Dead Radiance (27 page)

As I rose, Aidan turned and met my eyes. Just one look brought everything back. Those first heated kisses, the comfort and warmth of his arms. The magic of knowing someone cared for me enough to give up his all-important nightlife. But with the wave of love and longing came the frigid reality of his betrayal.

He'd come to Craven with the intention of seeking me out. Of befriending me to confirm I was a Valkyrie. He'd known all along. Picked at the layers of who I was. He'd used me, then brought his goons around to scare Ms. Custer.

"Bryn." Joshua's voice penetrated the fog of hurt and anger. "Are you okay?"

I just nodded. Still staring at Aidan who'd seen my longing and my pain and anger. Aidan stared back, bewildered. He had no idea how much I knew of his maneuvering into my life.

"Bryn, can we talk?" he said. And I refused to answer. Lifa had already taken all the trays away, and Sigrun now entered the kitchen behind her. I shook my head, not sure I was ready to face him alone, not able to trust myself to control my anger.

"It's time I left." I smiled at Aimee and Joshua, wishing I could hug them and say goodbye. "I have no idea when I'll be able to come and see you again. Sigrun took a huge chance bringing me here and I don't want to risk getting her in trouble. And with the procession tomorrow and the Choosing the next day, another visit won't be possible until at least two days from now."

"What procession?" Joshua asked.

"Freya will arrive tomorrow morning and there will be a procession through Asgard. She'll be choosing her share of the Warriors for her own regiments."

"Will she take us too?" asked Aimee, her forehead crumpled.

"No. I don't think so. You've only just arrived. With no training and so little strength, you're not likely to be true Warrior material. No offense." All three smiled though I avoided Aidan's eyes. "I really have to go now. I will try to come again later in the week."

I turned to leave. Behind me the bed creaked and Aidan let out a soft groan. Just the thought that he meant to follow me set my heart racing. Quickening my steps, I rushed to the kitchen entrance that was guarded by one of the many thick pillars spaced out within the room. Fat enough for two of Njall to hide behind without being seen, it shielded the entrance to the kitchen, dousing the rowdiness that must emanate from a busy kitchen in the midst of meal preparations.

Aidan caught my hand as I reached for the kitchen door. As if on cue, the door opened and Sigrun popped her head around it to look for me. Her face was urgent when she saw me, then changed when she caught sight of Aidan's fingers entwined with mine.

"I will wait out back for you." She winked and shut the door.

I turned to Aidan and tried to tug my fingers free. Instead, he held on tight and grasped the back of my head with his free hand.

"What's wrong? Why are you so angry with me?" His eyes swept along my face as if he would find an answer somewhere in my dead eyes or in the thin line of my mouth.

"You know very well what's wrong. You and your lies! I can't take any more of them." My voice broke and tears filled my eyes. It was his touch. His body so close to mine that was my undoing.

"Please, tell me what I did to make you look at me like that." He placed his forehead on mine and as he spoke, his breath mingled with mine.

"I read the book you left behind."

He stiffened but remained where he was. "Then you know I tried to protect you."

"But you came to Craven for the express reason of infiltrating my life, discovering if I really was a Valkyrie. Everything was a lie." My voice shook. It was so hard to breathe and talk and be in the same personal space as Aidan. Thinking of all the reasons I should hate him was becoming more and more difficult.

"True. I can't deny why I came. But once I got to know you I realized how wrong everything was. No way was I going to put you in any danger, even if my father hated what your father had done. It wasn't fair to you." Aidan shook his head. "I wish I could change everything. Go back to the beginning."

"And what about what you did to poor Ms. Custer? You lied to her. From the moment you first walked into our house you lied to everyone."

"Not about everything," he said softly. His thumb traced my cheek. "Not about everything."

"Whatever happened between us was part of your lies, Aidan. There's nothing left."

As I whispered those words I knew I lied. The way my heart flipped inside my chest and the speed of my breath was beginning to distract me. Behind my emotional attachment to Aidan was anger, and a chasm of granite pain. But deeper than the betrayal my heart simmered with longing.

