Sun's Tear (The Valkyrie's Passion Book 2): A Valkyrie/Shifter Romance (6 page)

Loki nodded.

“And...I have to make a choice. To restore Sol's life by...killing the...” My eyes widened. “No.”

“To restore the Sun's Tear, you will need to sacrifice your fire,” Loki told me. “And then...”

“Magnus dies.” I trembled. “And if I don't find the Sun's Tear, Odin will steal my fire from me anyways.” Tears filled my eyes.

“I am sorry.” Loki's voice was so tender. His finger brushed away a falling tear.

I hugged him. I pressed my face into his chest. I couldn't help it. My body shook. How was I getting out of this? How could I save the man I loved? Loki's arms wrapped around me, cradling me with his strength.

“What do I do?” I croaked. “I can't let him die. Not again. I can't bare to see his body lying on the ground, staring sightlessly up at the sky. It almost broke me last time. This isn't fair.”

“Life seldom is,” Loki whispered, his hand stroking my back.

I closed my eyes as he cradled me against his chest. Maybe I could trust Loki. His heart beat against my cheek.

“But remember, you have a choice. There is a reason Odin does not want you to hear the prophecy.”

I froze. “Yes, you mentioned something. The words were...a little confusing. Something about using it as a weapon and...slaying my master.” I lifted my face to look at Loki. “You mean, I can kill Odin?”

The Sun's Tear is a powerful artifact. It can restore Sol's life and let the Aesir continue to have their power and control mankind from the shadows, or you can break the chains. Free yourself, your cousin and sister Valkyries, and all of mankind from Odin and the other gods' plotting.”

“Aren't you one of the gods?”

“I was never very good at it,” he admitted. “I'm a trickster god. Controlling the fates of billions is no fun. Besides, someone had to be their villain, to heap all the blame and misfortune upon.”

“Maybe...you are a hero,” I whispered.

I could save Magnus. I could free us both. I just had to find the Tear and use it as a weapon. I could kill Odin and break our chains. The one-eyed god let my parents die so I would fulfill the prophecy. Wolf-orphaned daughter. That was why he didn't need my parents any longer. They had to die. Loki was right.

Loki may claim to tell lies, but everything he told me was the truth.

“Do you really think I could be a hero?” Loki asked after a moment. His eyes grew sad. “Do you think there is something about me that is good? That I'm worth being saved?”

“Yes,” I nodded. My heart beat faster. He was broken inside. This poor man. Had he been convinced he was a villain? Odin probably always told him he was worthless. Manipulating poor Loki the same way he did with me. “You helped me get out of Utgard. You've given me a way to save Magnus. You, Loki, are good. You can be a hero if you want to be.”

A smile crossed his lips, not hungry or confident, but one of pure joy. His mask had slipped off his handsome face. I stared into the eyes of the true man and his vulnerable heart. My breath quickened. I wanted to take away his pain.

If only I hadn't met Magnus first, I could—

Loki kissed me. His lips were hot on mine.

Magnus

I glanced at the clubhouse door again. I wanted to rush out there and talk to Raven. I had to know what Odin told her and make her understand that the club's importance in my life didn't make my love for her less. But things were happening. I was the club president. I had responsibilities.

As free as I was, even I had chains that bound me to my brothers. They were chains I willingly accepted and I wouldn't willingly break them. She had to understand that. It didn't mean I didn't love her.

I would make her understand.

“I think that's all the details,” I said, standing. I was impatient to go to her. “Thomas, take the men you need and get the guns. We'll meet at the garage in an hour and get ready.”

Thomas nodded as he folded up his map.

My brothers were excited, eager for blood. They were wolves, and wolves didn't roll over when they were attacked. Wolves hunted down their enemy and made sure they could never be hurt again. The Blood Eagles should have followed the truce. Griff would regret this until the day he died.

Which might be tonight.

