Mischief's Mate (The Immortal Mates Book 1) (5 page)

Emma’s soft laughter pulled Chantelle back into the present. “I would have loved to see Frigga’s face when you told her what that quack said.”

Laughing along she said, “It was pretty frightening. I’m glad I wasn’t on the receiving end of her rant.”

Chantelle looked around the green and white kitchen. It was a far cry from the cramped eat-in they had in their old apartment. That thought made her realize just how grateful she was to Frigga. Her boss had been a gift sent from God. Chantelle just hoped she would never let her down. Not after all the good Frigga had done for them.

“You never will be. Frigga thinks of you like a daughter and she is the mother bear. A very scary mother bear if I do say so myself.” Her well placed words lightened the load on Chantelle’s heart.

At the same time she felt her sister’s wisdom was wasted, that the cancer that was eating her little sage from the inside out was to blame. Chantelle wished there was a way to take the disease on herself and leave Emma whole again. But wishes were only meant to come true in fairy tales. That’s where the happily ever after’s are; not in real life. There was no prince charming charging in on a snow white steed to sweep you off your feet. She didn’t care what her stupid Academy books had said about two halves of the same whole. Really, she would believe it when she saw it.

Chantelle felt her mood darken at the injustice of it all. Why did life have to take her only bright spot from her? Emma was too upbeat to realize just how important the doctor’s appointment they had tomorrow was.

All the stupid stories Chantelle had filled her head with when she was younger had her thinking that prayers were answered. That good always triumphed over evil. That good deeds always went unpunished; when in fact sometimes they didn’t.

Quickly she put on a brave smile not wanting to bring Emma down. “Go on upstairs and wash up. Lunch is almost ready.”

She hopped off the counter and gave Chantelle a quick kiss on her way out. Once again Chantelle was left alone with her thoughts. She tried to push away her worry about tomorrow, but all that did was bringing forth thoughts of her dreams.

As if he were right in front of her, his jade eyes filled her field of vision and her heart lurched painfully. Instinctively her soul reached for him, as if it knew he was the missing half she had been searching for.

She felt his breath ghost over her ear as he whispered to her.  “Fear not little one. I am watching over you both.”

Chantelle had to shake herself. It felt like he was right there with her; beside her, comforting her. It worried Chantelle deeply that a made up man could affect her this way. Maybe everyone was right? Maybe she did need to get out more. Maybe even date a few guys her own age. But her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach at the thought and her eyes welled up with tears. Her soul was telling her that to do such a thing was to betray her destined mate; a man who only ever sought her out in dreams. A man that Chantelle was sure was more fantasy than reality.

As Loki entered his father’s study he braced himself for a rebuke that was sure to be coming. They had been down this road so many times before, that he could recite this lecture word for word. Thor would incite him and Loki would stand up for himself, causing his father to punish him in some way. But what else could he do? His brother was forever bullying him and their all seeing father always turned a blind eye to it.

He watched with weary eyes as his father sat behind his massive elm desk. Odin looked tired when his grey eye fell on his youngest. It seemed that Loki wasn’t the only one feeling the loss of his mother.

“Please, Loki sit.” He gestured toward the chair before his desk.

Gracefully he folded himself into the red winged-back, waiting on his father. Steepling his fingers under his chin, Loki took in his father’s haggard appearance. Nothing got past his sharp jade eyes; all was not well with the warrior king. There was no spark in his all seeing eye. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t even yelled at him as loud as he normally did.

“What troubles you, father?”

Knowing his father, he was going to have to hear how he should get along with Thor. How brothers shouldn’t fight each other; but for each other. It was utter rubbish if you asked him. Yet no one ever did.

Odin would never have given this lecture to Thor. Oh no! He was a warrior so being short tempered was acceptable. But Loki was a thinker, the one that should know better. It sickened him how untouchable the golden child was.

“This has nothing to do with how you goad Thor?”

Loki rolled his green eyes skyward, in supplication to God. Really, did the All Father ever see the faults in his favored son? Wait, did he say this wasn’t about Thor? Loki thanked the heavens for smiling upon him this day.

