Chapter Sixty-Five
Rey
I wake up with Aric holding me in a cocoon of protectiveness that’s so fiercely tight, I can barely move.
When did we fall back asleep? What time is it?
Did we miss class? And then I remember today is Sunday.
My stomach dips as I realize that this little bubble of normalcy—classmates, parties, laughter—they’ll really all be done for me when Monday hits.
The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, one I want to wash away.
Aric stirs and pulls me back against him when I try to get up. Okay, I need water.
He’s so strong, I can’t break out of his hold, so I try to squirm away, and when he still doesn’t release me, I go for holding his nose and mouth closed. He jolts awake and falls back off the bed, taking me with him in a tangle of limbs and comforter.
“What the hell, Rey!” he yells through his laughter.
“I! Needed. Water!” I snort through the giggles.
“Then ask!”
We’re still cracking up when the door opens and Reeve waltzes in. He goes still as Aric and I both look up at him from the floor. Reeve stares us down, expression unreadable, though one thing’s for certain: he doesn’t look amused.
“Had a good night, did we? Do my eyes deceive me, or am I still drunk?”
“No!” Aric and I yell in unison.
I scramble off him and gesture at myself. “See? Fully clothed. Nothing happened.” I hold up my hands. “Can I get some water and a ride back to campus?”
Reeve winks. “Didn’t you already get a ri—”
I bare my teeth. “Finish that sentence. I dare you.”
He’s smiling his ever-present casual grin, but today it doesn’t reach his eyes. I follow his gaze. Aric’s putting his shirt back on. Reeve focuses on the four runes before snapping his attention back to me. “Water’s in the fridge downstairs. Help yourself.”
I frown. Normally, Reeve is shoving us in the opposite direction and trying to fuel hate between us. “Is everything okay? You just went really pale.”
“Yeah. Uh, yeah.” He grabs his phone from his pocket and holds it up. “Need to make a quick call. Be ready in ten.” He’s already walking away.
“I’ll grab two waters,” I tell Aric. “You finish getting ready.” But when I head out into the hallway, I see Reeve going into what looks like an office.
And before the door closes behind him, I catch a glimpse of Sigurd inside.
He’s impossible to miss—for one, he’s tall, even taller than Reeve.
And today, he’s not in his ever-present school spirit outfit but a full-on black suit that looks a hell of a lot like the armor CEOs and drug lords wear.
I tiptoe over and press my ear against the closed door in order to hear the muffled voices.
“Yes.” Reeve sounds different. Angry. “Yes, I’m sure. No, I don’t know exactly how it happened. Although I have suspicions. Either way, he needs to be careful—we all do.”
Sigurd curses. “We’ve been careful. And I trust your brother. He knows what he’s doing…this time.”
This time?
“Clearly not careful enough!” Reeve shouts, followed by the sound of something breaking. “You know what this means!”
“We can prevent it,” Sigurd says calmly. “We have so far. Everyone believes the lie, so let them continue to believe it while we keep the truth safe.”
“What if we can’t keep it safe anymore? What if we can’t keep him safe?” Reeve swears. “I knew this alliance was a bad idea.”
Alliance? Every cell in my body is vibrating. With fear? Anger?
“You’ve played your part,” Sigurd continues. “Now trust your brother—you’ll see, all will be well.”
“We need to tell—”
“Even if the truth was laid out for all to see, it wouldn’t matter, son. Too many moves have already been made.”
Footsteps sound, but not near the door. Someone’s pacing, or maybe they both are.
They stop talking, and I see the doorknob begin to turn.
I rush downstairs to the kitchen, heart pounding, and quickly pull a water from the fridge, gulping from the bottle in hungry pulls.
Reeve’s at my side in an instant. His hand snaps out to grip my wrist. He flips it over and runs his thumb down the veins in my arm.
I laugh. “You really are still drunk, aren’t you?”
But Reeve isn’t here to joke. He grips my wrist harder and presses his thumb against it, like he’s trying to count my heartbeat. I’ve been taught how to calm a racing heart. He’ll feel a completely normal pulse.
I shoot him a glare. “If you’re trying to feel me up, I don’t recommend it. Aric might rip your arm from your body in the process.”
“Stop.” His whisper is low. “Until now, I haven’t been worried. I’ve ignored signs because he ignored you.” He releases my hand and tilts my chin toward him. “Enemies on all sides, Rey. I hope you do remember that. We have nothing against a little bloodshed, and I’m convinced you don’t, either.”
“So.” I cross my arms. “Your happy-go-lucky attitude, is it all an act?”
“No.” His smile spreads wide. “I was born to be whatever I need to be to whoever needs it in the moment.” He snaps his fingers. “It makes people so much easier to manipulate. Something you know all about, right?”
“Is this the part where you want me to tell you what I know?” I ask.
He snorts out a laugh. “Even as a daughter of Odin, you still know nothing, believe me. If you did, you wouldn’t be sleeping so soundly at night next to Aric. Now, go find him. I’m sure he’s waiting. And watch yourself.”
