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)
“Who are you again?” Father asks. He nods as several men in suits make their way over to him. A few glare at Reeve but do nothing. “Do enjoy your evening. I’m sure I’ll see you later, Rey.”
“Yes.” I can barely find my voice as I sit back down between Aric and Ziva.
“Come,” he commands Laufey. She puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes once before obeying.
The moment he walks off, everyone looks at me like I’ve just grown three heads.
Rowen is the first to speak. “You okay?”
“I need some air.” I shove back from the table and walk a few feet away, a panic attack imminent. I can feel it. I know we’re outside, but I need to walk. I take off, heading away from the bonfires.
Suddenly, someone’s rubbing my back. When I look over my shoulder, I find that it’s Rowen, staring straight ahead. “Everything will go just like we planned, Rey.”
He followed me. What plan? What is he talking about?
“I’ll distract as many as I can while you run off. Eira’s going to help and—”
I jerk my head toward him. “Since when?”
“What?”
“Since when did you ask Eira for help?”
He reels back. “Um, since I figured a hot girl throwing herself at Reeve might actually distract him enough not to shadow your every move.”
My stomach sinks. “What did you tell her?”
“That Odin’s a God,” he says with a smirk. “Relax. I told her I needed her help and that I would really appreciate it, and she said okay.”
“Sexual favors?”
“No. But I did promise I’d help her pass bio. Are you done interrogating me now? We have more important things to worry about, like unlocking the last rune, setting a Giant into the wild, and hoping he leads you to Mjölnir, all without anyone finding out.”
“Right.” I huff out an exhale. “You’re right.”
“You’re making the best choice.”
I am. He just doesn’t know that my choice has nothing to do with giving my father Mjölnir and everything to do with trusting Aric.
I glance over at Odin.
Mjölnir is rightfully his—ours—but he doesn’t deserve it. “Did he really burn the entirety of Jötunheim to the ground, Rowen?”
“Yes.”
“And worlds before it?”
“He only killed those who wouldn’t bow.”
I smile. “I thought the Giants were peaceful?”
He scowls. “I thought Gods were good?”
Touché.
People start getting up from their tables. I slowly make my way back toward Aric, pushing the crowd with my Aethercall for good measure. “Now’s as good a time as any,” I say quietly when I reach him.
“Agreed,” he says gruffly.
As the others run ahead of us, we fall into step together, shoulders brushing. The drums fade as the forest closes around us, shadows thickening, the air colder.
The minute the canopy swallows the torches, I tug at Aric’s sleeve. I dart my eyes once toward the others, then back to him. Without a word, I pull him sideways, shuffling us into a group of revelers before yanking him deeper into the trees.
The crowd’s noise muffles, fading into the distance until all that’s left is the sound of our breathing and the crunch of frost beneath our boots.
We run. Away from the laughter. Away from the bonfires. Straight into the kind of darkness that feels like it was waiting for us.
Chapter Seventy-Five
Rey
“So,” I say once we’re out of earshot. “I’m going to need you to create a protected spot for us before we start so you don’t go boom and attract attention.”
“And you with me,” he whispers. “You do realize if I can’t control myself, you’re in the direct line of fire.”
“Yeah,” I say. “I do. But I’m not leaving you.” I grab his hand and lead him away from the noise. I know people are watching us, but I also know that by the time we make it to where we need to go, he can protect us.
Plus, if we go farther into the forest down their path, we’ll miss the location of the rune.
I squeeze Aric’s hand.
He looks down at where our palms meet as if thinking the same thing I am—will I ever hold you again?
“It’s not too late to change our minds,” I joke as the sound of an airplane flying overhead makes me pause. How easy would it be? Abandon everything, escape together.
I stop for a second, pulling on his hand so he stops, too.
“Would you?” I whisper as a breeze tousles my hair. “Would you run away with me, knowing that the world would eventually end? Knowing that the world would burn?”
I hug my arms around myself, shivering, suddenly lonely. Aric’s breath fogs in front of him, reminding me of everything he’s capable of.
“You’re hesitating,” I choke out.
His dark gaze holds mine.
“I can’t promise you,” he finally says. “Not until we end this.” My whole body deflates.
“So that’s it, then? We’re doing this.” I’m blushing, but I can’t help it.