Sun's Tear (The Valkyrie's Passion Book 2): A Valkyrie/Shifter Romance (9 page)

“Not Thomas,” he answered. “He's been dead for a few days. He tasted delicious.”

Thomas's hands shot out and seized Jim's throat. With an almost contemptuous twist, Thomas broke Jim's neck.

“No!” I threw myself at the thing pretending to be Thomas.

His body changed. He grew bigger, stouter. Ivory tusks grew from his teeth and his skin became gray and flabby. The Thief who killed Heimdall at the root of the Yggdrasil. I slammed into his blubbery body and bounced off his bulk.

“The Blood Eagles couldn't kill you,” the Thief grinned around his tusks. “I'll have to do it myself.”

Raven

Loki's smile grew. “Why am I here? What do you suppose, Raven?”

“I don't know,” I demanded, glaring at him. “Why did you have to go and kiss me?”

“Which question would you like me to answer first?” he asked. “And I would mind the noise. They do have ears.”

Loki peered down the hill where the three Blood Eagles bikers and the horrid Thief stood around the Sun's Tear. Loki shook his head as he studied the scene.

“Why are you here?” I settled on.

Loki crouched next to me. Why did his face, lit by the moonlight, have to be so handsome? The silvery light highlighted his strong, carved features and his green eyes dulled to a blue in the soft light. I wanted to stare into them.

Heat flushed my body.

Stop that, Raven. Magnus. Not Loki.

“I'm here to help you,” Loki answered, “since your Einherjer has proven himself fickle to his duty.”

“He's not fickle,” I defended. “He just...”

“Had something more important to deal with than helping the woman he claims to love.”

My heart stung. “He loves me. It's just...his club was attacked. He had to do something about it.”

“Like kill his enemies.” Loki shook his head. “What kind of man do you love, Raven? A butcher?”

“He's not a butcher,” I gasped. “He's a warrior.”

“Oh, so you've seen his police record? You've read his file at the Sheriff's department? Suspected in multiple assaults, vandalism, gun running, counterfeiting, and even a homicide last year.”

My stomach tightened. “He's not a butcher.”

Right?

“Suspected doesn't mean he's
did
it.”

Loki shook his head. “You've seen his patch. He's an outlaw biker.”

“A warrior,” I stubbornly repeated. “My warrior. He loves me. He's just...needs to get his priorities in line.”

“He shouldn't have to.” Loki looked over the ridge again. “The Thief of the Brisingamen is here. A terrible opponent to face alone. A Valkyrie relies on her Einherjer to watch her back. But he's off playing biker.”

Loki gave me a handsome smile. “But I'll play your Einherjer today.” His hand reached out and stroked my cheek. “I couldn't let you face this alone. You're too...good.”

His eyes softened. The pain he kept hidden beneath his cavalier attitude rose. Then it vanished in a flash, his smile growing. “Now, why do you think I kissed you?”

His sudden change of subject startled me. “Well...I...you like me.”

“You don't even see it,” Loki sighed. His finger stroked to my lips.

I needed to stop him. This wasn't good.

“Raven, you are special. You have such a loving heart. You see the good in your brutish biker.”

“And in you,” I answered. He had to stop touching me. His fingers tightened around my chin, turning my face. He leaned closer. He wanted to kiss me.

Part of me wanted to let him. Magnus wanted to be jealous and ignore what I told him. He wanted to be too stubborn to save his life. I needed him here, and he was off playing with his stupid club. I should kiss Loki and...

My stomach twisted. What kind of petty woman was I? I couldn't let Loki kiss me. I loved Magnus. Right? Then why did my heart beat so hard for Loki?

“There's very little good in me,” Loki whispered, his lips moving closer and closer.

Pull away. Stop him. Don't stare into those green eyes. Remember Magnus. His strong arms, his wild mane of hair, and his passion. Magnus loves you. He was the man you chose. Not Loki. Magnus.

She walks in beauty, like the night

of cloudless climes and starry skies;

The lines of the poem Magnus had quoted to me. I clung to them. So we had a stupid argument. Couples have them. It meant nothing. But this kiss. It would change everything. It would not be a stolen kiss like the first one.

