Not Broken: True Destiny, Book 5 (4 page)

“If you’ve got Jeff you’ve also got Fenris.” Magnus knew
he
wouldn’t let his mate out on a job without protection, namely himself. Fenris was twice as overprotective as Magnus, especially since the Old Man had tried to skin Jeff. If Jeff so much as set a toe outside his condo the wolf knew it.

Val scowled. “We haven’t heard anything from dear old Daddy since he got the snot beat out of him. Any idea what he’s up to? I’d hate to forget about him while focusing on Freddie.”

Freddie? Magnus snorted. “If she heard you call her that she’d rip your spleen out through your asshole.”

Val grinned viciously. “She could try.”

“You don’t need to concern yourself with Grimm.”

Magnus jumped. That voice came from everywhere and nowhere and was as familiar as his own. “Heimdall?”

A pair of icy, glowing eyes appeared, followed by the man himself. “Magni. I hear you’re looking for Grimm.”

“Among other things.” He shouldn’t be surprised that Heimdall had heard them. The Guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, Nik DeWitt, aka Heimdall, could see and hear anything he wished to simply by focusing on it. What did surprise him was the fact that Nik was
here
. “How did you get through Logan’s wards?”

Nik merely smiled. He should have known Nik wouldn’t answer. “I’m willing to help you, but I want something in return.”

Magnus and Morgan shared a look. Nik’s help could be invaluable in getting Sylvia and Sydney moved in, but the cost might be something they weren’t willing to pay. “What do you want?”

Nik’s smile sent shivers down his spine. “I want Toni moved in tomorrow.”

Magnus blinked. “That…might be harder than you think.” The cop had refused every offer to move in, even after Fenris had declared her family. She’d saved Jeff’s life, healing him when nothing else had worked. They’d been surprised to find she had Valkyrie blood in her, but Nik had probably known all along. Hell, he probably knew what color underwear Magnus was wearing.

Nik was one of the few gods, Aesir or Vanir, who scared the fuck out of Magnus.

“She’s in danger. Move her in, and I’ll help you. Refuse, and I won’t.” Nik leaned forward, and for a moment Magnus saw the dark-haired, crystal-eyed god rather than the suave lawyer Nik pretended to be. “Trust me. You want my help, Magni, son of Thor.”

Magnus gritted his teeth. By calling him that, Nik had made the request a formal one from one god to another. “I’ll do my best.”

His best might involve a felony, but he’d get Toni here before the end of the day.

Nik nodded and disappeared.

There was silence in Morgan’s condo as the Guardian’s disappearing act left Magnus reeling. “How did he do that?”

“I don’t know.” Travis frowned thoughtfully at the spot where Nik had been standing. “He’s always been a mystery, even to me.”

Since Travis, also known as the god Tyr, had once been the Lord of the Vanir, that was saying something. Tyr had lost the war Odin had started, handing over the Godspear as a war prize. Under the influence of Idunn’s apples and Grimm’s influence, he’d quietly become one of Grimm’s staunchest supporters, even sacrificing his own hand to imprison his foster son, Fenrisùlfr, son of Loki. Once out from under that influence, he’d married Jamie Grimm and become one of Kir’s fiercest protectors. He’d been the one to free Fenris and bring Jeff and Fenris together.

Fenris was finally forgiving him, and there was little Travis wouldn’t do for the werewolf.

“How do we get Toni here?” Morgan ran his hands through his bright red hair, so similar to his own that Magnus almost felt it. His twin looked exactly like him except for the easier smile around his eyes and a slightly clearer sapphire blue in his gaze. Magnus’s eyes had a slight hint of green in them that edged him toward turquoise.

“You two deal with that.” Val pointed toward Travis. “We’ll set up surveillance on Syd and Sylvia.”

“Thanks.” Magnus had the feeling they had the easier job. Getting the cop moved in was going to be a pain in the ass.

“I say we drug her.”

Magnus stared at his brother. He could not have heard that correctly.

“What? Can you think of a way to get her here without hurting her? Because I can’t.”

