Epilogue
Rey
Two days later
The lake looks like glass. Silver frost stretches across its surface in a perfect sheet. I grin as the moonlight seems to scatter diamonds over the frozen water. Some girls get dinner and a movie. I get an ice-covered lake under the blanket of the stars.
We slip our way across, my boots skidding until Aric’s hand clamps down on my elbow. His laugh is low, rough from exhaustion, as he pulls me flush with his chest. “Keeping your enemies close?”
“Something like that.” My breath plumes white in the air. “Though if you wanted me dead, you’d have killed me last night after I snuck into your room again. Sorry not sorry.”
“I should watch my back,” he murmurs with a sexy grin. “I hear you’re a hair puller.” His grip tightens on my elbow as he leads me across the lake toward the dark shape of the tree line.
A cabin pokes out from the trees ahead. Old, weather-worn, and small, with antlers nailed above the door like some ancient ward. Once we get to the water’s icy edge, we take the trail up to the door. He pushes it open, and warmth greets me in a rush—firelight, cedar smoke, and…
My breath catches.
Flowers.
Everywhere.
The table, the floor, even the rough shelves are crowded with blooms—wildflowers in jars, roses clumsily jammed into mugs, daisies spilling from a chipped vase by the window. A hunter’s cabin turned into something soft, something beautiful. Something just for me.
I turn in the doorway, blinking hard against the tears burning in my eyes. “What is this?”
He shrugs, jaw flexing like he’s embarrassed. “Because every girl should be asked out on a date and given a flower. Even the blood of Odin.”
The words break something in me. He remembered. My eyes sting, and a tear slides free before I can stop it.
Aric catches it with one finger, lifts it to his lips, and blows. Frost sparks from his breath, the tear freezing midair into a tiny crystal that floats before us. He sighs. “Also, I was just trying to get laid.”
I choke out a laugh. It’s ridiculous and so perfect.
I launch myself at him. He catches me easily and spins me around. It’s freeing, being in my enemy’s arms.
We stop spinning, my body slowly sliding down his. My feet almost touch the ground before he lifts me back up and crushes his mouth against mine.
It’s different now, his kiss. Fiercer. Hungrier. His hands trace my back, and when my palms slide down the runes etched into his skin, they spark under my touch—tiny bolts of lightning dancing between us.
When we finally break apart, we’re both out of breath. I rest my forehead against his chest. “Any word from Sigurd?”
Aric exhales slowly, his eyes going from silver back to brown. “I did exactly as planned. Told him we control Mjolnir.”
My chest tightens. “We.”
“Yeah.” His thumb brushes my jaw. “We. And that it’s up to you to decide what to do with it.”
I swallow hard and tilt my head into his palm. “We open the Bifrost, and they get their power back. All of them, including the ones who’re already regaining their memories on campus. Each of them deserves it.”
“They do.” Aric’s sigh is heavier than the storm outside. “But that means Odin also gets his power back. And you know he’ll keep trying to use Laufey against you. Rowen, too.”
It’s a risk I’m going to have to take. One way or another, this war has to end.
I change the subject slightly. “I wonder if Odin has more allies or enemies waiting on the other side.”
Aric stares down at me, something dark and steady in his eyes. “Only one way to find out.”
“First things first.” I force a shrug. “We eliminate the threats here.”
“Tomorrow,” he says, a ghost of a smile pulling at his lips.
I tug at his shirt, grinning despite myself. “At least Reeve’s good for something.”
His face clouds. “Other than being annoying and manipulative? Yes.”
I laugh. “What? We wouldn’t have Mjolnir if he hadn’t helped me. Plus, he’s good at distracting and confusing Sigurd, though I still think Sigurd knew what was going on that night. He just banked on Reeve getting the ring.”
Aric nods reluctantly, mouth twisting. “Yeah, I don’t know. He won’t ever give us a straight answer. For now, let’s just focus on tonight. We deserve at least that.”
The fire pops, the frost crystal spins once before dissolving into the air, and for the first time all day, I let myself breathe, then finally rest in my Giant’s arms.
His visions have gotten more vivid now. Sometimes I see war in them; other times, I see the edges of Asgard shining out from the deep blue sea that surrounds it, like a castle among the stars.
Other days, it’s Jotunheim before it was destroyed.
It’s snowing. I blink and open my eyes. I’m in another one of his visions, but this one is beautiful. We’re standing out in a field, staring at the snow, a blank canvas.
For a moment, it feels hopeful. Peaceful.
The word echoes in my chest as Aric’s hand closes over mine, bringing me back to the present.
Ice sparks where our fingers meet. The lake groans outside, the storm simmers between us, and for one fleeting heartbeat, it feels like the world is holding its breath right alongside us. Allowing this moment.
But the silence won’t last.
It never does.