“Yes, Father?”
I spent most of my time in Asgard, away from Valhalla and my sisters. Odin wanted me nearby until it was time for me to go to battle.
During this time, the flowers bloomed, the air was crisp, and there was no war raging in the realms.
“How is your training with Kara going? I’ve heard many great things.”
“Thank you, Father. I believe it is going well. The opportunity to train with the greatest valkyrie to ever live is an experience I will not take for granted. It is such an honor.”
“Yes. Appreciate the gift you’ve been given. It’s one not many valkyries have ever possessed. Do not disappoint me.” His deep voice rumbled, and I felt the raw power behind it. To disappoint Odin was worse than death. I couldn’t bear the humiliation.
“Of course not, Father.” I bowed my head submissively.
“I’ve seen great things in your future. You are destined to be a valkyrie who will be spoken about for all eternity. I would like to bestow a gift.”
“No need, Father. To fight for you, for Asgard, is more than a gift already.”
“Of course. But what I have for you is something no one else can wield. The responsibility I give to you is of the highest order. Many will want it, but only few will be able to control it. You will protect it with your life. You risk putting all our lives in danger should it fall into the hands of any other. Do you understand?”
I sat at my father’s feet, baffled by his request. I was still young, only a mere century old, and he was giving me a responsibility that should have gone to Kara. I didn’t feel I was ready, but if he thought I was I would step up and do as I was told. It was what a valkyrie is supposed to do.
“Yes, Father.”
“Good.” Odin nodded and reached beneath the bench to pull out a sheathed sword. The hilt was gold but bare. It vibrated with unrestrained power in his hands. I feared it. If Odin had trouble controlling it, how could I?
“Father,” I whispered, my eyes never leaving the weapon.
“Show no fear,” he growled. “You are a valkyrie.”
“Yes, Father,” I said. Valkyries never apologized. I schooled my expression and straightened. No fear. No mercy. It’s what we stood for.
“Do you know why I chose you as Kara’s prodigy?”
I shook my head.
“I was given a prophecy,” he continued, “that you would be the wielder of this sword, and you would play an important role in the days of Ragnarök.”
My insides melted at the thought of the end of days. I couldn’t imagine being anything but a soldier during that time.
“Its name is The Sword of Souls. You see this?” He pointed at the smooth, golden hilt, drawing my attention to the strength and beauty of it. “A hand will be automatically carved with each life taken, and the sword will become stronger than before.”
I was in awe, spellbound by the power and thirst for blood it craved. Itching to hold it, I moved closer with each word spoken.
My eyes widened with wonder. “Where did it come from?”
He glared at me. “That is not of your concern. Just know it was designed for you and you alone. Carry it until your dying breath, and even then, take it with you into the afterworld.”
I nodded and extended my hands, palms facing upward, as Odin offered the sword. Even sheathed in leather, I felt its warmth. Its power vibrated in my hands, and I felt it in my bones, making its way through my body. It had an energy I’d never felt before.
“Follow me.” He stood and walked me over by the stables. I carefully held the weapon, nervous of mishandling it.
“Hrefna,” he began, using my given name, “I brought this creature from Midgard just for you.”
“Thank you, Father.” I smiled brightly at him. The horse galloped toward us and stopped, neighing when Odin stroked its mane.
“He’s majestic, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Good …” He paused. “Now kill it.”
Hiding the sword for safekeeping, I returned to Valhalla at Odin’s request. My hands shook, and I could still see the faded red stains of the horse’s blood on my hands. I’d scrubbed and scrubbed but couldn’t get it all out. The animal had shrieked in pain, and the memory alone made me flinch. It was cruel, but Odin demanded it. And I received the first carving on the hilt of the sword.
I’d made it just in time for dinner. When I entered the chow hall, Kara was at the door waiting for me.
“You’re back early,” she said. “Odin tired of you?”
Over time, Kara had grown to resent me. Our father’s favor of me was evident to all our sisters, but it hurt Kara the most. She’d trained me only to be replaced. Many would have challenged her, but I only took the rage like the soldier I was. Nonetheless, she was still our leader.
“I do not know, sister,” I said with a bowed head.
She only grunted. “Just like me, he will tire and find someone else to grow fond of. Do not get too comfortable, sister.”
Her anger rescinded, and I heard the sorrow in her voice. Pity for what would be my future—just like hers.
13
Present Day
Desperate, I looked for the address I’d found last night in one of the hellhound’s pockets. If the Norns couldn’t help and Odin had abandoned me, I had no other choice but to walk into the lion’s den. It was a trap, that much I knew.
Cutting my palm, I opened the trunk and took out the one weapon that gave me a chance at leaving there alive. I wasn’t sure if Fen would be the one waiting for me, or if it even was him, but I needed to be prepared. Last night had been a test, to observe me in combat and I’d fallen right into his ploy. I wasn’t making the same mistake tonight.
The burner phone in my back pocket rang, and I hesitated before answering. I didn’t want anyone talking me out of what I was about to do.
“Yeah?” I responded.
