At first, I thought it was because of what my father finally asked me to do—that one “favor” I always knew was coming but prayed never would. Until of course it finally did.
But this? It feels heavier.
Like she’s been holding in something massive for years, saving her tears for this very moment.
Today, Laufey finally broke.
Between sobs, she begs, “Please, Rey. Don’t do this. We can find another way.”
I can’t meet her gaze. She was the only safe space I had other than Rowen. She protected me, and now it’s my time to protect her. She may not be my real mother, but she’s the only one I’ve ever known. And her tears cut through me like a blade.
I glance around my father’s opulent home and, for the first time in my entire miserable life, wish I could stay. But I can’t. Father has given me a mission—and promised me the world if I succeed.
My stomach pitches, but fear doesn’t matter. Can’t. Not if it means setting Laufey free.
“I know what you dream about, Rey. One day being away from me,” Father says, unmoved by his wife’s hysterics. “I know it eats you alive.”
His words dig deep into my skin like an ache I can’t get rid of, and I don’t bother to deny them. Instead, I turn to hold his dark gaze, and I let just the tiniest hint of a spine bring my shoulders higher.
An icy smile spreads across his face, and my gaze shifts. White hair pulled back into his signature low ponytail. Patch covering his right eye. Three-piece navy suit accented by a sharp walking cane. Gold adornments draping from his tie. One a hammer, the other the head of his enemy.
He’s a riot at parties.
Father glances at his bodyguard leaning against the darkened doorway to my left and nods. Without a word, Rowen moves to collect Laufey. He’s just a few years older than me and taller than Father, his shoulders seemingly twice as wide, his demeanor youthful and strong. And yet, he’s always appeared the weaker man. Maybe that’s because he obeys Father’s every whim without question.
I get it. I feel just as small in his shadow.
My stomach twists as Rowen wraps an arm around Laufey’s waist and hauls her up. She collapses against his broad chest as he leads her down the hallway to her private rooms.
Father ignores them both.
“You have one week to find Thor’s hammer.” His voice is sharp, heavy. “Remove anyone who stands in your way. Destroy them all for what they took from us, Rey. The Eriksons, every last one. But don’t be quick about it.” His voice draws into a low command. “Make them suffer.”
“How do you know Aric has it?” Sigurd’s more powerful. Why wouldn’t the Giants keep it with him?
“I know.” He raises his voice. I try not to flinch. “Because hisparents hid it. Last mistake I ever made.” He clenches his jaw. “Your job isn’t to ask questions. It’s to do what I ask.”
I nod in agreement. That’s all anyone can do around this man if they hope to keep their head. I don’t know why I thought asking him would help at all. At least he didn’t say it was all my fault.
It would have been nice to ask Laufey for intel before starting this mission, since she’s a Giant herself, but my father would never allow it. She fears his anger so much, she’s left the room any time I’ve so much as mentioned the Eriksons. Even thinking about what Father might do to her in my absence has my stomach turning.
I almost flinch when he leans in and brushes a hand down my cheek, kisses me on my forehead. A soft brush devoid of comfort. “I’m proud. You know that, right? Out of all my children…you are the most worthy.”
I know he’s trying to compliment me, but it feels more like a curse.
Stepping back, he drops his hand. “Rowen will have the car brought around in a minute. Gather your things and let’s be off. I’ve waited too long for this moment and do not relish further delay.” With that, he walks away, his cane slapping against the marble floor in a rhythm that dares me to follow.
I grit my teeth, shove the crumpled note from Laufey deep into my jeans pocket. I haven’t read it yet, but I don’t need to. I’m sure it’s begging me to give up this mission. Pointless.
Reaching down, I grab my new rucksack, then throw it over my shoulder. Father’s right. Might as well get this over with as quickly as possible.
Within minutes, we’re both settled in the back seat of a sleek black Mercedes sedan, Rowen expertly taking the turn that will lead us onto the highway out of Bellevue, Washington—toward the town of Everett, Endir University, and my freshman year.
I stare at the rain pelting the windshield, the wiper bladeswhooshing back and forth. Someone nearby lays on their horn, and I want to rage at them: they don’t know how good they have it. Iwishmy worst day was encountering a bad driver.
But pain is pain—it doesn’t care about rank. It just exists. And knowing someone, somewhere, carried more of it than I did…that’s the only thing that got me through the last two years.
I’m in this mess because of who my father is—what he’s capable of and what’s been done on both sides of this war. Some might say it’s because I was born special.
