Chapter Six

Erika couldn’t believe he’d only kissed her for immunity against the Trollek mind spell. She didn’t know how much credence she gave to his story, but still, hurt and betrayal wound a knot in her gut.

He rose quickly, nearly toppling his chair. His eyes sparked as he approached. “Do not mistake me, my knesta. I desire you more than what’s prudent. You’re brave, resourceful, and forthright. Under other circumstances, I might be proud to have you as my mate.”

Her anger quelled under the longing in his gaze. She saw loneliness there, mixed with a heartache that spoke of some trauma in his past. Who was he really, and how did he come to be here? How much of his tale was true?

They’d been chased by ugly armed men, but those people could have been the security force at the resort. Maybe the hotel hired individuals with special needs to give them jobs.

But what about the women who worked there? They were all young, blond, and beautiful. Their free drinks were addictive and addled her brain.

Speaking of addling, Magnor’s nearness made her body react in a disturbing way. Her heart raced, and her skin tingled. He stood gazing down at her, an uncertain expression on his face.

She wished he’d wrap her in his comforting embrace. Her glance roamed from his thick eyebrows to his straight nose to his dark, trim beard. The tiny braids on each side of his head swung with his movements.

A smile curved his sexy mouth. “If you doubt your effect on me, I can show you.”

“Can you?” She rose to emphasize her challenge.

“We are married, you know.”

“That’s true.” An irresistible urge to see him shirtless gripped her. Her fingers itched to trace the contours of his muscled arms and chest. Caution flew out the door. Either she was trapped here with a total nutcase, or else the world as she knew it was in terrible danger.

She didn’t care about the horrors outside their door for the moment. After the harrowing evening they’d had, she sought succor in physical contact.

Lifting on her toes, she raised her face and brushed her mouth over his. He stood immobile, as though waiting to see what she would do next. She deepened the kiss, pulling his head down and increasing the pressure of her lips. Her body flared with sensitivity where they touched.

Satisfaction filled her as the bulge of his arousal met her belly. She rubbed herself against him, a spiral of need rising from her core.

She knew the moment his control broke. With a groan, he yanked her fully against him and plunged his tongue inside her mouth. He kissed her ruthlessly, while she wrapped her arms around him and savored his desire. They rocked together, hip to hip, until they parted to gain air.

He grinned at her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. Without saying a word, she reached up to unbutton his shirt. He remained still while she divested him of his upper clothing. Her top shortly joined his on the wooden floor.

“I’m sorry, I forgot about your wound.” She glanced at his arm. The scorch mark had healed over. How was that possible?

His lips curved in amusement. “Edith supplied me with a tissue regenerator, remember? I’ll mend quickly now.”

Whatever. Her glance swung to his chest, and she sucked in a breath of admiration. He was all muscle, from his massive shoulders to his pecs to his taut abdomen. A tangle of dark hair descended in a line toward his belt.

While she splayed her hands on his powerful chest, he traced his fingers along the swell of her breasts. She still wore her bra, wishing to tantalize him with her cleavage and a bit shy about exposing herself to his hungry gaze.

He looked at her like a thirsty man might view an oasis with fresh, clear water. Where he stroked her skin, a fiery trail followed.

His fingers dipped into the valley between her breasts, rubbing up and down in an erotic motion that elicited a moan from her lips. He circled around her soft flesh, skimming her nipples and watching her reaction.

She resisted the impulse to rip her bra off and thrust herself at him. She wanted nothing more than to feel his hands all over her.

His gaze darkened, and he stepped back. “Are you sure about this?” he asked in a thick voice.

“Why not? We’re here, alone. We are married. If we consummate the union, no one can challenge it.”

“Why would you want that?”

“I want you, Magnor. God knows why, when we hardly know each other, but I do. I can’t explain it.”

“If you truly are the destined one, it is our fate. Say it now if you wish to retreat.”

“Heck no. We’re already talking too much.”

“True.” He undid his belt and tossed it to the ground. He’d just unfastened his pants when his wrist unit beeped. Cursing under his breath, he tapped a button to reply. “Magnor here.”

“What is your status?”

So much for our moment of intimacy. Erika could hear the concerned male voice at the other end. Her companion needed to get a wireless earpiece.

Magnor redid his zipper as he spoke. “We’re at a safe house in the desert, sire. Edith assisted us.”

Sire? Was Magnor talking to his boss?

“Thank the stars. You’re fortunate to have escaped that enemy camp.”

“I may have to return there. Has Nira completed her translation?”

“Here, I’ll put her on. She’ll tell you the news herself.”

Erika’s head reeled. These people appeared to be buying into Magnor’s fantasy. Could he actually be telling the truth?

A woman addressed Magnor, asking about his welfare. After he’d reassured her all was well, her tone lightened.

“So tell me about your companion, Lord Magnor. I’ll bet she’s as thunderstruck as I was when I met Zohar. Do you want me to talk to her?”

