32
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“You’re back! I was so worried about you.” He didn’t look any worse for the wear from his captivity in Svartalfheim. He hugged me back with one arm, careful not to crush me.
“The big guy arrived back last night,” Ingrid said. “Came here looking for you and wouldn’t leave, so we let him stay. I mean, we’d need a crane to get him out of here if you didn’t choose to go, and truth be told, we kinda got used to him in Midgard. He’s like our mascot now.”
“He’s much more than a mascot.” I was happy the Valkyries had allowed him to stay. “He’s a powerful ally.” I addressed Junnal, “Thanks for coming to find me.”
“Back.” His voice reverberated deeply.
“I’m sure we can find a permanent place for you—”
“Phoebe!” Sam cried. I glanced around, expecting to see her running up from behind the giant. “Up here!” I lifted my gaze to one of the dormitory windows. Sam was hanging out as far as she could, the opening no more than a foot wide. “They won’t let me out.” She waved her arms. “I’m going insane!”
“I’m on my way,” I called. To Junnal, I said, “I’ll see you again soon.”
He nodded his big head. “Stay.”
“Yes, I’d like that,” I said, beginning to make my way toward the dormitory.
“The key to her room is hanging on the wall inside the main door,” Ingrid said as she fell in line next to us. “But the wolf has to say outside. Company rules.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “We respect your rules.” I gazed at Fen. “I promise I won’t be too long with Sam, but I have to get her out. Once I’m back, we can figure out where we’re going to go for the night.”
“You are welcome to stay with me,” Tyr said, coming up behind us. “I have room enough at my home.”
“If Phoebe’s going to stay anywhere, she and the wolf are going to stay with me,” my grandmother interjected. “She’s my granddaughter, and I’ve barely gotten to know her.”
I smiled at my family.
“We appreciate all the love. In the short term, we will need to stay with one of you, but in the long term, Fen and I will be finding a place of our own.” We reached the dorms. Junnal had followed us as well. “I’ll be back soon with Sam in tow.”
Rae shouted orders at the Valkyries. “Everyone in the yard in ten. Aerobic practice for one hour.” She glanced at us. “After, we meet in the conference room to discuss the trial tomorrow.”
Once I arrived in the hallway outside of our room, I gaped.
Not only was the door locked, but things had been piled in front of it. Big things, like dressers and chairs. It took me a few minutes to clear the space. “Geez,” I called through the door as I shouldered a dresser out of the way, “looks like you’re an escape hazard.”
“I am,” she replied. “They haven’t been able to contain me for long.”
I finally created enough space in front of the door so I could unlock it with the key. Before the door was even all the way open, Sam jumped into my arms.
“Phoebe! I’m so glad you’re back,” she said. “I was so worried about you. I kept thinking about you getting hacked up by Hel, your insides strung out on a pole to warn others to stay away.” Well, that was gruesome. “How was it? I want to hear every single detail. Did Baldur come back with you? Is that why you’re back so soon?”
I allowed her to lead me into the room. She pulled me down beside her on the bed. “First things first,” I said. “I heard you led a one-woman protest through the streets of Asgard trying to get me freed.”
“Of course I did,” she said with a sniff. “Would you expect any less? The plan was to rally the support of the Asgardians so they’d have no choice but to let you back here. Odin would eventually cave from the pressure of his constituents and set you free.”
“Sounds genius,” I said. “So, how did that work out for you?”
“Not so great,” she admitted. “At first, the Asgardians were curious, some of them even joining the cause. But in the end, they turned on me.” She looked glum.
“So I was told,” I said. “But you wouldn’t take no for an answer, which I absolutely respect. What are friends for if they can’t protest for you? But I’m still confused why they barricaded you in here.” I gave her a once-over in case I’d missed something. Sam was petite and nonthreatening, with curly blonde hair. “It seems a bit extreme.”
She glanced down, plucking at the covers. “I…well…they didn’t at first. They assigned a Valkyrie to accompany me everywhere, but then I ditched her. Then they locked me in, only at night, but I got out. I just can’t seem to help myself.” She leaned into me conspiringly, her words barely above a whisper. “Something seems to be happening to me. Ever since I arrived…things have been getting strange.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying not to sound alarmed.
“I’m not sure, but I think my brain is getting bigger.”
“As in the physical size?” I gaped.
She swatted at me, giggling. “No, like I’m getting smarter—like freaky smart. Every day, things just pop into my head. Everything comes much easier. I’ve been able to figure myself out of almost any issue. They lock me in, and I make a key out of things I find lying around.” She reached into her pocket and produced an object that resembled a key, but looked like it could be made out of lamp and clock parts.
She handed it to me, and I inspected it. “Where did you find this stuff?”
Sam gestured around the room. “It’s everywhere, if you look. Clocks, lamps, chairs, latches—you name it, I can find it. And what’s weird is I don’t even have to think about it too hard—it zaps into my brain from some unknown place. I can solve any problem in a matter of seconds. I’ve been freaking myself out.”
