That seemed like years ago, instead of a day.
“Welcome to the family.” Morrigan stepped up and hugged her and then Sven. Maccus glared and pulled his wife away. “We’ll be inside,” she called as he guided her toward the cabin.
“Thank you for standing beside us. You barely know us.” Overwhelmed by their friendship and support, tears filled her eyes. One by one, they came and offered hugs and warm words before following Maccus and Morrigan into the house.
Anja held one of Sven’s hands and one of Bjorn’s. “We’re a family now. There will be adjustments. I know you’re a man,” she told her son. “I know you’ll likely want your own home, but you’re always welcome to be with us wherever we are.”
He gave a curt nod. “I wish to learn more about the Brotherhood.” Axe over his shoulder, he strode into the house.
Alone, Bjorn took her in his arms. “I love you, wife.”
“And I love you, husband. I’m sorry I gave up and gave in.”
“You did what you thought best to protect our son.” He pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. “I would have followed you anywhere.”
“I know.” She rested her cheek against his chest, soothed by the steady beating of his heart. “It’s odd to be immortal, to know I will live forever with you.”
His muscles tensed beneath her face. “Are you sorry?”
“Never.” She rubbed her nose against his warm skin. Wasn’t it convenient that her handsome husband was naked? “Think they’d miss us if we took a little walk?”
His cock stirred and pressed against her.
“They’ll miss us, but who cares.” He scooped her into his arms and raced toward the woods.
Anja laughed and threw her arms around his neck. She couldn’t wait to rip off her clothes and make love to her man. They were free.
Not just she and Bjorn, but the Brotherhood.
Epilogue
Anja nuzzled her husband’s bare chest. One of her favorite things to do was to wake before him and watch him sleep. It didn’t happen often. He was usually up before her or the second she opened her eyes.
His cock stirred.
“You’re awake.” She gave him a quick nip before raising her head. His blue eyes twinkled with mischief. He looked younger than he had in years.
These past weeks had been good for them both. They’d spent time doing ordinary things, learning how to live together under ordinary circumstances. They’d cooked and shared meals, squabbled and laughed over chores. They’d gone shopping for clothing for her. She adored jeans and had a dozen pairs. A bit excessive, to her way of thinking, but Bjorn insisted. Seems her husband was a rich man and wanted to spoil her.
“I am, but don’t let that stop you.” His chest rumbled against her cheek. He rubbed his hand up and down her back, occasionally stroking her ass.
“Do you think everyone will come this evening?” After a week alone in the cabin, they’d moved into an apartment in New York to be closer to the others. Bjorn wasn’t a fan of city living, but he’d done it for her, to allow her to get to know the other women. It was good to have friends.
“Cassie and Alexei live downstairs. They’ll be here.”
She laughed. “Alexei doesn’t like the city anymore than you do.”
“What do you think of their invitation to visit them in Alaska?” Bjorn slid his hand up her side and then around to cup her breast.
“Hmm, I like the idea.” And not just the visit.
He dragged his thumb across her swollen nipple, sending a shot of lust to her core. She was wet and ready for her man.
“Asher loves to socialize, so he and Jo will be here. And Morrigan will drag Maccus, kicking and screaming, if necessary.”
Anja laughed. Their apartment was in a building owned by Maccus, just not the one he lived in. “What about Sven?” He’d pulled away these past weeks, and it worried her.
Bjorn’s sigh ruffled her hair. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “He’s finding his way. It’s difficult for him. He had a job, a focus all these years. Now he’s on his own.”
“He has us,” she protested. She bit her bottom lip. “I know it’s not the same, but I’m worried.”
“Maccus will watch out for him.”
Surprisingly, the two men seemed to hit it off and understand each other.
“Being part of the Brotherhood will be good for him,” Bjorn continued. “He needs to use his skills productively. It will give him a place in this world.”
“Do you mind?” she asked.
Rolling onto his back, he took her with him so she was lying on top with his cock pressing hard against her stomach. “I’m proud of our son, but I understand he needs space. It’s easier for him to talk to Maccus about some things than it is his father. I hope in time we’ll grow closer.”
“He loves you,” she assured him, concerned Bjorn might not truly believe it. “I see the way he watches you when we’re together. I think you should do something, just the two of you.”
Bjorn’s arms tightened around her. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“That’s part of the problem. We’re always together. Not that I’m complaining.” She kissed his chin, rubbing her face against his soft beard. “I can go over to Morrigan’s for coffee, or Cassie and Alexei can come here for dinner some evening.”
“I know I’m a bit obsessive.”
That was an understatement. He didn’t let her out of his sight for one second, but she understood. They’d had too many years apart.
“We’ll
figure it out.” She cupped her hand to his face. “In the meantime, there are a lot of hours between now and when our guests arrive. Whatever shall we do to pass the time?”
Bjorn growled and rolled until she was flat on her back. He hitched his arms under her legs and spread them wide. “We can think of something.” The head of his cock pressed against her opening.
She arched her hips, taking him in. “You have good ideas.”
He laughed and drove home, stretching her slick channel. No matter how many times they made love, her heart always leaped and her body soared at his touch. He growled and nipped at her throat, dragging his teeth over the skin, sending a shiver of pure lust through her.
All the hardships, all the lost years, were worth it now that they were together again, safe from the games of the gods.
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Acknowledgments
It takes many dedicated people to bring a book to life. I am incredibly grateful to the hardworking and professional staff at Entangled Publishing who had a hand in making this book a reality.
Special thanks to Liz Pelletier, Meredith Johnson, Alethea Spiridon, Riki Cleveland, Heather Riccio, Curtis Svehlak, Jessica Turner, and Bree Archer.
Thank you to all the talented authors and loyal readers that I am privileged to call my friends. Your support and encouragement means so much. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
About the Author
Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years. One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel and life would never be the same. N.J. has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
Don’t miss the Forgotten Brotherhood series…
Fury Unleashed
Arctic Bite
Burning Ash
Also by N.J. Walters…
Drakon’s Promise
Drakon’s Prey
Drakon’s Plunder
Drakon’s Past
Drakon Unchained
Drakon’s Tear
Drakon’s Knight
Night of the Tiger
Mark of the Bear
Pride of the Lion
Howl of the Wolf
Heart of the Serpent
Flame of the Phoenix
Lure of the Jaguar
Alexandra’s Legacy
Isaiah’s Haven
Legacy Found
Quinn’s Quest
Finding Chrissten
Damek’s Redemption
Craig’s Heart
Wolf at the Door
Wolf in Her Bed
Wolf on the Run
Wolf from the Past
Wolf on the Hunt
Wolf on a Mission
Wolf in His Heart
Wolf in Her Soul
Wolf of Her Own
A Touch of Magick
Dreams of Seduction
Love in Flames
Discovering Dani
The Way Home
The Return of Patrick O’Rourke
The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke
A Legal Affair
By the Book
Past Promises
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