by Setta Jay
At the moment agitation bled from the magical creatures. Their bobbed tails twitched as much as their pointed golden ears. She sucked in a breath, fighting her own tension as well as that coming from Laire and her animals. She knew her guard was concerned and she understood, but she was busy battling to control her body’s wildly intense reaction to the mysterious winged male Laire had just caught her kissing.
“I am.” She managed. Though she wasn’t certain she spoke true. Her body ached with a need that could not be natural. Her nipples pushed relentlessly at her leather vest and she felt restless… What happened to her in that garden? She still felt the dark male’s strong hands, the immense power whirling around them as she’d succumbed to a passion she’d never imagined possible. He’d rendered her senseless, and she still felt his primal growls vibrating against her tongue as he’d devoured her mouth.
She called cooler winds to ease her flushed skin, but it was useless. The icy gale only whipped at her hair and Laire’s kilt. Her cheeks were still heated when they moved through the massive stone pillars and into her brother Hroarr’s sanctuary.
She sent power to slip the long tendrils of hair off her face. The heavy mass was held back at the side with clasps, but the rest flowed free down her back in blonde waves. The winds usually soothed her, but not now. Not when she was on her way to her brothers to tell them that there’d been an otherworldly male in Thule. One who’d disappeared before she’d asked him a single question.
“You are sure?” She would have smiled at the big warrior if she were capable of assuring him, but she wasn’t. She blew out a breath as they strode down wide halls lined with ancient tapestries. Her friend finally asked, “Who was the male?” She noticed Laire still hadn’t sheathed his staff to rest with the twin blades at his back.
Spa and Velspar hissed at Laire, and her warrior stepped back with a frown.
“Spa, Velspar, cease,” she bit out. The magical beasts had always liked Laire, but they’d made their anger known since Laire had interrupted her with the male. She rubbed a shaking hand over her side.
Feeling her beasts’ agitation through their ancient bond wasn’t helping her ragged emotions.
She mentally chastised them. Laire’s intention was to protect me. What did you expect when you tried to warn him away from the garden? He is my warrior. Of course he would venture in to be sure of my safety. In truth, Laire was far more friend than guard, and it warmed her to know he had braved her powerful beasts’ temper to check on her even though she was a Goddess with enough power to protect herself as well as her friend. She glanced back at the large male, he stood tall, but she could see the crease at his brow as he studied the cats through confused blue eyes. He was a good male, but the sight of him brought a familiar pang, knowing that one day she would be forced to watch him die. She had a few hundred more years with her mortal friend, if they were all lucky enough to survive the end.
Gefn shook those thoughts away before mentally snapping at her cats, Why did you lead me to the male? Who was he? What is his importance to Thule? She firmed her lips, realizing how ridiculous it was to demand answers when Spa and Velspar were incapable of responding with words. They were surely able to send their irritation through the emotional bond she shared with the infuriating animals. Velspar had the decency to move back to one side of her, allowing Laire to step beside her again without so much as a huff of displeasure.
Laire didn’t hesitate to step back to her side. He was far braver than any other warrior she’d ever known. Most gave the cats a great deal of space, including Laire’s ancestors.
She breathed out before admitting to the warrior, “I am unsure who he was. Or why Spa and Velspar guided me to him.” She’d been in the middle of her sister’s garden when the male had dropped from a portal, shocking her into stillness because in all of her and her siblings’ travels they’d never encountered another race of beings able to move from world to world. Something about the magic had felt almost Thulian, but later he’d disappeared using some other kind of ability. One that had not felt familiar.
Spa chuffed.
What did that mean? She clenched her teeth, knowing the magical felines were powerful and to be heeded, but she wanted to know more. Certainly their instincts had led her and her siblings to locations of invaluable artifacts throughout the long centuries. They’d also ruthlessly fought at her side when her evil siblings had attacked her palace all those millennia ago. And after her priestesses had been brutally slain in front of her, the beasts’ bond with her had become the only thing grounding her. She still felt the ache at the long ago loss of Togn, Skuld and Grior. A God had a bond with their þrír, their three, and having it severed had left a hole deep in her soul. It was a battle that still haunted her dreams, because the outcome was always the same, Gefn watching them die, powerless to stop it.
“He did not say anything?” Laire’s words drew her attention away from memories of blood and the stench of death that would never be washed from her mind. Her emotions were all over the place. She felt raw and it wasn’t normal. Something was happening to her. The only thing she knew for certain was that her beasts had led her to the male for a reason. He had to be important in either finding her missing sister or for some other purpose related to the good of Thule.
She felt a pang of renewed desire that flushed her cheeks, embarrassment traveling on its heels. She commanded a passing guard, “I need Hroarr to meet me in his study.”
“Right away, Goddess.” The male bowed before whisking away almost faster than her sight could detect. Now to collect her more reckless brother, Dagur. She mentally scoffed. Would she be considered the more reckless one now that she’d had an erotic encounter with a male of another world without so much as asking his name or at the very least checking him for weapons first?
The beasts turned toward the great hall and emitted a loud roar at the top of the steps leading down to the large room of people laughing and drinking. The area immediately silenced, and Gefn saw wide eyes immediately shift to her and then to the rarely vocal creatures.