“Are you serious?” Magnus was going to smack his twin. “She’ll feed us our balls.”

Morgan looked smug. “Not if we lock her in her condo before she wakes up.”

Magnus tried to find the flaw in his twin’s plan. “That could work.”

Travis sighed. “I have a better idea than felony kidnapping. Why don’t you call her and ask her to come here to talk? Tell her about Slade, ask her to look at him and hear his story. Then tell her about Nik. Maybe if we tell her that her life might be in danger she’ll listen.”

Magnus wasn’t so sure. “Toni is pretty stubborn.”

Val piped up. “She’s a cop. If we tell her she’s there to protect Slade, she might do it.”

“She’ll lose her job. She’s a homicide detective, remember?” Travis rubbed his chin. “Let me pull some strings, see if I can get her here without having to fight her.” He grimaced. “All right, Plan B. You two take Fen, Jeff and the van and set up the surveillance. Val will get Logan to set up Toni’s condo while I work on getting Toni here.”

Val nodded and left, waving good-bye to Magnus and Morgan on his way out.

“Let’s go tell Slade and Skye we’re heading out.” Morgan clapped his hand on Magnus’s shoulder. “Your mate should be thrilled.”

Hell, Magnus was too. Watching Sylvia beat the hell out of trying to get a reluctant homicide cop to move in. “We’ll get Jeff to show Fenris how to set up the equipment.”

“Good idea.” Travis pulled out his cell phone, heading out of the condo with them. “It’s about time I put the furball on the payroll.”

“Logan might have something to say about that.” Magnus wasn’t certain Logan wouldn’t pitch a fit of epic proportions. When it came to his kids, the man was a lunatic.

Then again, Grimm had tortured them all and murdered one of them, so he had a reason to be.

Travis shrugged. “If we tell him it’s for Slade, he’ll be all right with it.”

Magnus doubted it, but Fenris was a grown man. If he accepted Travis’s offer, he could deal with Logan. There wasn’t much Logan wouldn’t do to make his children happy.

Magnus never thought he’d say this, but he was glad his half-sister, Jordan, had married the jotun. Logan and Kir were going to be stellar fathers to her twins.

Magnus waved good-bye to Travis as he opened the door to his condo. His eyes went wide as the familiar, gut-clenching sounds filled the air. Three heads, two blond and one curly red, were huddled together over a laptop, the intent expressions on their faces causing Magnus to groan.

“Oh, hell.” Morgan groaned. “Jeff’s introducing them to Vincente.”

“Mm, Vincente,” Jeff moaned.

Slade whimpered, his gaze glued to the screen. “Why did I not know of this man?”

Magnus scowled. Slade shouldn’t make those kinds of sounds over anyone but him and Sylvia.

Jeff turned and stared at Slade. “Living in a barn for centuries? Lousy cable service in Asgard? Or how about having a skeezeweasel for a master?”

Slade didn’t even turn as he shot Jeff the finger. Slade licked his lips, and Magnus was ready to send Jeff’s laptop out the window.

Skye looked over both their heads and mouthed at Morgan “
help me”.

Magnus walked over and plucked Slade off the sofa. “I think it’s time someone took a nap.”

Slade sighed dramatically as he cuddled into Magnus. “Damn. And Vincente was just about to take off his pants.”

Oh, that was it. Jeff’s computer was going to meet its tech god.

Slade petted Magnus’s chest. “How do you feel about gold lamé briefs?”

Chapter Four

Slade chuckled as Magnus growled at Jeff. The man looked ready to pounce on the poor, defenseless laptop and maul it to pieces. “Down boy.”

Those brilliant green eyes turned toward him and he shivered. The heat in his mate’s gaze was burning him up. “You shouldn’t want anyone but your mates, Sleipnir.”

Oh, someone was pissed. Magnus was the one who insisted on using mortal names. The use of Slade’s jotun name told him exactly how serious Magnus was. Slade lowered his gaze submissively, enjoying the way Magnus’s chest rumbled against him. “Yes, Magni.”

“We’ll be right back.” Magnus’s gaze darted toward the bedroom door, and Slade shivered.

