Chapter 14
Toni glanced around as they walked over the Bifrost Bridge. Damn.
Just…
Damn.
She couldn’t get enough of the view. The bridge was both a rainbow and a flame, confusing the fuck out of her vision for the first mile. She kept stumbling, certain she was going to fall right through and burn to death before she hit whatever was below them, but Nik was always there, always ready to help her get back on her feet. And now that they were there he seemed tense, wary, as if waiting for something to strike them at any moment. It was making her tense as hell, too, which didn’t help with the whole stumbling thing.
It was a good thing she’d finished her coffee or she’d have lost it hours ago.
And then there were the worlds, or heims, as the others called them. Small paths led away from the bridge, both before and behind them. Nik pointed out each heim as they stood beneath the Tree. One was lined with frost, mist obscuring the road. “That road leads to Nifleheim, the land of the frost giants.”
Not a place she wanted to vacation, that was for sure.
Another was lined with rock, stalagmites making the road to Jotunheim a fun one…if you were a mountain goat or a Yeti. “The three Norns of fate came down that road a very long time ago. They made their way alone to Yggdrasil, to the roots of the great tree, and there they tend it, listening to gossip and winding our lives between their fingers like wool off a skein.” Nik’s tone was respectful yet wary. “You remember how Skylar became just a normal Norn, right?”
“Yeah. She did something to alter Odin’s fate.”
“More like his Ragnarrok. Her punishment was to lose her place as Skuld, the Norn of the Future. But there can’t be a present and a past without a future, so Skuld was reborn, just not as Skylar. Does that make sense?”
“Nope.” Toni watched the flames below them flicker through the colors of the bridge. Now that she was used to it they were pretty fucking awesome. Besides, the view gave her less of a headache than trying to figure out how Skuld had…respawned. “It’s just more people for the little mortal to avoid.”
“Mortal?” He chuckled as he patted her on the head like she was a puppy. “Staying away from them is a good idea. Not even Logan fucks with them.” Nik pointed toward where a steep road led away from the bridge. “This leads to Asgard. Don’t go there until Kir has everything settled and Ragnarrok has ended, or you might find yourself fighting Grimm.”
There was a shadowed road behind them, mists obscuring everything. “There. The road to Svartalfaheim. We’ll be going that way.” He took hold of her shoulders and turned her. “Beyond here lies the road to Helheim, and Logan’s daughter. If we get separated, head there and tell them Heimdall sent you. They’ll let you pass without question.”
“That’s the land of the dead, right?”
“Right. Trust me, they won’t hurt you. Hel won’t allow it, and neither will Hodr. Speak his name if they try to, and he’ll come to help you.” Nik turned her again. “Vanaheim.” It seemed to be made of both shadow and light, and made her think of home. “The home of the Vanir. There aren’t many of us left.”
“Can you name them?” She’d become aware that there was a difference between Aesir and Vanir. Aesir tended to be warriors, while the Vanir, while fierce, were more earth, sea, and sky gods. Odin had led the Aesir to victory over the Vanir, killing many of them, including Travis’s first wife. Sometimes she still wasn’t sure who was Vanir other than Travis and Nik. Don’t even begin to ask me who is a Jotun, half-Jotun, or some other kind of mix.
“Travis, Adam, Frieda, Kye, Ida, and myself, of course.” He frowned. “Adam now works for Odin, so don’t trust him.”
“I don’t know who Frieda and Ida are.” He was right. That wasn’t a lot of people for such a shining world.
“Ida is Idunn, who guards the golden apples, and Frieda is Adam’s sister Frejya. Frejya is aligned with Frederica, so she’s also someone to avoid if possible.”
“Oh.” She needed a chart to keep track of all of these people. “That means Adam is Frey.”
“Yup.” Nik turned her yet again, toward a smoky path opposite Vanaheim. “Down this path lies Muspelheim, where Logan comes from. It’s hotter than hell, so don’t go there. Period.”
“I have no desire to be a crispy critter, thanks. I’ve seen one of those before. It wasn’t pleasant. The smell alone…” She shuddered. “It’s not one you forget. It was a year before I could eat pulled pork again.”
“I’m sorry for that. Pulled pork sandwiches are delicious.” He kissed the top of her head before turning her yet again. How many fucking paths were there? “That is the road home, to Midgard. If you can’t get to Hel, try and get to there and open the portal. You probably have the magic now.”
“I do?” She glanced at her hands, half expecting them to be glowing with magical power. “How the hell is that possible?”
“You’re both a Valkyrie and… Something else now.” He glanced at her sideways before hefting his backpack higher up on his back. “You ready for this?
“Wait.” She got right in his path, her hands on her hips. “What the fuck, Nik? Magic?”
He shrugged. “Remember the blood sharing thing?”
“Yeah,” she drawled, waiting for him to elaborate.
“Well then!” His smile was far too cheerful to be trustworthy. “That’s how. The portal to Midgard will recognize my blood in you and let you go home.”
“Goddamn it, Nik.”
“Nope, I refuse that request.” He grabbed her shoulders. “Can we go now?”
“Damn skippy. Let’s get out of here.” Before she did something to him that she might come to regret.
