Dead Wrath (13 page)

Frigga watched, smoothing the front of her silk gown, her expression a combination of concern and a little pride. "Just picture the place from the last time you were there," she said. It was totally unnecessary, but I figured she needed to say something to make herself stay calm. I closed my eyes, gripping the spear tighter in my fist. "Oh, and just so you know, it only works for those who have Odin's blood running in their veins. So nobody but you can use the spear."

My eyelids shot open at her words. Did she have to tell me that the moment I was preparing to use the spear? What if they were all wrong and I didn't have Odin's blood running in my veins?

"So what happens if someone does try to use it and they aren't part of Odin's bloodline?" I asked, already fearing the answer.

"Oh, you should not worry about it. But if you want to know, the user will be turned to stone and only Odin can change them back to normal."

I stared at Frigga, so shocked I didn't even think about choking or spluttering. I remained frozen in place, the ongoing fear that maybe they were all wrong and I wasn't really a daughter of Odin rose within me.

"Brynhildr," Frigga admonished me, her voice rising with disapproval. "Do not tell me you doubt Odin is your father." I looked away and remained silent. How could I deny it when it was true? I'd always doubted and now I had to face my doubts. Then I lifted my eyes and stared at her sadly. "Come now, Brynhildr. Do you really think the All-Father would have claimed you if you were not his child?"

I shook my head. "Maybe he is just mistaken. What if he is mistaken and I do use the spear? What happens then, if I'm turned to stone?"

For a moment, Frigga seemed lost for words. Then she huffed, "Don't be silly, my dear. Of course Odin is not mistaken. This is just the reason he reminded me to tell you how to use it. Do you really think he sent me here so I could help you turn yourself into a pretty statue?"

I sighed. "What if he believes it, truly believes it, but it's not true? Even gods can be wrong." My voice was small, no longer a warrior, no longer a powerful Valkyrie.

Just a girl filled with doubts.

And finally, the goddess was stuck for words too. She shook her head sadly. "I am sorry, child. We all know you are his blood. How can you not feel it in your heart?"

"I want to. I truly do. But something inside just doesn't want to let me." I shook my head, then watched the goddess as she stared at me. Her face was a myriad of emotions: sorrow, fear, disappointment. All the things I wouldn't want her to feel if those emotions were connected to me. And in that moment, I made a decision. Perhaps it was high time I began to trust in them. I sighed and the breath left my lungs until they was empty, and when I inhaled again, I tried to infuse my breath with positivity and self-esteem and above all, belief in who I was.

Siri stood beside me the entire time. She'd dropped her hand from my arm when Frigga had mentioned stone, and it dawned on me that I was taking a passenger with me. And despite every drop of belief I could gather, what if I turned her to stone too?

I glanced at Siri, then back at Frigga, who immediately understood what I was thinking. "No, Brynhildr," she said. "Nothing will happen to the passenger. If the user is turned to stone, the passenger will survive simply because they are not in contact with the spear. So no matter what, Siri is safe."

I bobbed my head up then down, the movement more a short series of jerks. "Okay, then. Let's get this show on the road."

"Are you sure, Bryn?" Siri asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.

I nodded. "It's about time I faced my fear, and though most people only face them in their minds, I face it in reality. And there's nothing I can do to change that. Believe me, these past months have proved it well enough." And with those words, I felt a little more determined. I decided I should trust in Odin, and despite the fear of putting my life in someone else's hands, I was compelled to try.

"Ready, Siri?" I asked, injecting a little nonchalance into my voice.

"Ready," she said with a small curve of her lips. She didn't have anything to fear, yet she was still afraid for me. In that moment, I liked her even more.

Then I gripped the staff, stamped it three times on the ground, and closed my eyes, this time determined to succeed. This was it.

Go hard or die trying.

I pictured the glassed-in reception area of the New York HQ offices. The
gold lettering on the doors that said Heimar International Intelligence Agency.
The peach fabric on the walls, the pale cream couches, and even the blond receptionist's desk.

I felt a pull on my fingers, as if some kind of force were trying to swallow me alive. My heart rate spiked. What if it was just my fingers turning to stone? Then I pushed the thought out of my head and concentrated on the image of the reception area.

Suddenly, I felt lightheaded and off balance, but though I wanted to open my eyes, I didn't.

Only when Siri gasped did I crack my lids open to see we had arrived.

And I was relieved to be alive.

I scanned the room and it remained exactly as it had looked the last time. Even the blond receptionist Betty, generous cleavage and all, sat at her desk. Only this time she was staring at me, mouth hanging open.

Siri's eyes met mine and we both burst out laughing. My hands were shaking and I gripped tighter onto the spear. Now staring at it, I couldn't understand how I'd feared its power, or more importantly, feared Odin's belief in me. I shook the spear out and waited as it slid closed before tucking it into the holster at my shoulders.

The sound of the elevator arriving drew my attention through the glass doors. The doors opened, depositing my team onto our floor. There were double takes all around. Their expressions were priceless.

"How did you...?" asked Aimee, pointing at us and then aiming a finger at the elevator.

Joshua gave me a quizzical look, then shook his head as he pushed the glass door open and walked up to me. "Now do you want to explain how you got here before us or do we line up and shake it out of you?" he asked, laughing, his gorgeous green eyes curious and amused.

