“How did the rest of training go? Did you figure out portal travel?” Hope fills my chest as I look into his eyes. Doubt shines through his gaze and like a balloon being popped, my hope deflates. “It’s okay, you’ll get it soon,” I say as I move to head into the room.
As I’m about to cross the threshold, his large hand wraps around my bicep and pulls me back into him, my back to his front. His lips find my neck and he places a chaste kiss at the juncture of my shoulder, trailing his lips subtly up to the soft spot just behind my ear. “We have spies, again. The ravens are back,” he whispers in my ear. I move to look around when he quickly adds, “Don’t look.” His arms wrap around my middle, pulling me into him more fully and I rest my head back against his chest, closing my eyes, soaking in his every touch as I listen to his deep whispers. “Yes, I can get us out of here. I’ll need to channel your thoughts to get us to where you want to go, though.”
In a moment of excitement, I turn around and jump into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. Thank the Gods Baler can easily manhandle me, with our height difference he catches me mid-leap, and I kiss him deeply. As though the only thing that mattered was how deeply I could get my tongue down his throat. Walking me into the room, he bypasses the bed and heads straight for the bathroom.
Shutting the door with his hip, he spins and presses me against it. He continues kissing me, until I am completely and utterly breathless, before he’s sliding me down his body to attempt standing on my own legs, which comically feel like jelly at the moment. Stepping away, he moves to turn on the shower and the sink. I know confusion must be evident on my face when he gives me a ‘duh’ look, pointing at the door with his brows raised, then pointing to his ears. Yeah. Ravens. Right.
Moving to his side as he leans against the counter, he whispers, “I figured out the portal today. Are the guys ready for us?”
I think back to the meetings I’ve had with the guys, since I filled them in on what all is going on. Killian is reaching out to all of his pack contacts in hopes of not only warning them, but to gauge just how far Alastair’s reach already is. The twins – Jameson and Paxton – are talking with their Chief and with those of the other local tribes. Explaining to them about Alastair’s plans for outing the supernatural community and to get the shamans and other magically inclined communities on our side. Weylen, while still my unpredictable wild card, agreed to reach out to the vampire coven leaders, the council and some of his contacts in the witching communities.
“I think so. They each had a task to work on until we could get there and start making more solid plans, and until I could get back into Alastair’s mind to glimpse more of his plans.” It has been frustrating as hell not being able to get back into Alastair’s dreams since the night of the curse breaking. On top of that, I still have not been able to reach Wilder.
“Okay. How about you try to reach out to set up a meeting place while I pack some weapons and clothing for us.” I snort at that, which he responds to with a puzzled look and a quick, “What?”
Looking from his attire to mine and back, I choke down another snort of laughter as I try to explain. “You do know that our clothes will cause us to stick out like sore thumbs, right?”
“I must say, I do not understand.” I smile at him and wrap him in a tight hug.
“We’ll need to do a little shopping, but I’m sure Killian will have some clothes that you can use until we get a chance to do that. Hopefully my sister hasn’t found all my secret cash stashes this past year.” Standing on my tippy toes, I pull him down to me and give him a quick peck on the cheek before stripping down and stepping in the shower.
“Such a tease,” he mumbles under his breath as he walks out of the bathroom to start pulling what we’ll need when we leave.
Gods, nothing feels better than washing the sweat and dirt off after a physically and emotionally taxing day. The water moving along my scalp through each strand of my hair feels so amazing, I can’t help the moan that escapes at the feeling. Allowing the water to run down my body, I picture all the tension of the last year in this place flowing off me with each new wave of cleansing water. Not wanting to take any of that with me when we go.
Sadness washes over me when I think of leaving Fenrir behind and not saying a proper good-bye to him. I just found him and have started to build a relationship with him. Am I really ready to let him go already? Will he come to see me? Will I be able to go see him? A tear slips down my cheek as my wolf lets out a soft whine.
“Grace,” a concerned voice calls from the other side of the door. I know it’s Baler, who else would it be? “My dear, are you okay?” My eyes widen with the endearment.