He glanced at Erika, who had retrieved her top and pulled it on while eavesdropping. “Maybe later. What have you learned?”

Nira’s voice sobered. “The document contains a long verse about the ancient gods. It repeats the tales we already know, but hidden among the words are a set of coordinates. I’m transmitting them now to your PIP.”

“Have you identified the location?”

“It’s in Copenhagen, at a place called Jolheim Gardens.”

“A nature park? That’s where I can find the sacred Book of Odin?”

“It’s a popular tourist attraction.”

His brow wrinkled. “Ah. Another Trollek recruitment center. That makes sense.”

“Jolheim Gardens might only hold another clue, like the resort in Vegas. We have no time to waste. The Trolleks are preparing to launch an all-out offensive. We must obtain the weapon to stop them.”

Magnor paced the room, while Erika rubbed her aching temples. Events were spiraling out of control, and she risked getting lost in the maelstrom.

“There’s more.” Nira’s disembodied voice issued from Magnor’s wrist unit. “A phrase puzzles me from the scroll’s text. It says, When the ground shakes, the dead shall walk the earth.”

“What does that mean?” Magnor asked.

“I’m not sure. Here, Zohar wants to talk to you.”

Their leader came on line. “What is your plan?”

“I’ll return to the casino. If it has a spatial portal, I can use it to vector to the coordinates Nira supplied, unless Paz can pick me up in the shuttle?”

Oh, Lord. Spatial portals? Shuttles? What’s next? Erika shuddered. She sank into a chair as her knees wobbled.

“Paz is out of range for now, but try to contact him later. Meanwhile, proceed with caution. We may have destroyed the dimensional gates, but we suspect the beasts are attempting to rebuild the rift generators from the other side.”

“Our immediate concern is the Trolleks on this side of the barrier.” Magnor paused. “Now that Algie has declared herself their queen, she is even more dangerous.”

Erika latched onto the few familiar words. “Uh, may I interrupt? When I was alone in the museum and those guards came by, I heard them mention this person. She wants me alive.”

Magnor relayed her words to his colleague. “With things under her control, Algie might accelerate her genetic program.”

“Don’t worry. Yaron’s assignment is to track her movements and destroy her research. Be careful, Magnor. Guard your woman well. She’s vital to our cause.”

Great. He’d just confirmed what Magnor had told her. Either Erika had gone insane, or she had to credit Magnor’s story.

Her stomach churned, making her wish she’d skipped breakfast earlier.

“Any luck finding the rune from the prophecy?” Magnor inquired, his tone softer.

“We’ve yet to find the verse that will dispel Loki back to his underground prison. He’s been causing havoc with natural disasters. You worry about taking down the Trolleks. We’ll worry about stopping Loki.”

“And the others?”

Erika heard the strain in his tone. He must be missing his friends. Were they his only companions? Or did he have a life back home? How little she knew about the man she called husband.

“Paz is reaching out to the Viden faction to see if they’ll ally with us. Dal is targeting the recruitment centers we’ve identified, while Kaj is coordinating resources among global governments. He’s made contact with Agent Monroe. Trollek sleeper cells have been activated in key governmental positions. The extent of their infiltration is widespread.”

Magnor sighed, a weary expression on his face. He moved out of earshot so she missed the rest of his conversation. When he returned, she attempted to make sense out of this madness.

“You’re really considering going back to the casino?” she asked, voicing the first thought that popped into her head.

“I’ll use the portal at the Viking Vegas Resort to reach the coordinates Nira supplied. That’s the best alternative until I can raise Paz in the shuttle.”

He set about packing supplies. She rose to follow him from room to room.

Finally, he halted to regard her with a tense expression. “I have to locate the Book of Odin if we are to defeat the invaders.”

“Why is it your job? Who are your friends?”

“They are the Drift Lords, sent here to deal with the Trolleks. It is a calling they cannot deny.”

“They? Aren’t you one of them?”

“I’m a provisional member.”

Were the Drift Lords a special ops team, then? Magnor must be a recent addition if he felt the need to prove his mettle. She scrubbed a hand over her face. It was all so bizarre. Afraid to ask the next question, she plunged on nonetheless.

“Who employs the Drift Lords? Are you, like, mercenaries?”

A mirthless smile curved his lips. “The League’s role is to monitor Trollek incursions during natural rift events. They function independently of the Star Empire and other galactic alliances. It is their duty to protect mankind.”

She gaped at him. “The Star Empire? Come on, you’ve given me enough material already for an entire TV season. You don’t have to include extraterrestrials for my benefit.”

“Indeed, our homes are light-years away.”

Whump, whump, whump. A whirring noise from outside distracted her attention. What was that?

Magnor strode to a window and peered at the sky. Whatever he saw elicited a string of expletives from his mouth.

“We have to move, now!”

