by Sedona Venez
My body shivered at the chill in her words. No further clarification was needed. The price had absolutely nothing to do with money and everything to do with blood and power. “I guess charity is really dead.”
“There is no charity in Others. You will do well to remember that. Do you see that crazed lust to kill in his eyes? A look I have seen too many times in too many battles. Battles between him and Kara that’s ended with them bloody, battered, and sexually unfulfilled. A predicament that would remain that way until the end of time.”
For a long moment, I studied Mom. “I beg to differ. They’ve scratched that itch a long time ago.”
Azura clucked her tongue disapprovingly. “So the mighty Valkyrie finally succumbed to his darkness. This does not bode well for her future,” she responded. Disgust laced her voice.
I was getting so tired of her riddles. “What does that mean?”
“Given the fact she is still the High Council’s property, it means that Valkyries shouldn’t shit where they eat.”
“Property?”
“The Valkyries were created by the Immortals to be their enforcers, and by right, the High Council has the authority to control them in the name of the Immortals.”
“That’s all I am to them? A piece of property to be controlled and used at will?”
Azura sighed heavily. “That is Glen and the High Council’s belief. As a Valkyrie, you are his property, and believe me, he does not share well with Others.”
“Is it always about control and killing?” I asked.
“For Glen and the Council, yes, but it wasn’t always that way. When my father ruled, the Valkyries were like his daughters and he loved them dearly. It will be that way again when Boulder takes the throne.”
“If he takes the throne…”
Azura laughed coldly. “And given your current predicament, it is in your best interest to sway that decision.”
I cringed at the truth. “I didn’t ask for this.”
“None of us asked for this. The Immortals bring balance. The Valkyries bring death. The High Council wreaks havoc. We all have our place in the circle of life.”
“Well, I choose not to kill.” I paused. “Scratch that… I choose not to kill anyone but Mason. He has a slow, painful death at the end of a rusty knife coming to him.” I’d never killed a thing in my life, but I had no doubt I wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep upon his death.
“See how the act of taking life seems so natural to you? Smell the blood and death in the air. Doesn’t it make your heart race and mouth water with the need to jump into the fray? Doesn’t it feed your lust to kill and destroy?” Azura taunted.
My nose flared at the iron scent of blood. The smell of death lingered in the air. A scent that should repulse me made my fingers tingle and mouth water. My body felt energized, like I drank ten cans of energy drink. I shuddered at how quick I moved from human to wild animal. However, the last remaining drop of civility within me wanted to stop the senseless killing and fighting. It was contradiction at its highest.
“There has to be a better way than…” I gestured to the vampires and wolves tearing into each other ruthlessly. “This.” My head snapped around at Mom’s voice.
“Oh, what do we have here? It’s Cortez. Ivan’s bitch,” Mom said with a wicked gleam in her eyes.
Cortez tossed away the body clutched in his arms like trash. He hissed, his razor-like nails extended.
Mom watched with amusement as the fighting vampires hissed and sneered, preparing to attack her. “Really? Do you have some sort of death wish, blood suckers?” Her tone was calm and even.
Cortez raised his hand, signalling for them to stop. Promptly, they moved away, jumping into the fray taking place around them.
“Kara,” Cortez responded flatly.
Mom looked at him with disdain, and in a cold tone, she responded in kind. “Still doing Ivan’s dirty work I see.” Her huge, glorious, ink-black wings were spread dangerously away from her body as she leisurely sauntered toward him.
“Still wearing those ridiculous shit-kickers?” Dismissively, he looked at her combat boots with gleaming gold serrated edges on the toes and heels.
“What can I say? It’s part of the kick-ass Valkyrie attire. You like?” She ran her hands slowly down her body, smirking when his eyes dilated with lust. “So, errand boy, I see that you’re still kissing Ivan’s wrinkly ass.”
His eyes narrowed. “Fuck off, Valkyrie.”
Her eyes opened with fake shock. “Wow. Those are some very strong words for the king’s errand boy. It’s nice to see you’ve finally grown some big ones, Cortez, or maybe your plan to finally kill Ivan is coming together.” She smiled smugly while folding her wings into her back, making them disappear into thin air.