Loki knew there was something on his father’s mind and he was sure it was something that he didn’t want to hear. So he steadied himself for whatever his father had up his sleeve, because he knew it was far more than just his arm. Funny, that mortals referred to Loki as the trickster god when it seemed his father was always moving about the chess pieces.

There was something about his father’s behavior that nagged at him. If his father did not bring him here to reprimand him, than what? A mission perhaps? Would his father finally acknowledge his worth?

With the need for mates so high, Loki knew cooler heads had to prevail. They could not just go along with what Clotho had said all those years ago. Not a one of their males had found his Fatum Anima yet. Although it seemed that Loki had been dreaming of his for years.

“Then what have you called me here for, father?” His voice sounded eager even to his own ears.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence that passed between them. Loki was never one to speak to others, let alone his father. They had nothing in common so what would they speak of? His father had been a warrior king in his youth, much like Thor. Too much like Thor in Loki’s opinion.

“Queen Frigga’s presence has been missing for too long.”

Loki took a good look at his father and thought he looked lost without his queen. It made his weakness apparent; putting all they held dear in jeopardy. Clearly his father had gone soft, forgetting the cost of a weak front. Maybe life on earth had softened him. Ever since they had taken up residence on Oak Island his father had changed.

Their move to Earth had taken place just after the Signe debacle and yet from the start Odin fit in. It was like he was always meant to live on earth. Loki didn’t like how easily his family had fit in with the mortals. After all, mortals were his sworn enemy and the king was his family. Wasn’t there an unspoken rule somewhere that family always stuck together?

“You should have kept her here. An obedient wife would be here by your side, not off willy nilly somewhere.” He was hurting just as much as his father from her absence.

“Be that as it may; I did not call you here to discuss how I handle your mother. I have a mission for you.”

Loki’s eyes lit up with pride. His father was sending him on a mission; him and not Thor the golden one. It was clear by his father’s choice that this mission called for diplomacy. Who better for the task than the one who everyone whispered speaks with a silver tongue? They thought he didn’t hear what they said about him, but he had always known what they whispered.

Loki never really liked lying, but at a young age he had found it a priceless tool. No one wanted to hear things that didn’t please them and who could blame them. People, whether mortal or immortal, were all ruled by their egos and truth had a nasty way of crushing them. So in Loki’s eyes he was doing others a service by lying to them.

“You are to go to Olympia, Washington and deliver a message to your mother.” Odin pushed a cream colored envelope across the desk.

His father’s words cut through his musings like a sword through flesh. Olympia, Washington? That was all the way across the damn country. Was this a joke thought up by Odin to teach him a lesson of some kind? One look at his father’s face told Loki otherwise.

So what then was his mother doing there? He hoped she wasn’t on another one of her wild goose chases. Loki had long ago given up on finding his mate. Yet his mother felt the need to keep up the search.

“What is mother doing there?”

Odin waved off his question, but whether he didn’t know what she was doing or didn’t want to say, Loki couldn’t tell. Though he did know mischief was afoot, how could he not being who he was?

“I am sure she has her reasons.”

Her reasons? That sounded far vaguer then Loki would have liked. He narrowed his jade eyes skeptically, “And what reason is good enough to leave ones mate for four years?”

Loki wanted a reason for why he was being sent to Washington. He always needed a reason for the things he did. Loki was not one to rush headlong into battle like Thor. Everyone knew Loki despised the mortal race for stealing away what he thought was his one chance. That one chance at happiness, a chance to belong. Loki had thought it was his only chance to be loved despite his bloodline. And now his father wanted to send him out of Valhöll amongst them.

Everyone in the Council of the Immortals knew of the vow Loki had made all those years ago. A dark promise to himself that the whole of the mortal world would pay for Signe’s transgressions. He had kept true to his word, turning brother against brother. Pitting love against love. Showing the mortal race through his mischief exactly what heartache felt like.

Loki knew Odin planned to force him to overlook his dislike for the mortal race by moving across the Bifrost into the mortal world. Yet Loki wouldn’t fold. Wouldn’t budge in his hatred for mortals.

“If you would rather not go, I can send Thor in your stead.”

