Witches (Runes series Book 6) (20 page)

Blaine grinned. “After last night? You don’t need to ask.” He engaged his runes and disappeared through an air portal. I only caught a glimpse of his destination before the portal closed. It looked like some biker bar.

“What happened last night?” Ingrid asked. “No one tells me anything. I’m part of this team until I leave for New York you know.”

She’d gotten a position with a fashion editor, but had to put it on hold while she learned more runes. “You were gone when we came back last night, but I’ll explain later this evening.”

A rebellious light flashed in her light blue eyes. Then she nodded and left for the portal. Torin lifted me off his lap and sat me on the counter. He planted his hands on either side of me and asked, “What do you want to know?”

“Everything. When did you find out about everything Andris said? And do you really think the
Draugar
were after me?”

“We don’t know that. As for the rest, we only found out last night from the Earl.”

That self-serving bastard. “Why would you believe him?” I asked.

“Because he was showing off when he said it. He wanted to prove he could be useful. It backfired. Bottom line is I cannot influence your decision in any way, or there will be consequences. Even telling you has consequences. Even though the Norns tried and failed, chances are they will try again. The gods also.”

“Could Onyx be spying for the goddess?” I whispered. I explained the tidbits the cat had shared with me. “She said she could find out what the goddesses wants, but I don’t know if she’s lying or not.”

“I don’t know. Time will tell. But she saved you last night when she took out the
Draugr
that was attacking you, and her presence stopped the others from coming near you.”

I shook my head. “Really? When?”

“Do you remember a large black cat jumping from the bushes and dragging a
Draugr
away?”

The animal that had saved me. The sneaky little cat. “That was Onyx?”

Torin grinned. “She’s a shape-shifter, just like her parents. That’s how they pull Goddess Freya’s carriage. Not as puny cats, but as large ones. She kept an eye on you throughout the battle.”

That lying, beautiful cat. What had she said? That she’d been cleaning herself while watching us fight. I was going to give her everything she wanted from now on. “What about humans? Is helping them being on the Norns’ side?”

“Nah, that’s sticking it to them.” He smirked, clearly loving the idea. It also explained why he hadn’t tried to stop me when I’d helped Beau. “You’re changing destinies they’ve already set. They won’t be happy, but there’s nothing they can do to you.”

“What if they come after you to punish me?”

Torin grinned.

“It’s not funny.” His grin broadened and I knew he was keeping something from me. “What is it?”

“I got a promotion. That’s why the Earl was here.”

“What promotion?”

“You know how I became an Immortal?”

I nodded, getting impatient. “Lavania found you half dead during the crusade and runed you.” He shot me an annoyed look and pushed away from the counter. “Is that not right?”

He turned and shot me a derisive smirk.

I hopped off the counter and approached him. “She watched you fight valiantly, and when you were fatally injured, she gave you the choice of death or Immortality.”

He smiled with approval.

“And because you,”—I pushed his chest with my finger—“in all your glorious arrogance, wanted to follow King Richard all the way to the Holy Land, to defeat Saladin, and go back to England a hero, you chose Immortality, which you’ve regretted since.”

“No, I regretted
until
I met you.” A cocky grin curled his sculptured lips. “You gave me a new purpose.”

I grinned. Loving me grounded him, he always said. Gave him a reason to live. The things he said could go to a girl’s head.

“Although at times you try my patience with the crazy things you do.”

He had just spoiled a perfect moment. I slapped his arm. “Just tell me about the promotion,” I said.

“Your impatience is another trait I’d like us to work on. Okay, okay,” he added, rising his hands in mock surrender. “Whenever those eyes change color, I know you’re about to zap me. I’m now an Idun-valkyrie.”

That was a new term. “What’s that?”

“It’s another name for Immortal Makers, chosen to pacify Goddess Idun.”

Never heard of her either. “Who’s she?”

“The Goddess of Spring.”

I shook my head. “I don’t see the connection. Why did they need to pacify her?”

“The gods made her angry. Do you know why Odin and the other gods and goddesses are old, yet they’re also immortal?”

“They’ve been around since the beginning of time?”

