Jens stiffened.
“I mean, it’s fine. I didn’t know him. It’s not like I lost a brother or something.”
Jens muffled a heart-wrenching moan into my stomach, gripping my thighs so tight, I worried he might bruise them.
“Hey, it’s alright. Take a breath.” After a few beats of pause, I stroked the golden diamond tattoo on his cheek with my thumb to soothe him. “I wish Alrik would’ve told me he’d adopted someone. I don’t know why he never mentioned that he’d taken in a ward, and that he’d adopted him. Seems like it’s worth a conversation.”
“He… he had a friend, and I can’t imagine how devastated she’d be if she knew. Mace loved her a lot, and she was oblivious. Treated him like family. Mace didn’t always understand her, but man, was he loyal. To the death.” Jens’s voice started to quiver, so I hugged him tighter.
“Baby,” I cooed. “You can’t save everyone. You weren’t even there.”
“I really can’t talk about it,” Jens said, stuffing his emotions back to that place I wasn’t allowed. “But that’s what’s been up with me.” He relinquished his hold on my midsection and stood, examining my face with his prodding fingers. “I can’t believe I did that. I should be locked up.”
I jerked my face away, not willing to display it. “I’ll keep that in mind when you start turning into a bad eighties movie again. I mean, seriously, you were classic jerk jock back there. Go apologize to Jamie.”
“No. He shouldn’t have looked at you naked like that.”
“My body. I’ll deal with him about it. You’re acting bipolar. Get ahold of yourself. Be sad, but don’t take it out on Jamie or me. We’re both jacked up enough.”
Jens nodded, contrite and appropriately morose. “That’s fair.”
There was a moment’s pause, and I realized how very much I wanted space. “Right, so I’m like seven kinds of naked under this towel. Could I get a little privacy?”
The hint of the old smile I adored teased his full lips. “If you lose the towel, it’d be eight kinds of naked. That’s my favorite kind.”
“Nice try, smooth talker.” I held the towel tighter around me and jerked my thumb toward the door. “Go play nice with Jamie. Braid each other’s hair and leave me the smack alone.”
“Hey,” Jens said, wrapping me in a brief hug. “I really am sorry. About everything. When you get out, let’s start over. Is that in the realm of possibility?”
“New realm. New possibilities.” I pressed a kiss into his chest. “That sounds good.”
When he finally left, I glanced at my face in the mirror, the red mark of my boyfriend’s fist swelling up atop my cheekbone. I knew I’d have a shiner soon, and wondered how that would change things for us.
7
Road Trip
We stayed in the hotel four days before Jens insisted we move along. My eye was nice and black, as was Jamie’s. The only person who apologized more than Jens was Jamie, who took full responsibility for everything, wagging his tail between his legs long after everything was forgiven.
I clung to Britta, knowing this whole laplanding business was harder on her than she let on. When she went out on patrol at night so Jens could sleep, I missed her and worried for her safety. “You’re sure you’re alright? Nothing fishy?” I asked, hefting her bag into the trunk.
“No fish at all, actually. There’s shockingly little nature around this area.” She smiled at me, adjusting her pink fitted long-sleeved shirt under her light jacket. “But no, nothing to speak of at all. We’re completely hidden.” I loved her two braids without the bonnet hiding her from view. So did she, I could tell. She had her dagger tucked into the waist of her jeans, but other than that, she was a normal girl.
Jens switched out the plates on the SUV again with another car in the parking structure, and loaded up our vehicle with the few things we’d taken in with us.
“Can I drive for once? You look exhausted.” I held out my hand for the keys.
“I’m not tired. And I’m the Tom, so I drive.” He was a different kind of distant now. He was more present, but he could barely look at me, my black eye too horrible for him to take.
I didn’t feel like a fight, so I wrapped my arms around him in a hug, discreetly lifting the keys from his jacket pocket. I slid past him and hoisted myself into the driver’s seat, starting up the car with authority. “In the back, Jennifer.” When he tried to remove me, I shut the door and locked it, jerking my thumb toward the back. “Don’t make me arm-wrestle you for it. It’ll only end in your humiliation when I smoke you.”