Just who did his father think he was tricking? No, they both knew that for some reason he had to be the one to deliver the missive. Or maybe his father already knew why it had to be him, either way, Loki was going; like it or not.

Loki stood from his chair all lean muscle and grace. With a fluid movement he picked up the envelope and had it disappearing into his frock coat. “I’ll head to the Bifrost now.”

Although they lived on earth they still utilized the Bifrost. It was the fastest way to travel and the most accurate. Besides very few immortals liked to fly on planes. Too many mortals in too small a space, one false move would surely give them away.

Odin held up his hand, “There is something else you should know.”

Loki waved his hand for his father to continue. “Signe was spotted. My messengers say she was seen talking to the Acolytes.”

Loki stiffened. If she was casting her lot with the Acolytes that meant trouble. But for who? It was possible she would try to take Valhöll by force. Though rumor had it she wanted the head seat on the Council of Immortals. A very stupid move on her part.

“Who does she plan on attacking?”

Odin sighed and Loki knew whatever he was about to say wasn’t good. “The Halflings.”

“I see.”

A fierce need to protect the Halflings rose in him and Loki was disgusted with himself; daring to worry about mortals just because Signe threatened them. But his mate was a Halfling. If Signe hurt her, she would be hurting him again. Something Loki’s pride refused to allow.

“Do you?”

Loki narrowed his eyes. “Yes, I do.” He began to pace. “Whether I like mortals or not, my brother’s mates are among them. Signe must be stopped before she can wipe them out.”

“You aren’t as cold hearted as the Council thinks.”

Loki leaned forward across his father’s desk, “My soul may be black, but I do not wish others to share my fate. Once more, father, I will leave now for Washington.”

Odin grabbed his hand, “You shall make the journey tomorrow. Now go prepare yourself.” Loki bowed his head and made his way out of his father’s study.

Slowly he made his way past portraits of battles fought long ago and large arched windows that looked out into the gardens below. None of it mattered to him now; Loki needed the solace of his chambers.

Signe was plotting something and he needed to know what. None of the normal sources would tell him; of that he was sure. So he would just wait as patient as the spider who spins it’s web. There was time enough to learn all her secrets. Tonight he would fast and pray, clearing his mind for the coming journey. Perhaps he would once again dream of the beautiful brown eyed woman.

There was something about her that seemed to set his soul on fire. He had wondered often in the years since he had begun dreaming of her, if she was his Fatum Anima. Maybe she was somewhere, even now, calling out to him.

Wherever she was and whatever she was doing he would find her. If only to stop his sleepless nights he would seek her out. Loki nodded to himself; that was just what he would do once he collected his mother from Washington. Then he would seek out this mortal that kept him up at night. Would he claim her as his mate? Loki shook his head. Of course he wouldn’t. But he would keep her as his pet, just as mortals should be kept.

Chantelle paced back and forth in her room, wondering if she should call Arabella. She really had been worried about her friend for some time. It wasn’t like her not to call for weeks on end. Picking up her cell phone, Chantelle dialed her number. One ring... Two rings…five rings.

“Hi, you’ve reached Hell’s Bells; sorry I can’t answer right now. I’m either running from badasses, or fighting them. So please leave a message after the beep.”

Chantelle waited for the beep and then said, “Bells, it’s been over two weeks. Where are you? Hey, a lot of things have happened. Call me.”

She didn’t need to tell her who, or give her a number to call back. Arabella would know; that was her thing. She just knew. It made her a hot commodity amongst the world of Halflings.

Though ever since they had graduated from the Academy Bells has been on the run, but her encounters with immortals took place long before either of them went to the Academy. When Arabella was ten she saved the life of an immortal, she refused to tell anyone who it had been. Ever since she had been thrown into a world that few humans knew about.

Her cell chose that moment to ring and bring her out of her thoughts. The opening guitar riffs of Witchy Woman by the Eagles sounded loud in her quiet room and a smile crossed Chantelle’s lips.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Well, gee it’s nice to hear your voice too.” Bells sounded out of breath.

