Page 126 of Heart of Mischief

Mason’s mouth opened and closed several times. Before he could get any words out, a roar filtered into the room from the arena.

Loki released Mason’s shoulders, looking toward the door. “It’s time,” he said. “The Trial is about to begin.” Without another word, he ducked out the small doorframe.

Mason was about to do the same, but Charlie grabbed his wrist.

“Wait,” she said.

Her brother turned around, raising his eyebrows.

“I just…” She gnawed on her lower lip, uncertain how to say what she needed to. “Thank you. For coming with me.” She smiled weakly. “It would really suck to die alone.”

Mason’s eyes flared. “You aren’t dying today, Char. Don’t talk like that.”

We don’t know that, she thought.

“I just want to know…” She shook her head. “Whydidyou help me save Elias? I thought you hated him.”

“I do,” he said bluntly. “Frankly, I don’t care if he lives or dies. He doesn’t matter to me. But…” He sighed, looking out thedoorway and running a hand through his hair, then met Charlie’s gaze again. “I can see that he matters to you.”

Inhaling sharply, she said, “I don’t—”

“You don’t have to pretend, Char. And I’m not even talking about what I walked in on back in those woods. In fact”—he made a gagging face—“I’d prefer tonevertalk about that again.”

She snorted.

“I’m saying that youcarefor him, Charlie. You lost it when you thought he was dying. I mean, you dragged us all the way to a differentrealmto save him.” He smiled sadly. “I don’t think you’d do that for someone who didn’t matter to you.”

“But that doesn’t explain whyyoucame with me,” she insisted. “Why risk your life for someone you hate?”

This time, his smile was warm and genuine. He took her hand. “You’re my little sister, Char. No matter how angry I was with you for not telling me about Sophie, nothing will ever change that. You’re my little sister, and I would do anything for you.” He squeezed her hand gently. “You know that, right?”

Charlie felt something inflate inside her.

She squeezed back. “Yeah,” she said. “I know.”

When they ducked out of the small room and into the arena, the crowd exploded with cheering and applause.

It was as if Charlie were a pop star or a politician. The entire cavern shook with the spirits’ excitement and anticipation.

Unfortunately, she thought, as she followed Loki around the walkway, a more accurate metaphor would have probably been that of a gladiator. A warrior just as likely to die as to survive.

Henry met them at the top of the stairs, and they started to descend. Spirits reached out as they passed, touching her arms and legs lightly. She didn’t know if the touches were meant to be good luck or simply out of curiosity for how her living skin felt. Whenthey reached the bottom, Charlie started to step down onto the flat wood of Yggdrasil, Henry right behind her.

Loki held out a hand, stopping her just before her foot made contact. “Remove your shoes first. And the vätte must stay here.”

“What?” Charlie looked down at Henry, who was standing expectantly beside the ring. He looked nervous but excited, as if he thought they were about to go on an adventure together. “But—”

“It’s nonnegotiable,” the god said decisively. “All humans must face the Trial on their own. No help from friends. Or fuzzy little minions.”

He’s not a minion, Charlie wanted to say.He’s a part of me. I’m a part of him. Whatever we do, we do together.

Instead, she asked, “What happens to our tether after the Trial?”

“I don’t know,” Loki admitted. “I’ve never turned a human with a vätte before. The tether will probably snap.”

Charlie’s breath caught.

WE GOING?Henry asked.