"I was. It was high—a great strategic spot." He shot several times before continuing. "I could see the entire valley but couldn't reach the far side near the tree line." He stopped firing. There were only about fifty werewolves left. The tall men maneuvered their way, dancing in and out as they continuously slashed with their blades and dropping one beast after another until they had the remaining few surrounded.
He couldn't wait any longer to hold her. Rolling over, he pulled her to him, rifle and all. Tugging her weapon from between their bodies, she laid it next to his on the ground. He raised his face and feathered his lips over hers. Their kiss deepened, and he took his time, memorizing the way she felt as his love for her overfilled his heart. He wished they were anywhere but here, lying on the hard ground.
She kissed him back, her lips moving to his chin, cheeks, and nose. Her soft body pressing against his drove him crazy. She was perfect. He was quite certain everything about her had been made for him.
"I love you," he whispered.
"Oh, Jakob, I love you," she said at the same time, her beautiful smile radiant. She stared down at him, framing his face with her hands, her brown eyes filled with wonder. "I can't believe you're here with me."
"I'll never leave you behind again. We're a better team when we're together. You made me a better man, Aleksandra."
"As much as I'd like to stay here and enjoy this, we need to get down to the others and make sure they're all right." With a reluctance he knew they both felt, she crawled off him and gathered up her bag and rifle. She moved to the edge of the hill where she'd almost fallen and waited. Slinging his weapon over one shoulder then his pack, he joined her, threading his fingers through hers. Together, they stared at the valley below.
"Who are they?" he asked, watching the tall men form a circle around the remaining werewolves.
Aleksandra threaded her arm through his and held onto his forearm. "We made some new friends while you were healing."
21
Hand in hand, Aleksandra and Jakob stepped into the valley and stopped. She watched as the tall blond elf, whom she guessed from the deference of the others with him was Lamruil's brother, Ailuin, raised his arm. With a twist of his wrist, a fiery rope appeared above the werewolves' heads.
The elf motioned with another flick of the wrist, and the rope dropped, cinching around the narrow waists of the beasts forming the outer perimeter. Several growled while a few others struggled to get away from the constraint with pain-filled whines. Thankfully, their bond didn't seem to be made from real fire because none of them went up in flames.
"Who are they?" Jakob tightened his grip on her hand.
Rubbing his arm, she smiled up at him. "Those are the friends I mentioned."
His lips twitched. "I figured that part out. I guess I should have asked what they are. I've never seen humans quite like these before."
"You guessed right then. They are elves from Asgard—some of Freyja's allies who have joined our cause."
"Jakob!" Natalya screamed before Aleksandra could say anything else. She glanced over, her gaze following as their friends hurried toward them. Natalya reached them first and threw her arms around Jakob's neck. "You're safe and back with us."
Mikhail stopped behind his wife, waiting for her to let Jakob go. Finally, she stepped away as Mikhail held out his hand with a grim smile of relief. His face remained battle weary, but his eyes lit up as Jakob shook his hand. Without warning, Mikhail pulled him closer and slung an arm around his shoulders, giving him a quick hug and slap on the back. Jakob met Aleksandra's gaze as his eyes widened in surprise.
"You had me worried there for a moment. Glad you're back, though. We could have used your help a couple of times since you...left," Mikhail teased.
Jakob gave him a mock scowl. "I helped. Who do you think was on the cliff?"
"That was you on the basalt columns?" Natalya asked. "Thanks. That was some great shooting."
With a quick tilt of his head, Jakob motioned toward the seven tall men walking toward them. This is going to sound terrible, but how am I not supposed to be intimidated by them?
Silly man. She met his gaze and laced her fingers through his. I only have eyes for you. Turning back to the Asgardians, she could appreciate their evident beauty and grace as they stopped in front of them. Her previous assumption about whom the leader was became obvious when the three elves on each side stepped back and closed their ranks to guard his back. The leader tilted his head and almost bowed, his shoulders lowering only an inch or two. His gaze touched on them all then came to rest on Mikhail.