My dad taught me to never start a fight. “When you throw the first punch, you've already proven the weakness of your argument,” he had told me when I was a youth, a cigarette clenched in the corner of his mouth. “Threats and violence are always tools for the weak. But if your opponent throws the first blow, son, you make sure he can't throw a second. If you are forced to violence, make it overwhelming violence. Make sure your enemy understands the full strength of your arguments.”

It was time to educate the Blood Eagles.

I was the first one out of the clubhouse. Madge, Big Hoss's ol' lady, walked up to me, her arms folded about her chest. “I need to talk to you about your woman, Magnus.”

“Where is she?” I asked, scanning around the bar. She wasn't waiting with the other sheep, the barflies that were attracted to the lifestyle and dangerous men, each hoping to be an ol' lady.

“In the parking lot,” Madge answered.

“There's some suit out there with her,” Wanda Jean, a young barfly that had tried to entice me with her poisoned honey on more than one occasion, blurted out, “and she seemed mighty sweet on him.”

“What?” I asked.

“Yeah, that's what I wanted to tell you, though more delicately than some.” Madge shot a hard look at Wanda Jean. “Sorry, Magnus.”

My long strides carried me across the bar. My stomach twisted. Who could be out there talking with Raven? And what did Wanda Jean mean “Raven seemed sweet on him.” Raven wasn't that type of girl. And who did she know that wore suits?

Was it Odin?

I threw open the bar door. I staggered. A handsome man in a suit had his arms wrapped around Raven, and his lips locked against hers. Raven broke away from the man, almost falling back, her face scarlet.

“Magnus,” she squeaked when she saw me.

“What is going on?” I demanded as I pounded across the pavement. Who was this man in the tailored suit? He wasn't Odin. He had two eyes. They fixed on me, a triumphant smile on his lips. I snarled and lunged for him.

“Magnus!” Raven shouted. “Stop!”

My hands went to seize the man, but he somehow slithered out of the way. “What the fuck do you think you're doing to my woman?”

“Magnus,” Raven repeated. “That's Loki.”

My fist clenched harder. In Utgard, Raven had been breathy after Loki visited her in the house while I was out scouting in the snow. Had he kissed her then, too? The wolf snarled inside of me. I wanted to put on the wolf's cloak and tear this bastard apart.

“Raven, it was nice seeing you again,” Loki said and vanished.

“Magnus.” Raven grabbed my arm. “Calm down.”

I turned on her, my blood screaming through my veins. “Calm down? You were kissing him.”

Raven flinched. Her eyes were red, her cheeks stained with tears. “He...kissed me. I pushed away. I did. You just...came out at the wrong moment.”

“Is there a right moment to see your woman kissing another man?” I demanded.

The bar doors opened. My club and the women spilled out, watching us.

“It's not like that,” Raven protested. “Okay?”

“Right,” I sneered.

She drew herself up. “You have to believe me, Magnus. He kissed me. I didn't want him to.”

She lied. Her nipples were hard. Her cheeks flushed. My fist clenched. How could this happen?

“And what did he want? Besides trying to steal you away from me?” My words came out as a snarl.

Raven didn't flinch. “To tell me what Odin is really up to. Not that you care. You're too busy with your
club.
”

The way she said it, implying that damned word—
silly
. I wanted to seize her shoulders and shake her until she understood.

“Those are my brothers.” I pointed. “They mean as much to me as you do. And they're hurting. They are in trouble. I have a responsibility to them. We are going to war. I do not need you distracting me.”

“I'm only trying to save your life,” she threw back. “Maybe you'll care about that.”

“What?” I demanded.

“Sol was killed, swallowed up by the wolf Skoll. If I don't find the Sun's Tear and restore Sol to life, Odin will take away my fires.” She held her arms up, they were covered in goosebumps. “I'm cold right now. He's already stolen some of my fires. And when they're gone, you die.”

I froze. “Odin told you he would kill me if you didn't find the Sun's Tear?”

“No,” she admitted. “He told me that Sol was the embodiment of the sun and the source of my fire. With her dead, my power dwindles. It was Loki that told me the truth.”