I would be a willing participant. I would give myself to Loki if I crossed that line. I would surrender to my body's desires. Lust wasn't love. Just because I wanted to be taken by Loki meant nothing.

Just because I loved Magnus, wouldn't mean I would loose attraction for other guys. It just meant I wouldn't act on those attractions. If you loved someone, you couldn't betray their trust. If I loved Magnus, I wouldn't kiss Loki.

“Stop,” I gasped, my hands pushing on his shoulders, forcing back his lips. “No. I'm sorry. I love him.”

Loki sighed. “He doesn't appreciate what he has. He will only take you for granted. I would worship you. I would gift you the stars and the moon. You would be my queen.”

“I'd rather just watch the stars and the moon cuddled up to Magnus.” I scrunched away from him.

It was hard. He was sexy. Literally a god. It was so hard to reject him, but I had to. I would not betray my love.

A sardonic smile twisted Loki's lips. “Damn. And I'm still going to help you.” He let out a bitter laugh. “Never fall in love with a woman already besotted with another man. It's a long, twisted road to walk.”

“Sorry,” I repeated. What else could I say?

“It's fine.” Loki's smile grew less bitter. “It was nice pretending I could have you. And...thank you for believing in me.”

I reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. “We can still be friends.”

Loki laughed. “The great consolation prize. Friendship.”

“What's wrong with friendship? I am only friends with the very best. You should be honored I'm picking you.”

“So honored.” Loki gave me a mocking bow. Then he glanced down at the Sun's Tear. “You cannot face the Thief alone.”

“What is he?” I asked, studying the grayish bulk. He was so disgusting, with fat folds of skin and his walrus-like tusks.

“A giant,” Loki answered. “A very dangerous creature.”

“Gerdie is a giant,” I pointed out. My former boss at the Boar Coffee and Cafe and was a tall, beautiful woman in her middle-years. “She doesn't look like...that.”

“Not all giants are equals,” Loki answered. “Like people, some are good, and some are bad. And the Thief is rotten to the core. The Thief delights in slaughter and chaos. He loves to watch blood spilled on the battlefield. He prefers others to do his work for him.”

“Like when he sent Fenrir to kill Odin?” I should have let the wolf kill Odin.

Loki nodded. “I will lure the Thief off. Can you handle three bikers?”

My sword appeared in my hand and I stood up in my silver, if mud-stained, armor. Loki's smile grew. “Beautiful.”

I blushed. “Yes, I can handle the bikers.”

My stomach twisted. These were the men that performed the drive-by today, but they were still humans. It seemed so wrong to fight them. Kill them. I took a deep breath. It was their lives or Magnus's.

I was disturbed by how easy the choice was.

Maybe I wasn't all that different than Magnus. I was a Valkyrie. Death was my gift to Magnus. Love, Death, and Life were what I offered. Only Magnus would get Love and Life. Everyone else would have to settle for Death.

Why couldn't you be here, Magnus? I don't want to fight without you.

“Okay,” Loki said. “When I lead him off. Count to a hundred, and then charge down there.”

I nodded my head.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I made this for you.” He pulled out a bag made of white felt stitched with red runes.

“Thanks?” I asked in confusion as he handed it to me.

“You can put the Sun's Tear in it. It will hide its glow.” Loki let out a chuckle. “It's kind of...obvious. Plus, it burns hot. Even for you, the chosen one.”

“Yeah, okay.”

My armor clinked as a shiver ran through me. My blood chilled. My heart raced. The rush of an impending fight gripped me. Why was fighting so scary and exhilarating all at the same time?

Loki slipped away, walking along the ridge. He had no problem navigating the slope and wove between the pine trees with a graceful ease. Unlike me, he didn't slip and slide and get his clothes covered in mud. My poor, shiny armor had mud caked on my shin guards and more clung to the fine rings of the mail skirt that covered my upper thighs.

There were advantages to being a god.

I peered back down the ravine. The Sun's Tear shone brightly, warming my face. The radiance didn't seem as bright. Was its light fading or was I growing used to the heat? I drank it in. Fire burned inside of me.

The same fire that burned in the Sun's Tear. It called to me. It wanted me to pick it up. I was the only person that could touch it. I trembled, waiting for Loki to make his move. The time seemed to crawl.