He chuckled and pinched my nose. “Yes and no. Odin has been around since the beginning of time, not the others. A long time ago, all the gods were young and strong because they eat the golden apples from Goddess Idun’s orchard. But one day, Loki helped the giants kidnap Idun and her apples left with her. The gods grew old and their powers weakened. But with their last strength, they forced Loki to bring her back. They went back to eating the apples and once again, stopped aging, but the process could not be reversed. Because of the incident, the gods decided not to share the apples with Mortals and Valkyries, angering Idun. Like Freya, she’s a big supporter of Mortals. So Odin came up with the right bind runes for immortality, and to appease Idun, named Immortal Makers after her. Idun-valkyries.”

Norse stories never failed to awe me, and from the grin on Torin’s face, he liked the idea of being an Idun-valkyrie. “Like Lavania?”

He nodded, his sapphire blues sparkling. “Yep, like her. I not only get to decide who becomes Immortal, but also which Immortals become a Valkyrie.”

It all made sense. “No wonder your Warlock father came back so fast.”

Torin scowled.

“The Warlock,” I corrected. “He’s hoping you’d choose him. Do you think he created the situation with the other souls just so he could prove he’s changed? Or is he working with Norns to lure me to their side?”

“Andris thinks he’s working with them. Personally, I think he hopes I can promote him to a Valkyrie. He knows I already have a candidate in mind.”

“Who?”

“Jace.”

My jaw dropped. I laughed. Now everything made sense. “No wonder you’ve been pals with him.”

“He’s a bit young, but he’s the perfect candidate. Despite being asthmatic, he’s an amazing athlete. I need to be there when the accident happens so I can reach him before he dies. That’s where you come in. You get the visions of when and how they’ll die, and I’ll make sure I’m there to offer them the choice of either immortality or a position at a table in Valhalla.”

A table in Valhalla. Ha! Nice way of saying death. No wonder he hadn’t minded my attempts to get a reading from Jace. What if I wanted to stop their deaths? We’d probably knock heads. “So we would work together.”

“We
are
working together. Aren’t you trying to figure out how and when Jace will be injured?”

And save the others. I nodded.

“Since my work will be here, I’ll spend even more time here and not in Asgard. Maybe I’ll get a place to train new Immortals. Andris will get a new partner.”

I chuckled. “Immortals are trying to go to Asgard while you’re thrilled to be here.”

“That’s because you are here.” He cupped my face, until I focused on him. “So you see, the Earl was wrong. You and I are going to be together for a very long time. Nothing can come between us. Not the Norns or the gods, and definitely not my self-serving father.” He pressed a kiss on my forehead. “Now, I have to go.”

“Don’t go after him. I think he’s hoping you will.”

“No one screws with you while I’m around, so yeah, he and I will have a talk. Just not tonight. He’s expecting us and will be prepared.”

“Us?” I asked.

“Yes, us. When I meet with him, I want you there. Not just because you can have Mother Earth immobilize him, but also because he’s afraid of you.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Love is a powerful force, and you have it in its pure, unadulterated form. When you do something, you do it from your heart and without an ulterior motive. You face your opponents with one truth, that what you’re doing is the right thing to do. Not for you, but for those you love. It makes you a formidable foe. The Earl cannot fight that. He’s an amazing strategist. He plans every move and calculates every outcome. He’s methodical and relentless. He’s fought in wars Mortals won’t admit were ever fought. Wars against monsters like
Draugar
and other forms of dark souls used to torment the living. Fighting him on his own terms is useless. We would have lost last week if it weren’t for you. Our united front, our love is the one thing he can’t defeat, and that’s why he came to see you today and tried to guilt you into letting me go. Thank you,” he said.

He had a way with words that was so humbling. I wish I could explain our love the way he did. It was almost like he saw me in ways I didn’t see myself.

I had to clear my throat before asking, “Why are you thanking me?”

“For believing in us.” He stroked my cheek. “Because things are going to get a bit bumpy before they get better.” He stepped back and stretched. The T-shirt hiked up and bared his ridged stomach. When I looked up, he was grinning. “Now I need to have a long chat with Andris. Are you coming to watch the boys practice?”

I shook my head. “Not today. I have a group lesson today. An hour and a half.”

He frowned. “I still need you to try and get a reading on what’s going to happen.”

“I know. I will. I’ll be there tomorrow. No, Friday.”

