by PJ Friel
He laughed. “I so love you. I’m sorry for—”
“Shut up and kiss me.”
I hooked my hand behind his neck and drew him down to me. As soon as his lips met mine, everything righted itself inside me. Sipping at the salty tears on his lips, I felt safe for the first time that night.
“Brynja,” my mom’s voice pulled me from Trygg’s arms and onto shaky legs.
“Mom!” I hugged her and she gripped me with her shoulder and neck. “I’m so glad you’re alive. Daddy is—”
“I know, sweetheart. I know.” Her tears wet my face.
“I hate to break up a tearful reunion, but you owe me an explanation, Ms. Ullman,” Hinterland’s voice said from the doorway.
CHAPTER 54
TRYGG
I pulled Bryn away from her mother and tucked her behind me. When she rested her hand above the knife wound on my side, I clenched my fists. With the adrenaline starting to wear off, that wound and all the others throbbed, but at least it no longer bled. I squeezed my hand over Bryn’s.
“She doesn’t owe you anything, Mordechai.”
“You and your son owe me an explanation, though.” Grimm butted in, joining the party at the door. The berserker leader was covered in blood, and Harry, as usual, was right on his heels.
“And who might you be?” Hinterland asked, turning to him.
“You know damn well who I am.” Grimm pointed at the tattoo on his neck.
Hinterland’s gaze narrowed. “Odin’s lapdog.”
“More wolf than dog, so watch yourself,” Grimm bristled.
“Do not threaten me. You are outnumbered and your Allfather hasn’t shown his face in three hundred years. There’s only so much disrespect I’ll allow.”
“Tell that to the dead Svartalf assassins in the other room.”
“Could you guys tuck your penises back into your pants, please? Someone’s going to put an eye out,” Bryn said, stepping around me.
“Did she just say that Grimm was gonna skull fuck that guy?” Jace mocked.
“Bloody hell,” Harry muttered.
I slashed a hand through the air. “Enough! Mordechai, I don’t care what you do, but we’re leaving here and DG is coming with us for questioning…and whatever else I decide to do to him.”
“Why would I allow that, Trygg? You have no authority here and the last time I checked you work for me.”
“I got this.” Grimm waded in. “Because the Valkyries are aware of the situation and if I don’t call them in two hours and,” he checked his watch. “twenty-three minutes, exactly, then they’re going to come in here and level the place.”
Holy shit. I’d heard that Grimm had a personal beef with the Valkyries. If he’d called them in, then he really wasn’t fucking around.
Mordechai recoiled then turned to Bartholomew, the bodyguard assigned to him tonight. “Take the men and go back upstairs.”
“Sir…” Bart looked uneasily at the berserkers, then at me. His eyes held a look of betrayal.
“Guard my son and make sure he stays here until I get to the bottom of this.” Mordechai’s stare promised punishment if DG slipped through Bart’s grasp.
“Yes, sir.” Bart met my gaze and there was a promise of extreme violence in his eyes. “Anything happens to Mr. Hinterland, you won’t see another day, Mac.”
I nodded. “Fair enough.”
He stomped up the steps and Mordechai, Grimm, and Harry stepped inside. Tiny puffs of frost spilled from Hinterland’s lips, showing how close to violence the Jotun was. Grimm and Harry both sported claws and Harry in particular looked nearly feral. One wrong move from anyone and the tension crackling in the room would go nuclear.
“Would it be too much to ask for someone to release me from these ropes?” Eugenia’s droll tone broke the tension.
“Oh, god, Mom. I’m sorry. I should have untied you.”
“Dying can be a little distracting.” Eugenia’s voice softened for her daughter.
Jace huffed out a laugh. “I’ll get you set loose.”
“They’re spelled,” Mom tacked on helpfully.
“I know a thing or two about runes. I think we’ll be okay.” Jace winked.
“Here. Use this knife.” Bryn started to toss him one of the daggers strapped to her thighs.
Jace shook his head. “That won’t work on these ropes.”
She shrugged and tucked it back in the sheath.