Dagur’s golden eyes snapped up as well before he issued a command to those in the room. “Out.” His wavy brown hair was tied back, and he wore a leather kilt with nothing covering his chest. The occupants slipped away in mere seconds as her brother’s brow furrowed. “What is it? Is it to do with Kara?”
She mentally cursed herself for barely giving her missing sister a thought. Kara’s absence had been the reason Gefn had traveled to her cold sibling’s palace in the first place. “And more,” she admitted. There was a great deal she needed to share with her brothers about her trip to the other Goddess’ palace.
“Hroarr’s study,” she commanded and turned with her beasts. A now silent Laire moved to walk at her back as her brother came to her side.
“What is it?” Dagur growled.
“I will tell you with Hroarr,” she ground out.
She only wished she had her own answers. The first being why her skin felt too tight and why she mourned the loss of a male she hadn’t even spoken to. One who’d enthralled her so completely. Why had her beasts liked him? She needed to know that they hadn’t been caught up in some kind of magic with her. Spa made a spitting noise that sounded vaguely insulted.
Hroarr stalked toward them a moment later; flames in the hall flared brighter at his passing. The intense power of the ruling God of Thule whipped around a massive frame clad in dark leather from shoulder to boot, a match to his raven beard and long tied-back hair. Ever-present darkness shadowed his brilliant emerald eyes. She knew she was seeing his ancient power of backsight, or sjá. A harsh flash of the untold death and destruction he’d seen in the hundreds of worlds he traveled, ruthlessly seeking the key to saving their world.
“What is it?” Hroarr demanded the moment they were all inside his study. Laire stayed beyond the doors, with Hroarr’s elite warriors, and she felt the impact of the heavy spelled wood wedging shut as she decided what to say. The scent of old parchm
ent and burning candles in the space had always been relaxing. She had a feeling nothing would be able to ease her until she had answers to her own questions. Something was happening, and her beasts’ behavior only put a fine point on how important it must be. Nothing in the old tomes and ancient artifacts of her brother’s study could calm her now.
“Kara is gone.” She informed both brothers of her findings at her missing sister’s palace. The ring Kara had always worn was still oddly burning in Gefn’s palm. A fact she hadn’t even noticed as she’d traveled to her brother’s palace.
Hroarr’s deep green gaze darkened at her words, and she could feel his displeasure crackle in the hearth at the end of the room.
Gefn continued, “Kara’s servants do not know where she went.” She shook her head as she continued in frustration, partly at herself, partly at her sister. Gefn doubted Kara had intended to be cryptic or mysterious about her departure. “Kara left her ring in their care.” The other Goddess was arrogant to a fault, which had always been her female sibling’s most irritating quality. Yet, if Kara left the ring, it had to mean she’d felt reservations at her destination, just not enough to delay the trip. As a Goddess of Thule, her sister could open a portal anywhere inside or outside of their world. That meant she could be anywhere, but opening portals was their most draining gift. If she’d faced danger and been injured, she could be trapped somewhere, waiting for her strength to return. She might not be close to her sister, but she didn’t like that idea. Gefn should have been thinking of that not lusting after her mysterious winged male.
“When did she leave?” Dagur gritted out as Gefn handed him the ring. Dagur was the most skilled in spells, and he’d hopefully be able to figure out where Kara was or if the ring had any significance to her location. If not, then why had Kara instructed her servant to give the ring to Gefn or her brothers if she hadn’t returned within the hour?
“The blue stone is spelled. It would likely have a match to another stone of its kind. With the heated power coming from it, I would say it is a call to someone or someplace,” he mused as he studied it. “Was it hot like this from the start?” Dagur demanded before Gefn had been able to answer.
“No, it started heating…” She stopped, attempting to remember the exact moment it triggered. It hadn’t been hot when her sister’s servant had given it to her.
It had started to heat the moment Spa and Velspar began leading Gefn to the gardens. To the male. She absently answered the other question as she wondered at the significance. There had to be a connection. Gefn’s agitated beasts paced in front of them as she continued relaying information. “Kara’s been gone over a week. The servant sent riders here, but they obviously have not made it yet.”
“What else?” Hroarr commanded, his eyes trailing Spa’s and Velspar’s impatient movements.
There was indeed more. “The ring began heating as Spa and Velspar started guiding me to a powerful otherworldly male. One with dark ebony wings and a great deal of power. He dropped from a portal as I entered the gardens beside Kara’s palace.” She hadn’t admitted that said male had kissed her to the point that she’d been rendered ignorant. She was sure she would have to, but she wasn’t looking forward to it. Her cats would never have led her to danger, so she could point out that she wasn’t a complete fool.
But why? She narrowed her eyes at her pacing beasts. They seemed to be just as anxious as she was.
Hroarr’s intent gaze caught and held hers. “Where is this male? Who is he?”
She felt her face heat like an errant child instead of a powerful Goddess who’d lived thousands of years. “He is gone.”
“Gone?” Dagur’s tone was incredulous.
“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “He disappeared.”
Hroarr crossed massive arms over his chest and stared at her. “He opened another portal?”