Torin didn’t look too happy, but he didn’t push for an explanation. I’d promised Beau I’d work with him the next two days. Maybe I could change the times. He had a game on Friday, so no lessons, and I’d told him I could squeeze him in on Sunday. No promises. Saturday was out because of the soccer game.

I knew why I hadn’t told Torin about Beau. It had nothing to do with Beau being the Kayville High bad boy. Torin knows I love only him and doesn’t need to worry about Beau. Helping Beau was a choice. My choice, not one I was forced to make by the Norns or the gods, or even my feelings for Torin.

Maybe it all boiled down to choosing a side. It bugged me that I had to do that and if I didn’t they—the Norns, gods, and whoever Hel’s people might send—would keep making my life a living hell. What if I didn’t want to live with the gods? What if I wanted to be on the side of humans and stay here? Torin was here. He might not want to influence me, but by being promoted to Idun-valkyrie and making earth his home, he just made it easy for me to choose earth. Or maybe their intention was to separate us.

As for the belief that Eirik had chosen his mother’s side, it was another load of crap. Eirik was not evil. Had it occurred to them that he might be with his mother now because he cares about her? I wish I knew where he was.

Cora and Ingrid were already waiting at the mansion when I arrived for lessons. They were seated on the floor by the low-lying tables. Each had a knife belt with all of their artavo neatly arranged. Some of the artavo were for etching runes on skin, others were for surfaces and air, and of course we each had a book for runic writings. Every rune we etched onto our skin also appeared in the book. It made it easy to keep tally of which runes we added and how often.

“You’re late,” Lavania said.

“Sorry. I’m tutoring a new student and had to make sure everyone understood they can’t use portals while he’s around. Won’t happen again.”

Actually, I’d been online researching Norse mythological creatures, monsters and insults, thanks to Onyx, and lost track of time. That shape-shifting ball of fur had called me everything from fat cow to a dung beetle.

“Why are you tutoring a student?” Lavania asked.

I hadn’t told her about Beau’s problem when we’d discussed my new ability to mimic. “He’s struggling in English lit and might be kicked off the team.”

Her expression said she didn’t understand. “Do you think using your place is a wise idea? We have plenty of rooms here or at Torin’s. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“Yeah, uh, I haven’t exactly told Torin about it yet. I meant to, but it slipped my mind.” My eyes connected with Cora’s. I could tell she was curious. Ingrid grinned. “What?”

“He’s not going to like it,” Cora murmured.

I knew that, but yeah, well, too bad.

“Okay, let’s get started,” Lavania said firmly.

We worked on creating air portals, and covered when and how often to add more runes onto our bodies. Lavania might be laidback in her flowy gowns, love herbal teas, and have weird habits like sitting on the floor while studying, but when it came to lessons, she was serious. I could easily see her as a teacher.

“Who is it?” Cora asked as soon as the lessons were over and Lavania had left.

“It’s definitely a jock,” Ingrid added.

I headed downstairs, but they fell in step right beside me. “I can’t tell you guys. I promised.”

Cora’s jaw dropped, and I knew what she was thinking. We didn’t keep secrets from each other. “When are the lessons?” she asked.

“I can’t tell you that either, and no stopping by to see who it is, nosey. He’s very sensitive about private tutoring. You know, he has an image to uphold and that includes acting like grades are not important.”

Cora harrumphed. “You started this. Don’t get mad when I keep secrets from you.”

“Seriously?”

She nodded. “Uh-huh. Just because you’re a Seeress doesn’t mean you can see everything. Remember, no reading my future,” she reminded me and exchanged a knowing look with Ingrid, who watched us from the doorway as we left the mansion.

Cora kept bitching about it all the way to her car. I wondered if she’d understand if I explained. Helping Beau made me stay in touch with my humanity, the positive side. The inner drive or ambition that made a Mortal want something and go after it, instead of relying on a path someone had mapped out for him. Just like watching Dad battle cancer, in a way, affirmed his mortality.

As soon as Cora drove out of the compound, I went back inside the mansion. Ingrid was waiting. “Don’t start on me too,” I warned.

“If you want to have a fling behind Torin’s back, who am I to tell you no?”

My cheeks warmed. “There’s no fling.”