"I am Ailuin Vakas. Thank you for your help. There were a few more beasts than expected."
"Lamruil sent us. He knew you'd need a few more soldiers to bring them all down." He motioned with a flick of his head toward the werewolves tied together behind them. The group undulated as they tried to free themselves from the fiery rope. "What are you going to do with them?"
Ailuin's topaz gaze sparkled, but it was the only hint of emotion he shared with them. "We will transport them to the prison in Asgard to be held until a reversal spell can be found."
"They were taken from many armies and forced to become what they are. These were once soldiers fighting against the Germans. From what I learned while being held at the compound your brother commands, the spell creates an agitation, or anger if you will. The man inside can no longer control what he feels or does. He has to do his master's bidding."
Ailuin's eyes narrowed. "Heydrich's?"
"No," Mikhail said. "Himmler's. Himmler boasted of the spell he'd used from an ancient druidic book he had discovered in the ruins of a tomb called Bryn Celli Ddu on the isle of Anglesey. He told me a dark druid created the spell, so he could produce an army of invincible beings. Of course, that was five thousand years ago, and the druid would have had no idea what man would become or the technology he would create. These beasts are super soldiers, especially in Himmler's and Hitler's eyes, but they are not invincible."
"I know of whom you speak," Ailuin said. "He was evil in his own right, which goes against everything the druids stood for. The ancestors of my people trained them, gave them knowledge of plants, those for healing or protection, and even the ones to bestow power. My people gave them knowledge unknown to your world. Most druids were good men who wanted nothing more than to care for others. But, like all people and races, there are those few who stray down a darker path." He bowed again. "Thank you, again. What you said will aid us in our search for the counter spell."
Aleksandra couldn't help but notice the elves' beauty. They were regal in every way royalty should be, and their fighting was a beautiful choreographed dance. She wanted to ask why half of them had black hair and the other half had blond, but something about his expression when his gaze stopped on her made her hold her tongue.
A shadow moved in the depths of his eyes as he continued to stare. Taking a step closer, he reached out and tilted her face up with one long finger. His blue gaze mesmerized her, and she wondered if elves could read people's minds or see a person's soul?
"You have special abilities—the abilities of my people." He spoke in a soft voice, not quite a whisper but more as if speaking to himself. "You fade—go places unseen? Able to disappear from others but remain as you are now?"
Aleksandra nodded, which she found a bit difficult with his finger under her chin. "After my accident, Freyja told me I would discover new abilities, but I've always been able to fade into the background when I'm with a lot of people. They make me uncomfortable. I do enjoy watching people, but without them seeing me."
He reached for a strand of her hair, rubbing it between his elegant fingers. "I sense something...something lost long ago..." His soft voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat, dropping her hair as if he'd said too much.
Stepping back, Ailuin's beautiful face remained emotionless as he focused on Mikhail. "You have an important choice to make. Either fight to liberate the prisons and death camps scattered throughout E
urope or help me discover the routes for Hitler's escape. We will take the prisoners to Asgard, but I will return as soon as I am able to learn of your answer."
The elves behind him straightened. From out of nowhere, long golden spears appeared in their hands. With their chins held high, they struck the ground with the long handle of their spears. When the heels of their boots slammed together, a loud boom echoed throughout the valley. In unison, the warriors turned, forming a circle around the werewolves, and disappeared in a flash of golden light.
Natalya softly whistled, still staring at the empty spot, the only remaining evidence anyone had been there was the churned-up ground from the werewolves' feet. "Now that was impressive."
"I'll say," Aleksandra agreed.
Her friend glanced at her with a curious frown. "What do you think Ailuin meant? When he said he sensed his people in you?"
Aleksandra shrugged. "Not a clue, but I don't think he wanted to talk about it, whatever it was."