Britta rode shotgun after I won the argument. “Jens has never been good at letting someone else lead.”
“Really? You don’t say. Buckle up, boys,” I reminded them, playing the role of the soccer mom. “Does anyone have to use the restroom before we leave?”
“Just go,” Jens grumbled, pretending to be mad at me. “And don’t get pulled over. You can’t use that innocent face of yours to talk yourself out of a ticket.” He leaned his head against the back of the seat and groaned up at the ceiling. “Because I bashed it in.”
“You’re absolved, Jens.” I shook out my arms and readied myself, adjusting the seat from Jens’s gigantor legs. “It’s been too long since I’ve driven. Which one’s the break again?” I teased, fondling the steering wheel affectionately. I missed the feel of being behind the wheel. So much of everything was everyone else’s choice. This was mine. I would be in control of the giant vehicle, and everyone would be cool about it.
Britta laid her seat back and took a nap while I drove us across Missouri. We stopped in Illinois sometime after midnight because the lines on the freeway started to run together, and I realized we might not want to have escaped Undra only to die in a stupid car wreck.
I pulled over at a rest stop and let us all out, everyone stretching and groaning at finally being able to move around.
Britta retracted from the outdoors. “It’s freezing! What’s wrong with the air?”
It was getting colder, that’s for sure. Goose bumps stood out on my arms and I shivered as I watched my breath float out in front of my face. “We’re driving north. The further up we go, the colder it’ll get.” It was just below forty degrees.
“Colder?” Britta gasped, floored at the possibility. “How could it get colder than this?”
“Wait till we hit Michigan.” I chuckled at her growing concern. “Those winter jackets I got us are no joke. How much further?” I inquired of our fearless leader.
Jens touched his toes and then went around back to dig a blanket out of the trunk for his sister. “We can stop soon. Let’s get a hotel room for a few days.”
I was looking forward to crashing, but I didn’t let on that I was tired. I was afraid Jens would take the wheel, and I was enjoying the boss seat. The cold air woke me right up, but my smile faltered when I noticed Jens watching me with that same tortured expression. Stupid black eye.
“Quit it with the bedroom eyes,” I teased, forcing levity into the air. “Your sister’ll get the wrong idea about us.”
Jens regained a modicum of his former self and grinned at me. “Or the very graphic right idea.”
“Jens!” Britta scolded as she hoisted herself back into the car and slammed the door shut behind her.
8
Stina’s New Pet
When we checked into the hotel, Jens was unhappy. “There’s no parking garage,” he stated, sliding the key card into the slot and letting us into the room. “I don’t like our stash exposed like this.”
“You set the alarm. I don’t know how much farther we can go before we all need some sleep. We’ve got a hefty distance on the gate to Undra. We should rest while we can.”
He kissed my forehead, but turned away when the lamplight fell on my face. “I’d argue, but I’m beat. I didn’t know you had it in you to drive that far.”
“I’m amazing,” I bragged in monotone. “Driver gets first shower,” I commanded, instating a new rule.
>
“Have at it, Jeeves. I’ll do a once-around the perimeter and then come back up.” He set his red bag on the drab comforter, looking at the king-sized bed forlornly.
“Oh, you with the sexy talk. Say ‘perimeter’ again.”
“Perimeter,” he breathed, steaming up his tone and licking his lips to make me laugh. “Get in there, Mox. I don’t want to work you up too much.”
My shower was hot and long, just how I liked it. My pajamas were clean, purple and warm – my specialty. I could’ve opted for something more attractive than a pair of fuzzy pajama pants and a fitted thermal shirt, but given that my boyfriend could barely look at me, I didn’t think sexy times were on the horizon anytime soon.
I brushed my teeth and crawled under the sheets, turning on the TV to keep me company while I waited for Jens.
And waited.
Two hours later, I was biting my nails. Another five minutes, and I knocked on my buddy’s mental wall. Hey, is Jens with you?