"Here's the reason." I pointed a thumb at the spear behind me. "It's how Odin travels through the realms without using the Bifrost."

Aidan snorted. "Does Heimdall know about this?" he asked wryly, and everybody laughed at that.

"Yes, he was the one who imbued the bridge of the gods into the spear for Odin."

"Wow," said Joshua, staring at me. "Did that thing really bring you here?"

All I did was nod. I understood they were all curious, but I'd wasted enough time already and wanted to get moving. "Right, I think we'd better get down to business." I turned on my heel, giving Betty a sharp look before rounding her desk. I pushed open the inner door and slipped inside the office.

We were hit by the low hum of machines, the tapping of keyboards, and the odd voice drifting toward us as someone spoke on the phone or to a cubicle neighbor.

Anyone walking into this office would see nothing other than your standard office environment. Nobody would ever guess this was the hub of information being fed to Asgard, a fabled Norse realm.

I shook my head a little, then walked down the main aisle toward Erik's office. Before we got to it, he was already opening his door, a big grin on his face. He'd clearly been advised of our strange entrance by the ditzy receptionist, what with his mischievous expression.

Erik was tall and slim, his Ethiopian genes showing clearly in his coal-dark skin and high cheekbones. When I got to him, he grabbed my hand and shook it gently but firmly. I was so glad I'd received this man's respect.

"Welcome, Brynhildr. It has been much too long."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

I shook his hand with equal warmth. "I do think it has been too long, Erik." I smiled as he waved us down the passage toward the large meeting room. Inside, we all took our seats in plush armchairs around a gigantic gleaming oak table. Erik paused outside to speak to a warrior seated at a nearby cubicle. His black hair was closely cropped, marine style, the einherjar gleam giving his dark caramel skin a golden sheen.

The staff of the New York headquarters was made up of a combination of einherjar and Valkyries in various levels of authority. The warrior got to his feet and hurried down the isle as Erik entered the room and closed the door. He strode to the end of the table where stacks of files were grouped and without a word began to pass them down.

I picked mine up and flipped the file open. "Is this the mission location?" I asked, staring at a castle that looked like it belonged in the middle of England somewhere, all gigantic rough stones and moss with towering parapets and rectangular arrow slits dotting the walls.

"Yes, this is the home of Lord Andrew McClellan. He is a scientist and a member of the British parliament. He's been identified as a key player in the sale of a particularly deadly large-scale deployment virus." My blood ran cold at the thought. What was Loki planning? "We have received information that this particular virus was chosen for destruction, identified as being far too deadly to remain in use even just for experimentation. How Loki's agents found out about this I have little idea, but in any event, our informant has confirmed that Lord McClellan changed his mind and placed the virus on the international market, asking for bidders. He has also confirmed that the lord's attitude and bearing has changed markedly in recent weeks. He spends little time with his family and has not attended any personal social events."

"His behavior sounds like he's been replaced by a frost giant," I said almost to myself.

"Yes, exactly. Either that or he's being convinced to ensure the sale goes through."

"And we need to find out if he's either replaced or convinced," I said, tapping a finger at the photo of the lord.

His balding hair, round face, and smiling eyes belied a cheerful type of man, and I could easily picture him in a kilt. Now it was likely he was either dead, imprisoned, or being controlled. We needed to get a move on.

"Any reason our London team doesn't want to handle it?"

"Too many recognizable faces. The London team has come into contact with Loki's agents on various occasions."

"I see." I nodded, then pushed back my seat, saying, "Then we should be getting to it."

Erik's response was interrupted by the receptionist, who knocked twice and then entered pushing a low table covered in tablecloths and piled with cups, mugs, plates, an urn, and a multitude of crockery and cutlery. The dark warrior followed her, pushing a second low table, this one filled with finger food: mini hamburgers, small pastries, scones, and tiny little cinnamon buns.

The arrival of the food put pause to my decision to leave as the team rose and headed for the tables.

As I watched them make their selections, pour their drinks, and enjoy the meal, I paused beside Erik. "Thank you for thinking about food for us. We all missed lunch in the rush to leave."

He inclined his head with a small smile. "I've done field work before. I am well aware how often team members forget about eating. Sustenance is important, and I think it would be good that you and your team get some before you head out. You can never tell how long it will be before you get the chance to eat properly again." He pointed at the food like a bossy father, and I grinned then gave him a small salute before stepping into the fray.

After we'd sated our hunger, I went to Erik's office next door to let him know we were leaving.

"Very well, Bryn. But before you leave, I am sending one operative with you."

"Oh? I'm not so sure about that, Erik. I think I already have a pretty full house," I said. It was obvious to me that my team was about the largest we had, but I couldn't see any of them happily moving elsewhere.

"Oh, don't get me wrong." Erik lifted a hand. "You probably have enough manpower, but I'm giving you brainpower. This particular warrior is a total geek and a world-class hacker. Combine your observation skills, your Asgardian powers, and Derek's supreme PC skills and you should be undefeatable."

"So he won't be with the team on the actual mission?"

Erik shook his head, then looked up to peer through the glass wall of his office. The dark head popped up again, then hurried forward, only to hesitate and turn back around, pause, then spin on a heel and head for Erik's office. I wanted to roll my eyes.