Arctic Dawn (The Norse Chronicles Book 2) (24 page)

I sat in the grass at the base of my tree and stared at the big silver moon filling the sky. So close and huge, it pressed against the roof of the world as if reaching down for my touch. A breeze ruffled my hair. I lifted my face toward it, inhaling the scent of apples. Some of the fruit had fallen and sat bruised on the ground around me, skins split and heading fast toward rot, and the air smelled of cider. Time, in that place, moved in funny ways.

“Mani, what did we get ourselves into?”

The moon did not respond.

“You suspected you were something more than a simple man, didn’t you? And you were always so much more than just a brother to me. I guess that’s the curse of twins. When you died, I should have suspected something was up. Losing you shouldn’t have hurt that badly. It wasn’t normal. Even Mom and Dad could move on. They made you, gave birth to you, and they could let you go. Why not me? Why couldn’t I let go, Mani?”

In the solitude of that place, the slightest rustle equaled the explosion of thunder. The tree leaves brushing together and the percussion of approaching footsteps created an orchestra of noise. I sucked in a breath and held it. Had the wolf found me, even in this place? But the intruder wasn’t Skoll or Helen or Grim.

It wasn’t Mani either.

“When it comes to letting go, you haven’t been given much choice, unfortunately.” Aleksander Thorin stepped out from the orchard’s shadows, and the moonlight crowned his pale hair and molded him in quicksilver. “It was you who decided to track down the truth of your brother’s murder, but even if you hadn’t, this ordeal would have been foisted on you eventually.

“Also, you have yet to show you are the sort to run away from a challenge. That is not fate’s fault so much as an admirable and yet equally annoying facet of your character.”

I snorted. “Maybe Skoll could have done me the favor of killing me in my blissful ignorance rather than letting me die well informed but in much greater pain.”

“Die? You’re giving up already?”

“And let you off the hook? No, I don’t think so.”

Thorin grinned. “That’s good to know, because I was wondering whether I should waste my time coming to rescue you or not.”

I grimaced, rolled to my feet, and stood. “Maybe if you had come with me in the first place, I wouldn’t need rescuing. What are you doing here? I thought this was some happy place I made up in my head, but if that were true, then there’s no way I would have dreamed about you.”

Thorin’s eyes sparkled, and his grin widened. “Your subconscious disagrees with your ego. I think you want me rather badly.”

“I want to not die rather badly. If you can help me with that, then yes, I could see how it would appear I might desire your company.”

Stepping closer, Thorin peered into my face. His expression revealed genuine concern. “How are you doing, Sunshine? No bravado. Be honest with me.”

I shrugged. “I think I should be doing a lot worse than I am, actually.”

Thorin’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that it was Grim’s intention to keep me on the edge of death. But this place and these apples…” I motioned to the mother tree overhead. “I think if I had enough time, they might bring my fire back. But then what?”

“Knowing Grim, I suspect you don’t have much time. He intends to see you dead, Sunshine.”

“I intend to see him fail. I’m just not sure how, yet.”

Thorin stepped closer and took my hand in his. He brushed his thumb over my knuckles before bringing my fingers to his lips. “You won’t have to fight him alone. I’m coming for you.”

“How will you find me?”

Thorin reached out and fingered the gold chain around my neck. “I told you I could track you.”

“Well, bring some warm clothes when you come. I think my toes are getting frostbite.”

Thorin’s grin fell away. He grimaced and asked, “Anything else I should bring?”

“Holy retribution for your brother. That should do it.”

“Happy to oblige.” Thorin dropped my hand. He turned and started toward the trees.

I called to him before he faded into the shadows. “Is any of this real? Or did I just make up this place in my imagination?”

“You don’t know?” Thorin, nothing more than a flickering shadow, looked back at me. Disbelief wrinkled his brow, and he quirked his lips into a peculiar smile. “How did you come to the house of Idun if you did not come on purpose?”

“Idun? What is that supposed to mean?” I yelled to his fading figure. I knew of Idun’s apples of immortality from my research, and I had seen an old and mature orchard in my visions. I was not in that place, though. “Where am I
really
?”

Before he disappeared, Thorin uttered a final word.

Maybe I didn’t believe him, but I was certain he said, “Asgard.”

Chapter Twenty-five

“S
unshine
, wake up
.” Hands gripped my shoulders and shook me until my teeth clacked. “Wake the hell up, Solina.
Please
.”

I peeled my eyelids apart, possibly ripping out a few eyelashes that had frozen together. Warm light from a lantern pushed back the darkness and revealed Thorin’s face hovering over mine. Gabriel, Raphael, Michael… none of the archangels surpassed his beauty at that moment. I tried to smile, but my chapped lips protested.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Thorin pressed his lips to my forehead. He had put nothing romantic into his greeting, just relief—not that I was in a state to appreciate his affections, anyway. “So glad you decided to join the land of the living.”

Thorin helped me slip into insulated pants and a long-sleeved fleece shirt. He bundled me into wool socks and snow boots and tugged me to my feet. He wrapped me in his own parka, which retained his body heat and smelled of rain and storms. I would have wept at the relief of it, the sublime pleasure, but I was too dried out.

