Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
I shoot him a glare. “If you’re trying to feel me up, I don’t recommend it. Aric might rip your arm from your body in the process.”
“Stop.” His whisper is low. “Until now, I haven’t been worried. I’ve ignored signs because he ignored you.” He releases my hand and tilts my chin toward him. “Enemies on all sides, Rey. I hope you do remember that. We have nothing against a little bloodshed, and I’m convinced you don’t, either.”
“So.” I cross my arms. “Your happy-go-lucky attitude, is it all an act?”
“No.” His smile spreads wide. “I was born to be whatever I need to be to whoever needs it in the moment.” He snaps his fingers. “It makes people so much easier to manipulate. Something you know all about, right?”
“Is this the part where you want me to tell you what I know?” I ask.
He snorts out a laugh. “Even as a daughter of Odin, you still know nothing, believe me. If you did, you wouldn’t be sleeping so soundly at night next to Aric. Now, go find him. I’m sure he’s waiting. And watch yourself.”
A daughter of Odin. My pulse pounds in my ears. Reeve is awake—maybe more awake than Aric. Why didn’t Aric tell me?
“A threat?”
“A promise.”
“At least you’re honest.”
He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “If you so much as breathe evil intent toward my brother, I’ll snap your neck myself, and trust me when I say I’ll feel no remorse.”
I laugh, but it sounds hollow to my ears. “You think I’m that easy to kill?”
He lightly shoves me back. “Of course. How is the family, by the way? Laufey still have her garden?”
For the first time, I feel true fear around Reeve, hot and sharp in my chest. “Leave her out of this!” What the hell does he know?
He takes a step toward me just as Aric rounds the corner. He has Reeve in a chokehold before the guy can even attempt to defend himself.
Good. I hope he bleeds.
“You touch her and I break your fingers one by one.” Ice has full-on descended around the kitchen like a fog, Aric’s breath coming out in puffs. “Apologize.”
Reeve’s green eyes are wild as he chokes out, “You’ll have to let me go first, brother.”
Aric shoves him against the fridge, causing it to shudder. The sound of things falling on the inside is like a bomb going off in the kitchen.
Reeve cracks his neck. “You see her naked once and suddenly you’re—”
Aric lunges, and this time he slams his fist against Reeve’s nose so hard, I hear bones break.
I wince. Shit.
“Fuck!” Reeve rolls on the ground. “You know I don’t heal as fast, you piece of shit!” He groans and gets to his feet. “Heal me.”
I’m frozen in place.
“No.” Aric walks over to me, completely ignoring Reeve. “Are you okay?” Eyes full of concern, he starts checking my neck and arms.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Reeve’s just being his typical asshole self.” I reach for his hand and squeeze it. “Really, I’m fine. I can handle myself.”
Aric’s eyes soften slightly. But he’s still breathing hard. Jeez, the fourth rune is not messing around with his emotions.
“Okay?” I ask him.
His eyes are wild, like he still wants to pick a fight. At least Reeve hopefully learned his lesson—don’t piss off a Giant in love.
No.
Wait.
Not love.
I mean…
Did I really just think that?
Aric tilts his head. “You’re blushing again.”
“Am I?” I touch my cheeks with the backs of my hands. “Just kind of hot.”
He holds out his hand. I grab it immediately.
“It’s fine, I’m fine, not bleeding to death over here,” Reeve grumbles. “Shit, can nobody take a joke anymore?”
“No,” we say in unison.
I start tugging Aric toward the door. “Let’s head back.”
“Yeah.” Reeve lets out a rough exhale. “You guys go, just leave me here to fix my face. Shit, this is going to mess with my costume for the fun tonight.”
“Costume?” I ask. “Fun?”
“Yes, fun. The Wild Hunt,” Reeve clarifies. “Cosplay. Though now I’m thinking Aric should have gone as a boxer. Shit, that hurt.”
Aric ignores him and groans. “I forgot about the costumes.”
“Biggest event of the year,” Reeve continues. “How could you forget the costumes?” He turns back to me. “It’s a party and feast with rich alumni, parents, and lots of hidden alcohol. What’s not to love? Plus, you know how Sigurd looks forward to releasing the fucking ravens.”
My entire body goes numb. This is new information. “Sigurd releases ravens?”
The Release of the Ravens. If it’s anything like Odin’s Wild Hunt, that would be a total death wish. Odin releases the ravens. Odin started the Hunt, and now Sigurd is shitting all over it.
It all clicks. This is why Father gave me a week to find Mjölnir. The runes will be down—he’ll be able to walk right onto campus and claim the weapon in the most dramatic, devastating way possible, reclaiming the Wild Hunt—and the Nine Realms—as his own.