Renegade Valkyrie (Valhalla's Curse Book 1)

by Stacy Claflin

  Eighteen

  I scoot closer to Fox to get as far away from the nearly toothless creep ogling me from the other side of the aisle. He’s been staring at me for the last twenty minutes.

  If the bus wasn’t so full, I’d glower at him with my black eyes and watch him pee his pants.

  We pull up to the curb and I glance over at Creepy, hoping this is his stop. If it is, he isn’t moving. I look outside at the stop number and groan, realizing how far away we are from actually reaching our destination.

  Next to me, Fox’s face is pressed against the window and he’s snoring. This is our third and final bus before reaching Calla’s neighborhood, though it sounds more like the country than a housing development.

  Several people file onto the bus. Each one of them makes Creepy look like a puppy in comparison.

  I turn my attention to my phone, though I’m only pretending to play a game. I’m still watching everyone from the corner of my eye. Even though I haven’t gotten supernatural vibes from more than a couple passengers, I’m not letting my guard down. Anyone could be a spy for Eveline. As crazy as that sounds, she’s crazier.

  The bus jerks forward. Fox flies toward the seat in front of us, and I reach out to stop him before he gets a concussion. He snorts and looks around. “What just happened?”

  “I saved your life.”

  “Exaggerate much?”

  “Not really.” I glance at the seat he almost smacked with his head which has a long streak of something brown smeared across it. “You could’ve touched that with your face.”

  He grimaces and leans back. “Guess I owe you.”

  “You can pay me back by cooking my food.”

  “Sounds good. How close are we?”

  I glance back over at Creepy.

  He winks at me.

  I shudder and turn back to Fox. “Not close enough.”

  Fox sniffs the air. “Is there a banshee on the bus?”

  “Third row from the back. Why?”

  His face contorts. “Let’s just say our kinds don’t get along. It didn’t react to me when it boarded?”

  “Nope. Must’ve been too distracted by your disguise to notice your true nature.”

  Fox spins around and knits his brows together as he scans the crowd for the banshee. “Good.”

  I lean back in the seat and close my eyes. Creepy’s stare burns at my side. “Do you know how to get to Calla’s house once we get off the bus?”

  “Yeah. Been there several times.”

  “I hope she’s hospitable. I’m not only tired, thirsty, and hungry, but my bladder’s about to explode.”

  Fox scoots away from me.

  “I’m not going to pee on you, you know.”

  “Not taking any chances.”

  I hold back a laugh. “My turn to nap. Don’t fall asleep. I don’t want to be on this bus for a moment longer than I have to be.”

  “Neither do I, trust me. Not with a banshee so close. I don’t trust them farther than I can throw a leviathan. They…” Fox’s voice drifts away as I float to dreamland.

  ***

  Only in my dreams do I get to visit my werewolf family. And Brick. This time, Titan is there. He’s just chilling in the room where everyone watches movies.

  Brick comes in, sits next to Titan, and hands him a beer. Then he glances up at me. “Come sit with us.”

  My feet won’t move. Seeing the two of them together has paralyzed my entire body. I try to move, but it’s useless.

  Titan waves me over. “Have a seat. You’ll love this movie.”

  I just stare back and forth between the two of them.

  “What’s wrong?” Brick lifts a brow. “Don’t miss the opening scene.”

  I manage to get my feet to cooperate, but now I can’t breathe. Seeing them together is too much. They’re both alive and well. Happy.

  The air feels like rushing water, pushing against me. Somehow I make it to the couch, still unable to get any air.

  Titan and Brick are sitting next to each other in the middle of the sofa.

  I have to choose who to sit next to. It’s too much. This is the most unfair decision in the history of horrible choices.

  Brick meets my gaze and gives me the smile that won me over so long ago. He gestures to the spot next to Titan. “Sit. Enjoy the movie. I promise not to give spoilers.”

  “You… you want me to sit there?”

  He nods. “That’s where you belong.”

  My feet won’t move. My knees wobble, refusing to hold me up.

  Titan jumps up and helps me sit next to him. “Do you need some water or something to eat? You’re pale.”

  Brick leans closer and studies me. “You are.”

  “What do you want me to get?” Titan asks.

  “Nothing.”

  “Nonsense.” Brick gets up. “I’m going to have Laura warm you up some of last night’s leftovers. You two make yourselves comfortable.”

  I stare at my late fiancé, begging him with my eyes for him to fight for us.

  Titan puts his arm around me.

  Brick smiles at me, then Titan.

  I shake my head. “Don’t do this.”

  “Do what?” Brick wrinkles his forehead. “I just want you to be happy. Are you?” He glances at Titan. He wants to know if Titan makes me happy.

  Unable to lie, I nod my head yes.

  Brick’s smile widens. “Then I’m happy.”

  He dematerializes in front of me.

  ***

  I sit up, gasping for air. Smelly bus air.

  It was all a dream. But it feels as real as everything around me.

  A huge lump is growing in my throat. Tears threaten. They mist my eyes.

  “Are you okay?” Fox sounds miles away.