For the first time, I got a good look at my prison. Blue-white walls, dim in the lantern light, stretched several feet over my head, curving into an arched ceiling. If I fully extended both arms, my middle fingers might have brushed the walls on either side of me, but the length of the cave extended into a long, dark throat the lantern light failed to reach. The cave groaned and popped, and ice flakes sparkled in the air, whispering threats of my doom. I shivered.

“Let’s get you out of here.” Thorin wrapped an arm around my shoulder, supporting me.

“What about Grim?”

“Let me worry about him, okay?”

“The sword?”

“Solina”—Thorin tightened his hold on me—“all you need to worry about is keeping yourself together and in the present until we get out of here.”

One more concern, and then I would let Thorin take over for me. “Helen?”

Thorin chuckled. “Frozen to death, and you’re still stubborn as hell. Grim didn’t set this up for Helen.”

“That’s right. I set it for
you
, dear brother.” Grim appeared in the gloom, illuminated by the flame of the sword held casually at his side.

I gasped and reached for my own fire—a measly supply but not completely bankrupt. I held the heat beneath my skin, not giving away my status to Grim, but prepared to defend myself if necessary.

“As if I would risk letting Helen and her filthy mutt get anywhere near the daughter of Sol.”

“Why?” I croaked, meaning,
Why this complicated kidnapping? Why Thorin? Why
not
Helen?

Grim understood my question. “Once I’m finished with you, who gives a damn about Helen’s plans? The only reason you’re still alive is because I needed you to wear that necklace.”

“He wants Mjölnir,” Thorin said.

“He knows?” I asked.

“I’m guessing it was the storm in the desert that gave it away.”

Grim nodded. “That storm lit up my senses. I hadn’t felt that energy in centuries, but there was no mistaking what caused it. You had to know I would sense it.”

“How did you know I had it?” I asked. The words stung my raw throat.

“I didn’t,” Grim said. “I intended to kill you, but I saw you had Mjölnir’s lanyard. It’s the thing that kept you alive. I would have finished you the night you came for the sword, otherwise.”

“You could have just killed me and taken it. Tracked the hammer yourself.”

“No,” Thorin said. “The moment he took possession of it, I would have known it was him who had it. I would never have come to him.”

“Blood calls to blood.” Grim’s rancor showed how much he loathed their familial ties. “It worked more in my favor if lover called to lover.”

“I’m here now,” Thorin said. “Mjölnir is with me. Leave Solina out of it.”

Grim’s eyebrows arched high. “And let Helen have her? Oh, no, nothing has changed. The girl still has to die. It’s the only way to ensure Helen fails.”

An explosion of sound burst through the cavern. Grim blipped out of sight and appeared a few feet away from Thorin and me, but his attention was not on us. He focused on Skyla, who stood beside us, legs braced wide, frame held rigid, gun poised to take another shot.

Oh, thank God! Should have known it would take more than a bump on the head to keep her down.

Grim laughed at her. “Faster than a speeding bullet. Superman got all of his tricks from me.”

“You sure do like the sound of your own voice.” Skyla pulled the trigger a second time.

Grim moved so fast I couldn’t keep up with him. He finally came to a halt, however, when he materialized with a massive hand gripping around his neck, a hand that belonged to Baldur.

“Allfather,” Grim gasped. “What are you—” His question ended in a wheeze.

“Baldur,” Thorin said. “Get Solina out of here. Grim is
my
problem.” Thorin’s black eyes sparked. “I promised to keep Solina from harm, and you’ve made me break that vow, brother.”

“It was nothing personal.” Grim tried to chuckle, but Baldur squeezed, and Grim choked on his laugh, literally.

“Baldur, take Solina away from here. Please.” Thorin’s voice sounded as if it had issued from a grizzly bear, and rage oozed from his pores until all humanity left him. “We both know it will take something as strong as Mjölnir to bring him down.”

Baldur met Thorin’s eyes, held his gaze for a moment, and nodded. He dropped Grim, flickered to Thorin’s side, and took hold of me. My ears popped, and blackness whirled before my eyes. We stopped outside the cavern. Low-hanging clouds and a stiff breeze stirred snow into icy whirlwinds.

“I’m going to get Skyla,” Baldur said. “Once she’s safely out, I’ll take you away from the mountain.”

“Mountain?”

“Mount Rainier. Grim has kept you in a glacial cave for almost two days. It’s a miracle you’ve survived.” Baldur popped out of sight. I counted several heartbeats, expecting his immediate return, but the minutes of his absence ticked by without his reappearance. My impatience urged me to do something, to take action… to fight. I needed Baldur. Thorin, too. Without the gods to help me off this mountain, I had nowhere to go. I stepped toward the cave but lost my balance when the ground shuddered. The ice shook and heaved as if the glacier meant to break apart.

Skyla’s voice rose above the din, panting and cursing like a sailor. “We’re on the same side, you crazy bitch!”

“It’s too late for that,” said Skyla’s opponent, Tori.

