Embrace of the Damned

by Bast, Anya

  Nausea rose up inside her as she remembered. She turned her head away from her reflection, unable to look at what would be a scar once the stitches came out. Every time she looked in the mirror, she’d have a reminder of the horror.

  Broder laid a hand on her shoulder and her gaze met his in the mirror. “It’s a battle scar, proof that you fought a terrible foe and survived. When you look at the scar, don’t see it as something ugly, but as a sign of your strength.”

  “You saved me, Broder. I couldn’t escape that thing and I couldn’t defeat it. If it weren’t for you, I would have died in that house.”

  Broder held her gaze for a long moment before answering. “I was there. I saw evidence of the battle you waged against that demon. Believe me, Jessa, you are a warrior even if he got the better of you in the end.”

  She smiled at him in the reflection. Broder was a man of few words, but when he spoke he said the right things.

  “Halla is leaving the keep and returning to Norway. She only stayed this long to make sure you didn’t need any more of her blood. Erik and I will handle your training from now on.”

  “What?” She turned in the chair and faced him. “Is she leaving because of what happened? She can’t do that. It wasn’t her fault.”

  “She’s leaving because she’s the weak link. The Blight do not have mind-control powers of any kind over the Brotherhood. Halla knows that by staying here she’s putting you at risk.”

  “But Erik told me he’s only seen an agent with this type of ability five times since he became Brotherhood. You killed that agent, so he’s not around to do it again.”

  “I’d kill him all over again if I could.”

  “What I mean is, the chances of another agent coming here that has the same ability must be infinitesimal.”

  “Yes, but there is still a chance. Any chance is too much. You are apparently very important to both the Blight and the seidhr. Maybe you’re important enough to send another of their extratalented agents.”

  Special and she didn’t even know why. Stellar.

  “I wish I was less special to them.”

  “Me, too.” He paused. “I have something to tell you.”

  The tone of his voice had shifted to wary. The hair on the nape of her neck stood on end. “Oh, hell, it sounds bad. What is it?”

  “Maybe nothing. I met with Dmitri the other day.”

  She frowned. “Dmitri from the parking garage? He’s here in Scotland?”

  “Yes. He’s the one who told me your location after you’d been taken by the demon. If it weren’t for him, you probably would have died. I wouldn’t have known where to find you without him.”

  She pushed up slowly and turned to face him. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

  He shrugged. “You were recovering and I was handling it.”

  “Seems like a pretty big detail to omit, Broder. A demon helped you save my life.” Why would Dmitri care so much about her welfare, travel all the way to Scotland to help her?

  “Yeah, I should have told you.”

  “Yeah, you should have.” She poked him in his chest with her index finger. He was like a rock.

  “Do you want to hear what he told me or not?”

  She relaxed a little and crossed her arms over her chest. “Go on.”

  “Now, remember, this information came from a demon with murky objectives. I have no idea if it’s true or not, but it wouldn’t be right to keep the information from you. Just keep in mind the source when you measure the weight.”

  “Oh, now you’re worried about full disclosure.”

  He continued as though she hadn’t said anything. “Dmitri told me you’re kin to the leader of the seidhr. You’re his great-granddaughter. He said that Thorgest wants you because you’re destined by your blood to take over leadership of the coven. According to Dmitri, Thorgest Egilson has no one else to take his place and he wants to retire to Florida or something like that.”

  Her mind tripped over his words. Great-granddaughter to that severe-looking man she’d seen a picture of? “Did Dmitri say how I was separated from them?”

  “I asked, but he didn’t know. He only told me about your great-grandfather. He also pointed out the obvious; if you’re of that particular bloodline your magick is likely very strong.”

  Jessa sat back down again.

  “I don’t want you to take this very seriously. At least, not yet. Like I said, we need to consider the source.”

  “He told you my location—”

  “And how did he know it in the first place, Jessa? Have you thought about that?”

  He had a good point. She chewed her lower lip.

  “He could have been in on that from the beginning, set the whole thing up to win our trust. It would explain how he’s survived the Blight all these years. If he defected, they’d want him dead and, as you’ve seen firsthand, they’re relentless. It’s suspicious he’s survived this long, isn’t it?”

  “Right. I get it.”

  “I know you’re eager to explore your birthright, but let’s take this slow.”

  She nodded. “Yes, of course.”

  He started to walk to the door. “Come and say good-bye to Halla. She’s packing right now. Your farewell will make her feel better.”

  She nodded and followed him down to the foyer, where Halla was just organizing her bags. Through the open front door, she could see Erik getting the car ready.

  “I really wish you’d stay,” said Jessa, approaching the Valkyrie.

