I know nothing but pain. Kalfu continues to use the doll to inflict injuries. My body shivers uncontrollably as I heave again. Any food has long since left my body, and stomach acid burns my already raw throat. My tears stopped hours ago, as did my screams. My mind is trying desperately to drag me away, but whoever has trapped me here won’t allow it.

I wonder for a moment if it was the fact that I gave them a way to possibly find him, or if it was simply seeing the memory of his child and knowing his failure of her? Not that it matters really. I picture her in my mind, her dark hair braided down her back. Son of a bitch, I’m so fucking stupid. Of course he would want to see my pain, not just in a dream but here in this world he has created. This place that was once a haven to me turned into something so dark and detestable that I will never find peace in my home again. My eyes turn to him, Gici Awas, the bear, and he sees the knowledge in my eyes. His lips draw back in a hellish grin as he lumbers to his feet.

It is time then… So many things I will miss but I welcome the death he brings, the freedom from pain. I have only a few regrets -- most are simply the missing out on something, not taking that leap of faith. But what an epic adventure it has been and I had a blast. I know my Druids are going to help save the world, standing beside my girls against Odin and this asshole. My lips curve, the blood cracking and flaking away some as I picture Grand-mere waiting for me. A deep growl rumbles from him at my smile, so I smile bigger to goad him.

Kalfu begins to protest, words like ‘promised’ and ‘right’ falling from his mouth. His sharpened nail digs into the doll as my body arches from the bolt of agony that tears through it. He disappears, as do those other creatures he had conjured up. There is nothing but the sound of wood crackling and the sucking of the mud at his huge paws. He takes his time, drawing it all out.

Halting a few steps away, he rises up on his hind legs, towering over me, mouth open wide as he roars in anger. I’m morbidly curious about how he will do it. My mind wanders as I ponder the options -- claws ripping me apart, or long, yellowed teeth tearing into me, or both.

His hot breath puffs over my face. The smell is putrid, and I gag as I turn my head to the right. I keep it turned as in my peripheral I see the platter-sized paw swing up and back. My muscles lock as I wait for the killing blow. And wait.

“NO!” It is the voice I heard in the darkness and I slowly turn, looking where the bear had loomed over me. A man, or rather, a God stands in his place, his face painted with leopard spots. A headdress with long, bright feathers sits on his head. A breastplate of bones with large round metal plates running down the middle is the only thing he is wearing besides a breechcloth. I finally notice his eyes locked on the ground and look down.

She is ripped open, almost unrecognizable except for the long braid flung out to the side wrapped with leather and, if I’m not mistaken, a Valkyrie feather attached near the middle. Powaqu. Dead, her hand stretches out toward him, a plea or protection, I can’t tell. She sacrificed herself for me.

“Powaqu?” I cry out, and her eyes turn to me. A smile blooms on her face.

“You’re free. Maybe this will make up for some of what I did.”

I’m about to speak when it all fades away. I sit up gasping. Blinking my eyes, I try to figure out where I am. “Oh God, Cora!” Emma’s voice brings joy with it. Tears spring to my eyes and in seconds, I’m sobbing as I’m pulled into arms I was sure I’d never feel again. I’m still there when someone cries out.

Pulling back, I see them. Michael is still his cat, and blood coats his muzzle and chest. Sean is still the wolf, green eyes glowing, and behind them, he stands. Loki. My friends release me as I struggle to stand. Michael changes back as he and Sean rush me, hoisting me into his arms. I feel Sean shudder and I cling to him tightly. “I knew you would hear me and come. I knew it,” I whisper into his neck.

“Always, deirfiúr bheag,” he murmurs against my hair. I have to remember those words. Michael is at my back, and Sean squeezes me tightly before letting him pull me away and into his own arms.

“Ach, pixie-girl, ye gave us a fright. Dinnae dae that again.” His beard tickles over my cheek as he speaks, his sapphire eyes glistening. I let myself sink into him as I nod, my throat tight.

“Powaqu.” So much regret and sadness in that one word. Pushing gently, I get Michael to put me down. Drawing a deep breath, I turn, afraid that she will be as she was, but like me, there are no marks on her body. She is just gone, murdered in her sleep.

I cross to her, kneeling down by the couch where Loki had laid her. “Thank you.” My throat is tight as I said, “Thank you for freeing me, for saving my life.” I look around the room. “She told me, just before she freed me from that hell, that she hoped that her sacrifice would make up for some of the things she had done.” My eyes find Mimi’s, which have unshed tears pooling in them. She nods her head. I feel some tension release from my body.

“Her father killed her,” Emma says with disbelief, unable to imagine a father that horrible; her own father would have died for her.

“He didn’t mean to. She stepped between us as he struck with a killing blow. He was tired of the other things that were happening.” I gloss over the torture, not wanting them to know. Hands are warm on my shoulders, and his scent envelopes me as he crouches down, effectively surrounding me with his body.

Loki’s voice is low like a rumbling thunder when he whispers in my ear, “I felt the pain. I felt it with you since yesterday. You might be able to convince them, but I know.” I shake my head a minute amount, not wanting to talk about it. “As you wish, but know there are those in this room who know already. They might not exactly what but they know it was bad.” I glance around and see the clenched jaws of four others. Stupid fucking super hearing. Mimi and Raven are watching with sympathy.

I fight the urge to lean back into him when it’s all I want to do. I want to feel safe. I don’t think I ever will again, for my very powers were my prison. I feel betrayed by them. Squeezing his knee, I push up to my feet.

