Page 127 of Storm of Fury
And what will you give him? More betrayal? More lies?
Bryn slipped from the blankets once more, moving as silently as she could. There was no point trying to sleep again. The future he promised wasn’t the one she’d spent all these years fighting for. If she chose him, then she could never return to Valhalla. She would never clear her name and fulfill her mother’s legacy.
And it ached.
That the choice should be so sharp-edged.
To have one meant losing the other.
“He’s mortal,” she whispered to herself. And she would never age. No, she’d watch him die. Watch him grow to hate her slowly over the years. Watch any children they had wither and fall to the sharp edge of mortality.
Bryn glanced over her shoulder toward him.
The kindest thing she could ever do would be to leave him.
Before this evolved into something she couldn’t escape.
Twenty-Four
The storm finally abated.
Tormund shoved the door of the shepherd’s hut open, blinking at the shock of blinding white snow that greeted him. He ventured out, wading through the snow. Everything was quiet and still. Snow slid off a nearby fir, but not a single creature stirred out there.
“Well, there goes our trail,” he grumbled, turning around and almost walking directly into a half-nakeddreki.
“Rargh!” Sirius yelled in his face.
Tormund staggered back with a cry, landing on his ass in the snow. His heart leapt through the roof of his mouth, and he gaped at the one-eyed prince.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he yelled.
Sirius was laughing too hard to answer. Behind him, Marduk merely shook his head, though his lips twitched with a faint smile as he held out a hand to haul Tormund to his feet.
“I have been waiting to do that since we landed!” Sirius howled with laughter.
Bryn exploded from the hut, flames licking up the sword in her hand. She paused when she saw their companions.
“Mother ofJesus.” Tormund clapped a hand to his chest and turned away before he did something foolish, like drop his axe on his own foot.
“When did you two arrive?” Bryn lowered the sword, and extinguished it.
“Fifteen minutes ago,” Sirius said, taking his time and stretching. “I was going to kick the door in and scare you, but Marduk reminded me that that wouldn’t have been very polite. Besides, your mortal warrior was whispering some sweet, sweet words in your ear at that stage and I thought we’d best leave the lad to—"
“Were you trying to give me a heart seizure?” Tormund snapped, pointing at the smug warrior. “We’ve been tracking your cursed Keepers for days. I thought you were them!”
“Do I look like a tattooed virgin who’s not allowed to even look at his own cock?” Sirius sneered.
Tormund blinked. “What?”
“The Keepers are fanatics,” Marduk said. “They’re not all virgins, though they’re supposed to avoid the company of men or women. Mates and bedmates are a distraction from their sacred duty.”
“It’s no wonder they’re fucking miserable,” Sirius replied.
Tormund eyed the bastard. “Ah. You’ve been snuggled up in Malin’s arms. That’s why you’re in such a good mood. Where is Haakon?”
“With Árdís,” Marduk replied. “Haakon’s got her locked away in some little hut near Rurik’s volcano.” He shook his head. “My spoiled older sister is living in ahut. It must be love.”
“It’s love.” Tormund sighed under his breath. “It gets a little sickening at times, but it’s better than seeing him weep manfully into his ale.” He straightened. “Did you find the queen?”