I took her hand in mine and squeezed it. “You were armed. You should have used that knife when I—”
“Never,” Bryn said, cutting me off. She raised my knuckles to her lips and kissed them.
“Why would the Valkyries be interested in my son?” Hinterland’s question reminded me just how ugly this situation really was.
“That’s on a need-to-know basis and unless you’re in league with him, you don’t need to know.” Grimm dared him to object.
Mordechai’s hands fisted at his side. “I’m taking your word that the Norns’ enforcers are even aware you’re here. If you don’t give me some information, we can find out if you’re bluffing.”
Grimm’s hand tightened on his knife. “That would be a mistake.”
“DG has employed a Ljósalfar traitor,” Eugenia cut in, drawing his attention. “She shared with him a way to detect glamours.”
Bryn gasped. “That’s how they knew who—”
“Shut your mouth, child!” Grimm snapped.
Hinterland’s gaze locked onto Bryn, and Grimm took a step towards her, his face a mask of fury. I growled deep in my chest and felt my berserker muscle forward, ready to defend.
Harry gripped Grimm’s arm and a silent conversation took place between them. Grimm snarled then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he seemed much calmer, even gave Harry a wry smile.
“And you are?” Hinterland aimed a haughty look and tone at Eugenia.
“Bryn’s mother. I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but…”
Hinterland gave her a jerky nod. “Tell me what you mean by detect glamours?”
“She’s said enough already.” Grimm shook his head, eyeballing Eugenia until she lowered her gaze. “Your son is orchestrating a coup. That’s all you need to know.”
“No, it’s more than just a coup.” My assertion had all eyes turning to me. “He’s colluding with Svartalf to start a civil war with the humans.”
I locked gazes with Harry and projected my thoughts at him. He was going to trade Bryn for the Bani’s assistance.
Harry’s eyes widened, then he nodded. “It fits.”
“They thought you were behind it, Mordechai, but I defended you. Was I wrong?” I studied his face.
“Of course not.” Hinterland scoffed. “I’m no idiot. I was born on this world. It’s my home. I have no desire to see it ignite into a firestorm of hatred.”
“Even if there was a chance to turn it into Jotunheim 2.0?” Grimm pressed.
“No matter what your master may think, not all Jotun are monsters to be squashed under his boot.” Hinterland pinched the bridge of his nose, showing for the first time how overwhelmed by this whole situation he was. “I had nothing to do with whatever you think is happening here.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Bryn said.
“I concur.” Harry shrugged.
Grimm looked disappointed, but nodded.
I squeezed Bryn’s hand. “You understand why we need to take DG with us then, Mordechai?”
Hinterland straightened to his full height. “I do, yes, but it still can’t happen.”
“Why not?” Bryn bristled.
“Because he’s challenged my authority here.” Hinterland motioned to the table where DG had cooked up whatever it was he’d pumped into my veins. “He took control of you, didn’t he?”
A shudder raced up my spine and I bit back the bile at the memory of my hands around Bryn’s throat. The lashes and welts across my torso had already faded, but I’d remember that moment for the rest of my life. Hopefully,
Bryn would allow me to spend every moment of it making up for hurting her.
“For a little while, then I broke free.”
Hinterland glanced at Bryn. “Made you hurt her?”
I glared at him even as I pulled Bryn closer against me, felt her kiss my neck. If love could heal, my princess wouldn’t have a mark on her.
“I’m sorry.” True regret showed on his face, but it didn’t move me.
“For what he did or because you did the same thing?”
Hinterland flinched. “It’s for the greater good, whether you believe me or not.”
“Keep telling yourself that, but you’ve got one fewer slave, now. You try anything like that again on me, and I will kill you.”
My chest felt tight, saying the words, but I’d never put myself at his mercy again. Whatever relationship I’d carved out with Mordechai Hinterland was over.
“Fair enough.” Hinterland inclined his head. “And if my men found out about this, the response would be the same. What I do keeps the violence level down for our kind without resorting to drugs that shorten our lifespan.”