Morgan must have known exactly what his twin had in mind, because he took hold of Skye and started walking toward the front door. “C’mon, Jeff. Let’s go talk to Fenris.”

Jeff picked up the laptop and followed. “Only if I can bring Vincente.”

Whatever Morgan said in reply went unheard. Slade had far more important things on his mind than Vincente.

Magnus kissed him, but instead of the sweet, gentle kisses they’d shared before, this one was hot, claiming, demanding that Slade submit to Magnus’s desires. Magnus had been so careful with him, so gentle while he healed, that Slade hadn’t realized he could even kiss like this.

Slade wanted more. This heat, this passion, the knowledge that Magnus was so fiercely possessive that he would almost forget that Slade was injured? It was far more drugging than anything Jeff could show him on his laptop.

Slade wrapped his arms around Magnus’s neck, thrilled when the big man began to move. Magnus carried him into the bedroom, not even acknowledging the fact that Morgan, Skye and Jeff had all left.

They banged into the wall next to the bedroom door, sending Slade into a fit of giggles.

Magnus lifted his mouth from Slade’s with a groan. “This works a whole lot better in the movies.”

Slade nodded, still laughing as Magnus lowered him to the huge California king bed. “I hate to tell you this, but Richard Gere you ain’t.” He settled down with a happy sigh. He’d never thought he’d get to live somewhere so
warm
.

Slade would have kept the man for this room alone. There was just one thing about it that bothered him.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” Magnus pulled off his shirt, showing off a lightly furred chest that made Slade want to purr and rub himself all over it. Slade hadn’t dared do more than touch Magnus’s bare chest, afraid he’d start something neither of them could finish.

“Mmm.” Slade stretched, loving the way Magnus’s eyes glazed over with lust. “Ceilings.”

Magnus blinked. “Ceilings.”

Slade nodded and tried not to laugh. Teasing Magnus was becoming one of his favorite pastimes. “I think yours should be beige.”

Magnus’s eyes narrowed.

“I think it would make the room more comf—” Slade suddenly found his lips occupied as Magnus pounced on him, kissing him again. Ceilings were forgotten as Magnus ravaged his mouth, reminding him that beds were for more than sleeping in.

Gods, it had been so long since Slade had done more than sleep in a bed. Hell, he hadn’t done much more than rub off against someone else, too terrified that Odin would figure out that he was more than just a dumb, defenseless animal, eager to do his bidding. He’d never had the opportunity to slide between crisp sheets and mess them up with a lover. Slade had never had someone make love to him before.

He planned on changing that before the night was over.

Magnus removed the rest of his clothes quickly, and then began carefully removing Slade’s shirt. He slid it over Slade’s skin in a slow, sensual glide, kissing each and every scrape and scar that Odin had left behind. The Old Man had worked him over, and Slade had the bruises to prove it. The soft feel of Magnus’s lips sliding over his skin distracted him from the mottled look of his flesh.

He would heal. He’d be scarred, but the bruises would fade. It was far more important to get the scent of Magnus on his skin, to taste and tease and prove that he was alive and free.

He lifted up and allowed Magnus to pull the shirt completely off, smiling slightly when it hit the floor. “What was that about ceilings?”

Slade chuckled. “Nothing, dear.” He’d revisit the idea later, when he didn’t have other things to occupy his mind and his hands.

Magnus, despite the hunger Slade could clearly see in his gaze, was still careful of Slade’s wounds. He watched Slade’s expression as he carefully removed Slade’s pants, searching for any signs of discomfort.

Slade was terrified that Magnus would stop if he so much as flinched. Years of hiding himself from everyone came to his rescue as he made sure Magnus didn’t suspect he was still in pain. Slade would rather experience the discomfort of his jeans brushing over the marks on his legs than have Magnus stop.

“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Magnus rubbed his hand over Slade’s calf. “We can wait if you’re not ready yet.”

“Do it and die.” Slade glared at Magnus. “I swear if I beat off one more time my hand will fall off.” Just smelling Magnus’s scent on the sheets was enough to make his dick hard. Having Magnus naked and at his mercy?