Quickly, I shut off the water and wrap a large soft robe around me. It’s so fluffy, I feel like I’m wrapping a cloud around me. This is so coming along when we go.
Pulling the door open, I come face to face with Fenrir. The worried look on his face does nothing to deter me from giving him a sour tone, though it doesn’t hold much weight since I’m actually happy to see him. “What are you doing in my room? Better yet, why are you skulking outside my bathroom?”
“I am sorry to intrude on your personal space. My wolf could feel your agitation and was worried for you. He would not settle until we saw that you were all right.”
I smile up at him and move to embrace him. “I’m better now. Thank you,” I whisper, inhaling his scent and committing it to memory. “This is exactly what I needed.”
His arms tighten around me and his cheek comes to rest on my head. “If you ever need me, just call for me. I’ll be there. Anywhere. Anytime. Do you understand?” I only nod in response to the unspoken words. He knows what I’m about to do, and he’s promising to be there for me when the time comes.
Pulling back, he grips my shoulders and takes one last longing look at my eyes. Understanding and a familial love shine through him. I give him a watery smile and nod. As he walks away, Baler comes to stand behind me, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. “You ready?” he queries.
“Let’s do this,” I declare, feigning strength and courage I don’t presently have. I know I fail miserably when Baler gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
He leads me to the bed where my eyes widen as I take in the new badass warrior outfit he’s laid out for me, consisting of a cream-colored tunic, black leather breeches, a black corset laden with buckles and ties, and finishing it off with black leather thigh-high boots with two thigh dagger sheaths to match. “Nice,” I exclaim with a huge grin.
He doesn’t turn away as I drop the robe and begin to dress. His eyes roam every curve and valley of my body, feeling like a tender caress and leaving gooseflesh in their wake. As I fumble with the buckles of the corset, he slides in behind me, running his fingers over the tight leather covering my thighs and up my hips. Leaning in, he whispers in my ear, “Let me.” His hands skim over my stomach, pulling the corset shut by the crisscrossing ties and fastens each belt-like buckle.
A shiver runs down my body when his hand comes to rest on my lower abdomen, and his lips skim over his mating mark. He nips at the tender spot gently before whispering, “On the bed, Grace.” Gliding his hands to my hips, he gives me a little push to get on the bed. I crawl up with my back arched, sticking my ass in the air and giving it a little shake. Before he can smack it, I flip over on my back with a chuckle. Baler narrows his eyes on me, one corner of his lips ticks up in a smirk before he shakes his head at me, and he schools his features. “Time to dream, Grace.”
“Come snuggle with me?” I ask softly with my arms open wide. Baler climbs onto the bed and moves to rest against the headboard. Rolling onto my side, I wiggle around to make myself comfortable, half draping myself over Baler’s leg. He combs his long fingers through my hair in a soothing gesture. Closing my eyes, I allow the tender touch and the sound of his rhythmic breathing to lull me into a fitful sleep.
A familiar push and pull sensation has me opening my eyes to the blackened void of the dreamscape. Think
ing of Killian, the twins, and Weylen, I pull on each of their bonds and thank the Goddess they were all in a state that allows me to pull on them. Locked onto their bonds, I lure them into a familiar kitchen of my childhood home; one I haven’t seen since I was ten years old.
“Grace,” an upbeat voice calls and I turn to find Paxton running towards me from the doorway.
“Hey,” I laugh wrapping my arms around his neck as he picks me up and spins around.
“Don’t go hogging her,” Jameson chastises his brother, just before I’m plucked from Paxton’s arm and find myself wrapped in the warm arms of Jameson.
“My turn,” a gruff voice demands. Jameson releases me with a kiss to my forehead, and I turn to find Killian standing behind me waiting. Not all that patiently, I might add, if the scowl on his face is anything to go by.
“Hey, you,” I say as I stand on my tiptoes and try to wrap my arms around his neck. He leans down and picks me up so we’re on eye level.