“Could I just take a hot bath? I just…” I can’t finish. I feel like I’m about to shatter. My body feels like every cut, bite, and claw mark is wide open on the inside, still burning and bleeding.

“Of course,” Raven says, and as her mouth opens, I feel his hand on my shoulder again. Everyone’s eyes widen, and then I feel like I’m on a roller coaster. He is taking me away.

We stop or materialize or maybe solidify; I don’t really know how it all works. The air is cold, almost freezing, and I shiver. A coat appears in his hand, and he holds it out. The sky is so blue it reminds me of the ocean in pictures of Tahiti. Mountains surround us, blue water cascading over a waterfall to our left pools in a collection of rock bowls. Steam is rising off the surface -- a hot spring.

Turning, I look up at his face, which is blank. I smile softly. “A hot spring?”

“I thought it would would help with the aches.” He studies my face. “I can still feel the pain, Cora. I’m sorry I didn’t get to you sooner. This was my fault.”

“How exactly? You didn’t do anything.” I shake my head at him.

“I scared you, following you in the Quarter. I was just so surprised when I saw you. I should have just talked to you,” he growls.

“You didn’t scare me.” He raises an eyebrow. “Okay, well maybe a little but only because I didn’t know if you were still mad at me.” I start toward the water. I don’t want to think about his anger. At the edge of the closest pool, I bend over and dip my fingers in. It’s hot, really hot, but I can already feel my muscles relaxing at just the idea. Straightening, I throw the coat off and start to pull my shirt over my head. I could feign modesty, but who am I kidding? I want him to see me. I leave on my bra and panties, and the rest ends up in piled on the moss covered rocks. Tip-toeing in, I slowly lower myself down then turn to look at him. He is staring at me, his gray eyes darkened to gunmetal with hints of light that reminds me of Raven’s lightning.

“Are you going to join me?” I throw caution to the wind. His slow smile has a hint of ferality in it. My body tingles in response. He disappears before my eyes. I wait holding my breath and then I feel him at my back. His skin is hotter than the water.

“You are playing with fire, Seer,” he warns even as he slides his hands down my back. I arch like a cat when you scratch them low on their back.

“Why were you in New Orleans? Why the Quarter?” I want him to say it. I need to hear it.

One word is growled near my left ear. “You.” My fingers curl against the rocks before I slowly push back away from the edge, turning as I do. My eyes are level with his chest, and I take my time moving them to his face. “This is not a good idea.”

“I think it is a very good idea,” I murmur, letting one finger play over the muscles of his stomach, hidden beneath the surface of the water. I’ve imagined those muscles, wondered if he has that cut at his hips, the vee that men sometimes have. I’ve always thought those were basically an arrow going ‘look here at this.’ “Haven’t you thought about it? I have.” His chest rumbles with a sound that makes my belly tight.

“Night and day for months,” he admits, and I look down to hide my excitement. “But… You just went through a horrendous ordeal.”

Drawing in a deep breath, I raise my eyes to his face. “So, make me forget. For however long you can, force the images from my mind.” I hear the plea in my voice and so does he. “Let me lose myself in you.” I watch his face and I see the moment he decides. The look on his face makes me think he is going to fall on me, that this will be quick and hard, but he doesn’t.

Instead, he turns me slowly, his hands sliding down my arms until they lock around my wrists. He places my hands back on the rock. Holy shit, my core clenches, the thought of him behind me all it takes to make me wet. Then they make the slow return back up my arms. He rubs over my shoulders, massaging the muscles. He works slowly, meticulously, and I feel like even my bones are even melting.

I let my head fall forward, and he lifts me in his arms. I open my eyes as he climbs out of the water, walking over the rocks to climb up a path. As we come around a sharp curve, my eyes widen. There hidden in the cliff face is a small home. It is covered with intricate Urnes carvings. I may have read of them in Viking and Norse history since this all started.

The door opens as I feel a hint of his magic slide over my skin, and he carries me inside. It is lit with candles, and the interior stone walls glisten with crystals. He walks to the bed and lays me down.

“This is your last chance. I will leave you here to rest. This place is hidden, warded and even protected by the very soul of this planet. No harm will come to you here.” His eyes are glowing with silver now and tell me his words are not what he wants. I have a hard time focusing on his words as he stands before me naked. Any image my vivid imagination had conjured since I first saw him at the wedding was not good enough. He is perfection. His skin is pale but with a hint of golden, it reminds me of when a biscuit is just turning in the oven. My gaze travels over his sculpted chest and down his stomach, abdominal muscles cut deep, and I itch to run my hands over them. His waist tapers in from the wideness of his shoulders and chest. There at his hips is that cut of muscle that points to my own personal Valhalla. I bite back a grin at my thought and then look further down. My mouth waters and my core goes slick at the sight of him fully erect. I have that moment of apprehension that women have when they see a dick that is both long and thick, the second of worry before you realize how it’s going to fill you.

Finally, I drag my gaze back up. This time I look not only at his body but also at the tattoos that cover his chest. They make me want to lick over the vibrant blue and green runes. When I reach his face, his eyes are locked on me, waiting. I shimmy further back on the bed and then hold my hand out.

I’ve waited my whole life for him. The thought makes me freeze, though it’s true. He has been with me through everything, dreams of him. And now that I think about it, they often came whenever something bad had happened, when I felt alone or frightened. I smile at him. “Come here.” It’s not a command, more like a seduction. My voice is husky, filled with years of longing.

His knee causes the bed to dip as he gives up his fight. His crawls up the bed, and that feral look is back on his face. Oh God, I can’t wait.