“Judging by the amount of furniture in the hallway, you’re not the only one who’s freaking out. But being smarter doesn’t sound like the worst thing in the world,” I said. “You’ve always been a brainiac. Maybe the Asgardian air amplifies your talents or something like that?” I glanced around. “You’re still in here, so you weren’t able to escape this time, so maybe it’s slowing down.”
She gestured casually to the corner of the room.
I had to look twice before I saw the faint outline of a neat hole cut in the ceiling. It was almost seamless. “You went through the ceiling?”
She nodded vigorously. “I can get out anytime I want. I came back when I heard the commotion. I acted like I was still stuck because I didn’t want them to know, in case, you know, they decided not to let me out again.”
“Don’t be too hard on them,” I told her. “They were worried you’d get into trouble and die, because you’re not immortal like the rest of us. Why do you think you’re getting so much smarter?”
“I have a hypothesis.” She nibbled at the edge of her bottom lip. “One that makes sense, even though it sounds farfetched.”
“What? I’m dying to hear.”
“I think being in Asgard has awakened a part of my DNA that must’ve been dormant on Midgard,” she said. “There’s really no other explanation for it. I’ve always been smart, but this is next-level stuff.”
“Wow. Maybe your father is a god after all?” I said. “Fen said you didn’t smell that strong on Midgard, but maybe your scent has changed since you’ve been here?”
She squeezed my hands tight. “We should totally have Fen smell me again. That would be fantastic.” That sounded ridiculous, but totally doable. “Tyr promised to help me find my dad, but only after you came home. But now we can do it. I’m sure my real dad will have some answers.”
“Fen and I will totally help you,” I assured her.
“You will?” Her brows quirked.
“Of course,” I said, laughing. “You’re my best friend, and this is a big deal.”
“I want your help, don’t get me wrong,” she said. “I just figured you’d have Valkyrie stuff to do.”
“To tell you the truth,” I said, “I’m not sure if I’m going to be allowed to be a full-time Valkyrie.”
“Why not?” Sam looked baffled. “You’re the most kickass one they have. Well, next to Rae. She’s pretty badass.”
“Because I refuse to give up Fen.” I shrugged. “And, apparently, to be a Valkyrie, you have to choose between having a family and the sisterhood. You can’t have both.”
“That’s ludicrous,” she said. “Hello, Feminism 101. It’s a sad day when even the strongest women in all the worlds can’t have everything.”
“I hear you. I’m hoping they change the rules, but for the immediate future, Fen and I will be on our own,” I said. “You’re not going to believe this, but Loki showed up in Midgard and tried to kidnap me!”
“You were in Midgard? You met Loki? You have to fill me in!” Her eyes widened. “We got sidetracked with all my stuff, but I’m dying to hear everything. You’ve only been gone for a couple days, but it feels like years. Start from the beginning, and don’t you dare leave anything out. I want every single detail, down to the slightest minutia.”
“Okay.” I grinned. “I’ve got less than ten minutes, but I think I can do it.”
* * *
It was late by the time we got out of the Stronghold. My head rested on Fen’s shoulder as we walked. “Grete said she left the house open,” I murmured. “She and a few Valkyries checked in about half an hour ago. All’s clear.”
“I don’t think there’s much danger for you in Asgard anymore,” Fen said, his arm clamped tightly around my waist. The sky was dark but bright with stars—stars in patterns I’d never seen before. “But I don’t understand why the troll had to accompany us.”
“It was either Junnal or a band of Valkyries,” I said. “Rae and Ingrid were uncompromising, and I don’t blame them. The Norns are due in town, and until this gets completely settled, we have to take precautions.” Junnal lumbered behind us as we all made our way to my grandmother’s house, where we’d decided to stay the night.
We veered down a side street, and I spotted Grete’s cottage on the right, set back from the street. “It’s such a warm and cozy home,” I said. “My grandmother has good taste. A lot of the houses here look like tall boxes, but her house has character.”
Once we opened the front door, Fen scented the air to make sure we were alone. “I don’t detect any threats.” He walked inside, picked up a large chair and brought it out onto the porch. Addressing Junnal, he said, “You can stay here and guard the front door.”
Junnal nodded, but instead of sitting on the proffered chair, which might not have held his weight, the giant sat down on the porch, his back against the house.
“Thanks for coming with us. We appreciate it,” I told Junnal. “We only have four or five hours until we have to be back at the Stronghold.”
“Guard…you,” Junnal announced.
I patted his shoulder. “I feel a lot safer having you around. Just yell if you see anything suspicious.”
Fen led me up a small staircase. “Grete said the guestroom is at the back of the house.”
We barely made it there before Fen’s lips were on mine. “Finally,” he groaned. “To have you back safely is more than I could have ever hoped for.”
“I know,” I murmured, kissing him back. “I’m relieved this is almost over.”
We undressed quickly, slipping into bed.
The heat of his body seared me to the bone. I had missed him.
“Valkyrie, you must promise never to leave me again,” Fen said, his mouth on my neck.
“The same goes for you,” I said, my fingers tightening on his shoulders as his lips trailed farther down my body. I squirmed in pleasure. “We’re in this together.”
Fen arched over me. “I will never leave you, Phoebe. I love you.”