My anger flared back to life. “And Loki can be trusted? The god of lies and tricks? Not a truthful word falls from his lips.”

“He told me plenty of truths,” Raven hissed. “He told me about the prophecy. I'm the only one that can touch the Sun's Tear. Because I'm special.” Tears filled her eyes. “Because...Odin let my parents be killed by Fenrir so I would fit the prophecy.”

“What?” I asked, shaking my head.

“The prophecy called me wolf-orphaned daughter,” I told him. “If Odin saved my parents, then I wouldn't fit it. Then I couldn't fix Sol when this happened. And he needs her restored. She's the source of the Aesir's power. It's what lets him control mankind and chains us to him.”

“And Loki told you all of this?” Magnus demanded. “Did you ever think he was lying?”

“I did. But...he convinced me otherwise.”

“How? By kissing you?”

“You're just jealous,” she snapped. “I love you, Magnus, not Loki. I don't know why he kissed me. Maybe he misunderstood my compassion for something more. He's a wounded man. He just wants to be good, but everyone tells him he's bad.”

My skin crawled from the way she talked about him.

“We'll talk about this later,” I growled. “I have things to do.”

“Things more important than your life?” she demanded. “Stop being a jealous, little boy and listen to what I'm saying.”

I swelled up. “And maybe when you stop being a dewy-eyed girl swept up by a handsome face I'll listen to what you have to say.”

“Magnus,” she shouted as I walked away. “Don't do this.”

I ignored her. I couldn't deal with this right now. I didn't know what to think. Was she telling me the truth? Had Loki seduced her? What happened in the house while I was scouting through Utgard? Could Raven be that good of a liar?

I didn't want to believe it.

I straddled my bike. The engine rumbled to life. I didn't glance at Raven as I roared off, followed by my brothers. I could feel their eyes on me. They were wondering why I was so weak. They wouldn't have tolerated their women kissing another guy.

But I had to believe that Raven was telling the truth. Loki was poisoning her with lies, turning her against Odin. What for? What was the trickster's game?

Why did this all have to happen at the same time? Fucking Blood Eagles.

~   ~   ~

The Thief of the Brisingamen stared at the Blood Eagles as they drank from the blood-filled chalice. They were no longer men. The spirit of rage filled them. The potent drug mixed in with the chalice, made from henbane, would kill their fear while the magics binding the potion would give them strength and vitality.

They would be berserkers and unstoppable, donning the cloak of their spirit animal.

Griff walked up to the Thief, lit by the glowing light of the Sun's Tear. “The Wolves are moving out. You sure they'll hit the brothel?”

“Yes,” the Thief smiled around his thick tusk. “Everything is going according to my plan.” With a wave of his hand, he conjured a map of Covington. He tapped the road leading up to the brothel. “They will ambush your men here.”

Griff smiled. He had already drunk a potion, different than his men. He would be a powerful beast when he transformed. “Tonight, we'll skin a lot of wolves.”

The Blood Eagles crowed in exultation.

Raven

I folded my arms across my chest as Magnus sped off with his stupid, silly club. He was just being jealous. I couldn't believe him. His life was in danger. We had a chance to be free of Odin and live our lives in peace, and he was more interested in going off to war against those stupid Blood Eagles.

There were more important things happening.

What did he have to be jealous of? Loki kissed me. I didn't ask for it. I didn't mean to enjoy it. I broke the kiss as soon as I could gather my thoughts and act. It was just bad luck Magnus came out right then. I licked my lips.

They were still warm from Loki's kiss.

Why did Loki have to kiss me? I was just trying to be friendly. I wasn't inviting the man to kiss me. Loki clearly overreacted. He probably never had a woman talk to him like a person. He was probably just used to bimbos throwing themselves at his handsome jaw.

Well, I wasn't a bimbo. I had Magnus. I didn't need another hunky man to hold me. Even if Loki's arms were so comforting when I was crying, his chest so broad, and his lips so strong.

No. Stop thinking about the kiss. Being mad at Magnus wasn't an excuse to dream about Loki.