“I checked the logs. I think it’s one of our crime scene investigators that’s the mole. He was the only one at both crime scenes. I knew he was sketch …”
Will continued to ramble on while I stroked the Sword of Souls. I’d never forget the day Odin had given her to me. I was practically a child, and I adored him. I followed him everywhere. He allowed me to do things no other valkyrie could get away with. Where he was harsh with my sisters, he was delicate with me. At least he was until the day he handed me the sword.
“Raven!” Will yelled on the phone, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Hello?”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah?”
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Yeah, yeah, the investigator and whatnot.”
He sighed. “I ran the license plate. It’s a dead end. The van was a rental. They paid cash.”
“Of course it was,” I muttered.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m following up on a lead.” I debated whether or not to invite Will. Backup didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Want to tag along?”
His snort was all the confirmation I needed.
“Pick me up in thirty minutes,” I said before hanging up.
The drive was quiet. I was trapped in my own thoughts, memories from another life creeping to the forefront of my mind. Memories I thought I’d forgotten.
“Is that a sword?” Will gave me a side glance as he drove. “Should I even ask?”
“Nope.”
“It’s going to be okay, Raven,” Will whispered. “We’ll figure this out.”
“Whatever,” I mumbled.
Will pulled into a parking space across the street from the address I’d found in the hellhound’s pocket.
“Raven,” he said softly, a tone I hadn’t heard from Will since we met. It was obvious the detective wasn’t the president of my fan club. “Talk to me.”
I quirked a brow and looked over to him. “About what, William?” I chuckled dryly. “Once this is over, you’ll go back to your cushy job. Who knows where I’ll be? Honestly
, I don’t get why you’re even helping me. What do you get out of this?”
His hazel eyes narrowed, and his jaw flexed. I’d struck a nerve.
“Are you serious?” He shook his head in disbelief. “This is my goddamn job, Raven! I catch the criminals, not the patsies who get stuck taking the fall.”
“Cops don’t give a shit who takes the fall as long as they have someone to lock up.” I wanted to say that’s what humans did, but I refrained. “Don’t feed me that horseshit,” I said as I reached for the handle of the car door.
Will reached over me and clamped his hand over mine, stopping me. “That isn’t true,” he said a hair’s breadth away from my lips. He was so close I could see the light peppering of freckles covering his nose and cheeks. There were more probably hidden beneath his beard. “I care, Raven, and I won’t stop until I clear your name.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
Oddly enough, I believed him. I hadn’t wanted to do it, but I peered into his soul. It was sincere—glowing a bright-yellow. William had the soul of a true warrior, loyal to a fault. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or if it’d get him killed. Men like Will never fared well in war. Cruelty and deceit were qualities they didn’t possess.
I hadn’t seen a human soul like this in a very long time. Or maybe I just never bothered to look.
The address had led us to a desolate warehouse. The dingy smell of month-old garbage and smoke filled the night air. Pulling my Pez dispenser from my back pocket, I popped a few pills. The jitters subsided a couple of minutes later, and I felt ready to face whoever was in that warehouse.
Will pointed at the dispenser. “What is that?”
“You don’t want to know.”
He gave me a knowing glare. The detective wasn’t oblivious to my extracurricular activity, and it was a topic better not discussed since it was against the law.
We crossed the street, avoiding the streetlights and sticking to the shadows. The front doors were chained and locked.
“Look away.”
“Why?”
“I said look away,” I grumbled.
After a bit of resistance, Will did as he was told. With a little tug, I unlinked the rusted metal and let it drop to the ground. The noise was loud, and I was sure our presence was known.
“How did you—”
“I told you I do CrossFit.”
The less he knew, the better.
We didn’t have to go too far into the building. The first floor was an open floor plan with construction lights lined around the walls, spotlighting the center. In the middle of the floor was a cage about eight feet tall and wide enough to hold a full-grown tiger. Unfortunately, there was no tiger. Hellhounds in their true form paced the cage. To humans, they looked like overgrown dogs, but when triggered, their eyes and mouth shot fire.
It was best if we didn’t provoke them.
“Oh, you finally made it!” Fen called out from across the building. He was wearing his expensive suit, one hand tucked inside his pant pocket. He was smooth, I’d give him that. “I was wondering if I’d see you. I was just about to leave.”
He strolled by the cage, his free hand gliding over the bars. A grin stretched across his face as his dark eyes slid over me. His stare alone brought back memories of his touch over my skin, and it pissed me off.
“So it was you,” I said. “What are you, a hellhound?”
I didn’t care that Will was standing next to me, his innocent eyes confused as he tried to place where he’d seen Fen. His face morphed to anger when he pieced it all together. A flicker of betrayal clouded Will’s soul, and I assumed he was questioning my allegiance. It looked as if I’d been playing him this whole time, which is what I’d been trying to avoid.
“What is going on, Raven?” Will took a step away from me, his hand going for the gun clipped to his hip.
“He played me—”
“Or are you playing me?” Will countered, and I looked away.
“What are you?” Ignoring Will, I addressed Fen again. He looked human. I didn’t understand how I could have fallen for his games. I walked toward Fen until we were just a few feet away from each other.
