To Vex A Valkyrie (Southern Sanctuary - Book 9)

by Jane Cousins

  “I probably should have led with that, huh?” Fen mused thoughtfully.

  Brodie kissed him. There had been too many words between them already. He let go of her wrists and she wrapped her arms around him, one of her legs coming up to hook around his calf. She wanted him right this second. Who cares if they were outside, who cares if… oops, she reluctantly broke the kiss. “There are children out here.”

  “Oh… right.” Fen drew in a deep, shuddering breath. Looking off to the left, he smiled. “Except it looks like everyone has disappeared somewhere.”

  Brodie smiled ruefully. “Probably cutting the cake.” She placed a hand on his chest to prevent him from swooping forward to kiss her once more. “Wait, I don’t want you to move here.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No. I’ve been thinking these last few months on the battlefield. It’s time I made some life changes. I still want to fight with my sisters, but I’m thinking of cutting back on my hours. Maybe relocating somewhere more rural, building a house, teaching a self-defence course or two.”

  “Really?” Fen smiled.

  “Really. Do you think you and I, we could make it work?”

  “Are you putting love back on the table?” Fen’s cerulean eyes sparkled.

  “Yes.”

  “I think you and I, together, could do anything we damn well wanted to.”

  Brodie reached down and grabbed Fen’s hand. “You can be a very annoying man, Fen Valhalla. What makes you think I won’t end up killing you?”

  Fen laughed. “As long as you don’t try to take love off the table again, I’m sure we’ll find a way to work out our differences.” He bent down slightly, tugging hard on her hand abruptly, suddenly Brodie found herself over his shoulder as he straightened up, carrying her in the classic fireman’s lift.

  “What? Fen, what are you doing?” She stared down his back at the green grass.

  “Saving you my gorgeous Valkyrie, if you promise to save me right back?”

  Brodie laughed. “I promise. Just put me down.”

  “I will, as soon as you are safely melded to me and officially mine.” Fen started striding towards the house and the Portal capable of transporting them all but instantaneously to the Southern Sanctuary High Council registrar’s office.

  “Which means you’ll be officially mine, Fireman.”

  “Yes, please.” Fen stepped into the house, reaching up to place a large warm hand on Brodie’s butt to settle her squirming.

  That’s when Brodie became aware of the party-goers noticing them, people pointing, laughing, a few people clapping and strangely enough, given the noise levels, Brodie was reasonably sure she heard Helgastein Gerwitz sigh rather wistfully.

  “You are the most vexing man.” Brodie hissed at Fen between gritted teeth, trying not to laugh.

  “And that’s why you love me.” Fen assured cockily.

  Head down, staring at his ass, Brodie couldn’t help but smile helplessly. “I will get you back for this.” She promised.

  “I’d be lying, Xena, if I didn’t tell you that the thought of you exacting any sort of punishment turns me on. There’s nothing I’d like more than for you to vex me right back… each and every day for the rest of our lives.”

  Epilogue

  One week later…

  The Enforcer training arena gallery was crowded. All the seats were taken, and more people stood along the back wall, eager to witness today’s showdown.

  It had been a tense week of territorial posturing between Elijah, Head of the Enforcers, and their new, formally appointed self-defence instructor, Brodie Buchanan. Culminating in an official challenge.

  On the line was use of the training arena and all of the accompanying equipment.

  Brodie wanted it three days a week, from nine to noon. Since the Enforcers often swam, ran, or made use of many of the other offerings provided by the Fitness Centre, she didn’t think it was too much to ask for some consideration regarding the schedule.

  Elijah, on the other hand, believed that the self-defence classes could easily be conducted in one of the spare meditation rooms. Citing that the use of the formal Enforcer arena would only establish a dangerous precedent in the self-defence trainees’ minds. Deluding them into believing that their novice skills would be of any use against the very real dangers that threatened the Southern Sanctuary.

  The formal challenge had finally been issued by Brodie, following a careless remark Elijah made, inferring that Brodie was wasting her time in attempting to promote the self-defence classes as anything more than a fitness course, on par with jazzacise, or cardio funk.