Cortez looked around angrily.
She whispered loudly. “That’s it, huh? You found a way to kill your king. You vampires are a bunch of disloyal vermin.”
He sneered, baring his sharp canines.
She smiled icily as he deliberately raised his voice so that everyone could hear. “Stay out of the vampire’s business, Valkyrie. Besides, you should be more worried about the shit storm brewing over the Valkyrie’s inability to take orders.” He leaned in, whispering loudly. "I heard Glen has wicked plans for you all."
Mom playfully pouted. “Well, that’s not a very nice thing to say, vamp.”
“Oh, kiss my ass, Kara. I am not afraid of you or what little is left of the Valkyrie power you still have.” His eyes narrowed coldly. “But that’s the only way you can win a fight with me, right?”
“What’s this? A pissing match about whose sword is bigger?” She unsheathed her sword from the leather scabbard with gold wraps attached to her back. The sword’s polished gold blade gleamed. The gold handle was embossed with ancient Glyphs. “Because mine is definitely bigger.” She sneered.
Startled, I jumped back when Mom slammed her combat boot into his face, using the serrated edges on the toe to inflict further damage. He stumbled back with an angry grunt of pain, blood dripping from his shattered nose.
Mom looked like a damn killing machine as she circled him. “Looks like I don’t need the power of the Valkyries to kick your vampire ass, huh?”
He circled her, swiping at her, and barely missed ripping into her chest. “Ashes to ashes, you bloodthirsty Valkyrie.”
“Come and get it, vamp.” Mom encased her sword, wiggling her fingers at him.
“With pleasure.” He snarled.
They circled each other, taunting, sneering, and snapping. It was the most exciting and the scariest thing I’d ever seen. Quickly, Mom pulled a small dagger from her thick, black leather utility belt, slicing him across the cheek. The big gash wept heavy blood, but Cortez didn’t even flinch.
She smiled at him tightly. “Oh! What a big boy. I love when you take your pain without crying like a little girl.”
He laughed coldly, raking his nails brutally across her shoulder, ripping it open, smiling coldly as blood poured from her wound. “Oh, baby, you just don’t know how big it really is.”
Mom looked at the bulge in his jeans, squinting with a snide smile. “I doubt the validity of that claim, vamp.”
With lightning speed, he swooped forward, cupping her hand over his manhood. “Something to visualize tonight when you’re wearing the hell out of your sex toy, wishing you had me pumping into you long and hard.”
Without pause, she twisted around his body, stabbing him in the back with her dagger. He snarled with rage, spinning around, simultaneously kicking her in the shin and twisting her wrist, causing the dagger to fall from her fingers.
He pulled her against his body. Mom struggled to get out of his arms as Cortez hugged her tight, pressing her back against his wide chest. Mercilessly, his longs nails dug into the flesh of her toned arms while blood seeped from her wounds, but she didn’t flinch. She leaned into his embrace comfortably with an evil smile plastered on her lip
s.
Cortez leaned down, his canines grazing her pale neck before licking the shell of her ear. “You just don’t know how hot you’re making me right now,” he growled.
She gritted her teeth. “Believe me, I know. It’s pressed against my ass.” She tilted her neck as she bucked against him roughly. “And from what I can feel… shockingly, it’s quite impressive.”
His voice lowered. “Very. And all you have to do is reach down and grab it.”
“Not going to happen,” she gritted out.
“Give me time. I’ll have you kneeling before me in submission with my cock down your throat,” he said huskily.
She snorted. “The only one who will be submitting is you. Now get the fuck off me.”
He grazed his canines against the pale skin of her neck. “Just one little taste, my Valkyrie, that’s all I need. And believe me, I’ll ruin you for all Others forever.” He nipped her neck lightly, breaking the skin.
She smiled icily. “Bad vampire! No biting the pretty Valkyrie. We do, after all, have to keep up appearances of civility.” She slammed her elbow into his muscled chest, scraping the serrated edge on the heel of her boot against his ankles. Spinning around to face him, she warily backed up with fingers glowing as she ran them over the bloody damage on her arms then shoulder causing the bleeding to instantly stop and her flesh to mend.
