Her Alpha Viking

by Sheryl Nantus

  Chapter Nine

  Brenna settled in the chair, watching him. It wasn’t a difficult job. He lay on his back, his hands at his side as if standing at attention. His fingers clenched into fists at first, but as time went on they spread out, digging into the sheets. Finally, his mind gave up the fight and his breathing shifted into a slow, steady rhythm.

  She closed her eyes and prayed, as she had every night.

  This time, though…it felt different. The words were thick on her tongue, the simple adoration of her Mother turning into a stumbling, awkward mantra. No connection, no sense of being part of a greater being.

  The link was gone, the last contact with Valhalla severed either because she attacked Kara or refused to kill Erik.

  Her inner voice took over, snapping so loudly she feared it’d wake the sleeping man up.

  You’ve given it all up. For what?

  She looked over at Erik where he slept, stretched out on the bed.

  For him.

  She shook her head.

  You don’t even know what that means.

  She didn’t. But she needed to find out before Kara killed both of them.

  The soft caress on her cheek had her leaning in, wanting more. Warmth surged through her, the heat flashing to her toes and back up again as she let out a heartfelt sigh.

  “Hey.”

  Wait. What?

  Her internal alarms went off, bringing her fully awake.

  She opened her eyes to see Erik staring at her. His finger trailed down to tap her chin.

  He smiled. “So much for first watch, soldier. I’d put you on dishwasher duty if we had any. Walked right by you and out the door.” He was dressed in a dark green T-shirt, the light blue jean shirt hiding his bare arms from sight. “You do have an adorable little snore. Don’t blame you. Been through a lot.”

  Brenna struggled to sit upright, annoyed with herself.

  “Don’t worry. I bought some clothes for you at the thrift shop down the street.” He gestured at a second well-worn duffel bag lying on the bed. “I guessed on your size. Hope I got it right.”

  She rubbed her eyes in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. “Thanks. I usually travel light anyway.”

  “I got that impression.” He stood and went to the window. “We’re paid up for another two hours so if you want to shower and clean up, I’ll keep an eye out for our mutual friend. I thought about picking up some burner phones but decided against it. We might need the cash later on.” He paused. “Also sold the car.”

  “What?”

  “I wasn’t that attached to it—picked it up a few months ago off a lot.” Erik smiled. “Seems our desk clerk was looking for a ride.”

  “You gave her the car?”

  “I sold it to her. Didn’t you see the ATM in the lobby? Wiped her savings out but she’s got the keys now and we’ve got more cash.” He eyed her. “I hate to ask, but how much money do you have on you?”

  “None.” She shook her head. “My wallet is empty.”

  She saw the questioning stare before he pushed it down, more pressing matters coming to the surface.

  “Doesn’t matter, we’re okay for now.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We don’t know if Kara has a car—but she had a glimpse of my license plate. Better to be safe and dump the ride. We’ll grab a bus out of here, maybe pick up a used car further down the coast.” He frowned. “How did you track me? If she’s using the same methods…”

  “Your picture was on the website. I spotted the announcement for San Francisco and raced here.” Brenna dug into the piece of luggage and found a white T-shirt in her size, along with clean underwear and socks.

  “That website’s not updated until the day or so before the event. Helps to keep the authorities at bay. How did you know to come to town, find this location?”

  “I had my feelings to go on.”

  “Your what?”

  She resisted the urge to squirm. Saying it out loud sounded stranger than it was. “A sensation at the back of my mind, an internal compass. Accompanied by a headache if I went in the wrong direction.” She held up the bag, eager to change the conversation. “Thanks. I’ll be as fast as I can.”

  “Don’t rush on my account.” He stared out into the sunlight. “Take as long as you need.”

  She headed for the bathroom only to pause in the doorway and look back.

  Erik stayed at the window, his arms crossed in front of him. The dark green T-shirt was tight on his broad shoulders, clutching at the deltoids with a grip she found herself envying.

  Pull it together.

