Chapter Thirty

It was easy to pick out the familiar van, at the edge of the campground. The neighboring sites were empty.

The thick brush covered his approach as he stayed off the well-worn road, making his way as quietly as possible. He had shucked his jacket back at the rental car, going only with his black T-shirt and jeans, his running shoes helping his stealthy moves.

The evening coffee cooked over the flames, the rich scent filling the air.

Brenna.

Erik forced his breathing to stay steady, resisting the urge to run into the middle of the clearing and find her.

He listened intently, holding his position.

A snap and crackle came from the clearing. Someone laughed.

Mark.

Relief washed over him as it confirmed the woman’s story.

Something crackled on the ground from behind him—to the left.

Erik turned, trying to see through the darkness. The light from the fire cast shadows everywhere, impairing his night vision.

He pulled his fingers into a fist. Drawing a low, steady breath, he moved back the way he came.

There.

A shift in the shadows, enough to announce her presence.

Now.

Erik leaped at her, grabbing fistfuls of fabric as they rolled over the cool ground, crushing leaves and twigs as they wrestled. Finally, Erik came up on top, straddling her hips as he pressed her into the dirt.

He pulled back to punch her, mentally shoving everything he had into his fist. He’d only get one shot at her and…

He froze, his body reacting a split-second to the familiar touch before his mind did.

Not Kara.

The shadows shifted, and he saw her clearly.

Brenna.

His hand moved off her shoulder to cup her cheek, reveling in the softness under his fingers.

She took hold of his shirt and pulled him down to her, rising to meet him halfway with a scorching kiss that stole his breath away.

…

It took the last of Brenna’s willpower to pull free, pushing him away to sit up.

“What are you doing here?” she rasped.

“I came to, ah…save you.” He drew a deep breath. “Kara called. Told me she had Mark hostage and if I didn’t come here she’d kill him and then the rest of you.”

She scrambled to her feet, brushing off the dirt. “Someone stole Mark’s phone tonight at the community center. That’s when she must have gotten hold of you, set you up. And you came.”

He stayed on his knees for a minute, long enough to send a surge through her body, the need for him warring with the anger and fear at his abrupt return.

“Of course, I did.” His hoarse whisper sounded like a shout. “I couldn’t risk it being a lie, a bluff. I had to come and see you.”

“Why?” Brenna demanded. “Aren’t you afraid of me not being able to fight my sister?” She fought to keep her voice down. “What’s changed between last month and now, when you were afraid to stand with me because you thought I wouldn’t be able to kill her—that I’d let you down?”

“Because I’ve been alone, and I can’t stand it anymore.” The words burned the air between them. “I can’t stand it. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t sleep, and I can’t eat because my mind and my heart is here with you. I’m a damned fool who thought I could go it alone. And I can’t. Because I love you,” he said. “I want to stand by your side, stand with you through this and through the end of the world. And even if I fall, I’ll have been with you one last time. But that’s not all.” He drew a ragged breath. “I’m not fighting just for my life. I’m going to fight for yours and for theirs, for all of us. I’m going to win because no one, no one is going to keep us apart again. Nowhere, never in any part of this universe.”

The words burned into her like a hot poker, slicing through her mental armor and going deep, deep into her soul.

“What?” Her knees went weak, and she eased herself to the ground, forcing herself not to fall. Her hands scrabbled in the dirt to take hold, to balance herself.

“I will do everything in my power to stand between you and her. Everything.” His tone rose from soft to sharp, the determination growing with every syllable.

“You’ll go to Valhalla if she kills you.” She heard the tremble in her voice. “Your eternal reward.”

“I don’t want to go to Valhalla. I don’t want to go anywhere without you. If she wins this fight and I end up there, I’m going to curse and swear at Odin, Freyja, the lot of them. Because I won’t be with you and that’s the most important thing to me. I’ll kick over the tables and destroy everything I can put my hands on until they give me what I want—you.”

The blasphemy shocked her into silence.

“Don’t worry, sister. I doubt Odin’s worried about what he’s saying, considering the multitude of sins you’re heaping on yourself.”

The familiar voice sent her pulse rocketing.

Brenna jumped to her feet. She spun around and stood in front of Erik, putting her arm out to shield him.

Kara appeared much like she had back in the parking lot, her black trench coat snug on her shoulders and the pristine white T-shirt tucked into the top of her jeans. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, one loose curl pressed behind her ear as she leaned on the walking stick.