Huh? Um, no. I thought he was with you. I could hear his internal thoughts searching for his shoes as he tried not to wake Britta.
You’re worried. I should’ve told you sooner. He said he’d go check the grounds and then be right up. I pulled on a pink Chuck and a green one, shoved my arms into a blue sweater and tied up my hair. I met Jamie in the hallway. “Did you leave Britt a note?”
“Pens are amazing,” he remarked, holding his elbow out to me, always the constant gentleman. I looped my arm through his and walked with him to the elevator. “I wouldn’t worry,” he said, covering over his own concern poorly. “Jens disappears all the time. I’m sure he just got carried away scouting out the area. He’s very strict about your safety on this side.”
“You’re sweet to lie to me.” We walked out of the building and glanced around for Jens.
What I saw nearly stopped my heart. Standing next to the SUV was Jens, accompanied by that Huldra girl who flirted with him eons ago when I first met him and left my world for Undraland. The tiny skirt girl he’d punched in the face. Stina.
It was not her I was concerned about, though.
Standing off to the side was a figure I would recognize anywhere. He was hulking and brown-skinned with a constant air of looking for a fight.
“Foss?” I choked out, my voice barely breaking the night ambiance. “Foss!”
He looked uncertain of me as he revealed himself more fully in the moonlight and the faint illumination wafting off the hotel. He stepped forward cautiously, regarding me like the disobedient animal he was.
I didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate. I ran to Foss, my heart bursting at the sight of him. It was dark, and so was he, but I felt lighter than I had in days.
His cagey expression lifted at my immediate acceptance of him, and he opened up his arms just before I crashed into him. “I had to come,” he explained by way of an apology. “I couldn’t stay in Undraland. Not after everything fell apart like it did.”
“You’re here,” I breathed, releasing him to take a step back and get my fill of the surly face only I could make smile. “I missed your mean face.”
He grimaced at my appearance and cupped my chin, jerking it toward the light. “What happened to you?” Without waiting for me to answer, he barked at Jens, “What happened to her?”
Jamie trotted up next to me and shook Foss’s hand. “I see you couldn’t stay away.” Both men were visibly freezing, but at least Jamie had a proper coat on. Foss was clad in pants and a t-shirt, his muscles tensed against the bite in the air.
Foss looked from Jamie’s black eye to mine and nodded in understanding. “Who’d you get in a fight with, Jamie?”
“Who else?” Jamie motioned to Jens, who returned Foss’s glare.
Jens shoved his hands into his pockets. “Don’t give me crap about it, Foss. I already feel bad enough as it is.”
Foss tsked Jens, enjoying his brief moment of not being the bad guy. “High and mighty Jens the Brave smacks his woman around like the lowly Fossegrimens. Welcome to the bottom of the barrel.”
“Shut up,” Jens spat through gritted teeth.
I held up my hands. “Excuse me, could we back up a second here? How did you find us? What are you doing here? And where’s your coat?” I almost threw in a “young man”, but thought that might be pushing it.
“I picked him up just outside the gate,” cooed Stina, who leaned back casually against the SUV, watching the exchange with much curiosity.
I wished I could get a peek at her tail. I’d never seen a real Huldra tail before. Stina no doubt had it tucked away to fit in with regular earthlings.
“Bent on finding this one here.” Stina pointed to me with disgust, and I tried not to bristle. “Nice shiner. Let me guess, you breathed wrong and Jens lost his temper? He always takes such good care of his women.”
“Shove it, Stina. You were trying to mind-warp me with your whistle. You deserved that punch, and you know it. It’s my job to protect her.”
“I’m Lucy,” I said, sticking my hand out to her. “We’ve sort of met before.”
“I know. Jens’s girl. Foss’s wife. Prince Jamie’s laplanded pal. Queen Lucy from the Other Side.” She scoffed at my mismatched apparel. “If only they could see you now. Shall I ready my curtsy?”
