Authors: Ednah Walters
I bumped her with my shoulder. “This once. I want to see this Newsletter everyone is talking about and Phil never leaves his laptop behind.”
She groaned. “You owe me, woman.”
The guys scooted down the table to create room for us on the bench. Hayden might have thawed a little, but some habits were hard to break. She still intimidated people. Uneasy silence followed our arrivals
“Can I see the Guild Newsletter, Phil?” I asked.
He made a face. “I can’t get online. They changed the stupid password again and genius here is supposed to get me inside,” Phil glanced over at Ethan’s phone. “Dude, you’re still not in.”
“Nope. I tried all the combos, and I’ve used all the 3G my parents allow, so I need the Wi-Fi.”
They weren’t the only ones trying to get online. Students had their phones, tablets, and laptops on. I started on my tacos, resigned to waiting until after school to find out more about the newsletter.
“Give it to me,” Hayden snapped, extending her hand toward Phil, who shot her a confused look. She wiggled her fingers impatiently. “The laptop, Einstein.”
“What are you going to do?” he asked, sliding the laptop toward her.
“Get you access to the Wi-Fi.” She took a bite of her taco, wiped her hands on a paper napkin, and got busy. Her fingers flew over the keyboard and in seconds, she turned the computer around. “There you go.”
Phil gawked at her. “Dude, how did you do that?”
“She’s a hacker like me. Just hotter,” Ethan mumbled. Luci Sommerfield punched his arm, and his ears turned red. I always thought Luci was sweet on Ethan. From the way they were seated close to each other, things must have progressed between them while I was gone. Ethan shot Hayden a sheepish grin. “Sorry.”
Hayden ignored him and focused on her food.
“Seriously, how did you get in?” Phil asked, typing, but his eyes stayed on Hayden. She just shrugged.
“She’s a computer wiz,” I explained. I could tell the others wanted the passwords, but lacked the guts to ask her. I bumped her and indicated them with a slant of my head. She sighed and told them the new password.
Phil already logged into his e-mail and opened the newsletter. He turned his laptop around and nudged it closer to my tray. I started the newsletter and shook my head. Couldn’t they have come up with something better than a Witch on a broom flying across a full moon as a logo?
The newsletter had gone out last night. I scanned the subtitles. There was a drive to reach more Witches and stay connected, links to forums and a database, and of course, the latest news—me. She could have at least tried to keep my name out of the article. The editor hadn’t just written about my coma, she had called the doctor and discovered my previous “coma.” I pushed my tray aside and glanced at Phil.
“I don’t see a subscribe button.”
“Someone has to submit your name and vouch for you,” a familiar voice answered from behind me and warmth unfurled in my stomach.
Eirik.
I looked over my shoulder, and my breath stalled at the heat in his eyes. Blazing runes were visible through his black clothes and that cocky smile I loved curved his lips.
“Hey,” sounded lame when what I really wanted to do was pull him down and kiss him. “What are you doing here?”
“Bringing you one of Idun’s golden apples for lunch.” He straddled the bench, completely ignored everyone, and stroked my cheek. “I hope you don’t mind.”
Most men would bring a girl flowers, or chocolate, or their favorite drink. Eirik brought me an immortality apple of the gods. He didn’t give me a chance to thank him before cupping my face and giving me one of his mind-numbing kisses. When he lifted his head, I stared at him like an idiot.
“Is she trancing?” someone said.
“While sitting upright? Dude, no one does that.”
“Powerful Witches do.”
“I’m taking this back before she knocks it over.” Phil pulled his laptop away from me, but the conversation I just overheard made perfect sense when I noticed Eirik’s invisibility runes. No one could see him, except Hayden, who’d scooted to give him room. From his expression, he wasn’t planning to reveal his presence. He placed the apple in my hand, and it became visible the second he let it go.
“Eat it.”
“Uncloak.”
“No way. This is much more fun.” He smirked. “I can attend your classes and talk to you.”
“Distract me,” I corrected. The whole table was now staring at me while Hayden struggled to keep her expression blank. “Seriously, Eirik. Uncloak.”
“Are you worried people might think you’re talking to yourself?”
“While eating an apple that’s just appeared in my hand out of nowhere and saying your name?” I laughed, scoffing at the idea. “No. Not that I care what they think. I just don’t want you thinking it’s cool to stalk me while invisible.”
He glanced around the cafeteria. “You want to show me off, don’t you?”