Slade was already close to coming, and he’d barely been touched.

Magnus studied him for a long moment, making Slade nervous as hell. “You’re right arm is a little bigger than your left, now that I think about it.”

“Magnus.”

Magnus took hold of his right hand and examined his fingers one by one, touching each of them. “And you do seem to have calluses on your hand.”

“I will seriously end you.” As much as Slade loved the playful side of Magnus, now was so not the time.

When Magnus poked Slade’s cock, Slade hoped they’d finally get this show on the road. “It does look a little red and angry there.”

“I swear, if you don’t suck, I’ll blow.”

Magnus’s eyes sparkled with laughter.

Slade glared back. “And not in the good way.”

Magnus grinned. “Any other demands while you’re at it?”

Slade tilted his head, thinking about it. “Yup.”

“What?” Magnus stroked Slade’s cock, and Slade’s eyes crossed.

“Could we do this before I die of old age?” Slade could barely speak, his voice cracking as Magnus ran his tongue over the head of his cock.

“You’re immortal, remember?”

“Exactly!”

Magnus leaned his head on Slade’s thigh and laughed.

Slade whimpered in frustration, his head banging against the pillows. “You’re killing me here.”

“Sorry.” Magnus more than made up for it when he finally, thank you gods, took Slade’s cock in his mouth. “Is that better?”

“It was.” Slade pointed toward his now wet dick. “Finish him!”

Magnus looked like he was having far too much fun for a man who was
not
sucking Slade’s cock. “You’ve been playing video games again.”

Like Slade had much more to do while he healed. “Magnus Tate, I swear to…oh…”

He never got to finish the threat. Magnus swallowed him down to the root, something no other lover had ever managed to do before. He had a brief second to be furiously jealous before Magnus began to suck him in earnest, bringing Slade quickly to the brink of explosion. “Please.” He began babbling, barely aware of what he was croaking out as his vision blurred and the pleasure overwhelmed his senses.

When Magnus’s finger breached him, Slade cracked, thrusting into Magnus’s mouth with a fierceness that startled them both. This was his mate whose mouth was on him, his mate who was giving him everything, and Slade took it, cupping the back of Magnus’s head with greedy fingers. He wanted it all, wanted the burn of being breached, the warm, wet heat that surrounded him. He wanted, needed, to feel his mate’s passion for him, to know that nothing could take Magnus from him.

He’d kill any who tried.

Slade screamed, the orgasm washing over him so strong he thought he might black out. He poured himself into Magnus’s mouth, the force of the ecstasy shuddering through him. When it finally ended, when he was spent and limp and panting for breath, Magnus was there, holding him close as he burst into surprised tears.

“Shh. It’s okay, Slade. I understand.”

He probably did. Magnus knew what it was like to go from unwanted burden to desired lover. “Thank you.” For so much more than the orgasm, but Slade didn’t say it. He didn’t have to. Magnus understood without the words.

He proved it by hugging Slade tightly. “You’re welcome.”

After a few moments Magnus rolled over and plucked a knife off the bedside table. “I want to bond with you.”

Slade blinked away more tears. “Are you sure?”

Magnus smiled sweetly and slashed his palm. “Blood to blood, you are mine.”

“Blood to blood.” Slade held up his shaking hand, barely feeling it when Magnus gave him a shallow cut. “Thank you.”

Magnus blew him a kiss and pressed their palms together. “Mine.”

Slade shuddered as the warmth of his lover seeped into him.

“Any luck?” Sylvia stretched, pulling the headphones from her ears. They’d set up to record anything that was heard, but Sylvia was afraid they’d miss something that was immediately dangerous to either themselves or Logan, so she’d chosen the boring task of listening to the goings-on in the Grimm mansion. So far, she’d heard nothing more than the everyday conversations she’d expect in any household, along with the deep affection Henry and Luther held for Frederica.

Hell. If the goddess would just give up her obsession with destroying Logan maybe she could live a happy life with her lovers. But Frederica had never been known as a woman who walked away from something she saw as a personal injury. She still, after so many years, believed Logan was bad for her son.