  Fen sat in the front row, his eyes fixed on his meld mate. It had been a week now and he still couldn’t seem to stop smiling. Damn, he loved the woman. They were still trying to work out how their lives would mesh together. Attempting to sync their schedules so that they could spend time together was proving challenging but they were slowly getting there.

  Currently, their home base was the Bali styled safe house located on Bite Back Cove. Between Fen’s job as a fireman, Brodie’s Valkyrie commitments, her training, his family, re-designing their soon to be built home to suit both their needs, and Brodie’s desire to keep teaching regular self-defence classes… they’d had to get their priorities in order pretty quickly.

  He was surprised that sex wasn’t number one, funnily, it had taken second place to talking. Sharing with Brodie his day, listening to her news, discussing details regarding the house they were building. Laughing. Just being… it should scare the crap out of him, but because it was Brodie, it felt right, perfect.

  “You look happy.”

  Fen turned around in his seat to find his Great-Aunt-Alma, the dreaded family match maker, seated directly behind him. She was wearing a crisp green wrap dress. Her grey, shoulder length hair, flipped outwards in a sleek stylish fashion. Her brown eyes were warm, tiny little gold sparkles flashing dimly in their depths.

  “And you look smug.” Fen commented

  Alma shrugged nonchalantly but that twinkle in her eyes gave her away. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Fen rolled his eyes. “So you want to tell me just how exactly you managed it? Brodie and me?”

  “Give away trade secrets?” Alma tossed her hair back, continuing to smile. “The specifics are unimportant, it’s only the results that matter.”

  Alma wasn’t above boasting of her successes. But she really didn’t want anyone to know how tricky the match making process had become over the recent years. Ever since Maat’s warriors, and the descendant of an Egyptian God, had melded into the family. Amping up the power of the family magical grid with unexpected flares of magic.

  If Fen knew how precarious his path to true love had been, he’d be shocked to his marrow. Better to let him, everyone, believe she was all-knowing, all-seeing. The mystique of the match maker had to be upheld at all costs… sometimes though, she wondered how much longer she’d be able to maintain it.

  The grid was growing more powerful daily, spells were going haywire, more and more magical creatures were turning up, attracted by the ever increasing emissions of the grid.

  Hmmmm… perhaps it was time she started to seriously consider taking on that apprentice, the one she’d been monitoring, in a more formal capacity. Working together… they might just be able to offset the flares and growing unpredictability of the Sanctuary’s protective grid. It would be a question of timing, she’d have to consider the threads of fate more carefully before taking any steps.

  “… Sorry, darling boy, what was that?”

  Fen grinned. “I was just wondering whether you were asked to help with the advertising campaign for the Hidden Cove Cabin and Camping Grounds, or did you bully your way in?”

  “Me? Bully my way? That sounds distasteful. All I did was volunteer my services to help with a glossy advertising pamphlet.”

  “In exchange for?” Fen enquired.

  “Just adding one or two names to the mailing list.”
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  “One or two? How many of those pamphlets are out there?”

  Alma winked at her Great-Nephew. “Now that information would definitely be categorised as a trade secret. Oh, look, they’re starting.”

  Fen turned quickly. Brodie, wearing tiny black shorts and a red tank top was standing with Elijah and Taite, who would be judging the challenge, in the centre of the arena. Brodie was waving her arms, and shaking her head. Elijah, in response, merely crossed his arms over his muscular chest and gave her his patented thousand yard death stare.

  “Fine.” Brodie shouted. Turning, she stomped across the dirt, headed towards her group of students, who were milling about in front of the gallery. Waiting to hear which of them would be chosen to face Elijah in the challenge.

  Given they had to last forty-five seconds against the Head of the Enforcers, the self-defence students appeared surprisingly calm.

  “He’s taking you all on.” Brodie’s words caused an immediate excited buzz amongst the viewing crowd. Several betting books were opened. Several others hurriedly slammed shut.

  Fen frowned, instinctively leaning forward to try and hear what Brodie was telling her students as they huddled around her for last minute instructions. Nope, couldn’t hear a thing, damn.