“A boy around your age. Mortal. Needs your help. Bet he’s gorgeous too.”

Beau was, but he had nothing on Torin. “Torin needs me too.”

“Oh, sweetie. He’s invincible. But as his woman, I’m sure he does.” She gave a look that implied all sorts of intimate things. My face flamed. “But that blush says this boy you’re tutoring means something to you.”

Beau did, but I had no intention of explaining anything to her. Time to change the subject. “Found any wrinkles lately?” I shot back.

She blinked and for a few seconds, I thought she was insulted. She and I were barely getting to know each other. A grin curled her lips. She pointed to the corner of her eye. “One, but I’m working on it.”

“You know there’s nothing there, right?”

“I know, but this way, I won’t be too devastated when I finally get them. Tell me about last night. What happened?”

“
Draugar
happened. Ever met one?”

“Oh yes, but Andris, Torin, and Maliina took care of them.”

I heard the annoyance in her voice. “Would you have liked to hunt with them?”

“Yes.” She shuddered. “No. I’m much better with people than monsters. It happened in a village not far from my hometown and I kept the people calm. I just wish people wouldn’t assume things about me.”

“Maybe they will stop if you stopped looking like a model.”

She laughed, then sobered up. “You think I look like a model?”

I grabbed her arm and pulled her in front of the hallway mirror. Her pageboy hair cut suited her delicate face, the combination of pale blonde hair and light blue eyes striking. “What do you see when you look in the mirror? A troll?”

She shuddered again. “Don’t joke about trolls.”

“Have you met any?”

“Oh yes,” she said. “They’re fast and mean.”

“Okay, it’s official. Next time we’re going to face
Draugar
or some monster, you’re coming with us.”

She grimaced then shook her head, her pale blonde hair brushing her cheeks. “No.”

“Yes.” I engaged my runes and the ones on the mirror frame responded. “I was scared but I made it. We can keep each other company. Besides, it’s nice to watch the guys kick ass.”

She laughed. Then her expression grew serious. “Andris has been acting weird.”

I had a theory about that and it might be the perfect topic to cement our newfound camaraderie. “That’s because of Torin. Have you heard his latest news?”

Ingrid shook her head. “No.”

“Do you want to hang out at my place for a few minutes? We could brainstorm about ways to help them. Unless you have a date.”

“With who? Guys around here are so young and boring. I need someone my age. Just a minute while I tell Lavania where I’m going.” She engaged her runes and took off upstairs.

My eyes swept the foyer while I waited for her to return. Despite having fought Maliina and Grimnirs twice in this room, the foyer remained my favorite place in the mansion. The marble floor, the winding iron and wood staircase with a dark carpet runner, the soaring two-story ceiling, and the enormous crystal chandelier. Looking at the walls, you couldn’t tell they’d come tumbling down. Not even a ding was visible now. Mrs. Willow, the housekeeper Torin had hired, did an amazing job of keeping the place clean though. The floor was spotless, every surface polished.

I opened a portal and could see inside my room. When Ingrid returned, I led the way. Onyx was still sleeping when I entered my room, but as soon as Ingrid appeared, she opened her eyes and watched her, then got up and stretched.

“Ooh, what a beautiful cat,” Ingrid said, walking to the window. She stroked her fur. “What’s her name?”

“Onyx.”

Stupid name,
Onyx said.

“But she thinks it’s stupid. Can I get you a drink? Something to eat?”

“Oh, I’ll come downstairs with you. I want to say hi to Femi.” Then she picked up Onyx and lifted her until they were face to face. “I’ve heard about you, but no one told me what gorgeous eyes you have. I would have named you Emerald because of your eyes.”

I like Emerald,
Onyx said.

I suggested it and you hated it.

No, you didn’t.

Yes, I did, but you were being a real PITA at the time.

“Raine?”

I glanced at Ingrid. “What?”

“I said I think Onyx is actually perfect for her. I bet she looks amazing with glowing runes, like a real black onyx.”

I like her and she’s gorgeous.