“Of course. That’s the number one rule about a trophy boyfriend. You put him on display to show all the girls he’s taken. Then you make out with him in the hallway or disappear in the make out closet and fake embarrassment afterwards. It’s a tradition around here.”
Eirik laughed. “I don’t mind being your trophy boyfriend, but I don’t want to get you in trouble either. I didn’t stop by the office before coming in here.”
“You care about rules? Since when? You get me in trouble all the time, if you haven’t noticed. In fact, you are really, really bad for me.”
“Take that back.”
“Uncloak and make me.” I got up and reached for my tray, but he beat me to it and stood. The runes disappeared and gasps swept our table. I wasn’t sure whether his sudden appearance was the cause, or the fact that he was… Eirik.
“Stay put and finish the apple. Do you need anything else? Another cookie?” He was already eating mine. He dunked it in the yogurt. Eww. How could he eat that? “Maybe yogurt?”
“No, I’m good.” I bit the apple.
I couldn’t help grinning as I watched him walk away. He was going to dump my leftovers like a regular boyfriend. I was a senior, and I’d never had a guy do that for me. That it was Eirik, Mr. Popular, was an added bonus.
Silence spread across the cafeteria as people recognized him. Some pointed while the others just stared and whispered. He didn’t seem bothered. He smiled and nodded at students, stopped to charm the lunch ladies, who recognized him, going by the squeals and laughter.
All employees at my school, from the principal to the custodial workers, were Witches. Students got up and headed his way, drawn to him. Today he wore a duster I’d never seen before. It wasn’t the usual leather worn by Grimnirs. The material seemed to shimmer.
“She was totally making out with him the whole time,” Luci said.
“I know,” the girl seated on her other said and looked around as though searching for someone. Her eyes landed on Giselle. Like everyone in the cafeteria, Giselle had developed a tunnel vision and Eirik was the target. She turned her head and our eyes met. I wanted to feel bad for her, but I couldn’t. This was too sweet. She and her friends had made my life miserable in middle school.
“Psst,” Phil whispered to get my attention. “How does he do that appearing or vanishing-in-thin-air thing?”
“Yeah, he hasn’t explained that,” George Stuart, who had been quiet since we sat, said. “I was at a meeting when he gave a speech, did a short Q&A, then wished us goodbye and disappeared.”
Everyone at the table waited for my response.
“Sorry, guys. You’ll have to ask him.” Like I’d tell them the truth. Unlike Eirik who broke rules and got away with it, I always worried the Norns would come after me if I said anything about the gods, their abilities, or the other realms. In fact, I had been convinced Eirik was the only reason the Norns hadn’t come after me. Last Saturday changed me.
The poor guy was making a slow progress across the room because he was busy answering their questions. Students surrounded him and more drifted closer. I wondered how long I had to wait before going to rescue him.
“So you two are a couple?” Luci asked.
“I thought he was dating Giselle,” Ethan chimed in.
“Giselle? Seriously?” Hayden asked, glaring at poor Ethan. No one spoke after that. She grinned when our eyes met. She was mean, but I loved her.
Luci and her friend were still whispering and giving me furtive glances. Yes, I had the man. No need to brag or put down Giselle cause she’d lost. Our eyes met, his begging me to rescue him.
“I gotta go.” I went toward Eirik and his throng of admirers. He knew the moment I got closer and raised his hand to get everyone’s attention.
“Let her through,” he said. Eyes turned to find me, and the crowd parted. He pulled me to his side. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Then the gorgeous man cupped the back of my head and kissed me right in front of the students, in the middle of the damn cafeteria. My stomach dropped, and my heart picked up tempo.
“Now they know I’m yours,” he whispered and started forward, his arm firm around my shoulders. He said something to the students and laughter followed us, but I didn’t hear a thing because of the ringing in my ears.
When my mind cleared, we were halfway across the cafeteria. He slowed down, his eyes on the three familiar girls from the parking lot. I was still struggling to remember where I’d seen them.
“What’s wrong?”
“You don’t recognize those three?”
“No, but they look familiar. I saw them in the parking lot and in my math class, but I can’t remember where I’d seen them. They’re new.”
“You sketched them after the vision you had last week.”
Oh crap! The three Norns after Raine’s dagger. I stared at the girls, and they stared right back. “Are you worried?”
“No. Because of your vision, I’m prepared. However, hallway and make out closet will have to wait.”
I shook my head, confused by the change in subject. “What?”
“I plan on fulfilling all your fantasies, and some of mine.” He grinned, leading me out of the cafeteria. Students stepped out of our way. “But they’ll have to wait for now. Where’s your next class?”
