“So I went from being his fiery little soulmate,” Raven said, clearly surprising herself with her knowledge of Irish Gaelic, “to his greatest love?”
“Wow.” Jade winked at Tor. “Sounds like you don’t have anything to worry about.”
Though Tor merely shrugged and acted like he didn’t recall what Cian had just revealed, he did. Or at least when he had called Revna that very thing in his own language. No, not Revna, but Raven.
When had he called her his soulmate, though?
More so, when had he ever spoken Irish Gaelic?
“I taught you it.” Startled by her own admission, Raven’s gaze shot to him. “At some point, I taught you it.” Her attention returned to Cian. “But you taught me first.”
He nodded. “Tá.”
It was odd knowing he had competition he had forgotten. No odder, he supposed, than Raven realizing the same.
“Odder?”Raven rolled her eyes at him, speaking aloud rather than telepathically in response to his thoughts. “Not sure there’s any comparison here because you cheated, and I'm certain I didn't.” She shook her head. “It wouldn’t be so bad had you known Revna was me, but you didn’t, so you just flat out suck.” She looked at Cian again. “And as much as you’ve clearly done for me, you’re not much better since you kept everything from me.”
How did she know she hadn't cheated on him with the Irishman? She didn't know that.
“Then you care nothing for loyalty?” Cian asked in response to her accusation that he wasn't much better than Tor, considering he had kept secrets from her. He closed the distance between them. “You care nothing for me honoring your wishes? Because they wereyourwishes, Raven. Youwantedme to keep secrets from you.”
Tor tensed when the wizard touched her ethereal cheek.
“Summoning me has begun what you set in place, lassie,” Cian went on softly, his gaze far too tender. “Soon, you will remember everything. Him. Me. Revna. All of it. When you do, all will become clear.” She became slightly more solid beneath his touch. “The friendship you felt for me.” More solid still. “The love you felt for him.” Then completely solid. “The enemies you have forgotten.”
The moment Raven manifested in her entirety, Tor felt her presence like a punch to the gut. It had felt strong in the twenty-first century, but nothing like this. He had unquestionably felt her beside him before. Many times.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Yet he had no singular memory to back it up. All he knew was she had been more than just a woman who haunted him. More than just a girl with a prophecy.
“I can withstand the elements down here,” Raven marveled. “I don’t need to shift.” Her eyes rounded on Cian. “Even better, I can sense my sisters in my mind again, and my inner dragon's returned.”
“It never really left,” Cian revealed. “It only felt that way in your ethereal state. A state that never entirely leaves you.”
“Ah.” Loki figured it out before everyone else. “Because she is protected by her homeworld. More alive there than here.”
“Ja,” Tor murmured, sensing more. Understanding how endangered Raven actually was. He met her eyes.“I was, in part, right when I said you were already dead.”
“You were,” came Trinity’s voice before she and Vicar appeared. Clearly her Múspellsheimr side, her steady gaze went to Raven. “Now that you’re here, your inner Vanaheim comes through remarkably clear to us.” She frowned. “You have one foot in each world, and it’s stirring up the dragons at the Keep.”
“No doubt it is.” Revna considered Raven with approval. “They’ve never been comfortable with me for obvious reasons, butyou,” a small smile curled her lips, “you arefarmore unsettling.”
When Raven frowned in confusion, Vicar explained.
“While dragons appreciate seer magic, we’re wary of it because it challenges our own magic,” he said. “The fact that you not only have Ancient dragon blood but somehow exist in both this world and Vanaheim, a world their ancestor’s studiously avoided, makes your loyalties questionable.”
“My loyalty is to my sisters,” Raven clarified. “And to seeing this war ended.”
“Then I’d say it’s time for me and Vicar to put our plan in motion.” Bloodlust lit Trinity’s eyes. “We’re ready to leave and—”
“No.” Raven shook her head. “Not yet. It’s too dangerous.” She surprised everyone when she took Trinity’s hand. “Sorry, but I need you to listen to me, which means I need your sweeter personality to be in control for now. The other can surface, but she’s not in charge.”
The bloodlust drained from Trinity’s eyes instantly. In its place, both shock and concern for her sister.
“How did you pull my other side to the surface so easily?” Trinity embraced her. “And welcome.” She held Raven at arm’s length. Her brows pulled together. “How are you feeling? I know you’re technically half dead, but you know what I mean.”