She snatched her purse and her tote along with Magnor’s backpack, not wishing to leave behind their meager belongings. Magnor tossed his cape her way, and she stuffed it inside the larger sack.

An afterthought propelled her to the kitchen to add water bottles and nutrient bars to their stash. Magnor followed on her heels, buckling on his sword. He thrust open the rear door.

Before stepping outside, Erika propped a pair of sunglasses on her nose. Then she squashed her handbag and tote into the backpack and slung its straps across her shoulders.

The chopper opened fire as they left the house.

“Run!” Magnor charged for the hills, dust flying in his wake.

She sprinted forward as a huge explosion rent the air from behind. A blast of hot air impacted her spine and made her stagger to a halt. She glanced over her shoulder and winced. The house roared with flames along with her brand-new SUV.

Those bastards.

The copter circled as the pilot prepared to aim directly at them.

“Hurry!” Magnor signaled for her to move on.

The foothills were farther away than she’d thought. Her heart raced and her lungs burned as she strove to match his long-legged dash.

Gunfire pockmarked the earth around them. They weren’t going to make it. They’d be cut down and left as fodder for the vultures.

Not if I can help it. The thought came unbidden to her mind.

As the aircraft neared, she turned to face her fate. Two figures rode inside the cockpit. They looked like normal men with blank expressions and headphones on their ears.

A dust storm would be handy right about now. Certainly the ground was dry enough, the landscape sparse with an occasional scrawny shrub or a lone cactus. The greenery was less evident than at her Arizona home in the Sonoran Desert. A beetle scuttled by, unfazed by the heat.

The helicopter zoomed toward them. Before a hail of bullets issued forth, the dry dirt swept along in a gust of wind. Particles coalesced, spun, and boiled upward into a seething mass. Then, as if it had a mind of its own, the twisting cloud rolled toward the oncoming chopper.

She froze in place, watching in stunned disbelief.

Magnor stood beside her, his mouth gaping as the roiling cloud enveloped the helicopter and blinded its pilots.

The chopper exploded in a fiery display and a billowing tower of black smoke.

As suddenly as it had appeared, the sandstorm dissipated.

Erika’s pulse pounded in her temples. Had she caused the phenomenon? Needing to test her theory, she stretched her hand out and visualized the dirt stirring.

Nothing happened.

Had it been her imagination that she’d brought the dust demon to life? Was this her unknown power? If so, how did it work? Willing it to happen didn’t make it so.

One thing was certain—if she had a destiny to fulfill, those Trolleks and their minions were part of it.

Wind whistled through the hills, the only sound besides the crackling noises from the lingering fires. No one could have survived that crash, not from the looks of the charred remains.

“Now what?” She brushed her hair out of her face as she addressed Magnor with a calm she didn’t feel.

He shaded his face with a hand. Sweat beaded his brow. “Paz might be within range of our signal by now. I’ll call for the shuttle. If he doesn’t have time to take us all the way to Copenhagen, at least he can transport us back to Vegas.” Magnor paused, his eyes narrowing. “But first, would you care to explain how that sudden cloud appeared?”

“What do you mean?” she asked with wide-eyed innocence.

He scowled at her. “It was convenient timing, don’t you think?”

“I suppose so. How lucky for us.” She cleared her throat, uncomfortable with the topic. “Go ahead and see if we can get picked up. I’d rather not linger.”

Unless the two of them got out of there fast, they’d be stuck here at nightfall. The prospect didn’t please her.

Thankfully, Magnor dropped the topic of their salvation and moved off to contact his colleague. Erika got out a water bottle and took a long draught. Droplets dribbled down her chin, and she absentmindedly swiped them away. Questions plagued her, but her brain was too weary to consider them. They were alive, and that was what mattered for now.

“So do we have a ride?” she asked Magnor upon his approach.

He stroked his beard, fatigue lines etching his face. “Paz will pick us up in the shuttle but not until later. He’ll need a flat landing site, so we can’t traverse the hills. We should head toward the city.”

“Can’t the bad guys track us wherever we go?” She tapped her wristwatch. “I thought you said this acts as some sort of beacon.”

A sheepish expression washed over his face. “Oh, I forgot to mention it earlier. Nira said you can switch off the signal by turning the dials to noon and pressing the hour button twice.”

“What? You knew this, and you didn’t tell me?”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. The Trolleks had already detected our location. Do it now, though.” His face brightened. “Great Cosmos, if that’s a vector device, you can transport us.”

She tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

“The Trolleks have similar technology on their armbands. They use it to maneuver vectors within the space-time curve, parallel shifting themselves from one locale to another. Picture the place where you want to go.”

“O-kay.” Squeezing her eyes to slits, she imagined them back in Vegas. Zero response. “Well, forget that idea. How did I end up with a piece of their technology, anyway?”

“It’s simple, my knesta. Your cells contain Trollek DNA.”