“That way”—I pointed at the East Hallway—“but I need to get my books, so lockers first. So, does that mean I’m your first?”
“My first what?”
“Closet partner,” I said quickly as his grin broadened, a knowing gleam in his eyes. “You know, making out in a school closet.” Jeez, I was stammering. I bumped him with my shoulder. “You know what I mean.”
He lowered his head and whispered in a low, sexy voice, “Am I your first,
Stjärna mín
?”
Heat crawled under my skin. He was my first in everything. First kiss that counted. First love. First man I wanted to jump.
“Nope,” I shot back, lying through my teeth. “I’ve used these closets at least once a semester.”
He growled. “Who with? Wes? Some punk in this school?”
His possessiveness was ridiculous, and I was an idiot for teasing him. I wrapped my arms around his waist. Eyes and whispers followed us. Eirik knew his way around my school because he headed straight to my locker, blocked it, crossed his arms, and tried to intimidate me. It didn’t work.
“Who was it?” he asked.
Instead of answering, I kissed him until he relaxed. “No one, silly. You are my first.” He grinned, and I shook my head. “Move.”
“Not until you say it again.”
“I’m not repeating it. Besides, we have an audience.” The other students didn’t even bother to hide their interest.
“Then we are not moving.”
“You are a bully.”
“Repeat after me.” He leaned down and whispered, “I’m your first and your last, and you are crazy about me.”
I sighed, looked around, and glared at a group of girls to my right, but my reaction was wasted on them. Their focus was on him. Shameless. I gripped his coat and pulled him to me.
“I’m your first and your last and
you
are crazy about me.”
He laughed. I went back to finishing my apple.
EIRIK
Despite her deliberate attempt to throw my words back at me, I knew I would be her first, and last, and she was crazy about me. I’d noticed the way she’d glared at the girls staring at us. Her words soothed the beast in me and melted my jealousy away, but the anger stayed. The Norns were here.
I walked her to class, students getting out of our way or pressing against the walls to let us pass. Most watched us with curiosity and grinned. I ignored them. They’d get used to my presence around their school because I meant to keep Celestia safe. I took the apple core from her since she had no idea what to do with it and headed for the door.
The second I reached the hallway; I engaged invisibility runes and cloaked. Ranger and Daiku appeared beside me. I passed Ranger the apple core.
“Destroy it.”
“Idun’s?” he asked.
“Yes. The Norns are here.” The Grimnirs’ reactions were identical—they grimaced and looked around. They only interacted with the Norns when they reaped babies, and most Grimnirs hated that.
“Hel’s Mist!” Daiku muttered. “Are they after you?”
“Yes, but they might use Celestia to get to me.”
“Then we need to take her home where she’ll be safe,” Ranger said.
It was nice to see them protective of her, but this was my battle. “No. She’s not going to hide. She wants to finish high school like a normal student, and I’m going to make that happen. With your help, of course.”
They nodded, still looking around. They didn’t see through the disguise of the three girls who’d just entered the hallway. I saw past the flawless skin, glossy hair, and modern clothes to their true selves—gray hair, ancient eyes, and wrinkled skin. They even paused to talk to other students in the hallway.
They’d mastered the art of blending in anywhere. The one in the lead locked eyes with me, nodded, and opened a door. They disappeared inside. The students walking past didn’t even blink or slow down. How typical of Norns. They controlled who saw them and in what form.
“I’ll be back.”
“Should one of us stay with you?” Ranger asked.
“No, keeping Celestia safe is your first priority, so stay here. Besides, I already know what they want.” The hallway was nearly empty, except for the late students racing to their next classes.
I pushed open the door, expecting a broom closet with cleaning supplies. Instead, I entered a sunny courtyard in front of a castle surrounded by a gleaming white wall.
Damn. This was the home of the Norns? Why the heck did they walk around with long faces if they lived in such a beautiful castle? It looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Squirrels scurried up lush trees while colorful birds hopped from branch to branch or sang happily on top of the walls. On the ground, several peacocks grazed to my left while ducks and swans glided on a large pond to my right. Colorful flowerbeds dotted the green landscape, adding to the splash of colors.
The castle I’d only seen from afar from Helheim loomed directly ahead. Marble pillars manned the entrance, music and laughter floating from inside. The walls were white, but the roof appeared to be made of clear crystals.