"That is a lie and you know it." He leaned closer, and his lips caught mine. Heat enveloped us, ripping my anger loose, tearing apart any barricades I'd built between us in the past weeks. His hands were hot on my skin, his thumb now tenderly tracing the curved of my collarbone. We were both lost in each other.

A mindless, breathless sense of belonging overwhelmed me, reminded me why I'd sought out Aidan in the first place, why this leather-clad, bad-boy biker had crawled beneath my skin and why I'd never been able to get him out. He'd filled the emptiness inside me. All those places that craved little emotional fillings like attention and admiration, love and loyalty. At my shoulder, and under the glamor, both my wings fluttered, sharing the solar flare that ran right through my body.

I stiffened. The motion of my wings brought me back to my senses. Along with the curious sensation of being watched. Somewhere close by I felt the almost silent susurration of breathing. And perhaps it was my enhanced Valkyrie senses but the dull throb of a third heartbeat filtered to my ears. A calm and steady beat that said the owner was neither afraid nor nervous at being caught.

I pushed Aidan away, needing air, needing to dissipate the heat between us. Needing not to be caught in such a compromising situation. But Aidan was lost in the headiness of passion. I wasn't sure if it was his need for me or the sapping of his strength by his resurrection, but he refused to let go. Tears filled my eyes as I returned the embrace, despite the suspected voyeur.

This was no longer passion. It was a deeper need too, and I couldn't bear to deny him what I also longed for. The connection to another human.

A shadow flitted by at the edge of my vision. I strained to make out any features, barely catching any details. Just that it was another girl. With fair hair and glittering eyes. I couldn't be absolutely certain, as I was unable to see wings to verify it, but some instinct told me I was in real trouble.

Astrid had just witnessed me making out with Aidan.

Chapter 29

I donned my armor the next morning with an undeniable sense of dread. All I could think about was what Astrid planned to do. She really had the dirt on me now.

Turi fluttered about the room, filled with excitement for me. "Your very first procession since your arrival at Asgard!" she said in a sing-song voice. I barely heard her. Memories of last night shadowed my thoughts.

I'd left Aidan standing in the dark and fled through the kitchen. By the time I reached Sigrun I'd decided I wouldn't tell her about Astrid. Guilt ripped me up but I didn't want her to stress over being caught. I was really hoping Astrid hadn't seen Sigrun around Valhalla. I'd rather go down alone than take my friend with me.

At the training field, the news wasn't good. "The procession is delayed until after lunch," Fenrir announced. Unhappy murmurs rumbled through the gathered Valkyries. Fen growled. "In the meantime, we will practice our sword techniques."

Thankfully, my brand new ancient sword was strapped to my waist, its bright gleam hidden inside the intricately patterned scabbard. It wouldn't be my first time raising the great sword of Brunhilde, but I felt a multitude of butterflies doing the rumba in my tummy. Fenrir set us out on the field, keeping me to one side. Satisfied with the rest of the groups, he positioned himself before me. I mimicked his stance.

He drew his sword from his side with a smooth and silent flourish. The perfect approach to a smooth kill. When I did the same, it had a completely different effect. As I slid the sword from its scabbard, it sang. The metal slid out of its casing, ringing like a soft bell.

Every Valkyrie on the field slowed to a dead halt and turned to stare at me. Astrid's face whitened with rage. A small cluster of women whispered and Brunhilde's name floated to me. Sigrun sent me an encouraging smile, but Astrid's expression sent chills through my very bones.

Fenrir tried to keep a straight face, but it was so easy to see he was incredibly amused. By what, I was unsure. Was he enjoying my discomfort or Astrid's anger or the Valkyries' surprise? But his eyes were only on me.

"Pay them no mind." He stepped forward and launched into a series of intricate moves, which I copied well enough, secretly glad I hadn't made a fool of myself.