“No, he… used a different kind of power to leave.”
“We have never come across hints of another race of Gods that could travel between worlds. You are sure he opened a portal?” Dagur said, a spark of concern in his golden eyes.
She mentally cursed in several ancient dialects before telling them, “Yes, I am aware of what a portal looks like, Dagur.” She gave him a pointed look before continuing, “And Spa and Velspar seemed to approve of him.”
“Approve. How?” Hroarr’s words brooked no arguments.
“They purred.” Just saying the words seemed ridiculous.
“And,” Hroarr demanded.
“My power whisked me into his arms.”
“Whisked you?” Dagur’s tone annoyed her.
She firmed her lips. “I did not end up there consciously.”
Her brothers both looked at the cats before Dagur looked her over and continued, “He did not attempt to harm you? Did he explain his presence?”
Harm her. No. She shook her head, wishing to crawl in a hole. “We did not speak.” A deep dark hole. “We kissed… before Laire interrupted.” And then she remembered that the male had spoken. “Wait. He did speak.” How had she forgotten the way his sexy words had seemed to enthrall her. “He used the ancient tongue. He… he asked if I had called him there.” She frowned at the ring, wondering if her sister’s keepsake from Agnarr, a long-dead brother, had somehow summoned the male. But how? She hadn’t opened the portal that dropped him into her path. She looked at the beasts, who were now yowling impatiently for her to do something.
“Tell me everything.” Hroarr commanded.
She itemized the details as if listing it without emotion would be less uncomfortable. “He dropped from a portal and asked if I had called him there. Spa and Velspar purred at him. After that my winds blew me into his arms.” She paused to take a breath. “We kissed. Suddenly the cats hissed and Laire was there with his weapon raised. The male pushed me behind him. I instructed Laire not to attack and then a moment later the male disappeared.” Spa and Velspar huffed at her words and she glared at the beasts who’d been her protectors and constant companions for thousands upon thousands of years.
Hroarr’s expression didn’t change as he stared at her cats. “They did not wish for you to be interrupted?”
She nodded, incredibly uncomfortable at the way her brother had said that, but she wouldn’t deny it. “So it seems. I have no idea what it means.” She needed to tell them everything because she had no doubt that this had something to do with Thule. An allegiance that the cats were hoping to forge?
“I feel… anxious to see him again.” She added, “And as if new power is flowing inside me.”
Hroarr’s eyes flickered with interest at that. “What kind of power?”
“I do not know. Part of it feels like mine is strengthening, but there is something else in there as well.” Their world needed more power. They all knew it, but it was unsettling to have an unknown force welling inside her.
“Are you well?” Dagur asked. He might have his faults, but her reckless brother looked truly concerned for her.
She sucked in a breath. “Whatever the power is, it feels pure.” It felt incredible and unnerving all at once.
Gefn could almost see Hroarr thinking. Considering. He was their leader, the most powerful of their Gods. Her brother could be ruthless when needed, but he was above all else intelligent. He had never been threatened by her beasts. She imagined he saw them as tools, and Hroarr would use anything he required if it meant saving Thule.
It seemed Hroarr was not acting fast enough for Spa and Velspar because soon enough the cats yowled in annoyance, and she was shocked when they released the power to open a portal on their own. Her mouth fell open at the sight of the watery air in the middle of Hroarr’s office. She heard the splintering of wood and glass crashing to stone with the force of energy released in the space. Spa and Velspar had never done such a thing. She hadn’t known they held the ability.
Dagur staggered back, biting off ancient curse words, but Hroarr only stared down at her beasts for a moment longer, studying them… or ma
king a point that he followed no one.
Their test of wills was not what Gefn’s anxiety level needed. She felt her stomach twisting with need. The arousal seemed to be getting worse, to the point near painful. That meant she had no intention of waiting long for Hroarr to make the decision to heed the beasts.
This fact that they’d opened a portal was like a blow to the gut. How had they hidden this from her, and why hadn’t they used the ability during her battle with her evil brother Tyr all those millennia ago. What else had they secreted from her? Twin sets of golden eyes met hers and she felt a well of sadness through her bond with them. She swallowed through the clenching of her stomach. If they’d withheld any power that could have saved her priestesses, she’d never be able to forgive them.
Hroarr turned to Dagur, and she forced her attention on her dark brother’s words. “Find out where this leads and if it has significance to the ring or Kara.”
Dagur nodded before turning to the watery air and spelling words she didn’t quite hear. Magical winds surged from his fingers, moving over and through the ring as his tone grew nearly hypnotic.
Nearly as fast as the spelled air slipped through, it was back. Dagur breathed it in, his eyes glowing a brilliant gold. Scant moments passed before his muscled shoulders tensed followed by a string of curses as he slammed the ring down on Hroarr’s desk. “It is the same world where I found the God. They may have come to retrieve him.” Dagur had tracked and captured a God weeks ago, and it had been a bone of contention. He’d lost dozens of warriors when taking the arrogant male from the other world.
Dagur continued while shaking his head in obvious irritation. “The ring leads to that world, but I did not sense Kara. If she’s there, they’ve somehow blocked her power signature.”