“And if people give up their free will, well...that’s just the cost of living, huh?” I snapped.
“The greater good.” Jace’s hand landed on my shoulder.
I knocked his hand away. “Seriously, Jace? You’re agreeing with this?”
“If you could feel the chaos swirling under the surface of those men, you’d agree, too,” Jace said, his voice gentle.
“Have you ever felt as if you were lacking free will, Trygg?” Mordechai challenged.
“If you were controlling me, how would I even tell the difference between my wishes and yours?”
Hinterland pointed at Bryn’s neck. “Have I ever made you do something like that?”
I looked away from him. “No.”
“And I never would. My control is more passive. What DG did...it’s not the same.”
“Whatever. So, DG gets off scot-free just so you can keep your rabid dogs in line?”
Hinterland sighed and rubbed a shaky hand over his face. “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“What exactly are you saying then?”
“I’m saying that you can’t take my son because if everything you’re telling me is true, then the fight is between my son and me. Justice is mine to deliver. I’ll end his life myself.”
CHAPTER 55
BRYN
From within the shadow plane, Trygg and I watched DG fidget under the slightly distant but watchful gazes of his father’s men. The cold X-ray world allowed us full view of him and his people while they remained oblivious to our presence. Trygg squeezed my hand tighter as one of the bouncers walked within inches of us. I grinned under the mask and squeezed back.
The love of my life had refused to let me go alone into the shadows to observe DG, and I’d refused to take him with me while he still had a hole in his side from the Bani’s blade. Jace solved the battle wound problem, so I was left with no other choice than to bring Trygg with me. Honestly, I was happy to have him by my side.
I frowned at the person sitting beside DG. Mist was looking awfully cozy with her boyfriend’s son. Their heads bent together, discussing something we couldn’t hear. No sound penetrated the shadow plane in which we stood. Lip reading would be a handy skill to have right now. I filed that away for future reference.
Whatever Mist said, DG didn’t like it. She patted his cheek and he recoiled. There was shock on his face, then he reached a trembling hand across the table and picked up his phone. His thumbs moved quickly, messaging someone.
I tried to read over his shoulder, but all I could see was the outline of his cell in his hands. I didn’t like his body language. He was spooked. It was possible that Mist had warned him that I had called his father and DG had put the pieces together, but being held in the VIP section by half a dozen of his father’s men should have been enough to tip him off. He was in deep crap.
I nudged Trygg and passed him the mask one-handed. He took several deep breaths and then returned it to me. I gripped his free hand as tightly as I could. Mom had warned us of the danger of shadow walking with non-Svartalf. If Trygg lost his grip on me, he could either pop unexpectedly out of shadow or get lost in it. No way was I taking a chance on losing him.
Trygg jerked his head towards the door. I glanced around the room and spotted Naoko in a corner with several Jotun, dressed in Prodigal Lair shirts, sitting around her. That was interesting. I nodded at Trygg.
Ready to go.
We had seen what we needed to see. Plus, Trygg wasn’t dressed to stay in the shadows any longer. His Jotun blood gave him some protection from the icy conditions, but he wasn’t wearing heavy leather and riding gloves like I was.
There were no Svartalf surprises awaiting us. The berserkers had cleaned house downstairs. Either all the Svartalf in service to DG had been taken out, or they no longer lurked in the area as far as I could see. The Bani’s body wasn’t lying around either—which was extra concerning—but I had enough to deal with currently. I tucked the mask behind my head and stepped out of shadow with Trygg. We joined the others at the top of the steps leading to DG’s dungeon, out of sight of the VIP section of the club.
“Several Jotun are still in the VIP section. All DG’s men. The shadow plane area of the VIP section was clear of Svartalf, but DG sent a message while we were watching, so he could be calling in reinforcements.”
Hinterland nodded at Trygg’s report and walked across the entryway and through the tunnel onto the dance floor. We all followed closely behind, stopping at the edge.