  Halla straightened from adjusting something on her suitcase and smiled, but Jessa clearly saw the guilt in her eyes. Halla’s gaze flicked to the jagged stitches on her throat and away. “I think this is better. I would not like to be the cause of your doom.”

  “You never could be.” Jessa gave the other woman a hug. “You’ve been a good friend to me here. Well, except for that time you attacked me and called me a wimp.”

  Halla laughed. “You are not a wimp, Jessa. I just said that because I was jealous of your beauty.”

  “But not of my fighting ability.”

  “No.” Halla’s smile widened. “Definitely not of that.” She looked at Broder. “Listen to him, okay? He’s very good at teaching defense skills. And you, Broder, be careful with her. She’s more fragile than you think.”

  Jessa watched Halla pick up her suitcase and head out the door, thinking that last comment might not have much to do with self-defense training.

  Erik and Broder carried the rest of her luggage out and hoisted it into the back of the car. Halla gave a final wave at Jessa before climbing into the car beside Erik and they pulled away.

  She and Broder watched as the car disappeared past the gates and down the road. Suddenly the silence of the house weighed on her. She was alone with Broder. His warm presence filled her senses and she became very aware of him standing beside her.

  If he kissed her now, wanted to touch her … she would let him. She was done running away. Done having regrets. Her experience with the demon had shown her the merit in seizing the day and not allowing opportunities to pass her by, even if her heart became broken in the process. That was the risk she’d simply have to take.

  But between the moment she became acutely aware of his presence and the moment she decided to give in to her carnal feelings for him, he was gone. She stood alone in the foyer and sighed.

  SEVENTEEN

  Broder entered the kitchen and stopped short. Arrayed on the center island was a multitude of brightly colored boxes and bags. Jessa stood behind the counter, looking pleased with herself.

  This immediately put him on edge.

  She smiled. “I hope you’re not doing anything tonight.”

  His eyes narrowed as he took in her outfit, a short black skirt and sweater. Her hair was curled and fell loose over her shoulders and she appeared to be wearing makeup. “What’s going on?”

  She held up a hand as though to stave off an objection. It was true that he did feel an objecti
on coming on. Those cheerful multicolored boxes were not something he had much experience with. “I cleared this with Erik and he’s your boss, so you can’t say no.”

  He tilted his head to the side and took a step toward her. “Say no to what?”

  With a flourish of her arm, she drew his attention to the various boxes and bags on the counter. “I want to discover what your favorite movie theater candy is. I think it says a lot about a person, you know?”

  “Says what”—he moved to the edge of the counter and stared down at all the sugar—“exactly?”

  “Says something about their personality, their state of mind, their mental well-being … you know, their favorite candy.” She twisted the sleeve of her sweater between her fingers. “You don’t have a favorite candy and that says a lot about you. But of course, you do have one; you just don’t know what it is yet.” She paused and twisted her sleeve a little more. “I’m babbling, aren’t I?”

  He nodded.

  “I’m kind of nervous.”

  “Where did you get all of this?”

  “Like I said, Erik helped me. He had it flown in from the States for me. I didn’t ask for any Jujyfruits, since we’ve established that you don’t like those.”

  Broder picked up a package of Sugar Babies. “Really.” After dropping it to the counter, he eyed a box of Cookie Dough with trepidation.

  “There’s a part two of the surprise, but that’s for later.”

  Oh, good. “More surprises?”

  She nodded, her eyes lighting up. “Come on, this will be fun.” A huge smile spread across her face.

  He couldn’t deny Jessa anything when she smiled that way. Hell, he couldn’t deny Jessa anything at any time. He surveyed the mountain of candy. Some of them he knew of, like the Dots, Goobers, Junior Mints, Milk Duds, and Raisinets. It wasn’t possible to live in the world and not know of those. Others, like the Sour Patch Kids, were a mystery he wanted to leave undiscovered.

  Jessa opened a box of Whoppers and tapped a few out into his hand. “Try them.”

  He stared down into her palm, where three small chocolate balls lay.

  “Oh, please.” She sighed. “The big, strong immortal is afraid of candy?”

  He shot her a look of disgust, then popped a Whopper into his mouth. It crunched under his teeth and he swallowed it with effort. He grimaced. “Next.”

  Jessa sighed. “I can tell this is going to take awhile, but I’m up for the challenge.” She reached for a bag of something called Buncha Crunch.

  He tried everything that Jessa pushed at him and enjoyed almost none of it. “The Good and Plentys aren’t bad,” he decided.

  She raised a brow. “Is it your favorite?”

  “I wouldn’t say that.”