How long would it take him to get in position?

I couldn't see Loki any longer. He had vanished into the dark trees. I peered around the edge of the clearing, wondering how he would make the Thief leave. The giant seemed to be waiting for something. His arms were folded, his eyes scanning the woods.

The bikers were bored. They stared at the Sun's Tear in fascination. The bald biker, called Griff, clenched and relaxed his hand. He wanted to seize the stone, but fear held him back.

I wished he would grab it. Then I wouldn't have to fight him and maybe kill him. He could do it himself.

“Well, this is a merry party,” Loki suddenly announced. He was on the opposite side of the clearing, leaning casually against a tree. “I'm hurt you didn't invite me, Thief.”

The Thief let out a growl, his tusks almost bristling as he turned. “Why are you here, trickster?”

“Oh, having fun,” Loki shrugged. “Playing tricks and a satiating an urge to save the world. I know, it's shocking. Why would Loki want to save this miserable place?”

“What do we do?” Griff asked, eyeing Loki.

“Keep a wary eye,” the Thief growled. “Loki loves his little games.”

“Oh, there is never anything little about my games. You should know that, Thief.” Loki stretched his back and then his sides, loosening himself like a runner preparing for a race. “I will have to relieve you of the burden of watching over the Sun's Tear. So just step aside so I might claim it. I think it would look smashing on my wall.”

The Thief lumbered forward. “I am sick of your meddling. I sensed your hand in Utgard. You let the Valkyrie and her little puppy know about Fenrir.”

“Did I foil one of your plans?” Loki shook his head. “I am deeply sorry. It seems that I just can't help butting in where I'm not wanted. And it was a real shame about Fenrir. Great dog. Sad to see my boy die, but...he was a handful. He never listened to his father.”

My eyes blinked. Loki was Fenrir's father?

“Fenrir was just like your son, Thief. Now, what happened to him.” Loki tapped his side. “Oh, yes, I tricked Thor into caving his head in with Mjolnir.”

The giant suddenly charged, his tusks lowered. He bellowed in rage. Loki winked at me from across the clearing. Then he turned and darted into the forest, mocking laughter trailing after him. The Thief crashed through a young pine tree. Wood splintered, and the tree crashed to the ground in the wake of the giant.

I began my slow count to one hundred.

“1...2...3...4...” I counted, my heart thudding beneath my breast plate. I watched the bikers. They milled around the Sun's Tear.

“How do you think the fight's goin'?” one asked Griff.

“The boys are skinning some wolves,” Griff laughed.

I squeezed my eyes closed as I kept counting. Magnus was powerful. He was an Einherjer and a werewolf. He could handle a bunch of bikers. I couldn't worry about him. I have to trust that he was fine.

It was hard. There was a yawning hole opening beneath me, threatening to swallow me whole. Fear. I couldn't afford to be afraid right now. Loki risked his life to give me the opportunity to recover the Tear.

And then I would have to make a decision. Believe Loki and kill Odin, or believe the One-Eyed God that killed Magnus so I could bring him back to life. The craggy, bearded face of Odin rose in my mind. He was grim, dangerous, cruel.

I put my faith in Loki.

“98...99...100.”

I pushed myself up and crossed over the ridge, racing down the slope. My armor clinked around me. My sword burned in my hand, lighting my path. The three bikers turned. A man, his arms covered in tattoos, pulled out a handgun and fired at me.

No fear. My armor would stop the bullets.

I flinched as a hissing bullet streaked past me. A nearby tree swayed, chunks of bark flying from a bullet strike. Griff folded his arms, watching my approach. I crashed down the slope heedless of their bullets. I was a Valkyrie.

My exultation burst out of my lips in a wordless battle cry, primal and powerful.

“Kill the bitch,” Griff snarled.

Tattoo dropped his gun and changed. The shock of crimson feathers sprouting across his body almost made me stumble to a halt. His tattooed arms became large wings. A cruel beak gleamed in the moonlight, the tip ending at a sharp gleam. The other biker transformed, too, and the pair threw themselves into the air at me.

I swallowed my shock; I had fought monsters before.