“Haven’t figured it out yet? It’s been a few thousand years, but I thought I would’ve at least made an impression.” He shrugged. “Although, I didn’t recognize you either at first, so I guess we’re even.”
“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes, peering over at Will to make sure he didn’t do anything stupid. Regardless of how he felt, I would still protect him.
“Do you remember when the nine realms were in peace and all of Asgard was quiet? It was a time when Thor and Loki weren’t at each other’s throats, and they practically had barbecues in the rainbow garden, bringing their children …” He let his voice trail off.
I gulped.
I knew exactly who he was.
He grinned. “Ah, now you know.”
“Fenrir … son of Loki.”
“Gold star for the valkyrie!” he hollered into the empty building. “I have to say, Raven, you were not who I expected. I heard Odin had a dark maiden he favored, but this was a surprise.”
My stomach turned, and my skin crawled at his revelation. I’d slept with the original shifter—the first wolf. I thought I was going to be sick. Fenrir was the enemy, and I crossed the line when he laid in my bed. If I ever thought I’d find my way back to Valhalla, that dream was officially squashed. My sisters would be disgusted. I was disgusted.
“Don’t be ashamed, beautiful Raven.” He strolled toward me, but I didn’t move. “Or should I call you … Hrefna?”
A fury burst out of me as I grabbed Fen by the neck and slammed him into the nearest wall. “You son of a bitch, don’t you ever call me that again!” Heat rolled over my skin as I attempted to calm down. No one—including me—had said my birth name in almost a century. I wasn’t going to let this filthy piece of shit taint it.
“Raven!” Will called out, the safety of his gun clicking as he turned it off.
“Whoa. Slow down there, Raven. You don’t want the good detective over there to get trigger happy.” Fen grinned. “I know we’ve been up close and personal, but I’m no lush.”
“If I had known who you were, I would have never—”
“Too late now.” He pushed against my hand. “What’s done is done, but I have to say, that body of yours …” He whistled. “The rumors don’t do you justice.”
I squeezed his neck tighter.
“Easy, it was a compliment,” he wheezed. “I only want to talk.” He lifted his hands in surrender.
“So talk,” I demanded.
He sighed. “Are you going to release me?”
“And why would I do that?” I glared at him. My chest rapidly heaved up and down as adrenaline rushed through my veins.
“Maybe because I won’t be able to speak when someone is attempting to crush my windpipes.”
Reluctantly, I let him go, and he adjusted his suit jacket.
“That’s more like it.” He smiled. “No need to get hostile. We’re all friends here.”
“No, we’re not,” I growled.
“I use the term loosely.” He chuckled. “Now, before you attempt to kill me, let’s chat. I think we can help each other.”
My nostrils flared as I watched the wolf straighten and walk around me. I took tentative steps closer to Will, making sure Fen didn’t try any funny business.
“I need your help, Raven,” Fen started. “I need you to take me somewhere.”
I snorted. “If you think I can take you to Valhalla, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Even if I could, I would rather slit my own throat before I let you take one filthy step into my home.”
“Well, that’s not very nice.” Fen frowned. “But no, I don’t need a ride to Valhalla. I need you to take me to the Underworld to find my sister Hel.”
“Someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on!” A vein pulsed in Will’s n
eck. “No more games, Raven!”
Fenrir’s eyes bulged. “You haven’t told the detective what you are? Anything?”
I didn’t say a word.
“Oh Raven,” he tsked. “That is poor form. You could have gotten the human killed.”
“Human?” Will repeated.
“Yes.” Fen walked toward him. “You’re a measly human, we’re not. Think of us as gods among men.”
“You’re all crazy,” Will spat at Fen.
I inched closer to Will. “Don’t listen to him.”
“Don’t listen to me? I speak the truth, Raven! Tell the human what you are! Tell him!” Fen screamed into the warehouse, his deep voice bouncing off the walls and making me flinch. The hellhounds became agitated and began to bark.
Lowering my voice, I whispered, “Stop this, Fenrir.”
He chuckled. “Stop? Darling, I’m just getting started.”
Will approached me. His eyes drilled into me, analyzing every inch of my face, looking for something that set me apart from him. “Raven, what is he talking about?”
“You won’t believe me,” I whispered.
“Try me.”
I took a deep breath and looked William straight in the eyes. In the last week and a half, my secret had been revealed to more people than I felt comfortable with.
“I’m a valkyrie.”
“The last valkyrie,” Fen added.
There was no shock or fear in Will’s features—there was nothing.
“I said you wouldn’t believe me.”
“Oh, the human believes,” Fen said. “All the things he’s seen but cannot explain? Everything is starting to make sense. He just doesn’t want to believe.”
“You’re asking me to believe you’re a character from a comic book—”
“A what?” Fen exclaimed.
“Fen,” I interrupted, “it’s the twenty-first century here. Things are different.”
“Obviously.” He rolled his eyes. “This human should be kissing the ground you walk on. Instead, he’s looking at you like you’re an alien. What are they teaching you humans?”
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