  “Too bad, the Good and Plentys would fit.” She gave him an inclusive up-and-down perusal. “You’re all kinds of good and plenty.” The look in her eyes made candy of a different kind come to mind. “Plus, it’s something sweet wrapped in a crunchy outer shell that you need force to get through. Suits you well.”

  His reaction to the Sour Patch Kids made her break into laughter. “Who thought creating these was a good idea?” he asked, eyeing the yellow package with extreme distaste.

  “Whoever he was, he’s rich now.”

  In the end, he decided the Milk Duds, Buncha Crunch, and Sno-Caps were the best.

  She nodded. “That makes sense. I’m not surprised to find you’re a chocolate fan. Dark, deep, and delicious. So, which one would you buy if you went to the movies?”

  He gave her a measured look. “None of them. I’d smuggle in my own dessert.”

  “Okay, I’ll bite. What would you smuggle in?”

  “I’ll show you.” He went to the cupboards and brought forth everything he needed—chocolate, eggs, cream, and sugar, among other things. Then he began to whip up a batch of his favorite sweet.

  Jessa took a seat at the counter and rested her hand in her palm as he worked. The sight of him whisking egg yolks seemed to momentarily freeze her brain function. “I thought you couldn’t cook.”

  He stopped whisking and looked at her. “I’ve been around for a thousand years, Jessa.”

  “I know. That’s why I thought it was so weird. All I ever see you make is toast and sandwiches.”

  “Been busy.”

  “So you can cook.”

  “Like a professional.” He grinned at her. “I’ll make you dinner one night to prove it.”

  Jessa stared at him, completely mute, mouth open just a little as he heated chocolate on the stovetop behind him.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked as he finished up the final touches on his dessert and then leaned back, watching her.

  “You just … grinned.”

  “I did? Is there some kind of problem with that?”

  She shook her head. “No! No problem. I was beginning to think you weren’t capable of it. I’m just surprised.”

  “I’m still human, mostly. My facial muscles are capable of forming all the expressions yours can.”

  She smiled. “You have dimples. I had no idea.”

  The dessert was finished. He poured it into a cup and slid it across to her. “Normally it’s supposed to chill, but it’s good like this, too.”

  She stared down into the cup. “It’s chocolate mousse.”

  “My favorite.”

  She picked up the spoon he’d given her and dipped into the confection. “You’d smuggle chocolate mousse into the movies.”

  He shrugged. “Why not?” Might be hard, but he never went to the movies, so it had never been a consideration.

  She lifted her brows. “I’d make a comment right now about how life is too short for anything but the best, but for you and me that’s a moot point, right?”

  “I think being long-lived gives a man a taste for only the finer things.” He held her gaze steadily so she would know he wasn’t talking about dessert.

  She averted her gaze and took a dollop of the mousse onto her tongue. Groaning as it hit her taste buds, she closed her eyes. “That’s like sin made real.”

  That look of sensual ecstasy on her face made him want to give her more.

  Using her spoon to point at the cup, she said, “This is the best chocolate mousse I’ve ever tasted.” She took another bite.

  “I told you I could cook.”

  “I believe you.” She paused and set her spoon onto the table. “You surprised me and now I have a surprise for you.” She stood, a mischievous look on her face. “Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.”

  He followed her through the house to one of the rooms at the back of the keep that he didn’t use very much. A couch sat in the middle of the room, facing a high white wall. The smell of hot buttered popcorn filled the air.

  Jessa turned toward him with a smile on her face. “I’m not allowed to leave the grounds. If I were, I would have taken you to a real movie theater. Things being what they are, Erik helped me do the next best thing.”

  His gaze went to the projector at the back of room. “We’re watching a movie, with popcorn,” he observed with a little shock.

  “Yes. Maybe one day we’ll be able to do it in an actual theater.”

  The thought of going to a movie with Jessa, of actually being out in public, having fun, was heady. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had fun. The thought of going on a date with Jessa, no threat surrounding them, their focus on each other, made his heart pound and his hands sweat.

  He cleared his throat. “What’s the movie?”

  “Outlander.” She beamed at him. “Vikings and aliens all mixed together in a big … Viking and alien stew!” She beamed. “There’s nothing not to love.”

  Broder was doubtful, but her enthusiasm was adorable.

  She pointed at him. “You just grinned again!”

  “I did?”

  “Yes.” She slid her hand into his. “This is the best night ever. Come on, let’s
get popcorn.”

  The movie they watched didn’t matter; just spending the evening with Jessa was enough. When the end credits ran, she drowsed with her head resting on his upper arm, tired out easily from her lingering injuries, the empty popcorn bucket at their feet.

  He turned off the projector and scooped her into his arms.

  “Hey,” she protested, winding her arms around his neck, “I can walk, you know.”