"Let's make camp here. We won't get far before night falls, and this is as good a place as any. At least we'll be able to see if anyone tries to sneak up on us." Mikhail dropped the bag he'd been holding. "I'll gather wood—" His gaze met his wife's. "Why don't you come help me?"
"I would love nothing more, Solnishko, but we have no idea when the elves will return. We need to decide what we're going to do."
Mikhail pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her. "I think we have a little time before Ailuin returns."
She shook her head. "No, Mikhail. Now."
He rolled his eyes and glanced over at Jakob's grinning face. "I wouldn't be laughing if I were you. You will soon have the same issues with your woman."
Jakob met Aleksandra's gaze, and she wrinkled her nose, giving him a tiny head shake. His smile widened and he held out his hand. Without hesitation, she stepped closer, letting him draw her to his side with his arm resting on her shoulders. She loved how he made her feel. Safe. Protected.
"I have to agree with Natalya," she said. "This decision is an important one—one that could change future events. If we choose wrongly, Freyja might not be able to fix our mistake, so we must discuss this." Jakob leaned over and kissed her temple, letting her feel his agreement without words.
"Jakob, both you and Mikhail have family in the camps. I think the two of you should be the ones to make this decision. Aleksandra and I will follow you, no matter what you decide."
"I've recently learned my parents are dead," Jakob said. The slight tremble in his voice was the only emotion he showed.
"Jakob..." Aleksandra whispered. She reached for the hand draped over her shoulder and laced her fingers through his. "I am so sorry."
He squeezed her hand but kept his steady gaze on Mikhail. The two men stared at each other a moment then Mikhail nodded. "To avenge all who we love and have lost, we will help Ailuin."
Aleksandra tilted her head at an angle so she could see Jakob's face better. "You're sure?"
"I'm very sure. We can't let him get a foothold in another country to begin this all over again. That would mean my parents died for nothing. Freyja showed me several scenes in the God's Glass." His gaze settled on Natalya. "I saw how you and Aleksandra died then bits and pieces of the war since. I asked her to show me what happened to my parents. I needed that closure to help me let go of my anger." He looked deep into Aleksandra’s eyes, expressing everything words couldn’t. "You helped me with the rest, mein bärchen. You took away my pain and healed my heart."
"We'll gather the firewood," Mikhail said and turned Natalya around. Hand-in-hand, they walked toward the trees.
Wrapping her silky black hair around his fist, he tugged, pulling her closer. She loved how perfectly they fit together, not only their personalities but also their bodies. She rose onto the toes of her boots and wrapped her arms around his neck. With one hand pressed against the back of his head, she pulled his face down to hers, teasing his lips. The heat from his skin warmed her, turning her insides to molten lava. His kiss deepened, the full force of his love filling her heart. His lips tickled a trail down the tender skin of her neck. Happiness bubbled up with each tiny bite he made along the curve of her shoulder.
She shivered, wishing they weren't in the middle of a war. Wishing they were somewhere other than the middle of nowhere.
He drew back, the pads of his thumbs stroking each cheek. "You make me feel alive. You give me hope. I haven't had much of that in a long time. You make me believe we can win this war and that life really is worth living."
She smiled up at him. "Life is worth living, my love. I will be by your side for as long as you want me."
He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a beautiful ring and held it between them. Her eyes widened. Fine strands of gold and silver were intricately woven together. Set into the weave were glittering gems, a mixture of emeralds, amethysts, and opals, creating three intertwined triangles at the top.
Her gaze snapped to his. "What is this, Jakob?"
"I love you with all my heart, Aleksandra. I will never give you up, so I guess we're just going to have to get married." He moved the ring closer to her, his expression a blend of worry and hope. "Please want to be with me as much as I do you. I know it's asking a lot, but please want me."
She held out her hand, fingers splayed, and waited while he pushed the beautiful ring onto her fourth finger. "Yes. I do want you, Jakob, and always will. I would love nothing more than to become your wife." She jumped up, wrapping her arms around his neck and held on with everything she had. I never want to let you go.
