He’s gone. The damage has already been done. The man that bumped into him is dead on the ground. Looking around, I see others stumbling away out into the street. Following them, I watch as the blood starts to run from their ears. Looking past them, I see the huge crowd in the street as some people try to flee, but others are unaware of the danger coming right at them. Focusing on the three in front of me, I let my magic ease out. Catching them in it, I send them away someplace they can’t infect the entire city. They are dead already. Balor’s eye means death, a poison that spreads like the plague.

I sift back to Cora. She is still standing where I left her, staring out at the street. “He’s gone. I stopped the spread.” Her eyes widen.

“What spread?”

“Balor’s eye is a poison. When he releases the power, it goes into the person who holds his gaze. Then it spreads like wildfire, burning through villages, towns, cities, or even countries if it’s not stopped.”

“Jesus. The tourists could have taken it to anywhere.” I nod. “Odin doesn’t care if the world is destroyed. He’s insane.”

Pacing away, I rub my hands over my face. “The power, it takes over. If you welcome it, at some point, you lose yourself. He hasn’t been my brother for a very long time.”

She comes to me, arms sliding around my waist, saying nothing but just holding me. I let her sink into me, letting her warmth push the darkness away. The war has started, and we don’t have much time. Odin will destroy everything I care for first. Tightening my arms around her, I try to figure out what to do next.

“We have to talk to the others and tell them what happened. We need to get everyone who will fight with us ready.” She doesn’t move her face from my chest as she whispers the words.

“I know, Elskan min.” My lips move over her hair.

“Are you going to tell me what that means?”

“Soon.” She nods at the word.

“Take us to Raven and the others.” Your wish is my command, Elskan min, my love. I sift, holding her tightly.

Nestor and Mimi have gone, taking Powaqu’s body with them. Everyone else is solemn when we appear. Raven looks at me, and I shake my head.

“What’s happened?” She steps toward us.

“Balor came to New Orleans.” She inhales sharply as I release Cora. Turning to Kai, I say, “Go get your Goddess.” He runs for the door, not bothering to say goodbye, understanding the urgency. Aislin stares after him before turning to look at me.

“So, it has begun,” Aislin says, and I nod.

“He killed a man like it was nothing.” Cora walks to her friends, her spine stiff. “He would have killed the city if Loki hadn’t gotten rid of the other ones he made sick. Odin will let them destroy everything and everyone. We have to stop him.” Her voice had grown stronger as she spoke. She looks back at me. “I need to go to Yggdrasil.”

“We need to go.” Emma and Aislin move to either side of her. I wonder at the power pulsing within them, growing stronger with their rage and anguish. I wonder if they have enough power that I won’t be needed.

“Danu’s land would be safest.” Raven gathers herself to go.

“Everyone link hands.” I hold my hands out as Cora takes one, Raven the other. Once everyone is linked, I take them to the Vanishing Isle. We appear under her limbs, and Yggdrasil greets us with a vibration of her branches. My eyes land on Fenrir’s body, still locked beneath the crystal. Cora squeezes my hand before letting me go and moving closer to the tree.

Kneeling beside my son, I finally let the grief come. I lay my forehead on the icy crystal, staring at my son’s peaceful face. It is more relaxed than it ever was in life. My tears splash on the stone as the emotions boil over, not just grief but fury. I cry for Fenrir. I cry for Cora. I cry for myself.