Where did
she
come from?

Tori heaved a breath and said, “Grim wants Solina dead.”

“You’re his slave? Can’t think for yourself?”

The two women tumbled out of the cavern into the open ice field a few yards away from me. Neither noticed my presence as they were too wrapped up in their fight.

“It’s for the greater good!” Tori screamed. Their feet scuffled over the ice, and they panted like dogs. They darted toward each other, pivoting in circles, occasionally falling to wrestle each other in the snow.

“Screw the greater good!” Skyla gasped for a breath. “The greater good never did me one single favor.”

“You… You want to throw it all away for
her
?” Condensation puffed from Tori’s mouth and nose like a steaming locomotive. “You risk the world for one woman?”

“For a brother and sister who were more family to me than my own blood.” Skyla backed away and huffed out her own steady stream of frozen breath. “Mani was ripped from me too soon. I’ll be damned if anyone takes his sister, too.”

The two fell against each other again. Skyla struck out with the heel of her hand, and Tori spouted a brutal shriek as something crunched—a joint or possibly a bone.

“The world will be destroyed.” Tori panted, obviously speaking through a great amount of pain. “You’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”

Baldur blipped to my side, clutching his ribs. Blood seeped between his fingers, and his breath came in rough spurts. “Tori’s appearance was unexpected. She got the jump on us.”

“What happened to you?”

“Tori had a blade, something infused with mistletoe is my guess.”

“Will you be okay?”

“I’ll manage.”

“What about Skyla’s gun?”

“Dropped in the tussle, I presume.” Baldur bent to scoop me up. He moved as if preparing to leave.

“No,” I said. “We can’t leave Skyla.”

Baldur frowned but turned us to face the fight.

“You could have helped us, Tori,” Skyla said in a raw and ragged voice.

Back on their feet again, the Valkyries were locked in a desperate embrace.

“You could have stopped Helen,” Skyla said. “You could have told me the truth about myself and let me help you lead the Valkyries on the path they were intended to take.”

“It’s no good. The Valkyries are lost. Forget them.”

“You’re a spineless bitch, Tori. The Valkyries are better off without you.”

Tori spat out a shriek that sheared through the crisp air and raised the hairs on the back of my neck. She pivoted, jerked Skyla off balance and jabbed a knee into her side. Skyla wheezed and fell to the ground as Tori turned and came for me.

My flames erupted in a cloak and cowl of blazing glory. Another set of clothing burned and gone, but Skyla was worth the risk of frostbite. I widened my stance and lowered my center of gravity. Tori could kick my butt in a fistfight, but let her see how she did against my fire.

“Solina,” Skyla called my name, warning me. She struggled to her feet.

Baldur moved, lightning fast, and knocked Tori aside. Before she regained her balance, I pounced.

Tori screamed. She shifted her weight, rolled, and threw me off. I scuttled back and regained my feet.

“Solina.” She breathed heavily, gritting her teeth. Her winter clothes had protected her, mostly, but a red welt rose on her cheek. Her gloves and winter coat hung in tatters. “It has to go this way. We can’t risk the wolf killing you.”

I bared my teeth at her and growled. “If you had my back, if you fought on my side, Skoll would never stand a chance. But instead, you chose to sacrifice me because why? Because it’s easier? Because Grim told you to?”

While I talked and held Tori’s attention, Baldur teleported himself behind her. Ice cracked under his feet, giving his position away. Tori spun, faced Baldur, and raised her knife, presumably the one laced with mistletoe. Baldur had already tasted that poison—no need for a second helping. I leapt forward, aiming to tackle Tori, but she danced aside, and I skidded on the ice, missing her by a breath. My flames sputtered. I had used most of the energy the apples had given me, and I had nearly reached the bottom of my fuel tank.

Skyla stumbled to her feet and clutched her side. She lunged, throwing a fist into Tori’s jaw. Tori wheeled back, and Skyla kicked her feet out from beneath her. Tori fell to her back and cried out. Skyla straddled Tori, sitting on her, and wrapped her hands around Tori’s neck.

“Solina,” Baldur said. “Kill your fire.”

“What? Why?”

“Just do it!” he ordered.

The command in his voice required compliance, and I couldn’t resist, especially in my weakened state. My flames guttered and died. Baldur threw his arms around me, and in the moment before he carried us away, someone screamed. The cry ended in a horrible gargle.

“No,” I said as my ears popped. “We can’t leave them.”

“My job is to protect you, Solina. I can’t take any more chances. We must go.”

Baldur dumped me in a room heated to sauna proportions and ordered me to sleep. I didn’t know where he had brought me, but I asked no questions and offered no protests. My mind sank into a white haze, and I embraced the reprieve it granted. The sandman carried me into unconsciousness, and all the gods together couldn’t have stopped him.

I woke later, shivers wracking my body with horrible spasms. My muscles cramped in such terrific pain I thought they might tear away from the bone. I might have screamed. Someone came and held me, feeding me warm medicinal drinks that burned my throat but eased the cramping. The trembling subsided, and I sank back into a blessed oblivion.