She gritted her teeth, looking at him impatiently. “Okay, foreplay is over, Cortez. Where is she?”
Lustfully, he looked her up and down. “You know that I don’t give anything away for free. What do I get for that tantalizing bit of information?”
She jammed her fists on her narrow hips and bellowed, “Me promising not to torture you and toss your gorgeous but very annoying blood-sucking ass out in the sun to roast.”
“Torture? That sounds… tempting.” His eyes flashed as he licked his canines. “And since we’re both into pain that would only be foreplay… for both of us.” He stepped closer.
She backed up, a cold smile dancing on her lips.
“Besides, you’re not going to kill me. You love having me around as your personal vamp chew toy. Try again, Kara.” He wrapped her braid tightly around his hand, pulling her against his chest with a snap.
Mom’s eyes dilated with lust.
He continued huskily. “Now why don’t you promise me something that I really want? Like another chance to get you in my bed with those luscious crème legs wrapped around my waist while I’m fucking you long and hard with my canines sunk deep into that juicy neck.”
Instantly, her eyes transformed into an icy stare. “Stop fucking around, Cortez. You told me she was here. So?” She tapped her booted foot impatiently.
He released his grip reluctantly before a nod toward a room marked “High Security Area.”
“In there, near death.”
Mom snorted before turning angrily and starting for the door.
He snatched her arm roughly. “And, Valkyrie, all of your suspicions were correct. Glen ordered Ivan and Maxim to kidnap and experiment on her.”
She pressed her palm to his jaw. “I won’t forget what you risked to help me locate her, vamp.”
He captured her fingers, bringing them to his lips, pricking one with his canines. Her blood pooled to the tip. His tongue licked the drops of blood with eyes closing in ecstasy. When he opened them, they were blood red, wild, and lustful. He licked her finger again. His eyes softened as he rumbled, “And that was my reward, Valkyrie?”
Mom pulled her hand away slowly before spinning on her heels and extending her wings with a loud snap, slapping him hard in the face.
“Absolutely. Cherish it like your last drop of blood in a desert.”
His canines extended even longer when he laughed huskily, checking out her ass lustfully. “Until the next time, Valkyrie.”
She waved nonchalantly. “Yeah, whatever,” she responded before walking away. His penetrating hot glare focused on her ass. For good measure, she put an extra wiggle in it, laughing loudly when she heard his low hiss.
I shook my head. As horrifying as it was to watch the sexual foreplay between them, I could see now why Mom was so attracted to him.
Like a cold splash of water in my face, Azura barked another set of instructions at me. “Pay attention, Infinity. You need to follow her.”
“Okay, but do you have to be so rude about it? I get it. Move my ass,” I responded before running after Mom, standing back as she kicked open the thick glass door, shattering it and sending shards of glass everywhere.
She stepped into the room, stopping abruptly while she stared at a stunningly beautiful woman with skin the color of cinnamon and long, ink-black tresses spread against the pristine white sheets of the hospital bed.
Walking around Mom, I examined the woman curiously. “Why does she look so familiar?”
“She’s your mother, Mist, also their leader and the most feared and ruthless Valkyrie of them all. Now she’s just a mere shadow of herself."
I swallowed hard, brutally pushing down waves of churning emotions. The term “mother” stuck in my throat like dry crackers. Kara was my mother. She was the woman who loved me and took care of me. This woman lying on the bed gave birth to me. I cleared my throat. “What happened to her?”
“That’s what I intend to find out. After she ordered the Valkyries to disobey Glen’s direct order, she went missing for month. The Immortals accused Glen of having something to do with her disappearance, an accusation he vehemently denied. And just like I suspected, he lied.”
I arched a brow. “I thought the Immortals were the end all and be all of the Council and Others. How did he get away with lying to them?”
“There are ways to manipulate the truth without outright lying and Glen is a master at it.”