The other Valkyries slowly returned to their own sparring practices, but I continued to feel Astrid's gaze.

At last Fenrir stood back and assessed me. He nodded. "Okay. We need to get you partnered up and practicing those moves." He turned to scan the gathering of women, a contemplative scowl on his face.

Unfortunately, Astrid chose that particular moment to cut her opponent's weapon from her hand. The sword, thin and silvery, so pale it was almost white, swirled like a boomerang and landed at Fen's feet. Was it some quirk of fate that the bad girls always get what they want? Always. They get the guys and the money and they always get their own way.

Suitably impressed with her display, Fen crooked a finger at Astrid and she glided over. The smile she gave him was certainly no teacher-student one. He ignored the seductive glance and said, "You two, pair off and practice. Oh. And Astrid?" She looked at Fen, eyes wide and innocent. "No funny business. This is practice and nothing else."

As soon as she turned to face me, I knew I was in trouble. The smile that teased her pouting lips disappeared, murdered into a straight, tight line. Her eyes glittered like gems, cold, hard and empty. She bent her knees, bobbing on them to settle into her gravity center.

I did the same, holding out my sword, easing its weight into my arm as if it were merely an extension of my body. The sword, despite its heavy appearance, was incredibly light and easy to use. I swung it, making large figure eights around my body like I'd seen in many a martial arts movie. And the threatening move kept Astrid at bay until I was ready.

We circled each other, her bright blue eyes narrowed, darkened, a sea portent of a coming storm. Astrid didn't scare me, though. Her intentions worried me, but I felt no fear. The knowledge boosted my strength. She thrust, her sword glinting in the morning brightness. I blocked with the flat of my blade, the impact sending vibrations through the bones of my arm.

Astrid shook out her arm, clearly affected by the impact as much as I'd been. She stepped a pace back, as if biding her time, but I had no intention of allowing her to rest up. I thrust upward, and around, landing a blow on the armor on her forearm. The clang echoed the silent crow of achievement ringing inside me. A rustle of approval went through the group.

We were the day's entertainment. Shadows moved at the corners of my eyes. The entire class of Valkyries gathered around us. I felt the support and encouragement from many of them and it bolstered my confidence further. The only problem was that it strengthened Astrid's anger, too.

Her eyes darted around us, from one face to the next. Her pale skin, so milky white and perfect, was now marred by red splotches of anger. She tossed her sword from hand to hand, hunching over. Watching me with thinned eyes, an air of menace grew around her, thick and sour. At her back her ivory wings fluttered, mirror to her rage.

I tried to calm my nerves, breathe my heart back into its normal rhythm. I was ready. Bring it on. And she did. Trusts and parries galore. Astrid went a bit mad for a while. I could have sworn she growled her unhappiness when I landed the second blow to her torso.

Damn Fen for standing and observing as if we were an interesting science experiment. What the hell did he want? Bryn shish kabob? The woman only got furiouser by the minute. She delivered a blow to my chest that almost stopped my thudding heart.

Astrid smiled. "What is the matter, novice? You do need to pay attention. It shan't be my fault when you get stabbed in the chest."

Er. A little help here, Fen? This woman wants my blood!

But he made no move. Apparently the safety of my skin was not high priority. At least Sigrun seemed concerned, eying Fen out with a threatening stare.

I gritted my teeth, trying to forget the pain of each individual breath. The chainmail had protected me from grievous injury but I had no idea what was going on beneath the metal. Bruises galore, most likely. I concentrated on watching Astrid. Her eyes, her body, her stance. I tried to predict what her next move would be.

She charged again, grunting on the follow-through, putting all her strength behind the blow. Bilious fear rose in my throat. She really meant to hurt me. I watched the thrust, waited for just the right moment and dodged the sword, leaning back so far that I almost fell over. The momentum of the blow, with all her energy and body weight behind it, pulled Astrid along in a wide arc. One that made it easy for me to swing my sword at her calf and trip her onto her rear end.