“Nice to see you again,” I lied. “Come inside, Foss. We’ve got a room you can warm up in.”
“Let him freeze,” Stina suggested, her light and airy tone was laced with cruelty. “One of the four chiefs, reduced to this.” She motioned to his shivering form.
I scowled at her and rubbed Foss’s arms, which were freezing to the touch. “He’s frozen over! How long have you had him for? He could catch his death out here, dressed like this! You should’ve at least gotten him a proper coat.”
Stina giggled at me, a high-pitched, nasal sound. “Well, I brought him here so you could warm him up. Skin-to-skin’s the best for that, you know.” She winked at me, and I fought to control my temper.
I blew on Foss’s fingertips, which were so cold, he could barely move them. “Come on. Jens has a few extra sets of clothes I’m sure would fit you.”
Foss came willingly, without the stubborn streak he used to be married to. Perhaps the cold had chased it out of him.
“That curse is nearly gone,” she said to Jens. “Been peeling it off in layers. That halfy did a decent job. Who knew?”
Jens shook his head, communicating with his eyes for her to shut up. “We can talk about that later. Loos, take Foss up to the room. Jamie, you need to see this.”
“What?” I asked, but I knew they would be tight-lipped about whatever was going on.
“Nothing, babe. Go on. I’ll be up in a minute.”
Stina called after me. “Have a great night on your honeymoon, Queen Lucy. I’ll keep your boyfriend company while you warm up Foss. I know how you work. Your hubby told me everything.”
I cringed, but Jens spoke before I could get lured into her fight. “Don’t pay attention to her. She’s just jealous. Knock it off, Stina. Seriously. Do you have any friends?”
“Not like Lucy has, no.” Her cat-like tease was evil, and I wanted to retaliate with fiery words, but Jamie shooed me toward the hotel.
9
Foss’s New Personality
I made quick work of finding Foss some clothes from Jens’s pile. He was only half listening as I walked him through the shower, turning the spigot on so he could enjoy some heat. He was too tall for the shower. He was too tall for everything. I felt for the poor guy.
“How did you find us?” I questioned, not willing to leave him alone just yet.
Foss pointed a shivering finger upward. “The stars. I told you; I can always find you. Even in your strange sky, I could still see your star. Stina picked me up outside the gate, and I led her to you.” He took off his shirt, and I was glad to see most of his wounds from fighting the Circhos were healed.
I rubbed some heat back into his arms, relishing the feel of Foss. “It’s good to
see your face, however surly.”
“Speaking of faces, yours looks terrible. Maybe I should give your boyfriend a black eye to match yours. I owe him one, anyways.”
I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop smiling. “You found me. You came back.”
“You’re not mad?” he asked tentatively.
“Not mad. A little dazed, but not mad.” He gazed at me as if there were many important things he wanted to say, but none birthed from his tired mouth. I patted his arm. “Wash up and warm up, soldier. We can talk when you come out.”
When Foss finished washing and dressing twenty minutes later, he emerged in Jens’s navy hoodie and flannel pajama pants. It was shocking the difference modern clothes made. He looked like a true human. A body builder, sure, but a human nonetheless. Though on closer inspection, he was a broken, besotted human who was a shell of his former Viking self.
I led Foss to sit on the bed and stood in front of him, the lamp giving just enough illumination for me to see the haunted look I wasn’t used to finding in his black eyes. “Are you hungry?”
He looked up at me, lost and confused by the question. “Hungry? Um, maybe. Your world is… Do you have food here that’s normal?”
I picked up the phone and ordered three burgers, fries, some fresh fruit and a cheese platter. “Food good enough to fill your belly will be ready in twenty. Now, talk to me. You were supposed to stay in Undraland. What happened?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know how to talk to you about it.”
My nose crinkled. “What are you saying? I’m the only one you talk to about stuff. You’re like the Fort Knox of useful information, but I’m the only key. Be real. What’s going on? Did Olaf find you?”
The Other Side: A Fantasy Adventure (Undraland Book 5) Page 4
