Rapture (29 page)

“Well,
I think that he has his memory back and that he’s gone after Raine. You said
yourself that Ferox was the only one that could get in and out undetected.”

Draven’s
arm tightened around her, the warmth of his skin a smooth caress. “Yes, that’s
what he
said
. I didn’t say I
believed him.”

Ally
shifted in bed, putting their noses mere inches apart as she eyed him. “Just …
give it a few days, okay. Focus on something else if it helps, but let your
father do
whatever
it is you vampires have to do for your women.”

His
lips curved into a smile. “Whatever we vampires have to do for our women?” His
eyes glowed with humor and love as he smoothed his thumb over her cheek and
down to her bottom lip. It tickled, and she bit her lip in response. “You’re so
beautiful. I wonder every minute of every day how I came to be so lucky to have
you.”

She
sighed, letting his words smooth over her. “I wonder the same thing.”

Draven
barked a laugh, and she hastily scrambled up onto her hands and knees.

“Ah,
you know what I mean. I mean that I wonder how—”

“I
am so lucky end up with you?” he laughed.

“No!”
She grabbed a pillow and swung, catching him on the head and sending his hair
flying in all directions. “How I could be so lucky to end up with
you
!”

Draven,
now fully in the throes of laughter, picked her up and drove her down, ending
up on top of her and pinning her to the bed. He set to tickling her, first
under her arms and down her sides, and then everywhere in between. She squealed
and giggled, doing everything she could to retaliate. He was always stronger
than her, and many times he pinned her so she couldn’t tickle him back, but she
learned she could twist and turn until she could get her head against his
stomach. If she just turned her head back and forth while it was against his
stomach, Draven would give up the tickle fight instantly, scrambling away as he
laughed. She’d already done it twice so far. It was a proven method of defeat.

The
two of them laughed hysterically as she got him and he got her, though her own
laughter was more because of his intense, surprised reaction whenever she found
a particularly ticklish spot. He nearly levitated every time she found one.

When
they finally settled, the two of them were out of breath from laughter, gazing
at each other as they did each time they were together.

“I
can’t wait until we’re mated,” he breathed. “Then the whole world will know
that you’re mine.”

“Not
just the whole world. Every realm, both living and dead will know that I am
yours. And that I already am.”

Draven
kissed her, long and hard, before he pulled away. “When my parents make it
back, we should set a date for the ceremony.”

“Okay.”
She stroked a finger down his body until she reached the hardness between his
legs. Gripping him, she said, “It’s a deal.”

Chapter Twenty-One

The
dungeons in Odin’s Hall, Valhalla

Present
Day

“How
fare thee, Sister?”

Raine
stretched and sat up on the plat she’d slept on, peering up at Navvan as her
sister unlocked the cell door. She’d overheard yesterday that she would finally
be able to leave the dungeon for a bit of fresh air, and had been clinging to
the hope that it was true ever since. “I slept well, though I do not know why I
had to sleep in the dungeon if I am just watching the prisoners.”

Navvan’s
eyes flashed at that, and she returned a smile. “An oversight, I think. You
know how these old cell doors lock on their own.”

“Oh.”
Raine nodded and glanced at Caleen, Odette, and Raven. The three had been
begging her all night to remember Ferox, Draven, Ethan, and the Guardians, but
she refused to answer or respond in any way. She couldn’t risk anyone finding
out the truth of her knowledge. Playing into what they wanted seemed the best
plan to get herself out of the dungeon, and then to formulate a plan to get her
sisters out as well. If she could just get the four of them free of the
dungeon, she could lead them to the portal she’d used to escape with Ferox, and
they could make their way back to her mate.

She
was under no delusions to think that Ferox could find his way here, and quite
honestly, she didn’t want him to. She’d overheard talk these past few days.
Odin wanted Draven and Ethan, though she wasn’t sure what he’d planned to do
with them. She did know one thing though: her father couldn’t be trusted.

“Would
you like to take a walk with me?” Navvan asked. “You know how I do so love to
walk in the morning.”

She
did remember that, despite the fact that centuries had passed. Navvan liked
seeing the morning dew on the leaves and grasses, loved to feel the chill of it
on her skin. “Yes,” she responded. “Around the lake again?”

Navvan
smiled broadly and nodded before turning toward the door. “Don’t worry about
them,” she gestured to the others. “There are guards at the top of the stairs.”
Raine glanced at her sisters before following Navvan through the door and up
the stairs. “How were the prisoners last night?”

“They
were fine. I mostly ignored them.” She nodded at the two that had taken up post
at the top of the stairs, and fell into step beside her sister. There was an
overwhelming sense of Déjà vu, and she let it take her over. “I must speak with
Father today,” she said, playing the role she’d had so long ago. “I’m not sure
how much longer I can stand to watch the prisoners through the night.”

Navvan
pushed open the door and they stepped outside onto the pebbled pathway. “You
know the shift change happens in a few days. No one likes prisoner-duty.”

“True,
but I do feel that my time is better spent on weapons training.”

“Whose
isn’t?” she laughed.

They
continued to walk companionably, talking about this and that, and Raine found
that she could answer easily, recalling life here without any difficulty. She’d
seen a lot of Valkyries along the way, all of which nodded to her as though
she’d been here every day of the last six centuries, or twelve as far as they
were concerned. It wasn’t until the lake came into view that her heart began to
pound. Everywhere she looked was a memory of her and Ferox.