  Brenna closed the door, shutting him out.

  She showered quickly, going through her usual routine to force her focus on the task at hand. They were on the run and with limited resources, some just frittered away to buy her clean clothing. She tugged on the shirt, surprised to find it fit perfectly. The man was observant.

  She caught herself smiling in the mirror and berated herself. The first-aid kit sat on the edge of the sink. She slapped a small bandage on the healing cut.

  Being mortal brought a whole new set of problems, most of which she didn’t want to dwell on right away.

  Brenna opened the door to see Erik still on guard, watching the parking lot.

  “There’s a Greyhound bus stop two miles from here, according to the clerk. We’ll go there, buy tickets going South. If we get to San Diego, I have a friend, a buddy at one of the drop-in centers. It’s possible he could help us out, line us up with a cheap car, to start with.” He shook his head. “If I can convince him I haven’t lost my grip on reality.”

  “You doubt he’ll believe you. Us.”

  “Yes.” Erik turned. “Wouldn’t you?”

  She shrugged as she pulled on her leather jacket and reached for her shoes. “I don’t know the man. You do.”

  “Yeah, I do, and that’s the problem. If I come at him with stories about Valkyries attacking me with spears, he’s going to sign me into the nearest hospital for observation.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Ken’s a good man, solid to the end. This, this is way above and beyond anything we’ve ever thought about, ever talked about. Even if I told him about what happened with us, back in the sand…” He looked up. “Would Kara kill him? How far would she go to cover her trail, to take us out? Would killing civilians be something she’d consider?”

  “I can’t say.” She had to be honest. “I had my rules, but plainly they’re not the same for her.”

  “Can't risk her hurting civilans,” Erik said. He went to the bed and took hold of the duffel, settling it on his shoulder. “How have you been getting around so far?”

  “Bus. Train. Hitchhiking.”

  That earned her a raised eyebrow. “You hitchhiked?” He smiled, leaving no guessing as to what he was thinking.

  “Yes.” She walked past him to the door. “I’ve also gotten out of a lot of cars in the dark after punching someone in the face.”

  …

  The young woman who had welcomed them last night was still there, stuffing thick textbooks into a leather backpack. A man stood beside her, tapping on the computer keyboard. A name tag announced his status as Manager.

  “Hey.” She smiled at Erik. “I’m going off duty, but Stan here will be glad to take care of you. Have a good day and thanks again.” She shouldered the backpack and headed out through the door, car keys in hand.

  The hotel manager accepted the key back without comment, counting the money Erik handed over before making change and printing out a paper receipt for their stay.

  Erik saw his gaze settle on Brenna for a few seconds longer, sizing her up.

  He put a hand on her shoulder and watched the man’s expression shift, mentally backing off.

  “Let’s go.” He opened the swinging door for her as they stepped out of the office.

  The bright morning daylight was blinding, the temperature already headed toward the uncomfortable level.

  “She said to go out here and walk until we s
ee the gas station. Bus stop’s located there,” he said as they made their way across the parking lot.

  She shaded her eyes, carrying her duffel bag. “Are you going to be okay? You took one hell of a beating last night.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “I can go at least as far as you. And then some.”

  The challenging smirk had him grinning. “We’ll see.”

  She fell into step beside him, matching the easy loping gait. He’d used this trick for years. This pace would take them a goodly distance without exhausting them, allowing multiple hours of travel before they had to stop.

  The comfortable silence between them was startling in a way. He didn’t feel the need to chat, and she didn’t either.

  Except questions needed to be asked and answered. He drew a shallow breath in readiness.

  “You don’t sense when Kara’s close, do you?”

  “What?”

  “You said you felt something when you got close to me. Do you have it now?”

  Her forehead furrowed. “No.” The amazement in her voice startled him. “Nothing.” She touched the back of her neck. “It was like a headache, an annoying itch.”

  He couldn’t help staring at the spot where her hand rested, fighting the desire to reach out and touch it, stroke the soft skin.