Mom tapped her foot impatiently as she looked at Mist sadly. “Oh, sister, this is not your finest look.” She smiled slightly. “And what’s going on with that hair?”
Mist smiled back weakly, her chest heaving as if in pain. “Even in my weakest moment, you can still make me laugh.” She coughed, spraying droplets all over the pristine white sheets.
Mom smiled sadly. “Well, you know me—blond, intelligent, and always good for a laugh.”
Mist stretched out her hand. “I knew you’d find me. I never gave up hope, Kara. Never…”
Mom strode over to the bed, grabbed Mist’s limp hand, and brought it to her cheek, rubbing it against her cheek tenderly. “Neither did I.” She kissed Mist’s palm. “Why did you allow this to happen?” she asked solemnly.
Mist frowned. “You know why. I couldn’t allow Glen to kill them.”
“We were created to follow orders, not to take sides in the fight. He wanted them dead. It was our job to do it,” Mom hissed. “A job we would’ve happily completed if you hadn’t bound us from doing it.”
Mist coughed. “For centuries, we’ve faithfully served the Immortals and Council, but we’ve been asked to kill unjustly. Don’t you see? This was the Immortals’ test of our worthiness to continue to serve them. And we passed.”
Mom looked at her incredulously. “Passed? It was a damn failure, not a fucking win. After centuries of loyalty to the Immortals and Council, there should have been no question that the Valkyries are worthy.” Her fists clenched and unclenched. “But to turn their backs on us, leaving us at the mercy of Glen, after we did everything they asked of us—that’s inexcusable.”
“Not everything.”
Mom pointed a finger in Mist’s face. “And whose fault is that? I begged you to follow Glen’s order, but you refused.”
I felt the burning hatred coursing through Mom’s body. The weight of it was unbearable, oppressive. At this moment, Mom absolutely resented Mist with every fiber in her body.
“Why is she so angry?” I choked out.
Azura sighed heavily. “Tomorrow, the Valkyries face sentencing for not carrying out Glen’s order. The Valkyries will b
e rendered powerless and bound into the bodies of ravens. And Kara will be bound into a human’s body and stripped of her immortality.”
Now I understood her love for the ravens, Göll, Randgríðr, Gunner, Göndul, Skögul, Geirahöd, and Friagabi. They were her sisters bound to live a life of ravens.
“And what about Mist’s punishment?”
“You’re looking at it. She’s dying.”
Mist looked at her stubbornly. “I stand by my decision as I stand by the birth of my child. She’s our redemption—our hope, the first of her kind.”
“Don’t wrap pretty bows around that evil monster. She’s the Council’s weapon, created to finish what you couldn’t.” Mom snarled.
“And like me, she will refuse. If you show her she’s not Glen’s weapon to use to carry out his lust for revenge.” Mist wheezed. “Guide her to make the right decision.”
Mom stared at her like she was crazy. “Guide? I want nothing to do with Maxim’s demon spawn. He deceived you. Fucked you. Experimented on you and then left you to give birth to that monster.” Pacing back and forth with agitation, she looked at Mist angrily. “Admit it! Admit your sacrifice was for nothing and I’ll deal with my sentencing with a little more grace and humility.”
I recoiled from the pure hatred laced in Mom’s eyes. I was that monster she hated, and it was a damn bitter pill to swallow.
Mist’s eyes narrowed with anger. “I’ve made mistakes, Kara. Lots of them, but she is not one of them. I get it. You resent me for what you view as my weakness… a weakness that damned you and our sisters.” She coughed violently. “But don’t you see there is hope for the Valkyries?” She smiled bitterly. “My job is done. Whether you want to or not, she’s yours to protect now.”
Mom skidded to a stop, looking at Mist with shock. “What? She’s a monster. A mistake. I’m not protecting her.” She spat with vehemence.
Mist stared at Kara with an intense, uncompromising gaze. “I’m still your leader and you will protect her. That’s if you give a shit about saving your ass by lifting the Valkyries’ curse.”
Mom’s body trembled with rage. Her fists clenched and unclenched as if she were one step away from throttling Mist. “She’s a weapon of destruction. She needs to be destroyed.”
