Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Malachi and Adriel both turn, matching expressions on their faces. I don't stop to explain. Someone else can do that.
I take the stairs two at a time, my steps heavy on the gleaming red cedar. The bedroom door slams against the wall with force.
Rissa jumps a foot into the air, wheeling to face me with one hand over her heart. "Jesus, Dax. I thought you were the freaking police."
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, I was going pee. Is that a problem?"
I stride past her to the window, examining the lock. It hasn't been touched. But Abigail is never wrong. If she saw Rissa sneaking out the window, it's because my stubborn, infuriating little Valkyrie intends to go out the window.
Well, we're solving that vision here and now.
"Come here."
"Why?"
"Because I want you over here."
"I'm good here, but thanks."
"Now, Valkyrie."
She glowers at me, stubbornly planting her feet.
I take a warning step in her direction.
She quickly decides now isn't the time to test me and scurries across the room to me, stopping just out of my reach. "I'm here. Happy now?"
"Try to climb out of the window."
She blanches. "Are you insane?"
"Nei. We both know you were thinking about it."
"Thinking about something and doing it are two different things, Dax. They're called intrusive thoughts. You know, the crazy things we think but don't act on because they're crazy?"
"Try, Rissa."
"If you want someone to go out the window so badly, I can push you out," she suggests, batting her lashes at me. "I bet it won't even hurt when you land on your stupid, hot face."
I refuse to back down, though she makes it hard. She's a bright flame. And just like a flame, she burns hot. Her temper is as fierce as any Valkyrie's. But when she loses hers, I want to kiss the fire from her mouth to see how it burns.
"Fine," she says, elbowing me in the stomach as she slips past me to the window. She makes a production of throwing it open, making sure I know she's annoyed with me.
I watch her carefully as she attempts to shimmy her way up onto the sill, only to slip back down again. After the third try, she gives up, spinning to face me.
"If you want me up ther–"
I'm on top of her in a split second, backing her up against the wall. My lips come down on hers, my kiss hard and hungry. Her lips part on a surprised gasp, allowing me entry. I take the unwitting invitation, stealing her breath as she melts into me.
Heat flows between us, quickly morphing into an inferno. Gods. Is this how it's to be between us then? Fire and ice? A constant push and pull until we both ignite, too wild with want to contain it any longer? It's Niflheim and Muspelheim all over again, the runoff of two polar opposites crashing together to raise giants.
Only this time, it's Valkyrie and Fae, Light and her Guardian. And not even the Forsaken themselves will be able to pry her from my arms when she finally accepts the bond she forged between us.
"Believe whatever you want to tell yourself about me, elskan-ljós. Convince yourself that none of this is happening if that's what you must do to protect yourself. But do not ever put yourself in danger," I snarl against her lips. "Or you'll answer to me."
"I thought you said you wouldn't hurt me."
"Ja, I did. But who said spanking you would hurt?"
"You are not spanking me."
"Then forget whatever plans you've been up here making. You'll break your fool neck trying to escape out of the window, or get lost in the forest, or be eaten by any number of wild animals. We're miles from anything resembling civilization, and I didn't bring you out here to die."
A hysterical laugh bubbles up from her throat. "Yes, you did. That's exactly why you brought me here, Dax. To die fulfilling some prophecy you claim I'm supposed to fulfill."
"Nei," I murmur, stroking my thumb down her cheek. "Every Fae here will fall to darkness before we allow you to do so."
She meets my gaze, a question swirling in hers. "Why?"
"Because it's who we are. Because it's our duty. Because you called my soul and gave every single one of us what we haven't had in three hundred years. Hope."
She stares at me for a long, silent moment, and then sighs. She doesn't panic at my admission that she called my soul. She doesn't deny it, either. She simply ignores that I brought it up at all. "How did you know I was going to try to sneak out?" Horror and suspicion overtake her gaze. "Can you read my mind?"
"Nei, elskan-ljós. That isn't one of the Fae gifts."
"Oh." Her shoulders droop, relief coloring her tone. "Then how?"
"Come downstairs and I'll show you." I hold my hand out, leaving the choice up to her. Praying to the old Gods that she takes it.