A daughter of Odin. My pulse pounds in my ears. Reeve is awake—maybe more awake than Aric. Why didn’t Aric tell me?
“A threat?”
“A promise.”
“At least you’re honest.”
He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “If you so much as breathe evil intent toward my brother, I’ll snap your neck myself, and trust me when I say I’ll feel no remorse.”
I laugh, but it sounds hollow to my ears. “You think I’m that easy to kill?”
He lightly shoves me back. “Of course. How is the family, by the way? Laufey still have her garden?”
For the first time, I feel true fear around Reeve, hot and sharp in my chest. “Leave her out of this!” What the hell does he know?
He takes a step toward me just as Aric rounds the corner. He has Reeve in a chokehold before the guy can even attempt to defend himself.
Good. I hope he bleeds.
“You touch her and I break your fingers one by one.” Ice has full-on descended around the kitchen like a fog, Aric’s breath coming out in puffs. “Apologize.”
Reeve’s green eyes are wild as he chokes out, “You’ll have to let me go first, brother.”
Aric shoves him against the fridge, causing it to shudder. The sound of things falling on the inside is like a bomb going off in the kitchen.
Reeve cracks his neck. “You see her naked once and suddenly you’re—”
Aric lunges, and this time he slams his fist against Reeve’s nose so hard, I hear bones break.
I wince. Shit.
“Fuck!” Reeve rolls on the ground. “You know I don’t heal as fast, you piece of shit!” He groans and gets to his feet. “Heal me.”
I’m frozen in place.
“No.” Aric walks over to me, completely ignoring Reeve. “Are you okay?” Eyes full of concern, he starts checking my neck and arms.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Reeve’s just being his typical asshole self.” I reach for his hand and squeeze it. “Really, I’m fine. I can handle myself.”
Aric’s eyes soften slightly. But he’s still breathing hard. Jeez, the fourth rune is not messing around with his emotions.
“Okay?” I ask him.
His eyes are wild, like he still wants to pick a fight. At least Reeve hopefully learned his lesson—don’t piss off a Giant in love.
No.
Wait.
Not love.
I mean…
Did I really just think that?
Aric tilts his head. “You’re blushing again.”
“Am I?” I touch my cheeks with the backs of my hands. “Just kind of hot.”
He holds out his hand. I grab it immediately.
“It’s fine, I’m fine, not bleeding to death over here,” Reeve grumbles. “Shit, can nobody take a joke anymore?”
“No,” we say in unison.
I start tugging Aric toward the door. “Let’s head back.”
“Yeah.” Reeve lets out a rough exhale. “You guys go, just leave me here to fix my face. Shit, this is going to mess with my costume for the fun tonight.”
“Costume?” I ask. “Fun?”
“Yes, fun. The Wild Hunt,” Reeve clarifies. “Cosplay. Though now I’m thinking Aric should have gone as a boxer. Shit, that hurt.”
Aric ignores him and groans. “I forgot about the costumes.”
“Biggest event of the year,” Reeve continues. “How could you forget the costumes?” He turns back to me. “It’s a party and feast with rich alumni, parents, and lots of hidden alcohol. What’s not to love? Plus, you know how Sigurd looks forward to releasing the fucking ravens.”
My entire body goes numb. This is new information. “Sigurd releases ravens?”
The Release of the Ravens. If it’s anything like Odin’s Wild Hunt, that would be a total death wish. Odin releases the ravens. Odin started the Hunt, and now Sigurd is shitting all over it.
It all clicks. This is why Father gave me a week to find Mjolnir. The runes will be down—he’ll be able to walk right onto campus and claim the weapon in the most dramatic, devastating way possible, reclaiming the Wild Hunt—and the Nine Realms—as his own.
He’s been planning this since he learned where the Eriksons were keeping Mjolnir a year ago. And I’m just a pawn on his board.
“Ah, Rey.” Footsteps echo as the man in question makes his way into the kitchen. I feel Aric tense next to me. “Parents are, of course, always welcome at our Hunt. I do hope Odin stops by to say hello. It’s been what? Two years since the broken engagement?”
He does a double take at Reeve and then glares at Aric. “You boys get in a fight?”
“A fight means it’s evenly matched.” Aric rolls his eyes. “Weaker link over there can barely take a punch.”
Sigurd smirks. “Yes, well, he’s more of a talker than a fighter.”
Reeve’s eyes narrow.
I’m too focused on the Hunt to be amused.
In fact, I think I’m going to be sick.
“So.” He nods at me. “Your father?”
“He’s pretty busy these days.” The lie falls so flat, I want to disappear into the ground. “And yeah, about two years since you two connected.” My hands are in fists at my side.
“Yes.” Sigurd’s glare intensifies. “Water under the bridge and all that. Did you decide on your costume yet?”
“I didn’t really bring anything, so…”
“Nonsense, it’s tradition!” He claps Aric on the back. Aric doesn’t so much as flinch, even though it had to have hurt. “Be sure to let the staff know to grab an extra costume for Rey. I’m thinking…” He tilts his head. “Valkyrie. After all, weren’t they soldiers for Odin?”