“Hey,” he replies. Without another word exchanged, he melds our mouths together in a chaotic caress, one full of longing and desire. As Killian places me back on my feet, my mind is still whirling as my body is whirled around to come face to face with Weylen.
“Hello, Love.” His deep English accent still causes gooseflesh to rise on my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. I still have not figured out how to read Weylen. He is a puzzle I can’t wait to solve.
A smile crosses his face, and I place a hand over mine. “Shit,” I mutter into my hand.
“It’s all right, Love. To be frank, it pleases me to know you want to solve this puzzle.”
Looking into his eyes, I narrow mine like I’m trying to read something in his eyes. “I just… I don’t know how to read you. I can’t tell how you feel about all this. Your tone never changes, and you’ve mastered your facial expressions.”
“So just ask, Love.”
Placing my hands on my hips, I look him dead in the eye and ask, “How do you feel about all of this?”
“How do I feel about all of this? I think it’s bollocks. How do I feel about you is the better question though, don’t you agree? For that answer, I do believe show would be better than tell.” With his last words, he grabs me by my shoulders, pulling my body roughly into his before his mouth crashes over mine, kissing me as though tomorrow will never come. Catcalls and whistles sound from around us and Weylen pulls back a hair’s breadth. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
Breathlessly, I reply, “Good answer.” With a grin in place, he shakes his head and straightens up.
“Okay, I need to make this brief tonight guys. Baler and I are coming to you. Tonight.” I hold up my hands in a quelling gesture to stave off their questions since I don’t know how long I have here. “How close to the tribe lands in Washington are you all?”
“We’re here,” Jameson tells me.
“I’m not far. A few hours north,” Killian replies.
“I can be there in a blink if someone shows or tells me an approximate location. However, whether or not I am welcome on the tribe lands is another story,” Weylen expresses with some concern, directing the last part to Paxton and Jameson.
“It won’t be a problem. We’ll take care of it,” Paxton assures him. Jameson nods in agreement.
“Great, that’s where we’ll land. We’ll be in the graveyard by midnight, I hope. Time is a little fuzzy here so I can’t be exact.”
16
Grace
An abrupt yanking sensation pulls at my core, and I scream as I’m ripped through the wall of my childhood kitchen, the guys all reach out as they yell my name in unison. Abruptly, I’m thrown forcefully on the marble floor in a large white room similar to the grand hall of the palace in Valhalla. Peering around, I find Odin sitting atop a large circular throne, clearly designed to make everyone else feel small and meek in his presence.
It is not working. It is not working. It is not working. I will not cower.
I continue to chant as I make my way forward. My left hip protests every step I take. Fuck. I don’t understand why my hip is injured. This place isn’t real, we’re in the dreamscape still, that much I’m certain. Regardless of how it happened, I will not give him the satisfaction of knowing I’m hurt. I need to remain strong and steadfast in his presence.
“Grace. Do you know why I have brought you here?”
“No.” One word. That is all he gets from me.
Irritation shows on his face, dark and menacing energy flows off of him in waves, slamming into me like a cold penetrating touch. My bones ache from the chill it leaves behind as a weight settles over me, trying to force me to my knees.
Locking my knees and holding Odin’s glare, I refuse to be the one to cut the tension.
My legs begin to shake under the unsurpassed power of his magic. But like all Alphas, he too breaks when denied power over someone. “You are here to accept your punishment for disobeying my direct orders. You were to contact Wilder. I told you to stay away from Riley. Now, I find that you are secretly planning to leave before I have released you.”
I continue to eye him. I will not break. You will not break, Grace. Legs locked and spine straight. Sweat begins to bead along my brow and drip down my back under the force of the invisible weight pressing in around me. Fisting my hands at my sides, jaw tight, I hold his stare.
“Nothing to say in defense of your actions?” He’s trying to provoke me now. Do not react. A stab of pain shoots up my spine, causing it to arch slightly but I still do not falter. I won’t let him win this.