I never want you to either, sweetheart, but there are things we have to get done. Like plan a wedding.
She let slip a giggle then immediately cleared her throat and slid down to the ground.
"Hey, you two," Natalya hollered as she and Mikhail walked toward them, their arms filled with firewood. "Care to help?"
"Not really," Jakob called, grinning down at her. He winked. "We're negotiating something important."
"Negotiating what?" Mikhail asked. "I thought we already decided we were going to search for the escape routes." He dumped the wood in a pile, and Natalya dropped hers on top.
"We did decide, but this is something quite different," Aleksandra said, her grin widening.
"What could be more important than that?" Natalya asked, stepping closer.
"Our wedding?" Jakob said. Aleksandra turned toward her friends, holding up her hand.
Natalya's eyes widened and she grabbed Aleksandra's hand. "Oh, my gods, but this is magnificent!" She glanced up for only a second then looked back down at the ring, her fingertip tracing the three intertwined triangles. "Jakob, where did you get this?"
"Freyja had it made for me to give to Aleksandra." He took her hand and stared at the ring on her finger, the pad of his thumb rubbing over the gemstones. "She said it was made for Aleksandra and would be more than proud if she wore it as her wedding ring." His piercing blue eyes met hers. "You are my life."
The muscles in her cheeks ached from smiling so much, but she couldn't seem to stop. She ran her thumb over his bottom lip. "I love you, too, Jakob. Until eternity and beyond."
"You just might get your wish because it seems we all have been blessed with incredibly long lives," Jakob said, leaning in for another kiss—the first kiss to begin the rest of their lives.
Epilogue
Last week in April, 1944
Rudninky Forest, Lithuania
Aleksandra leaned against Jakob as they sat across the fire from their friends. It had taken several long days of travel, but they were finally at the partisan compound in the Rudninky Forest in Lithuania. With closed eyes, she partially listened to the others talking about what they'd been taking part in over the last two weeks.
"...only twelve escaped—the rest, dead."
Her eyelids flew open, and she stared at Bernard, horrified. His own expression was filled with sorrow, maybe even despair. She knew he'd had contacts inside the Vilna ghetto he consider
ed friends.
Gripping Jakob's hand, she sat up. "Dead? They are all dead?" Her gaze moved around the group and noticed the bleak expressions on Natalya and Mikhail faces. They weren't unaffected either.
Bernard nodded. "From what we were told by the Burning Brigade's leader, a man named Isaac Dogim, the Nazis gathered eighty prisoners, making them cut down trees to build pyres near an unfinished Russian fuel depot in Ponary Forest. They were forced to dig up the mass graves there and burn the bodies. The men soon realized once everyone was disposed of, the Nazis would kill them, too."
Natalya poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Bernard. "Thanks." He wrapped his hands around the banged-up tin but didn't drink. "Each night, they were locked inside the room they'd dug into the side of the pit. Abe Gol managed to convince a guard to give them wood to make their sleeping quarters safer so the walls wouldn't collapse in on them while they slept. Using the planks as supports, they dug out a narrow tunnel, almost reaching the barbed-wire fence surrounding the depot's perimeter. The night of April 15th, the prisoners escaped in groups of ten. No one knows if a twig snapped or the guards saw movement among the trees, but they opened fire, lighting up the forest so much it looked like daylight. Only twelve men made it here."
"And Vilna? What about those in the ghetto?" A sensation of dread swamped Aleksandra's chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Bernard, his gaze never leaving the smoldering logs, shook his head. "They are all dead. More than two hundred thousand people...murdered."
She turned her face into Jakob's chest, her tears flowing for those they had so recently fought to save. What terrible thing had happened to erase all they'd accomplished?
Bernard set down the cup and scrubbed his hands over his face. Without another word, he rose and walked away, his shoulders slightly rounded as if he carried a heavy burden. Aleksandra wished there was something she could say or do, but her mind felt numb...frozen.
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