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A hand suddenly grasps my chin, and the goddess in front of me leans toward me, whispering in a language I don’t understand. My mouth parts on its own accord and something deep within my being is propelled through my system and up my throat. Heart pounding, I try to stop whatever she’s doing, but my body doesn’t respond to my command. I’m at the furies’ mercy.
Everything about it is wrong, like my soul is being called from my body. She sucks and a shimmery essence funnels past my lips and into hers. Only taking a small draw, she closes her mouth and stares at me while she tastes… whatever it is. A few seconds pass, and she hums and spits the essence back into my mouth. It collides with the remnants in my mouth and shoots back to where it came from. And as quickly as everything was wrong, everything is right again.
She drops my chin. I take several steps away, clutching my neck and staring at her with wide-eyes.
“Did that one move?” Lagertha asks. “It looks like it moved.”
“It stepped back,” Harald says.
“No, before that.”
“I didn’t see anything.”
I blink and furrow my brow. “What was that?”
“I was tired of waiting for you to tell me the king is the one who killed our goats.” She shares a look with the other goddesses. “And you’re here to offer him to us and beg for peace.”
“Wow. That’s amazing,” I whisper. “You got all of that from the—” I vaguely gesture to my face. I don’t know what to call the shimmery magic.
“From your soul? Yes. I saw every truth you wanted to tell, and some you’re afraid to admit.” Her gaze roves over my face. “Coming here was stupid. We already know the king is responsible.”
I swallow and take a tentative step back. “I had to try,” I say. “There’s no reason for people to die. Not when you can have the justice you’ve wanted. Take the king, but please, spare the monsters and vampires from this war.”
The two goddesses on either side move to stand behind her, disappearing from sight. Is it my imagination or did her eyes begin to glow a little brighter? Did she absorb the other two? It’s probably rude to ask that.
“You love the ogre.”
“I do. And he deserves more than a lifetime of war.”
She considers me and then glances at the horizon, as if she can see the monsters already. “Love, real love, is the purest form of selflessness. You came here knowing it would be dangerous.” She steps toward me, and I try not to shrink away from the power radiating off of her.
“Yes.”
“I accept your proposal.”
My breath catches. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh my gosh! Thank you so much!” I throw my arms around her, and she stiffens. Crap. I can almost hear her words:Never hug a goddess. Wincing, I take a few quick steps back and hold up my hands. “Sorry. I’m excited, but sorry.”
She hums and glances at the trulls. “There will be no blood spilled today, do you understand?”
“So long as ya don’t hurt my queen, we have a deal,” Lagertha snaps.
“Curious they’re loyal to you.” The goddess cuts her gaze to mine. “The vampires are waiting to take you to meet your mate.” She snaps and she and the clear pasture disappear and is suddenly replaced by a field full of what can only be vampires. The goddess is gone and in her place stands an imposing vampire. He’s gorgeous in a way that’s hypnotizing and dangerous and his eyes are full of cunning and violence. His lips pull back, but it’s not a smile so much as a warning.
Nowthatis a vampire.
I lift my hand and wave. “Hello.” This is so awkward. Should I bow?
The vampire studies me, more curious thanI want to suck your blood. “How did a folk strike a deal with the furies?”
“Not a folk,” I say with a hard shake of my head. “I’m Daisy.” I hold out my hand. The vampire eyes it like it’s poisonous and I let it fall back to my side. “What should I call you?”
“My name is Drake.”
“Lovely to meet you, Drake.” And slightly terrifying but he doesn’t need to know that. “I was told you’d take me to meet my mate.”
