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I forced a smile. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Chapter Thirteen
Torsten
Jovi had saved my life.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t rid myself of the memory of her fighting off those demons. There had been no skill or natural talent in the way she handled herself, but the courage of her actions alone was enough to impress me. She was fearless in battle, and I was honored to have been saved by her… but I was not the only one who was impressed. My brother hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her since we returned from Muspelheim.
Even as we trudged through the snow, I felt his interest, as sharp as any blade. He squeezed his eyes shut every few seconds as if just the sight of her brought him pain. I knew he still grieved for Eir as strongly as he had the day she died in his arms, but that didn’t make the pull he felt towards Jovi proof that she was his mate. Sure, Jovi was different than I remembered. Hell, she was different than how she’d been before Muspelheim.
Kissing her in front of Skarde had made me feel guilty, but it was a hollow guilt. My brother had no claim on Jovi and, until we knew for certain if she was Eir, I considered Jovi to be mine. The reason we’d wanted to break my oath to Freya in the first place was that I had promised to be with Jovi, to try and love her in a way I’d never allowed myself before. What lay between Jovi and I was beyond mere physical attraction.
“Do you hear that?” Jovi asked.
I came to a stop, straining my wolf’s keen senses to pick up on whatever had put Jovi on edge. There was nothing but the whistle of the wind, the trudge of many feet through snow, and around sixty-nine heartbeats pounding unsteadily. Even Fyrcat’s pulse was a little faster than usual. The air around us stunk of fear.
“I don’t hear anything.”
“Exactly,” Jovi said, holding herself tightly. “I don’t sense anything. That has to be bad, right? They could be waiting for us in the tunnel. I’m not sure how we’re going to be able to keep these people safe if they trap us inside it.”
“Not necessarily,” Ogun said. The dwarf spun around with his arms spread wide and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He licked away snowflakes from his lips with child-like excitement. His cavalier attitude was really beginning to piss me off.
“What do you mean?” Jovi asked.
“The large numbers may have given them pause. They may be waiting for the mortals to clear out before moving on us. It’s what I would do if I were them.”
That was a chilling thought. And probably accurate. Four people were easier to overpower than a group almost seventy strong.
“We’ll deal with that when it comes,” Skarde said tersely. “I’ve seen Fyrcat’s wand in action. We’ll be able to jump to Freya’s location. We just have to give Fyrcat enough time to cast.”
I just stared at my brother. If I didn’t sense his beast prowling inside him, I’d have said he’d been replaced by a pod person.
“I don’t understand why you’re defending her. What happened while we were gone?”
Skarde grimaced. “Too much to recount at the moment. All you need to know is that she saved me from mistletoe poisoning. I owe her a debt. A debt which ends when we reach Freya. Even a debt can only stretch so far.”
I wasn’t sure that was the whole story, but I didn’t press him for more. We didn’t have time. The humans were slowing down. If we didn’t get them out of here soon, they’d collapse.
Jovi hurried ahead, catching up with Fyrcat. The dark train tunnel loomed ahead, dark and deep, like the cavernous mouth of a giant. It was an unpleasant comparison after our time in Muspelheim.
Soon Fyrcat turned to face us and addressed Skarde when she said, “we need wood for a fire.”
“Why do you need a fire?” Jovi asked. “Can’t you just… you know… zap everyone to safety?”
Fyrcat’s face twisted in irritation. “For the same reason I needed a fire to transport you. I am not at my full strength, so there will be no zapping.”
“I don’t see how we’re going to make one,” Jovi said as she looked around herself and no doubt only saw snow. “Everything is wet.”
“Then try to cast, child,” Fyrcat snapped. “You just emerged from the realm of fire. Surely you can conjure a memory strong enough to bring forth a flame.”
Jovi looked nervously around. She clutched herself even tighter. “I… I’m not sure I can.”
“Then they freeze.”
“Stop antagonizing her,” Skarde said, taking a step closer to Jovi. “She’s new to this.”
“Exactly, which is why you have to stop coddling her. She won’t learn anything if you constantly tell her that it’s fine to take her time.”