The green monster reared its ugly head. Onyx and I had started off on the wrong foot. Literally. I’d Googled all the insults she kept hurling at me and most had something to do with a foot. Clumsy foot. Cow foot. A few bugs and rodents, things she could squash. I couldn’t help but feel jealous. It was petty and childish, but damn it, she was
my
familiar. We were supposed to be pals, not knocking heads at every turn. I had yet to thank her for saving me from that overzealous
Draugr
. Maybe that would change things between us.

“Yeah, she’s amazing,” I said, then led the way downstairs. Femi had already started dinner. Sometimes I wondered how long she planned to stay with us. Until Dad died? Even though she lived with us and helped take care of him, I doubted she got paid for it. Like Hawk, she was probably loaded and this was just a dot in her vast experience.

“How come you didn’t tell me about battling mummies?” Femi asked.

I grinned. I guess it didn’t matter what culture the Immortals were from, they’d all met the same monster and given it a name. Femi and Ingrid had more stories to add when I finished telling them what had happened.

“I was teaching her how to get visions, and now she’s using her elemental magic to destroy monsters. How fast she’s grown.”

“Better watch it,” Ingrid warned. “She hates being treated like a child.”

“Or being discussed like she’s not here,” I added.

“But you are a child, doll,” Femi said. “In Immortal years. I will remind you of this conversation five hundred years from now. When you’ve saved the world a few times and had torrid affairs with some infamous men and… Oh, never mind. You’re taken. But you’ll know what I mean some day. I remember meeting this young Romani when I was working as a…”

Femi and Ingrid traded stories about their past jobs. With her pale blue eyes and blonde hair, Ingrid could easily be a model, yet she’d been everything but. Most of her jobs centered around people—a teacher, nurse, social worker, marketing, lawyer, and a therapist. Femi was also great with people, but she hated institutions, which explained why she was taking care of Dad instead of working at a hospital. She had an unusual beauty that most men found intriguing: blue eyes, golden-brown complexion, black pixie hair, and a petite figure with a larger than life personality. I could see her wrapping some poor guy around her fingers.

“Every fifty years or so, I open a shop and sell magical trinkets,” Femi said. “It doesn’t matter where I live. And I’ve also worked with entertainers who need spiritual guidance before and after performing. Married a few too.”

Finally, we left Onyx downstairs with Femi and disappeared upstairs. Ingrid pushed her fur-covered blanket aside and took the window seat while I plopped on the chair. Beau wouldn’t be stopping by until seven.

“You’ve led a colorful life,” I said.

She smiled. “So will you. You’re just starting out.” She waited patiently for me to begin talking. That was something I liked about her. She wasn’t pushy. As I talked about Torin’s new assignment, she went pale. When I finished, she was pacing.

“This explains Andris’ weird mood since we came back from Florida. I thought it was because…”

“What?”

“I met this nice guy in Florida, but Andris thought he was a creep and made a big scene.” She shook her head, her bob cut brushing her cheeks. “He’s so overprotective it drives me crazy.”

“Do you think anything could ever happen between the two of you?”

She chuckled. “You’ve asked me that question before.”

“Maybe. I guess I’m hoping you two would one day wake up and realize you are meant for each other.”

“I don’t think so. Once, a long time ago, maybe, but I stopped hoping when I realized he’d never settle down. That’s why I wanted to go to New York.” She went back to the window, stared at Torin’s place, which was still in darkness, then turned and faced me. “Can you find out if Torin plans to get Andris another partner?”

“He mentioned it. Do you have someone in mind?” She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. “Like you. I mean, have you ever thought of being a Valkyrie?”

She made a face. “Not really. I don’t like souls. But I wouldn’t mind helping Torin train new Immortals. I like to teach.”

And that could keep her in Andris’ circle. I didn’t care what she said about Andris. She liked him. He was the one hopping from woman to man to woman.

By the time Ingrid left, I was sure of one thing—our little group was slowly disintegrating. I finished my homework then went downstairs for dinner. Onyx sat on the counter and watched us. I fed her a few pieces of my steak.

Mom arrived while we were eating.

“Get off the counter, Onyx,” she said and shooed the cat down. Onyx wasn’t too happy. She disappeared upstairs. Mom went to eat with Dad, but left the den when I was taking care of the dishes. It was ten to seven.

“So who is this boy you’re tutoring?”

“A Mortal that needs help.” I was aware of Femi seated a few feet away.