  Was Brick actually in my dream? Giving me his blessing to be with Titan?

  Or was it just wishful thinking on my part?

  It feels too real. That had to have been him. It just had to have been.

  “Soleil?”

  I turn to Fox but can barely see him through the tears.

  He puts his hands on my shoulders. “You need to breathe.”

  Right. Breathe. How do I do that?

  “Soleil.” Fox leans closer. He’s still blurry, but I can smell cologne. “Snap out of it.”

  He snaps his finger and thumb only an inch from my face.

  I jump, then inhale.

  “What just happened?” He sounds worried.

  I take another breath, this time deeper. Tears spill onto my face. The air presses on me like lead weights.

  That was the last time Brick will visit my dreams. I don’t know how I know, but I do.

  “He can’t want me to be with Titan.”

  Fox tilts his head. “Come again?”

  My hands shake, then before I know it, I’m shaking all over. And I can’t stop. The bus may as well be filled with ice.

  Fox puts his arm around me and pulls me close. “Do you want to go back home? We don’t have to visit Calla today.”

  “It’s not that.”

  “Okay.”

  We sit in silence, bumping along with the bus until it hisses to a stop.

  Fox lets go of me. “This is our stop. Are you ready to stand? Or we can keep going and take another bus back here.”

  I draw in another deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

  We get up and head for the exit. I lean on Fox for support.

  I hate being so weak. But it feels like I’ve lost Brick again.

  Once we’re off the bus, Fox sits on the bench and pats the seat next to him. “We’re in no rush. Relax.”

  “Relax. Right.” I plop down next to him and fidget with a string hanging from my ripped jeans.

  “That must’ve been some dream.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Something to do with the witch?”

  I shake my head no.

  “The mesmer?”

  “Kind of.” I rest my head in my palms. “It goes b
eyond that, though.”

  “Love is a tricky thing.”

  I sit up straight and stare at him. “Who said anything about love?”

  Fox pats my knee. “You don’t have to say a word. It’s written on your face and in the tone of your voice.”

  “It’s that obvious?”

  “For a softy like me, yeah.”

  I stare at the djinn who could beat any wrestler without breaking into a sweat. “Softy?”

  “When it comes to love. That’s why I’m so broken up over Roxy.”

  “She was crazy to let you go.”

  “I smothered her. That’s what she says. Apparently some women don’t want daily presents and original poetry.”

  I study him from a new light. “And you say I’m not as I seem. You’re fierce and scary, but really you’re a teddy bear.”

  “And you’d better not tell anyone.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  “Speaking of dreams, what about yours has you so shaken?”

  I leap from the bench. “Let’s find Calla. That’s what we’re here for, right?”

  Fox scratches his head. “You know, it wouldn’t kill you to talk about what’s bothering you. It might actually help.”

  I ignore him. “Which way?”

  He points to a high hill. “On the other side of that. You’ll have plenty of time to talk if you want.”

  Nineteen

  We finally reach the top of the massive hill. Instead of seeing Calla’s house, all I see is another hill only slightly smaller than the one we just hiked.

  I turn to Fox. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  He shakes his head.

  “Where does this chick live? In the middle of a lake, in the middle of the woods, in the middle of nowhere?”

  “Something like that.”

  I groan. “Are we going to get there before dark?”

  “More than likely not.”

  “Wonderful.”

  “The time might go by faster if we talk.”

  I scowl at him. “We have been talking.”

  He throws me a sideways glance. “I don’t mean about the local sports teams.”

  “We discussed more than that.”

  “Hardly.” Fox steps down the steep incline. “I’ll start if you want. It might do me some good to get it out.”

  I follow him, slipping on the loose dirt but regaining my balance easily enough. I’m tempted to free my wings and fly us to Calla’s home—especially if it’ll keep him from talking about how he feels.

  “I really thought Roxy was the one, you know?”

  “I’m not a feelings type of a person, Fox.”

  “She’s a djinn from a good line, and my parents have always pushed me to mate with someone of her caliber to carry on the family name. I’m the only one who can. Out of twenty-three siblings, I’m the only son.”

  “Twenty-three kids? Is that normal for your kind?”

  “It is, considering we live for centuries.”

  “Ouch. I’m glad I’m not a djinn.”

  “Do Valkyries have offspring?”

  “No, we grow in a garden. Odin picks us when he needs a new one.”

  He glares at me. “I’m being serious. I’ve heard your kind doesn’t reproduce.”

  “Right. Because we’re produce. Grow right next to the cabbages and carrots.”

  “Are you serious?”

  I roll my eyes, but I’m secretly glad to have successfully changed the subject from love and heartache. “Of course not. Do you really think we come from a garden?”

  “No, that would be ridiculous.”

  “Right, because we grow on trees.”

  He throws his head back.

  “I’m serious. Everyone loves visiting the Valkyrie trees. The babies are so cute. Of course, we only improve with time.”

  “Are there male Valkyries, or is it just a rumor that you’re all only female?”

  “There are both, and we do have offspring. In most cases, all that happens after retirement. We’re supposed to be solely focused on our missions.”