The path they took was misty rather than smoky, a difference you only really noticed when you were walking through. The scent was surprisingly fresh and green, like fog on a warm spring day. Dark crystals started lining the path, obsidian and jet, smoky quartz and hematite mingling with onyx and dark malachite. The crystals glittered in the distant light of the fire of the bridge, giving off an eerie yet stunningly beautiful glow.
“Do you like it so far?” Nik asked quietly, almost reverently.
“It’s beautiful.” She reached out and touched one of the boulder-sized pieces of hematite, the glossy, flat surface gliding coolly under her palm. “I can’t believe how pretty it is.”
Nik smiled. There was something in his gaze that hadn’t been there before, something warm that sent shivers of a different sort down her spine. “Thank you.”
It was like she’d given him a personal compliment. His eyes glittered silver, true silver, as his hair lengthened. He looked away, his skin paling to alabaster, his fingernails turning to silver as well. “Let’s keep going. It’s been a long time since I’ve been home.”
She blinked. “You’re Dökk Alfar.”
He nodded, looking pleased.
She continued speaking, following her train of thought out loud. “If Travis is lord of the Lios Alfar, and he’s the only natural-born Lios Alfar among the gods…and you’re Dökk Alfar, and the only one, then you’re…”
He held a finger to his lips, making a shushing motion.
He was a friggin’ king. “Holy crap, Nik. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Couldn’t, not yet. It was against the rules.” He took a deep breath, smiling widely. “But things change, and sometimes rules need to be bent a little. Besides, I didn’t tell you anything.” He winked and strode forward eagerly, his long legs taking him quickly away from her. “Come on. I want you to see the city.”
City? Toni followed after him, her boots making no sound on the black sand path.
Up ahead the mists began to part. Black lampposts stood sentinel over a wrought iron gateway. Gray stone walls stood on either side of the closed gate doors, towering over her high into the sky. Armed guards were by the lampposts, chatting amiably.
Both had the dark hair and pale skin that Nik sported. What surprised her, though, was the fact that they were carrying mortal firearms rather than the blade Nik had used.
Suddenly both men snapped to attention, their automatic weapons pointed toward Toni and Nik. “Halt! Who goes there?”
Nik replied, “Heimdall and his mate.”
Mate?
The two men exchanged surprised glances and lowered their weapons. They both almost bowed, but stopped themselves before they’d completed the gesture. “Welcome, Guardian, to Svartalfaheim.” The guard spoke in a neutral tone, his silver gaze wary.
Nik grinned. “How are you, Rolf? How is that wife of yours? She’s ready to pop another one, huh?”
The men relaxed immediately. “My lord, welcome home.” The one Nik had addressed stared at Toni. “And this is your kjæreste?”
“Ja. Hennes navn er Toni Mancinelli.” Nik smiled at her proudly. “She’s not only a police officer but the descendant of Valkyries.”
The men stared at her respectfully before bowing. “Welcome, Lady Toni, to Svartalfaheim,” Rolf said. He turned back to Nik. “Will you be heading to the palace?”
“Yes. It’s time.”
Both men looked so pleased by that announcement that they practically bounced on their toes. “Ragnarrok finally comes?”
Nik nodded regally. “And he will fall. Baldur holds Gungnir at the side of his lover, Loki.”
The men grinned. “Good,” the nameless guard replied. “I always liked him.”
“Which one?” Toni muttered.
The guards laughed. “Both, my lady,” the nameless guard chuckled.
Rolf reached to the side, and suddenly the gate began to rise. “Welcome to the Land of Shadows, Lady Toni. We hope you learn to love it as much as we do.”
“Thank you.” What else could she say? The surrounding area was beautiful almost beyond words. What would the city itself look like?
She found out as she stepped under the portcullis into a dark wonderland. “Whoa.”
Nik looked so proud his chest was puffing out. “My home. I’ve missed it, missed stepping in here as lord.” He glanced around, his shoulders relaxing as he took a deep breath. “I’m home.”
As Nik led the way, Toni found herself becoming more and more enchanted with everything around her. Though shadowed, there was a beauty to the Land of Shadows that tugged at her. Dark crystal buildings were linked by grassy walkways. Trees lined the streets, their leaves silver, their trunks black. Gunmetal gray fruit was sold in the town square alongside the oranges and peaches of Earth. Barkers hawked their wares, everything from cloth to steel to rich, red wine. Black-winged silver butterflies sipped from dark teal flowers, while blue-green grass was trampled under the feet of laughing, alabaster children.
More than one of those children stopped to watch as Nik led Toni through the streets. The homes became more elaborate, the marketplace giving way to quieter areas where servants bustled about their days in gray and silver attire. Men and women both greeted each other cordially, some dressed extremely well and some obviously servants. Armed guards wearing silver horn-shaped badges walked the streets, also greeting and speaking to citizens.
Every now and then people would stop Nik and speak to him, some a simple greeting and others to speak of grievances. Each and every time Nik dealt with them patiently, obviously thrilled to be there. Some he spoke to he ordered to the palace, while other issues he dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
Toni was a little out of place in this world where Nik was a freaking king. What was she supposed to do while he ruled? Sit her ass on a silver throne, bored to death?
Yeah. That wasn’t going to happen. If this relationship was headed where he’d said it was, he’d find Toni Mancinelli wasn’t the type of woman to stand barefoot and pregnant in the throne room. She’d be his equal or she’d be nothing.