The three Norns had shed their disguise. Damn, they were old, their faces wrinkled and hair gray. The skinny jeans and shirts were now white flowing gowns. When they moved closer, I took a step back, making sure the portal/closet door stayed intact. I didn’t want to be trapped in their world.
Except for the two, cloaked Grimnirs, the hallway was now deserted, the students back in their classes. Ranger spread his hands as though asking, “What is it?”
I shook my head and indicated they keep an eye on Celestia. Twice, I’d failed to protect her when she needed me the most. It wasn’t happening again.
“Come with us, Son of Baldur,” one of the Norns said. She sounded calm. “The Wise Ones need to talk to you.”
“The Wise Ones?”
“The spinners three, holders of the threads of destiny,” they said in unison.
“The Wise Ones cannot be kept waiting. They want to meet you, so you will come with us.” The first one who’d spoken said again. She appeared to be their spokesperson.
“Is that why you were stalking us on Saturday at the mall?”
“We don’t stalk.” She sounded amused. “But if some of our sisters choose to keep an eye on you, it is not our fault. You brought this on yourself by your actions. Witches do not need to know about us.”
Yet they hadn’t tried to erase the memories of the Witches. Interesting.
“No, I’m afraid the Wise Ones will have to wait, until the Norns responsible for causing my mother pain and my sister’s suffering come to Eljudnir and apologize.”
“Your sister?” the lead Norn asked.
“Also needs an apology,” I said, keeping my voice calm and nice too. No need to be rude. “You have no idea what her life was like. Always on the run and looking over her shoulder, moving from home to home. Even now, she’s so messed up I’m not sure she’ll ever recover. Your sisters who took her away from home owe her more than an apology. They stole seventeen years from her, years she would have been loved by my parents. All we ask is for an apology.”
“You are misguided, young man.”
“No, I’m not,” I snapped. Immediately, I regretted my outburst. “I apologize for raising my voice and snapping. I’ve already stated my conditions. Tell your Wise Ones
that all we need is an apology. You have until tomorrow to decide.”
Silence followed, the shock on their faces comical.
“You do not dictate to the Wise Ones, young man,” the lead Norn said, her voice still pleasant. “They are busy and don’t give an audience to just anyone, not even the gods. You should be honored they want to meet with you.”
“Believe me, I am…” Wait. The Norns Raine had dealt with were often pissed at her for refusing to tow the line, so they’d come across evil. These ones are polite, despite all I’d done to get their attention. Maybe I was dealing with a different tier of Norns. And their spokesperson had appeared surprised about my sister.
“I’m honored the Wise Ones want to meet me, but perhaps they don’t know about the Norns who took my sister from Jötunheim.”
There was silence, and they tilted their heads as though listening.
“Seventeen years ago, my grandmother kidnapped my sister from Eljudnir, hoping she had special abilities or dragon strain like me. When she realized Einmyria didn’t, she left her in Jötunheim. The Norns in charge of the orphan relocation found her, but instead of returning her to Eljudnir, they took her to earth and told my mother her baby was dead. Mother bought the whole story. Instead, Einmyria is part of the group of orphans being adopted and raised by Immortals here, most of whom were once orphans, too. In the meantime, other Immortals, non-orphan ones, have been hunting children like my sister all over this realm. So I found the evil Immortals responsible and stopped them with the help of the Witches. I found my grandmother with the help of the Grimnirs, and locked her up. And, I rescued the orphans and returned them to their parents.” I paused.
“Go on,” the lead Norn said.
“And I found my sister and took her home. As you can imagine, it wasn’t the happy reunion we’d hoped for. My request is pretty simple. Send the Norns behind this orphans relocation program to apologize to Mother and Einmyria. And please, don’t insult me by going after my girl or her friends to punish me.”
Silence followed. Their heads moved left to right and I knew they were communicating with each other. Then they stopped.
“Can you repeat your story to the Wise Ones when you meet?” the lead Norn said.
Okay. Now we’re talking.
“Word for word. And FYI, I have another story for you about the powerful Witch Raine Cooper and the way she’s been mistreated by the Norns assigned to her. I’d like to tell the Wise Ones about that, too.” I nodded. “I bet they’d love to hear just how bad more of your girls have been behind their backs. She might need an apology too.”
“We will be in touch,” the lead Norn said, and the portal disappeared.
Grinning, I closed the door. Now that was interesting. Didn’t see it coming, but I might just be onto something here. Could Raine have been dealing with renegade Norns all this time too?