  “I can tell you take that seriously.”

  “Of course I do. Can’t you tell I search for that dictator day and night? I never stop.”

  “Your dedication is an inspiration. Truly.”

  “I do my best.”

  “Haha. Yeah, your—”

  Whoosh!

  A black figure sweeps by us. It’s moving too fast to be able to tell whether it’s flying or running, or even what it is. Human-like creature? A large bird?

  It spins around and aims for us again.

  I turn to Fox. “Run!”

  We both scramble down the hill, slipping and sliding on the loose dirt, kicking up dust and pebbles.

  Whoosh!

  Something brushes against my back with enough force to knock me off balance.

  Whoosh! Swoosh! Whoosh!

  So many of the shadowed figures surround us that I can’t see anything. Not even Fox. I reach out in the direction where he was. Or where I thought he was. It’s hard to tell. I think the figures have spun me around.

  Swoosh! Whoosh! Whir!

  They press against me from all sides. Pushing, brushing, scraping, forcing. Twisting, biting, scratching, pulling my hair. Howling, screeching, growling. All at once.

  I punch and kick, but make no contact. May as well be fighting the air. These things can harm me, but I can’t touch them. I also can’t get my wings to come out like this. I can barely stand up.

  “Fox! Are you okay?”

  All I can hear is the wind-like noises from the things attacking. I can barely hear myself, much less Fox’s reply, if he even heard me.

  The shadow creatures disappear as quickly as they arrived. Light returns, though not as bright. It’s obviously getting later, and the sun is going down.

  I fall to the ground and gasp for air. What were those things? In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like them.

  “You okay?”

  I turn toward Fox’s voice. He’s crawling toward me, covered in scratches and bruises. “I think so. You?”

  He nods slowly then falls next to me. “What are those creatures?”

  “You don’t know either?”

  “No. I was hoping you knew.”

  “I’ve seen a lot, but not those things. They could hurt me, but I couldn’t even touch them. How’s that possible?”

  Fox rubs his temples. “I haven’t the foggiest.”

  We lie there for a few minutes and watch the colorful show of the sunset—pink hues mixed with orange and purple ones.

  My stomach rumbles. “What now?”

  “Sounds like we should eat. Calla’s isn’t far. I’m sure she has food.”

  “Didn’t you say she’s trapped in her house?”

  “The property.”

  “So, how does she get food?”

  “Pretty sure her fridge self-fills.”

  I turn to him. “Are you serious? I need one of those.”

  “It’s part of the spell. The witch wants her to live, suffering in her loneliness.”

  “Wait a minute.”

  He arches an eyebrow. “What?”

  “Were those things that attacked us part of the spell?”

  “They’ve never attacked me before, and she’s never mentioned them.”

  I clench my fists. “If only I could’ve gotten some of their essence.”

  “Why? What does the essence do? That whole background check thing you did on me—what was that?”

  Right. I haven’t explained any of that to him. He’s definitely proven himself. “I can learn a lot about people from their essence. See their memories, know their thoughts and emotions. That sort of thing.”

  Concern covers his face. “What did you see from mine?”

  “Just enough to know you were safe to bring into my home while I slept. I already felt you were honest, but I needed to know.”

  His brows come together. “How much did you
see?”

  “Hardly anything. I barely took any. Just enough to see you were heartbroken and only wanted sleep. I swear, that’s all I saw. I liked you and didn’t want to pry.”

  He doesn’t look convinced.

  “I’ve learned far more about you from what you’ve told me, and that’s how I prefer it. Believe it or not, I don’t like reading people’s essence. But it does come in handy when I’m bringing home a guy built like you who is also a form of trickster.”

  His expression relaxes. “That makes sense, even if you are an angel of death and could zap me dead if you wanted.”

  “Rest assured, I don’t want to. And I don’t know your deepest, darkest secrets.”

  Fox shrugs. “I don’t have anything to hide.”

  “We all have secrets, and I have no desire to sneak a peek. I’m not like that.”

  “Are most Valkyries like that?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’m hardly besties with any of them. So, back to those things that attacked us. You don’t think they’re protecting Calla?”

  “Maybe they are, I don’t know. But like I said, I’ve never seen them. They could be new, or maybe they came after us because of you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I don’t mean it like that.” He sits up. “All I meant is, she doesn’t know you. That might have something to do with it, but I’m just guessing.”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me. I’m beginning to think witches are horrible creatures. Gessilyn and her family must be the only exception.”

  “To be fair, we don’t know if those things had anything to do with Calla’s spell.”

  I rise to my feet and stretch. “At least they’re gone. I hope.”

  Fox jumps up. “Looks that way. What if they return? What do you want to do then? Leave?”

  Fire burns inside. “Not a chance. That’d only make me more determined to meet her.”

  He grins. “I like the way you think. Let’s get moving before it’s completely dark.”

  I dust off my pants. “How many more hills do we have to climb?”

  “Just that last one.” Fox gestures toward the one in front of us.

  “I’d offer to fly us over there, but I’ve gone through more than enough shirts lately.”