“I
packed a breakfast,” Navvan said. “I even packed some of your favorites.” She
walked to the edge of the clearing and grabbed a basket of fruit and breads,
tossing one to Raine.

They
set up their breakfast picnic, and Raine rested on her elbows, closing her eyes
as the sun warmed her. “It’s been too long.”

Navvan
laughed. “I know what you mean. I feel that way every time I’m stuck watching
prisoners.”

She
wondered briefly how often they could possibly have prisoners, but didn’t
question it, not wanting to throw up any flags in her sister’s mind. She sighed
instead and opened her eyes, remembering her times spent here with Ferox.

****

Valhalla

Over six centuries ago

Raine lay in her bed, tossing and turning under the thin sheet
that covered her. She couldn’t get her mind off her vampire, and the wanting
and needing of him seemed to increase with every passing minute. Could she
really never see him again? Of course, she’d feared that possibility even as
she’d stared into his eyes the night before the final round, but a part of her
had believed they could somehow make it work.

“You’re doing it again,” Bree said, irritated.

Raine lifted her head, glaring at her sister. “What. What am I
doing?”

“You’re sighing. Can you not just go to sleep?”

She sighed especially loud, and rolled over onto her side, peering
out the window. She stared out at the night sky for a while, not knowing or
caring how much time had passed. All she knew was that both her sisters had
fallen asleep, though how Navvan could sleep through Bree’s snoring was
anyone’s guess. It was usually a race to fall asleep before Bree so she could
be out like a light before the snoring began.

Movement caught her eye, and she bolted up out of bed, grabbing
her Hjörr before sneaking out through the window. She might have missed it, had
she not caught sight of a tusk. She rushed through the foliage, keeping a tight
hold on her sword lest the boar decide to attack. How it had gotten this far
into the village, she didn’t know, but she’d have a talk with the sentries as
soon as she disposed of the animal. She stopped, listening for any sounds of
movement. No doubt the creature could see better in the dark than she could,
and she had no intention of being
its
prey.

“Gods, Raine. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

She whirled around even as her heart threatened to leap from her
chest, and placed her sword to his neck. “Ferox,” she gasped. “What are you
doing here?” She dropped her sword and careened into him, sending them both to
the ground. She pressed her lips to his and then placed kisses all over his
cheeks and neck. “Oh, I missed you. I missed you.”

Ferox laughed, though he made no move to stop her. His arms were
around her, holding her to him in a tight embrace. When she’d finally felt that
she’d kissed him enough to last a few seconds, she rested her head against his.
He smelled divine.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I couldn’t give you up. You left so suddenly. You didn’t even
stay for the closing ceremony.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I was needed here.”

“Raine,” he said, meeting her eye-for-eye. “You don’t have to lie
to me. I saw that look in your father’s eyes. I think he would have struck me
down with lightning had I not been next to you.”

She sighed. “I know, and I am sorry I left so fast.” She ran her
fingers through his hair, not really sure what to explain. Her father had
forced her and her sisters to leave Brelaan as soon as she’d walked out of the
arena. “Ferox? Why are you here?”

He sat up so that she straddled his lap. And then his hands were
in her hair, twirling a lock around. Their eyes locked, and she saw the green
gleam in his. Not from the moonlight, but from the way he felt about her. She
could tell he’d been trying to think of what to say, but he finally sighed,
shaking his head. “I love you. I feel you deep down in my bones and in the beat
of my heart. I think about you every minute of every day, wondering what you’re
doing or thinking. Even when we were together I wanted nothing more than to be
closer, to be joined.”

She exhaled, releasing breath she hadn’t realized she’d been
holding.

“I can’t picture a life without you by my side. I don’t want a
life without you in it. Please tell me you want me, too.”

Her heart melted as they held each other in the dark, a smile
creasing her face. “Of course I want you,” she laughed as a tear fell down her
cheek. “I think of nothing else. Every day I pretend to be who I was before the
tournament, and every night I lie awake thinking how I wish I was in your
arms.”

He kissed her, holding her to him as one hand rested behind her
head while the other pressed on her back. Oh gods, how she’d missed him so. It
hadn’t yet been a week since the tournament had ended, and it had felt like an
eternity had passed without him. She gasped, pulling away from the kiss. “Your
arm. It’s healed?”

Ferox grinned. “It seems your blood has incredible healing
capabilities, too,” he teased. She’d said the very same thing to him the day
Lenora had been taken out of the tournament.

She looked past him into the forest that lay between them and the
huts where she lived, a cold chill rushing over her. “How did you get here?”

“A portal.”

Raine’s breath left her on a rush. “We have to get you out of
here. How did you get past my father?” She stood and pulled him to his feet.

“I didn’t get past him.”

“You had to, it’s the only way in or out of Valhalla. Where did
you come in?”

He looked around, peering up at the moon before pointing to the
right. “I came in near a lake just that way.”

She froze, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at him. “That’s not
possible. The only portal is in my father’s hall.”

Ferox shook his head, sticking his lips out in a way that would
have made her laugh if it hadn’t been for the severity of their situation. Odin
knew all that entered and left this realm, which meant that Ferox was in
danger. “Raine,” he said, his voice coming out as a sigh. “No one knows I’m
here. I came and left yesterday as well, and no one stopped me. Come, I’ll show
you.”

Raine exhaled and took his offered hand. Together, they walked
through the forest, stopping and hiding behind trees and bushes when one of her
sisters passed by on the pebbled path.