  Mentally he gave himself a shake.

  Focus on the mission.

  “Do you know when she’s near? Some sort of psychic mojo that would give us a heads-up?”

  “No.” She shaded her eyes and gazed down the empty road. “If I had, it would have triggered back at the warehouse. I had no idea she was there until I spotted her behind you, about to strike.” She shook her head. “Kara must have been waiting nearby, waiting to see if I’d complete my mission. When she sensed I wouldn’t, she stepped out and took her shot.”

  “And she missed,” Erik added. “Because you did the right thing.”

  He got an annoyed sigh in response. “I feel fine. No headache, no cloudy thinking.” She glanced at him. “Whatever Freyja gave me to find you, she’s taken it back.”

  “Damn. Be great to get a warning when she’s in the area.” His ribs ached, but the walking gave him the sense of progress, of doing something.

  He still couldn’t believe a scant twenty-four hours ago his world consisted of fighting and hoping to break into the big leagues. Now he was traveling with a Valkyrie and being hunted by one who had the jump on them when it came to weapons.

  “Should have picked up your knife,” he groused, annoyed with himself not thinking ahead. “Hate not being armed.”

  She nodded, sidestepping an empty coffee cup on the shoulder. “Wasn’t a priority. We can always buy another knife.” She glanced at him. “You’re still a fighter. A damned good hand-to-hand brawler. You don’t need a weapon to be dangerous.”

  “I just…” He gave an angry shake of his head as he fought to find the right words. “I still can’t wrap my mind around this. You’re telling me the Norse Gods exist, really exist.” He pointed upward. “Odin, Freyja, Loki, Thor…” It was hard not to smile. “Wonder what he thinks of the current movies.”

  “They don’t concern themselves much with what goes on down here.” Brenna took off her leather jacket and tucked it into her duffel bag before slinging it back over her shoulder. “The other realms keep them busy enough.”

  “The other…” He hesitated, trying to recall his mythology. “Helheim. What we call Hell, correct?”

  “Yes.” She bit her lip. “Not a nice place.” She drew a deep breath. “For those who betray their friends, family, brothers-in-arms—dishonorable actions. That sort of thing.”

  “She said you’re going there. Isn’t that excessive, sort of over-the-top punishment for leaving me behind? Or is that because you balked at killing me?” He slowed as a car came behind them, moving toward the grassy area alongside the road.

  The sedan shot by them with a roar, kicking up dust clouds in its wake. Brenna realized she’d been holding her breath and exhaled.

  “It’s…complicated.”

  He waved a hand at the open road. “We’ve got plenty of free time. Either that or I’m going to start singing. You really don’t want me to start singing.”

  She hesitated just long enough for him to begin crooning in a low, off-key tone.

  Brenna chuckled. “My job, my sole existence as a Valkyrie, is to collect worthy warriors for when Ragnarok falls on us, the ultimate battle,” she said. “That’s what I trained for since I was a young girl.”

  He looked at her, frowning. “You were a junior Valkyrie? What, like the Girl Scouts but with wings and weapons?”

  She laughed. “Not all Valkyries are Odin’s daughters. Many of us started off here on Earth, mortals just like you.”

  He stopped still, shocked by this revelation. “Are you serious? Tell me more. Tell me how you got from here to there and back again.”

  She glanced up at the sun. “It’s not a very exciting story.”

  “That’s all right.” He slipped his hand into hers and smiled as they approached the gas station. “I think we’ll have time.”

  Chapter Ten

  The gas station manager scanned the computer screen. “Bus won’t be here for another half hour.” He eyed them. “Gonna need to transfer twice before San Diego, once in Los Angeles. No direct route. Layover in King City for two hours. Be about a twelve-hour trip.”

  “What?” Brenna snapped. “It’s only an eight-hour drive.” She glanced at Erik. “I rented a car and drove up the coast after you. Took a cab to the warehouse.” She glared at the manager. “No way this should take that long.”

