Page 103 of Heart of Iron
They both turned toward him.
“There’s nothin’ in your books and Will don’t remember,” he said.“But there’s some in London right now who might know how to deal with this.”
“The Scandinavians,” Honoria whispered.She clapped a hand to her head.“Why didn’t I think of them?”
“You’re distracted.”
“Are they likely to help?”Honoria looked up at Will.
He frowned.“I barely know ’em.But they might.”
“You’ll have to go,” Honoria demanded.
“I’m not leavin’ her.”
“This is her best chance,” she stressed.“Please, Will.You know I’ll look after her.I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
He wavered.Honoria would do her best, but he could hardly bear to leave, knowing that Lena might… Baring his teeth, he nodded.“It’s her best chance.I’ll fetch one of ’em.”
“I wish that didn’t sound as if you were goin’ to drag ’em ’ere, willin’ or not,” Blade muttered.
***
Will pounded on the door of the manor that the Norwegians were leasing for the duration of their stay.Rain dripped incessantly, tangling in his hair and running down his face.The journey into the city had been a mindless one.He could barely remember any of it.
Glancing at his watch every few seconds did little to alleviate the tension riding him.It had taken him twenty minutes.Twenty minutes in which he didn’t know what was happening to Lena.
Footsteps finally sounded in the entrance and the door opened on a harried-looking butler.“Yes?”
He pushed forward, into the doorway.“Is the Lady Astrid in?”
“I’m afraid she’s not at liberty—”
He had the man by the throat in seconds.“You go and fetch her,” he said quietly.“Or I’ll rip your heart out through your nostrils, you understand?”
The man went sprawling as Will released him and scrambled back across the marble tiles.
“What’s going on here?”someone barked.
The Fenrir stepped out of the shadows of the library, clad in his court attire.The wolf fur was secured around his broad shoulders with a polished bead of amber, and his gray beard and hair had been combed.The menace in his eye nearly threw Will over the edge.
Don’t look him in the eye.Deep breath…
“You dare come into my house like this?”the Fenrir asked in a deadly soft voice.“You dare treat my servants like this?”
“Uncle.”Astrid’s voice.Soothing and calm.She strode to Magnus’s side and eased a hand over his arm.“Look at him.He’s barely containing himself.Something’s set him off.”With an appeasing look, she turned to Will.“What is it?”
He took a deep breath, overwhelmed by the scent of too many of his kind.“It’s Lena.”
“Your woman?”She frowned, then understanding dawned.“She’s got the loupe, hasn’t she?”
“I were only five.I don’t remember how to deal with it, how to help her—”
“May not be any help, lad,” Magnus grumbled, subsiding.He stroked his beard.“She’s the small girl?”
Both he and Astrid exchanged glances.
“She’s strong willed,” Will blurted.“She’ll fight.”
