“Fuck!” His exclamation makes me realize I have sifted back, but her voice is bouncing around my brain. “Where’s Cora?” I don’t miss the hint of accusation.

“I don’t know. Well, that’s not totally true. Her body is with her friends, somewhere. They won’t tell me exactly where, but her mind is trapped somewhere by someone.” I watch him, judging his reaction. The flare of anger that bursts from him makes me smile. “Don’t worry, boy, I’ll find them. When I do, I’m going to destroy them -- their mind first, then their body and soul. There will be nothing left of them.” His eyebrows climb up his forehead, but he nods his head liking the plan.

I’m about to ask him why he is in her home when a silver thread swirls out of nowhere and wraps around me. I latch on to it, holding it to me. I don’t say a word as I begin to sift away but I find myself even more intrigued with the boy when I noticed his eyes focused on her thread. I must remember to find out more about this Remy later.

I sift directly to Raven’s living room, chuckling as all the men leap to their feet. “Relax, boys.” I turn to the women. “She contacted me, somehow. She has wrapped a tiny tendril of her power around me.” I fight to not flinch as all of their energies rush at me, cascading over me like a million ants marching over my skin. Suddenly, it all pulls away and I can breathe. It takes me a moment to notice the apprehension and fear on the women’s faces, and the men are tense, bodies ready for a fight.

“Your eyes flashed crimson,” Emma states calmly. I don’t apologize.

“Probably something you should get used to.” I leave off that it could become permanent very soon. “I’m going to try to follow that thread to her.” Several sets of eyes lock on each other, and I want to laugh at them. I don’t give a fuck if that worries them. I do what I want, always have.

Nestor and the women appear once again, and I narrow my eyes, daring her to come near. I know exactly what she did all those years, after she showed up, and the others told me about her working with the one that took Emma. I might have stayed near her for a while. I may have listened as she cried to the other fox woman, confessing her sins, begging for forgiveness. Confession only makes the confessor feel relief. For Mimi, her words only brought pain and reminders of torture and loss. She will get no forgiveness from me. She stops at the venom she sees in my eyes. I turn them slowly to Raven and nod.

Focusing on the thread, I begin to sift, but it wavers and disappears. My roar echoes through Highlands as I change my body to that of a dragon. I let the beast have its way, rising above Raven’s home, my body blocking the sun over the entire cliff and meadow.

“Shit!” The exclamation draws my golden eyes. Kai slides to a stop in the grass at the bottom of the stairs. Narrowing my gaze, I study him as my wings flap lazily, a growl rumbling up my throat when I feel his magic flow out through the connection he has with the other Guardians. A second later, his amber scales flash in the sunlight as his leaps into the air.

Hovering, I watch as he cautiously circles closer to me, waiting until he draws near to snap my massive jaws at him. My animal makes him look like a juvenile. I glare, letting the anger drive me, giving myself over to it. The beast wants its mate. It rages about being kept from her, as fire builds in my throat.

Kai roars, realizing what I’m about to do. I wheel away, banking and diving over the side of the cliff. I let the wind currents carry me down the coast. I sail low over the water, boiling it with my fire before climbing higher. I sail over a fishing village, causing quite the commotion. Turning my head, I look at the thunder of dragons closing in on me. Pulling my lips back, I show my razor sharp teeth; I suppose it could be a smile. They use magic to hide themselves, but I no longer care to hide. I will burn this world to the ground to find her.

They try to move around me, but I don’t allow it. I’m so focused on them I don’t see her until she is right in front of me. Beating my wings, I start a steep climb, the tickle of her feathers over my stomach letting me know how close I was to crashing into her. Raven’s black wings carry her up and up, as she keeps pace with me. I growl.

“FATHER! What are you doing? Where are you going? Please come back. We will find Cora and stop those that have her trapped.” I hear the plea, lock my eyes on her, and power forward, changing direction to head inland. My goal is Norway, Finland, and Sweden. I will burn his world to ash. Odin can no longer count on my apathy towards his chicanery and deceptions.

“She wouldn’t want this.” The words are almost lost in the wind, so quiet for a moment I think I imagined them. Movement draws my glare. Kai has moved up to my left side, and I’m impressed. He is fighting to keep up, but it is the woman leaned low over his neck with her body tucked tightly that really makes the impression. Aislin holds onto a leather strap, and I realize Kai must take her flying often. They have made a type of collar with reins, her years of riding Fergus showing in her body. “Cora wouldn’t want you to do this,” she repeats, her eyes locked on mine even as her ride starts to slow.

Looking around, I see everyone else is miles behind us. Roaring, I level a dark look at her and her Guardian before pushing myself faster, pulling away from them in seconds. But her words and the look on her face play over and over in my head. It isn’t the disappointed words that slow my wing. No, it’s the look. I puzzle over it, letting myself glide down. Perching upon a mountain top, I look back to see if they have followed, but they haven’t.

Why do I even care what she thinks? I shift back to my normal form, sliding down to the ground with my back against cold jagged stone. I can tell myself all I want that I don’t care, that she means nothing and so does her opinion, but why lie to myself? I’ve always cared, always hated what people thought of me because of the role I had to play. No. Looking up at the sky, I must admit that is another lie.

I chose that role. I chose it before we ever left our planet. I chose to play the fool, the trickster, and I let them paint me as the villain. Why? Fear. Odin let the power have free rein, enjoying the suffering he has caused. But has he been ignoring the destruction within himself, or is the lure of ruling over everything worth any cost?

I have always feared it, the power, the entity living within us. As a child, I watched member after member of our clan succumb to that which is bound to the power and through that power, tethered to us. It is a constant hunger that gnaws at our soul, at our sanity. Even now, it whispers, clawing at my mind. It has gotten a taste of freedom and now struggles against its bonds. With each loss of control, I feel myself slipping away. Even now it calls, tempting me with promises of Cora.

That is what I saw in Aislin’s eyes. Her fear, her knowledge of what I will become. I feel her power before she arrives. “Freya,” I murmur when she appears beside me. “Did Raven send you to me?”

“They are all worried about you.” Her eyes lock on mine. “As am I.” I feel her power caress up against me. Her brows furrow at what she feels. Shrugging, I look away, unwilling to acknowledge what she has found. I stiffen when her hand comes over mine, her slender fingers gripping mine tightly. Sighing, I turn my hand, placing my palm against hers and threading our fingers together. Still, I keep my eyes on the sky, unwilling to see the pity in hers. She sits silently beside me, offering no advice, only comfort. She knows now, if I do this thing that they all want, if I fight him, Odin will win, no matter the outcome. If he wins, I die... If I win, I am lost.