“You would be my first pick as a guide but I don’t want you anywhere near that cabin. Dùbhghlas hasn’t forgotten about you and he knows how valuable you are now.”
“Come on!” Niall objected but Smoak threw up a hand and pinned him with a severe look.
“For once, you will obey me and accept my decision.”
Niall drew back. “Cenn, I?—!”
“No!”Smoak’s voice boomed, shaking the shelves and making the chandeliers rattle. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do to please you. I amhelping the sun god,for fuck’s sake.All I ask in return is that you stay here where you are safe.” He had swelled until he towered over everyone and his eyes glowed bright, bright blue while wisps of smoke curled around him.
They heard a loud gulp from Niall as he tipped back his chin. “But?—”
“Niall!”Smoak bellowed and Nox was impressed. Niall turned white and a shudder passed through him but he held his ground. He stared Smoak down despite his trembling chin and watery eyes.
Nox made a gentle shushing sound and eased as much of Niall’s distress as he could. “Please listen to Smoak on this, Niall. His first instinct would be to protect you because you’re mortal and vulnerable and because Dùbhghlas wouldn’t hesitate to use you as a pawn or a weapon against us.”
“I see,” Niall said quietly, lowering onto the sofa. “I’d be too much of a liability so I have to wait here, by myself, until it’s all over.”
“Not by yourself,” Nox said. “Shelby and Fletcher will be here and I’ll ask Howard to come and keep an eye on things here, in case there’s a magickal emergency.”
Shelby threw up his hands and Fletcher opened his mouth to object but Arawn grabbed his arm. “You will stay,” he stated firmly. “You’re both brave and strong but this isn’t a fight for men. And I can’t fight if anything happens to you, Fletch.”
“Fine,” Fletcher muttered, sharing a commiserating glare with Shelby as he crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ll stay here with Niall and Howard.”
“I’m glad that’s settled,” Clancy said with appreciative nods at Niall and Fletcher, then turned to address the others. “Everyone else get ready. We leave in an hour,” he announced and headed for the front door but Nox stopped him.
“What about Ingrid and the girls?” he whispered, earning a wry smile from Clancy.
“Where did you think I was going? They’d never forgive me if we left them out of this,” he said and Nox laughed softly but didn’t hide his concern.
“This is going to be a lot worse than last time. Hildr will probably be there. Are you sure the twins are ready for a fight this big?”
Clancy’s brow furrowed as he considered. “I’m not but I’d rather them stand with us now than fight on their own later, if we should fail. There will be no mercy for my daughters if Dùbhghlas wins and Hildr finds them.”
“That’s just another reason why we can’t let that happen,” Nox said and they shared a quick hug before Clancy left to get his family.
Chapter Nineteen
Something had definitely shifted. The mood inside the cabin was more intense and tempers were thin, not that it had been a party before… But Nelson could hear shouting and slamming in other parts of the house but it was difficult to make out what was being said. Too many of the voices were deep and garbled or high and hurried. He understood Nox’s and Merlin’s names and their various nicknames and that something needed to be done because time was running out.
For what, Nelson was hoping to find out and was bracing himself for an extra brutal beating when Hildr kicked the door open and stomped into the room.
“We’ve grown tired of your games. I have orders to break you in any way I see fit and relieve you of that lovely soul of yours.”
“Go ahead and try, it’s been promised to someone else. I already know where it’s going when I die and he’ll be there waiting for me.”
“I don’t think so, Agent Nelson.” She clicked her teeth as she drew closer. “You’re going to be my pet project!” A hand landed on the top of Nelson’s head and she snickered when he jumped. “I’m going to rip out your soul and tear you completely apart until there’s nothing but bloody scraps. You’ll be tossed out forthe scavengers and the flies and when there’s nothing left of you but bones and maggots, I’ll bury you in a hole full of children’s bones and dig you up after they’ve had a few weeks to torture you with their cries. You’ll be shattered and twisted and I’ll warp you even more by pouring some of my sickness into you.”
“It won’t happen. I’ve seen bigger and uglier monsters than whatever you are.”
“You know nothing about me!”
Pain exploded on the right side of Nelson’s face but he laughed through it. “I know all I need to know about you, Valkyrie.”
“You’ve read a few myths but they’re nothing compared to reality,” she boasted as she circled Nelson.
He snorted and shook his head. “Iknowwhat real valkyries look like and I’ve seen how they handle themselves in a fight. You’re nothing compared to them.”
“You’re nothing!”