I started toward Ranger and Daiku and realized they weren’t alone. A woman stood with her back to me, but I recognized the long, glossy, black hair and long skirt.
Svana Cooper, Raine’s mother. We’d spoken briefly yesterday when I went to Kayville while Celestia was asleep and the others watched movies. Her laugh reached me and childhood memories rushed back. Before my mother, Svana had loved me like I was her child, taken care of my wounds, and tears. I used to wish she were my real mother, yet now I couldn’t imagine trading anyone else as a mother. My mother was complex, rigid, funny, tough as nails in some ways and fragile in others. She might not be demonstrative or vocal about her love, but I knew she would scorch the nine realms for me, which made me worry about her relationship with Einmyria. At least Mother and Celestia were becoming closer.
As though Svana knew I was behind her, she turned and opened her arms. “There you are, my darling boy.” She enveloped me in a hug.
She was such a hugger. I’d gone through wanting her hugs, loving them, and getting embarrassed by them, before finally accepting that they were a part of who she was.
“What are you doing here, Aunt Svana?” I asked.
“Looking for you. You left so quickly yesterday we didn’t have time to finish our conversation.”
I had wanted to be at Celestia’s when the movie ended, just like I wanted to be here with her now. I glanced inside her class through the glass panel on the door. She was chewing on her lower lip. My chest grew warm. A guy seated to her right said something, and she glanced at him and grinned. A growl worked its way to my throat. I wanted to be the one to make her laugh. No, seated beside her, so we could share glances and smiles, maybe steal kisses behind the teacher. Her sweet scent reached me and I sighed.
“Who holds your interest in here?”
I’d forgotten about Svana. “A special girl.”
“You plan to reap her soul?”
The Grimnirs grinned at the thought. I ignored them. If it ever came to that, I’d be the one to take her home.
“No, she’s my future wife.” She chuckled.
“Really? Does she know?” She came to peer inside the classroom, but I put an arm around her shoulder and led her away from the door.
“You’ll meet her when she’s ready, Aunt Svana. What didn’t we cover during our talk?” I already knew Raine and Torin were getting married next Saturday, but it was being kept a secret. My contribution was to mobilize Witches to attend their wedding and camouflage the Valkyries’ presence in case the Norns came sniffing. The renegade Norns.
“There’s more. Now about this future wife of yours, what’s her name? How long have you known her? Is she Mortal?”
For now. I was going to keep feeding her the apples until she got her runic knives. She might not even need the runes. I hadn’t added healing runes in a while, yet I was fine. Our apple tree produced fruit year around, and Celestia loved apples.
“Is she?”
I stared at Svana and tried to remember what she’d asked. “Yes, she’s Mortal.”
“Will your mother approve?”
“Of course.” Her expression said she didn’t believe me.
“Come visit with me for a few minutes, sweetheart. I want to ask for a personal favor.” She waved to Daiku and Ranger. “Later, boys.”
The two Grimnirs grinned like besotted idiots. She had that effect on most men. Even when we were young, I’d see Mortal men behave like idiots around her whenever she’d take Raine and me anywhere.
“Hey.” I got their attention, pointed at my eyes then Celestia’s class. After my brief talk with the three Norns, I was starting to believe there was a rogue faction running operations on the sly. It happened in the best-run institutions. Rogue angels, cops, agents, nations… The list was endless.
Svana led the way through a portal and into her home, threw her bag on a table, and headed to the kitchen. The house was quiet, but then again, Tristan was dying and Raine was at school. Svana’s best friend, Femi, should be around somewhere.
“Did you get a chance to talk to your friends?” She opened the fridge and removed a pitcher of iced tea and two glasses.
“I had a long chat with Doctor B about your request. He said the local Guild could get about twenty Witches to attend. Siobhan in Ireland might get about the same. I haven’t heard from Norway, Kenya, or Rio. The wedding is still on Saturday?”
She poured the ice tea into the glasses and gave me one. “Actually, we’ve moved it forward to Wednesday and Torin can’t tell Raine. As you can imagine, he’s not too happy about it. He plans to propose to her today.”
“What time?”
“I don’t know, but we’re having a meeting tonight. Torin wants us to tell Raine the truth, but Goddess Freya will not change her mind. She insists Raine’s connection with the Norns is too strong and they might get the information from her without her knowledge. You can imagine how unhappy Torin is. He doesn’t like keeping her in the dark. He thinks it’s unfair that we don’t trust her to stand up to them.” She sighed. “The man doesn’t understand that sometimes you have to keep things from your mate to protect them.”