Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
"The vargúlfr can't fight them off alone," Dax says.
"Nei, they cannot," Damrion says. "As soon as we get back, I'll call the warriors together. We'll have hunting parties set out as soon as possible. We need to find every pack in Asgard, too. If they're turning them here, I imagine they're doing the same on the other side of the Bifröst."
It's a grim thought. War is coming from both sides…and we're sandwiched between with no way out. Until the Valkyrie figure out how to work the Bifröst to move between realms, it leads to exactly one place. Asgard.
And that's the last place we need to be with packs of infected vargúlfr running loose.
The Forsaken don't need their portals to open into Valhalla to destroy us. We're rats in a cage regardless, completely cut off from everything.
"Gods, help the Valkyrie figure out the Bifröst. Help us save their lives," I plead quietly, the first prayer I've sent up in a long time. And, perhaps, the most desperate I've ever voiced.
Chapter Eight
Kara
"Hi," I whisper, craning my head back to look up at Stephan as he stops in front of me, casting a shadow over the table in the Mess Hall. Damp strands of hair fall across his forehead, and lines of exhaustion cut grooves around his mouth, but he's still the most gorgeous man I've ever seen.
"Hi yourself, princess." He grins at me, reaching out to brush his knuckles along the back of my cheek. "Did you behave yourself today?"
"No," I say, just to see what he says. "I spent the day in the forest, frolicking with ravens and rabbits."
His eyes immediately narrow, scanning across my face. And then he sighs, shaking his head as his lips twitch into a small grin. "I almost believe you, Valkyrie. No one tells you or your sisters what to do. Not even your mates."
"Especially not their mates," Dax mumbles from further down the table, and then grunts, shooting a hard stare at Rissa, who simply blinks innocent eyes at him. "Do you have to kick me in the same spot every time I displease you, elskan-ljós?"
"Ja," she says sweetly.
I bite my lip, fighting a giggle.
"What did you do today?" Stephan asks, falling into the chair beside me with a groan.
"Spent the day in the woods with the rabbits and ravens," I repeat. I didn't actually lie the first time. That is what I did.
He narrows his eyes on me again, grunting.
"She wasn't alone, Stephan," Reaper says quietly. "Adriel and I were with her."
This mollifies Stephan…slightly. We both know he'd have preferred if he were the one out there with me. But he and the Fae spent the day hunting for the varulv, leaving Reaper and Adriel behind to guard me and my sisters.
We spent part of the day at the Bifröst, which was as fruitless as ever. When my sisters gave up for the day and headed back, I headed into the woods. If the Fae are going to risk their lives hunting the varulv, they should have whatever help we can give them. Since we can't go with them and be here to figure out the Portal, the only logical help left is the animals of Valhalla.
"What were you doing with your ravens and the rabbits, princess?" he asks before I can ask if they found anything today.
"They aren't my ravens and rabbits. They're Valhalla's ravens and rabbits, Stephan."
A smile tugs at his lips. "Ja, so they are," he murmurs. "What were you doing with them?"
"Asking them for help," I say quietly.
Everyone at the table turns to look at me. Well, everyone except Reaper and Adriel. They know what I was doing. I approached them with my plan before I convinced them to take me into the forest. It took a little convincing—mostly because they didn't want me to leave the safety of the village—but eventually, even they couldn't argue with my logic.
We need help, and there aren't nearly enough of us to cover all of Valhalla. But there are plenty of rabbits and ravens. They'll be able to hunt far more quickly than we can.
Convincing the animals to take the risk was another matter, however. They're afraid. Even the ravens who are usually as fearless as the wolves sense the growing Darkness and want no part of it.
"And did they agree?" Stephan asks, reaching for my hand. He lifts it to his lips, brushing a kiss across my knuckles, and heat unfurls inside me. Gods, I missed him today.
Spending the last few nights lost in his arms has been magical. By night, we're in heaven, some version of Valhalla where we're the only two who exist. Pleasure reigns there. And so does joy. But then the sun rises, and our little bubble pops. Reality intrudes, plunking us right back down in the middle of an impending war.