Beside me, Mom stiffened and edged away from me, slipping off towards a set of stairs that led to the far corner of the VIP section. I kept one eye on her and one on Mordechai as he continued into the middle of the dance floor to stand in a large circle of light in full view of the VIP section.
“Demarion,” Hinterland called out.
DG clenched his jaw and looked around the room. After touching on all four corners, his gaze finally settled on Mordechai.
“Father,” he said, his tone mocking. Apparently, he was done bowing and scraping to Hinterland, not that it would do him much good anyway. The jig was up.
“Why?” Hinterland asked.
The carefree playboy was replaced by feral Jotun in the blink of an eye. DG grabbed the edges of the table in front of him and flipped it over as he jumped to his feet. Drinks and candles crashed to the floor around him and Mist scooted back with a bark of laughter.
“Why? Why? My mother, damn you!” DG charged toward Mordechai, but Bart blocked his way. “Are you going to let your guard dog fight your battles for you, Father?” He sneered the word, pouring what must have been years of suppressed hatred into the word that should have been honorific.
“Let him pass, Bart,” Hinterland ordered coolly as he slid out of his suit jacket and cracked his knuckles.
The guard glared at DG, but stepped aside obediently.
DG stalked down the steps leading to the dance floor. “You never answer to anyone for the crimes you commit against our people.” DG removed his jacket and tossed it behind him. Cracked his neck and sneered at Mordechai. “Tonight, that changes.”
“What crimes, Demarion?” Mordechai spread his arms. “Peace? Prosperity? Family?”
“Family? You murdered my family, my mother! She confronted you and you slaughtered her, you lying piece of shit.” DG lunged at his father and shoved him hard, out of the ring of light.
Mordechai stoically took the abuse. “That’s not what happened.”
“Liar. She arranged to have documents sent to me on my eighteenth birthday, telling me what you’d done.”
“She didn’t die because of what she knew. This is why she’s dead.” He grabbed his son’s face and forced him to meet his gaze. “Look what she turned you into. Her own son. Vengeful. Violent. Out of control. This is what she wanted for our clan as well. Everything I wanted to prevent, Ava wanted to bring to fruition. All
of it, just to hurt me.”
“Oh, yes, Father. It’s always about you, isn’t it?” DG shoved away from Mordechai. “I won’t allow you to speak ill of her. Don’t you even say her name.”
“No, it’s time you knew. The time for holding back has passed. Finally, you’re going to hear the truth.”
“What truth? Your twisted version, you mean.” DG scoffed.
Mordechai latched onto his arms, held him still, and forced him to listen. “You were born because I wanted you. I demanded an heir. Ava was terrified of childbirth and had no desire to experience motherhood. She never told me this until after we were married. I was furious that she’d kept something so important from me. So, when she refused, I did the one thing I’m ashamed of. I forced her to submit to my will.”
DG sneered. “So you finally admit how you control our people.”
“One time. Only the one time, but I would do it again because it gave me you.” Mordechai’s voice was gentle with those words. “But your mother…she never wanted you.”
“No, my mother loved me! I know she did! You’re lying!” DG screamed, eyes maniacal, shoving Mordechai away. “She told me everything. She tried to protect me. You just want to continue controlling me.”
“Ava twisted the truth and turned you into a weapon. She never loved you. I’m sorry, but she didn’t.”
DG made a slashing motion with his hand as if he’d heard enough, but he didn’t retreat again.
Mordechai stood half in shadow now, so I couldn’t see his face, but I heard the pain in his voice. “She used you against me from the moment you were born and I allowed it until I saw what she was turning you into. Then I…stopped her.”
“You murdered her, is what you did,” DG bit out.
“To save you, yes,” Mordechai admitted. “Don’t let her win. Don’t let her destroy us from beyond the grave. Forget all this business.” Mordechai waved his hand to indicate the club. “I will protect you, Demarion.”
Mordechai reached a trembling hand out to his son. DG stared at it, unmoving. Tension blanketed the room. Not a sound, not even a breath. It was as if we’d all stepped into the shadow realm and had been frozen there.