“I have nothing to defend. You said nothing about contacting my mates, and you never said I had to stay here. In fact, you haven’t said much of anything about what is expected of me other than getting control of my emotions and training for a coming war where I am to be a warrior.” Taking a slow, agonizing step forward, wading through what feels like thick unforgiving mud, I continue to drive home my point as I gather every ounce of energy I can to make a quick and surprising exit. “I have asked you repeatedly to explain all of this to me. To tell me what I am supposed to do, how to prepare. Have you explained it? No, you’ve repeatedly left me in the dark. You enjoy lording your power and control over others. So much so, you’d place the lives of others in crosshairs to keep it. No more, I am done being your puppet.”
With a scream, my wings rip painfully from my back, blood mixing with the sweat running down my spine, and breaking the barrier of the weight pressing down around me. Odin’s eyes widen in surprise and horror. With every ounce of strength and energy I have left, I mentally push against Odin’s hold on me and force myself from the dreamscape.
I jolt awake with a gasp, sucking in a lungful of air. “Grace, what happened? Are you okay?” Baler’s panicked voice penetrates the fuzzy haze coating my mind.
“We need to go, now. Odin knows,” I wheeze out around pants of air.
Without a word, Baler jumps from the bed and begins siphoning the cosmic energy around him into a large portal. As the energy builds into a single focal point, a bright light begins to form in the middle of the room.
“I need you to come show me where we’re going,” Baler calls over the sound of the whipping wind around us. Taking his proffered hand, I picture the graveyard the twins and I used to hang out in when we were younger. The tall, dead, leafless warped tree that looks like it belongs in a horror film. The fog wafting off the central pond, coating the ground and wrapping around the tombstones during a full moon in the middle of the night. Lastly, my favorite tombstone engraved with My Life, My Wife and My One True Love.
With a resounding pop, the portal bursts open to reveal the graveyard beyond, sucking us in and depositing us roughly beyond the portal’s edge. Thankfully, Baler thought to sling our bags across his back or they would have been left behind. Through the portal, I can see Odin and Fenrir arguing, Fenrir trying to hold Odin back. Baler quickly jumps to his feet and begins to close the portal, but not before
Hugin and Munin manage to fly through.
They nosedive towards me, and I quickly growl, “Don’t even think about it or I’ll let my wolf eat you for dinner. She could have caught you yesterday, but she was just playing with you.”
They veer right and land on a nearby tombstone with an annoyed squeak of protest. “It’s not my fault you’re stuck here. You are the ones that chose to dive through the portal. If you behave, maybe I’ll try to get you back to Odin when it’s safe to be near him again.”
An echo of a deep baritone noise sounds around the graveyard, causing an uncomfortable vibration to travel through my mind. “Baler, do you hear that?”
“Hear what? I don’t hear anything.”
Falling to my knees, I grip my head as the sounds pick up volume and speed. Baler places his hands over mine as another, deeper and more menacing voice sounds inside my head. “To every choice there is a consequence, Grace. This is yours.”
“Odin,” I whisper just before a force rips through my mind and the blackness swallows me whole.
“Behind you,” an unfamiliar English voice bellows somewhere nearby.
Spinning. The world is spinning. Or maybe I’m spinning? Oh wow. I close my eyes, trying to orient my equilibrium to keep from passing out. Nausea rises in my chest. My hand rests on the cool ground beneath me, and I try to resist the urge to lie down.
The yelling around me increases in volume as my ears seem to remember how to hear. The sounds of growling and flesh hitting flesh meets me. I wince when I hear a scream of pain from somewhere in the distance.
Gaining a sense of balance, I slowly sit up straighter and peer around, taking in my surroundings. Tombstones, really old tombstones going back as far as the eighteen hundreds, meet my eyes first. A grunt sounds from my left and that is when I take in the fight going on around me. Five guys stand with their backs to me, creating what looks like a protective ring around me. A group of what looks like, for lack of a better word, monsters, or zombies, in varying stages of decay, trying to break through the protective ring of men surrounding me.
Death's Gift: Norse Blessed Book One Page 14