  As they broke up, Brodie vaulted the railing, making her way to the only vacant seat left in the viewing section, next to Fen.

  “Everything alright?” Fen enquired, revelling in the feel of his meld mate’s body heat intermingling with his own.

  “Is the medic here?” Brodie looked around.

  “My cousin Carl.” Fen pointed off to the side. “He’s a Doctor. Do you think we should call in more medical back-up?”

  Brodie shook her head, turning her attention back to the arena. “Nah, one doctor, one soon to be patient, should be fine.”

  Brodie’s class spread out around Elijah in a circle, looking, Brodie knew, vaguely ridiculous. Fen’s Great-Great-Aunt Adelaide in her all-white designer sweats, her sister Daphne in jewel tone bike shorts and a sunshine yellow top. Their younger sister, Margot, looking sturdy but ready for anything in navy tracksuit pants and a t-shirt covered with dancing cupcakes.

  Gaia was outfitted in bright lime green yoga pants and a stretchy purple top, working overtime to keep all her assets under control. Off to the left stood Gigi DeWitt and her mother, Gwen, both looking petite in their matching oversized grey t-shirts promoting a plumbing firm.

  Next came his Aunt Kimberly, blue eyes sparkling, attired in a grey tank top and matching knee length bike pants. Standing next to her was Riordan McKenzie, looking intent in khaki stretch pants and a matching top, her bright red hair pulled back in a pony tail. And a few feet over stood Joanne Granger, looking far too petite, and fragile, in red yoga pants and a blue blouse.

  Perhaps the only one who looked the vaguest match against Elijah’s muscular six foot three frame was Tamara, who worked as a police officer manning the Reverie Valley Substation. In all black, she at least looked professional, her brown hair braided back sensibly.

  Elijah fought not to laugh. He was tempted to slip his hands into the back pockets of his worn jeans and let the ladies have the first thirty seconds of the challenge gratis.

  But that would be taking his condescension regarding the self-defence class a step too far. Besides, if his parents found out he’d been disrespecting his older relatives, there would be a harsh telling off coming his way in the very near future.

  Okay, he straightened, rolling his shoulders in readiness. Carefully cataloguing where everyone was standing, effectively circling him. “It’s not too late to call this off.” He offered, rather generously he thought. “Take Echelon-A, it’s the largest classroom there is.”

  “Shut up you annoying boy, we’re doing this.”

  Elijah’s eyes widened as he looked at his Great-Great-Aunt Daphne. “Annoying boy?”

  “Sorry.” She tossed a bright orange scarf back over her shoulder, it looked rather incongruous given her active wear attire. “We haven’t gotten to trash talking yet in class.”

  The watching crowd laughed. Fen chanced a quick glance at Brodie, she didn’t look nervous or even the slightest bit worried. Fen relaxed back in his seat, never underestimate a Valkyrie, this was going to be interesting.

  Taite signalled for the bout to commence.

  The challenge was for forty-five seconds. The ladies of Brodie’s self-defence class only needed twelve.

  Gaia called up tree roots from the wooded area off to the far left, they shot out of the ground wrapping around Elijah’s ankles, effectively trapping him. Kimberly produced three balls of moisture in quick succession, sending them hurtling at Elijah’s head, just as they made contact with his skin, Riordan amped up her magic and froze the water.

  Meanwhile, Gigi pulled apart and slammed together particular elements of food and liquid that Elijah had recently imbibed. Even under the splotches of ice, the Head Enforcer’s colour had clearly turned a nasty bile green.

  Daphne blew on a dark black gemstone ring she had on her left hand, slinging the spell straight at Elijah. Whilst Tamara flung herself forward, making sure she stayed low, well below the range of Daphne’s magic, hitting the back of Elijah’s knees with her outstretched arm, just as Daphne’s spell made contact, causing his entire upper body to seize up in paralysis.