Talk about the mother-in-law from hell. Humans might complain about their MILs, but Frederica really would put a curse on Logan if she could. Sylvia spared a brief thought for the long-dead Nanna, Kir’s wife when he still lived his life as the god Baldur, who’d been forced to put up with the woman during her marriage to him.

“No, but I expected it to take some time.” Sydney’s tone was absent as she tapped away at her keyboard. “I’m working on hacking Logan’s computer first.”

“Why? I thought we’d do Frederica’s.” Sylvia didn’t always understand how Sydney’s mind worked, but the woman knew what she was doing when it came to computers.

“We’re capturing her incoming and outgoing traffic. I’m saving everything to go over later. That was the easy part, once I got to her computer. Nope. Breaking Logan’s security is the real challenge.”

Someone was having way too much fun. Sydney was practically cackling with glee as she typed. “Okay.” Sylvia stood, the Thai they’d had for dinner long since gone. “Want a snack?”

“Sure. Do we have any more of that Greek yogurt you got last Monday?”

“I think so.” It was Sydney’s favorite snack, so Sylvia made sure to keep it on hand. She carried back two yogurts and two glasses of water. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Sydney took both the drink and the snack. “I’m still not sure what Frederica hopes to find.”

“You think she planted something on Logan’s computer?”

“Pfft.” Sydney shook her head. “Please. I’m the best she’s got, and I know
I
didn’t break through Logan’s security to put something there. She doesn’t have anyone else with near the skill I’ve got.”

“She could have used her powers, cast a spell on something.” Sydney frowned thoughtfully. “Done right, all it would take is an email attachment.”

“Logan wouldn’t open anything from Frederica.”

“No, but would he open something from Nik or Kye, or even me?” Sydney shrugged. “All she’d need is the passwords for their email accounts.”

“I suppose.” Damn, it was possible Frederica had done just that. Nik DeWitt and Kye Vanderale, Heimdall and Njord respectively, had both been on the books at Grimm and Sons. Frederica would have access to those accounts now that she’d taken over the business. “But what could she put on there that would be bad enough to get Kir to leave Logan and go home to her?”

Sydney bit her lip. “Proof of infidelity.”

Sylvia let that idea roll around for a bit. What she remembered of Baldur was a sweet-natured man, easily laughing, but not one to be trifled with when his anger was roused. If he could be convinced that Logan had been unfaithful, that anger might be enough to push Logan out into the cold before reason reestablished itself. “What should we do? Should we tell them?”

Sydney shook her head. “Let me see if I can find anything first. I could be wrong, but it’s the only thing I can think of that could break them up.”

“Do you think your hacking could set off whatever it is she planted?” Sylvia had no idea if that was even possible, but she wouldn’t put anything past Frederica. The spell could be keyed to a hacking attempt, which would be why she’d set Sydney and Sylvia to finding it rather than waiting for Kir to find it.

“I…don’t know.” For the first time Sylvia looked alarmed. “I suppose that’s possible. Normally, if I was dealing with a human, I’d say no, but…” She shrugged. “She’s crafty enough to set it up that way.”

“I might be paranoid, but that’s what I would do. I mean, it’s obvious to anyone who sees them how deeply Logan loves Kir and Jordan. There’s no way he’d do anything to jeopardize his relationship with them.”

“We have to hope, then, that Kir would see a trap.”

“Not if she spelled it correctly.”

Sydney was beginning to frighten Sylvia. “Oh, shit.” If Frederica put the spell on the attachment in such a way that Kir would be under its influence rather than, say, Logan, it could mean disaster. Kir would react as if he believed the evidence, even if it was wildly implausible. “We definitely need to warn them, even if they don’t believe us.”

“What if we get to their place and there’s nothing on Logan’s computer? What then?” Sydney stood, throwing out her trash and picking up her purse. For all she was protesting, she obviously planned on going through with it.

“Then we tell them what Frederica is up to and have them help listen in on her.” Sydney grabbed her own purse, ready to head out.