  The older man shrugged. “Rural bus routes. Stops at every small town.” He paused. “Like this one.” He waved a hand at the window. “You can try to hitchhike, but…”

  “We’re good.” Erik nodded as he counted out the cash. “Two tickets, please.”

  She shook her head as they settled on the curb, bags beside them. “This is ridiculous. If we had kept your car…”

  “My call.” The abruptness in his voice caught her off-guard. “This is my life at stake, my soul. I made the decision.” He glanced down the road back toward the hotel. “Kara didn’t strike me as being stupid. First thing I’d do is try to track the car, the phones—take us off the grid and we’ve got a better chance of surviving.” He picked up a pebble and tossed it out into the parking lot. “At least we’d see her coming here.”

  She fell silent, at a loss at what to say.

  After a few minutes, he spoke. “About you becoming a Valkyrie.” He smiled. “Can’t expect me to let that one go without getting the full story.”

  “I was born in a small village in what is now Norway.” She remembered the cold biting at her toes despite the hot, sunny day. “I don’t recall much. My father worked as a carpenter.” She inhaled deeply. “Always sawdust in the air. I still think of him whenever I smell it.” She swallowed hard, choking back the sadness. “My mother cared for him, for us. She loved to bake fresh bread.”

  “Were you kidnapped?”

  The question brought the world back into focus. “No, of course not. Freyja doesn’t steal children away; she’s not a monster.” She shook her head. “I thought you said you’d heard of the Gods.”

  “I didn’t pay close attention. Besides, what goes on behind the scenes usually doesn’t make it into the history books.” He waited a few seconds before speaking. “What happened to your parents?”

  “Plague. Disease.” She rolled her shoulders back. “Don’t remember the details. I had a family, and then I didn’t. My mother was crying, and then there was just me, alone in the house.”

  She picked up a stone and tossed it after Erik’s pebble. “I knew how to make some food for myself, but eventually the pantry was empty, and well… I couldn’t go out and hunt. I assumed the rest of the village either died or ran away; I never saw anyone else. When the fire finally went out, I headed into the forest. I’m not sure if I planned to find k
indling or hoped something would kill me fast, save me from starving to death.”

  He reached over and squeezed her hand.

  “The next thing I remember is Mother appearing to me.” She couldn’t help smiling, the emotional rush still fresh after all these centuries.

  “Your mother? I thought you said she died.”

  “No. Mother Freyja. She came down from the clouds, riding a beam of sunlight.” Brenna drew a deep breath. “The most beautiful woman I’d ever seen, her long white robes just touching the ground. I wasn’t afraid for some reason. I guess I knew she wouldn’t hurt me.”

  Erik made a humming noise she took to be agreement.

  “She reached out to me and asked me if I wanted to come with her.”

  A hot breeze whipped around them, and she felt the lightness on her back, the lack of her wings still paining her.

  “We rose to Valhalla, and she took me to the barracks. An older woman met us. Freyja kissed me on the forehead and handed me over to the sisters. I began my training with the other little girls.”

  “Why does she need to replace Valkyries?” Erik asked. “Didn’t you say you were all immortal?”

  “Yes, but…” Brenna hesitated, unsure about exposing one of her family secrets. “After so many years of dealing with the dead, they get tired, weary of the job. They don’t want to do it anymore. They cry and scream, jab at themselves with their own lances. When that happens, Mother sometimes assigns them to train new Valkyries, and they stay in Valhalla, never to leave again. We learn from them and each other. We’re all sisters, in thought if not in blood.”

  Kara.

  She bit the inside of her cheek as she remembered all the times they’d sat and talked, laughed together. True, there’d been instances where they’d been at odds. Most recently during a heated discussion over who their mother liked more. It’d been a childish fight, a silly dispute over who held higher rank. Kara had seniority, having been there longer, but Brenna’s battle abilities had placed her above her friend.

  But this…this went far beyond a bit of swearing and shoving, competitiveness on the training floor. Kara was now out to kill her and Erik.