  Elijah’s knees instantly gave way, it was like someone had just taken a steel bar and hit him. He slammed into the ground with an awkward thud, face down, air escaping from his lungs out via his nose, since his mouth was frozen over with ice. Shit. Shit! What the fuck had just happened? He was trapped, frozen, sick as a dog, his legs bruised and he was lying on the ground.

  Out the corner of his eye he watched as his Great-Great-Aunt Adelaide moved forward, her white sweats immaculate. She leaned down so only he could hear. “Well, that went very well I think. No, no, don’t struggle dear. Yes, there’s still time left in the challenge but Brodie’s instructions were very clear, we were to incapacitate you, not cause any real harm.” Adelaide smiled, tossing her shock of white hair back. “Of course, if you keep struggling that could all change in an instant. I love you, Elijah. But you will accept this defeat gracefully, and you will allow that darling Valkyrie girl to hold her classes here in the Enforcer training arena.”

  Elijah stared awkwardly up at his Aunt, the feeling was returning to his arms, maybe if he just…

  “Now, now.” Adelaide leaned over to tap him on the nose. “I’ve decided to use Brodie as inspiration for my next erotica novel. And you do not want to get between me and my newest muse, do you, Elijah?”

  Elijah was arrogant and dedicated, but he wasn’t stupid. Great-Great-Aunt Adelaide could be scary when she wanted to be, he’d never be able to trust a cup of coffee again if he got on the wrong side of his potion making relative. Not to mention the horrors she could inflict with her interfering cat.

  “Fine. You win.” He managed to get the words out between gritted teeth and frozen lips.

  Adelaide laughed, raising her arm high to the applause of the crowd. “As if there was ever any doubt.”

  Brodie laughed and clapped along with the rest of the audience. Turning she smiled at Fen. “They did it.”

  “With you in their corner, of course they did. Congrats.” He leaned over and kissed his meld mate, loving the way she sank into the kiss with promises of heat and fun.

  “Hey you two. None of that, we’re going out to celebrate.” Gaia was there, glowing, her face flushed with pleasure and pride. “No where they sell alcohol though. The fumes wouldn’t be good for the baby.” Absently she splayed one hand over her still svelte tummy.

  Brodie rose, pulling Fen up along with her. Amazed at how good she felt. This, this was what it was all about, helping others reach their full potential, with the man she loved by her side. “You go on. Some of us are still on our honeymoon.” She grabbed Fen’s hand and led him towards the exit at almost a run.

  The grin on Fen’s face
could easily be interpreted. If he had anything to say about things, then he and Brodie would technically be on their honeymoon for a very long time indeed.

  Alma watched them go, a smile of pleasure on her face.

  “So, another meld match under your belt, you must be pleased.”

  Alma looked over at her Aunt Adelaide, not a hair out of a place or a smudge of dirt on her all white ensemble. “Not just one, but a twofer. I don’t suppose you have any idea what one wears to a Vulcan wedding?”

  “Something heat resistant I imagine.” Adelaide suggested, before turning to join the other self-defence class students who had formed a conga line of victory and were now exiting the gallery.

  Alma’s smile dimmed slightly. She could only allow herself a brief amount of time to celebrate her own victory. Even now there was a long list of manoeuvres, manipulations and strategies that awaited her attention. So many couples, so many factors needing to be juggled to bring them together or pull them apart.

  It was exhausting… hmmm, perhaps it really was time she made that formal offer to the apprentice she had been cultivating. Oh, sure they were bound to refuse, but Alma Richart, master manipulator and match maker, never let a little word like - no - stop her. If she did, none of her reluctant match making candidates would ever meet or fall in love.

  Speaking of which… she was juggling multiple couples at the moment but there was one in particular… she tuned into two threads of fate. They’d intertwined for a brief time a while back, then she’d deliberately separated them.

  Absence… the heart… and all that other malarkey.

  But now, Alma’s brown eyes glittered with bright gold sparkles, yes, their time had come. Damn, and she would need to hurry if she was going to make the window… and she would need to remember to factor in the time travel component. Seriously? Time travel? As if her job wasn’t hard enough.

  Oh, who was she kidding, she loved the challenge of it all.