Eyes were on me. All the women from the bar stood out front, their arms folded as they glared at me. They were led by Madge. I could feel their disapproval. They all thought I was two-timing Magnus. Like I would ever do that.

I loved Magnus.

That was why he had me so infuriated. I wanted to summon my sword and carve his stupid truck to pieces. That would make me feel a lot better. Why did he have to be such a pigheaded, jealous idiot?

Gravel crunched. Madge strode to me.

“What?” I demanded, my words full of acid.

“What is wrong with you?” she hissed at me.

“Nothing happened,” I told her. “The guy kissed me.”

She poked me in the chest. Hard. My breastbone ached. “Your man is about to fight those bastard Blood Eagles, and you decide now is the time to start drama with him? He needs to have his head clear, little miss thang.”

“I told you not to call me that,” I spat. “And you don't understand what is happening. There are things happening that are far more important than their fight with the Blood Eagles.”

Madge shook her head. “Our men are not like those weak pussies you dated in the city. They are
men.
They fight for what is theirs. They will not back down. They will teach those motherfuckers not to mess with us. You need to understand that is more important than whatever silly, little worry has popped into your pretty, little head.”

“His life is in danger,” I snarled at her. “That's what is more important than this.”

“And you want him to flee.” Madge sighed. “Do you even understand who he is? He's the head wolf, the Alpha. He leads them. He can't back down no matter how scared you are. If you can't handle this, then leave. Let him go. Don't try to make him weak with your fears. You need to support him.”

“You really don't understand.” I want to slap the condescension out of her words. “I know he's not in any danger from the Blood Eagles. There are other things going on. Bigger things.”

“Honey, I don't know what you are smoking, but it's not just your man in danger. The rest of us ain't gonna tolerate your drama. Not right now.” She poked me again.

I shoved her back my anger boiling through me. Magnus, Odin, and Madge were all warring inside of me, driving me to a frenzy. I could just summon my sword and...

I froze. I couldn't do that. What was wrong with me?
I couldn't stay here. I needed to think. To figure out what to do. I gave the women my own glare—I wasn't intimidated by them, I had fought Fenrir—before yanking open the door to the truck.

“Yes, that's for the best, little miss thang,” Madge snapped. “Go back to your city. Let Magnus be free of your fear. He can't afford it.”

I slammed it shut and started the engine with a violent twist of the keys. The woman did not understand what was going on. And Magnus was too pigheaded to listen to reason. Why did he have to see Loki kiss me?

Why did I have to like it?

I floored the gas peddle. Gravel sprayed beneath the truck as I backed out of the parking space and whipped the wheel around. I put the truck into drive and sprayed more gravel as I raced to the road. I barely even stopped at the intersection before I barreled down the street.

I did not understand where I was driving. Tears burned my eyes. I should go after Magnus. I should find him and try to calmly, and rationally, explain why he was being the world's biggest idiot. He would understand.

No. He wouldn't. He was angry with me. All because Loki had to kiss me. I should never have let Loki hug me. I should never have lowered my guard. I led him on. I made Loki think I was available.

And then, in my moment of weakness, Magnus witnessed us. I couldn't lie to myself. I had enjoyed the kiss more than I wanted to believe. If I wasn't in love with Magnus, I was sure the kiss would have led to something more.

Flashes of me beneath Loki fired through my mind. He was on top of me, in me. We gasped and shuddered, caught up in the throes of passion. The kind of passion only Magnus had given me before. A powerful ache went through my body.

I wanted Loki.

A sob burst from my lips. I shuddered and shook. The world grew blurry. I didn't want to desire Loki. I just wanted Magnus. He was my Einherjer. My protector. I needed him, and he would rather go play outlaw biker.

I wiped at my tears. I couldn't see the road well. Crying while driving was dangerous.

I pulled off onto the shoulder, put the truck in park, and pressed my head against the steering wheel as I cried. The horn honked, startling me. What was I doing? I leaned back in my seat and wiped at my eyes.

