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)
The door to the Hall of Omrir creaks open.
“Ah, right on time.” Father seems genuinely pleased to see whoever is walking in.
I turn around. I should be surprised.
I’m not.
Chapter Seventy-Eight
Rey
All smiles, Reeve sidles up next to Father, tossing the Thurisaz cobblestone in the air. What I wouldn’t give to smash that grin off his smug little face. Preferably with that rock. Repeatedly.
He tosses the stone up and down, up and down.
If he’s holding it, does that mean he’s the one who hurt Aric?
He winks at me.
There isn’t enough ice in the world to cool the rage burning underneath my skin.
He stops in front of my father. “See? I told you I was right about the last two runes. But no, you still needed me to prove it.” He smiles at me. “Was the cow too obvious? Drastic times call for drastic measures and all that. Bonus: I got to see you half naked.”
I strain against my chains. I will kill this man if it’s the last thing I do.
“Enough!” Rowen shouts. “Odin, release Rey. She’s—”
My father holds up his hand. “Reeve, for your service, my offer does still stand, but you have to show your loyalty. I won’t tolerate anything less.”
“Not a problem.”
I lunge for him again, but Rowen holds me back. “You selfish coward,” he grits out, eyes trained on Reeve. “Odin’s going to murder you after he gets what he wants—surely you know that? Though why am I not surprised? You’re a dumbass.”
Reeve laughs and then shoots me a wink. “Gods, you’re so dramatic all the time.” Then he walks over to Odin and grabs his cane. “To prove my loyalty.”
Does he have a death wish?
Father never even lets me near it.
Odin holds up his hand to his men. “I’ll allow it.”
Reeve pulls out the sword from inside and makes his way over to where Aric is on his knees. He pulls his brother’s head up by the hair, then lifts the sword to his neck. Excruciatingly slowly, he draws the edge lightly along Aric’s skin.
Silver blood starts to eke out. Just drops for now, but the intent is clear.
No.
Reeve holds the blade steady at Aric’s neck. “Tick, tock, little goddess.”
Aric’s eyes plead with mine. “Don’t be…afraid.”
My body trembles, my teeth chattering. “Aric.” Tears fall. I don’t think I can do this.
“I believe.” His smile is calm. “In you. You know where it is. Do what he’s asking. Get Mjölnir.”
“Yes,” Odin agrees. “Listen to him. Hurry now. The Giant doesn’t want to die. Bring me the hammer and I will lift his chains, allow him to heal.”
Aric’s gaze is steady on mine. His beautiful mouth curves for a second.
This isn’t about me saving him.
Aric knows my father will never lift those chains. Will never spare him or set him free.
He’s telling me to find the hammer. Because he wants me to fight.
Because he believes in me.
“Swim into the storm, Rey.” Aric’s eyes lock onto mine. “Finish this with me.”
He means swimming by myself into the dark. He means doing this without him, without anyone but myself.
He said I could save myself.
I want to believe him.
I want to believe that heroes exist and that I can be my own.
But when faced with certain death, I only feel weak.
“Untie her!” Father commands.
Aric clenches his jaw and nods one more time. “I believe in you.”
Runes light up and down his body as he flicks his wrist, creating an icy path from him all the way to the stairs and down into the water. He’s using his power to light the way. “I’ll be right by your side.”
Ice suddenly wraps itself around my hand.
I know with each use of his power, he loses more.
With each loss, he draws closer to death.
And still he chooses to hold my hand as I walk into the unknown.
I open my hand to his cold. I embrace it. I breathe it in.
“Destiny awaits, daughter of Odin.” Reeve grins as Rowen releases my chains. He leans closer, sword still held taut, and whispers, “Swim fast.”
“I hate you.”
His foot comes out, kicking me hard in the knee, and I buckle.
I hit the icy path with a thud. Reeve laughs, and the rest of the men join in as Rowen curses. But while I’m on the ground, my eye catches on something. It’s glowing faintly. The rune of the serpent, etched into a stone smaller than my palm. As I lift myself back to my feet, I grab it.
“If I were you?” Father nods at me. “I’d hurry.”
Chapter Seventy-Nine
Aric
I can’t see straight. Everything blurs. The only thing I feel is the burn of the runes, pounding through my back like a second, broken heartbeat, and the cold of the steel Reeve holds to my neck.
I never imagined it would be my own brother who would betray us. But he isn’t truly my brother, is he? I suck in another labored breath. It’s getting harder and harder to breathe. The cold is keeping me alive, slowing my heart just like Rey talked about what feels like a lifetime ago, but the chains are keeping me from truly healing.