Chantelle didn’t like the sound of her voice; there was tension behind her words. So much that Chantelle could feel her unease right through the phone. She was running again, of that Chantelle was sure. But from who or what that was another story all together, no one really knew for sure what kept Arabella on the run.

“What kind of trouble are you in now?”

“Umm... well I might be running from some sicko who thinks I’m his mate.”

Running from her mate? Why the hell would she do that? He was the only one who would be able to protect her. Lord knows, she needed protecting. Arabella was the child of a prophecy; a dark prophecy. One that said only Bells had the power enough to see the outcome of a great battle that was meant to happen sometime in the future. So needless to say the good guys wanted her safe and the bad guys wanted her dead.

It was as simple as that. Or at least that was how she had explained it when they were last together. But now, Chantelle wasn’t so sure. She had spoken to Clotho and knew that there was more to all of this than Bells had let on.

“Why the hell are you running from him?”

Arabella wanted to laugh at her friend’s question. Soon, Chantelle wouldn’t be acting so incredulous. She just needed to wait and see. Her Fatum Anima would be coming soon and then the shoe would be on the other foot.

Besides Father Dugan wasn’t her mate and she was not going back to that hell he called a playroom ever again. She would find a way to end her life if he caught her again. Arabella couldn’t even think about what such an action on her part would do to her mate. She needed to remember what a year in the priest’s playroom had done to her and nothing else.

She wasn’t about to tell Chantelle what kind of trouble she was in. Knowing her friend the way she did, she knew Chantelle would be on the next plane out to save her. Then the both of them would be in over their heads. It was tough enough for Bells and she’d been running for two years. She couldn’t chance Chantelle’s life. There was no way she could keep them both safe.

“Why wouldn’t I?” When Chantelle answered with an exasperated sigh Bells continued, “Besides run a mile in my shoes and all that utter rot.”

“That is not an answer. Are you ok? I’ll come get you.”

A tree branch slapped her in the face as she ran through the dark woods. She had only just turned twenty-five, her body just now readying for the Emergence. So sometimes her new speed or strength surprised her.

“Nah, I’m fine. Now, listen I only called you back because you need to know something.”

Chantelle held her breath; she knew that if she had the nerve to tell Bells what she had been dreaming all these years she would have had some kind of answer. But she just couldn’t bring herself to tell another person. Enough people thought she was crazy.

“Ok.” She bit her lip as she waited for Bells to reveal some karmic destiny.

“First off, stop biting your lip, you’re going to need it soon enough.”

Chantelle quickly set her lip free from her teeth. A nervous laugh escaping her now reddened lips. “Is that the big reveal?”

Please God, let it be all she had to say was what she was thinking. Chantelle wasn’t ready to be part of Bells’ visions. She was known in immortal circles as Arabella the Foreseeing. Apropos if you asked Chantelle, because Bells could see way before any shit hit the fan.

“No it isn’t. Now listen to me, I don’t have much time. Deep inside the Serpent’s Den, the emerging Valkyrie warrior will meet her destiny. There she will be claimed by a giant.”

Cryptic much? That premonition didn’t make any sense. How could a Valkyrie warrior meet her destiny at a Serpent’s Den? And who the hell was she calling a Valkyrie? Or a giant for that matter?

“Um… Bells you’re a little fuzzy there. There aren’t any more Valkyries. There hasn’t been a new one made in over a millennium.”

“Gotta go. Sweet dreams.”

Chantelle was about to say something else but the phone went dead in her hand. “Now, how do you like that?”

But before she could call Bells back her cell buzzed. The screen lit up to display a message from the Foreseeing one herself. ‘Don’t call me; I’ll call you.’

Arabella knew she shouldn’t have called Chantelle back, but the vision had demanded it. She needed to tell her friend what was on the horizon. It hadn’t mattered that it would cost her time and energy, when a premonition came it had to be delivered. She just hoped that everything would work out for Chantelle. Bells had seen two outcomes to the destiny of her friend. One had everyone alive and well. The other; well she didn’t even want to think about it.

Pushing the power off button to her cell, she took off toward the abandoned car lot. If she could only get there before Father Dugan caught up with her, she would be safe. She could hot wire a car and get to where Chantelle needed her to be.