The warmth on my face was stronger. I had moved closer to the Sun's Tear.

Had I gone this direction on purpose? I had to find it. But what would I do? Was Loki telling the truth? Magnus disagreed, and he was usually a smart guy. He had the perceptive heart of a poet. But he was so angry. He wasn't thinking straight; he was just jealous of Loki and the stolen kiss.

So it was really who did I trust more: Loki or Odin.

Loki never sent a monster to kill the man I loved. He never stranded me in Utgard. He never called me his slave. And he never threatened to let Magnus die if I didn't obey. All Loki did was give me advice and tell me the truth.

I was special. I could change the world. I could make sure the Aesir and Odin's power continued, or I could change things. I could set myself and all the other Valkyrie and their Einherjer free of their forced servitude to Odin.

I would avenge my parents. I thought I had when I killed Fenrir, but it left me empty. It wasn't as satisfying as it should have been. Did I always know, deep inside, that Fenrir was just the weapon of Odin to make sure I became an orphan?

I knew from Magnus that Fenrir had been bound by powerful chains. When he killed my parents, those chains had to have been broken. How did Fenrir even break his chains? How did Odin arrive just in the nick of time to save me? It was such a coincidence. But if he had unleashed Fenrir and sent the wolf to go kill my parents then waited until they were dead before saving me, he would have ensured I fulfilled the prophecy.

New tears fell.

He was a monster. I had googled Odin after the attack. He was a god of battle and bloodshed. In a place called Upsalla, Sweden, there was a temple where humans were sacrificed to him. Death followed him around like a whipped dog hoping for scraps from his abusive master.

He killed Magnus once. Odin wouldn't hesitate to kill him again to restore Sol's life and stop the Thief.

I really didn't have a choice. There was only one way to save Magnus. I had to find the Sun's Tear, and I had to kill Odin. I was a Valkyrie, a creature of death, too. Some of the stories about Valkyrie weren't pretty.

I took a deep breath and started the truck. I would retrieve the Sun's Tear on my own. Magnus could go play his silly game with his bike club. I would save his life. Then we could talk and get this whole kiss misunderstanding straightened
out
.

The Sun's Tear seemed to call to me. The Tear wanted me to find it. I was the chosen Valkyrie to wield it.

I put the truck into drive, flipped on my blinker, and pulled off onto the road. I drove deeper into the woods. The road bent and wound, taking me closer and closer to the Sun's Tear. Trees covered the rolling hills the road snaked through. The sun set behind me, painting long shadows across the road.

Motorcycle engines roared ahead. From around the corner, a pack of bikers raced down the oncoming lane. My stomach chilled. At the lead was Talon, the asshole biker that had tried to assault me a week ago.

He roared past, followed by more of his silly club. The Blood Eagles all looked so tough and serious, but they were just boys playing a stupid game.

The tiniest, teeniest smidgen of guilt twisted my stomach. Did that make Magnus a little boy? No, he couldn't be. He was a man with a capital M. He had proved that to me. He was fearless, strong, passionate, and more. But then why did he play at this game?

I watched the bikers in my driver-side mirror. It hit me. I had called Magnus's club silly. How could I do something like that? His club was important to him. He was preparing to fight these Blood Eagles. And I belittled it.

I groaned. I had planned on making Magnus apologize for being a pigheaded idiot, but maybe I was a little wrong, too.

Indecision wracked me. Should I go back? Should I apologize to him and be supportive like Madge wanted me to?

But the Tear's warmth beckoned me. I had to retrieve it. I could do it on my own. Magnus would take care of his club. Later, after I saved his life, I would apologize to him. The club was important to him.

I reached for my pocket to pull out my phone. It wasn't in there. I frowned. I had thought I had it with me when I left the garage to go to the bar. It wasn't like me to forget it. But I had been in a panic, needing to speak to Magnus.

“Do I turn around?”

The bikers were driving so fast. I couldn't get ahead of them. There was no way I could warn Magnus. He would have to handle them himself. I had complete faith he could.

I kept driving.