“Don’t worry, Erik—I’m sure you’ll change your mind once you arrive at the Great Halls.” She stood straight and held out the rod. Her thumb slipped over a small recessed button.

The cane doubled in size, the six feet of polished metal shimmering in all its glory. The sharp tip caught a shard of moonlight and flashed bright.

She pointed the lance at the couple. “I’m glad you decided to come. I promise I’ll make this quick since you followed my instructions.” Her sneer was twisted and dark in the shifting light. “Of course, that depends on whether you want to fight or not.”

The two of them rose.

Brenna took Erik’s hand and began to slowly walk backward, her final destination the van. He didn’t ask where she was going but followed in silence, glaring at Kara as she advanced on them.

“I guess you do. Good.” Kara’s eyes narrowed. “I was hoping you’d make it worth the extra work it took to get you both here.” She spun the lance in one hand.

Brenna didn’t take her eyes off Kara as she reached up to the luggage rack. Her hand curled around the familiar wooden staff, and she pulled it free, wondering why Kara was giving her so much time.

“Don’t worry, sister.” Kara smirked. “I’m not here to kill you. That dishonor goes to another.” She nodded at Erik. “He’s mine.”

Erik moved away from Brenna, taking a fighting stance. “You lied to me about Mark. Hardly the qualities Freyja expects from a Valkyrie.”

“A necessary evil. I’m sure she won’t mind as long as I finish the mission.” She ignored Brenna, turning to face Erik. “I first picked up your trail at the school.” Her smirk grew. “The children were eager to talk about your fame as a fighter.”

Erik’s face went scarlet. “You didn’t hurt any of them, did you?”

“Don’t worry, I let them go. Along with the pretty teacher who couldn’t stop talking about how handsome you were. I’ve seen better.” She scowled. “Then the fair. You got lucky there—it won’t happen again.”

“Enough.” Brenna gripped the wooden staff. “I’ll ask you only once—surrender this path. Let us pray to Mother Freyja together, ask for her guidance.” She had to make the offer, clear her conscience with one last suggestion.

Erik snarled as he moved again, putting Kara between the two of them. It was a good move, a strategic move, and Brenna couldn’t help enjoying the thrill skittering up her spine as she watched him prepare for battle.

Kara looked over her shoulder, smirking. “Freyja’s done all she can for you. Now, it’s my turn to finish what you started a year ago, correct your errors.” She paused. “I made special arrangements for you, little sister. I won’t be the one dispatching you to Helheim. You’re not worthy to die at the point of my lance.”

Something slammed into her side, sending her flying into the clearing, dangerously close to the campfire.

Someone.

Lucy let out a shriek as Brenna scrambled to her feet, snatching the staff from the ground. Her heart sank as she took in the growling, snarling man facing her, the bear pelt wrapped over his shoulders. He stood at least six feet tall, his eyes wide and bloodshot.

Berserker.

Jake was the first to react. The older man scrambled out of his chair, snatching up the pistol lying at his feet. He shifted into a shooting stance, sighting down the barrel at the intruder.

“Hold it right there,” he said, glaring at the giant. “You don’t move, and I don’t shoot.”

Helen grabbed a thick piece of wood from the campfire, the flaming edge glowing brightly in the dying daylight. Lucy dashed toward the nearby women’s tent while Mark grabbed at the crowbar next to his chair, his usual evening protection.

The warrior looked around the circle and roared. He brought up the heavy ax in both hands, the thick metal blade catching the moonlight.

Jake didn’t hesitate before pulling the trigger, the barrel leveled at the berserker’s torso. Two bullets sang out before embedding themselves in the man’s chest, over his heart.

It was as if the pistol had shot feathers.

The wild man shouted again as he leaped through the fire, into the fire, charging at Jake. The mammoth ax swung from left to right in a lethal arc, and it took all the older man’s agility to jump back out of range.

Mark moved in from the side and slammed the crowbar into the fighter’s back, directly between the shoulder blades.

Nothing.

The ax twisted and turned again as the berserker swiveled, a new target in his sights. He swung again, one-handed this time.

Mark wasn’t as lucky as Jake was.

The blade sliced through his belly, opening up a scarlet gorge. The crowbar fell from Mark’s hands as he stood still and stared at the wound.

Brenna leaped at the man, slamming the staff over his head to get his attention. The impact sent reverberations up her arms, almost numbing them, but the wood held.

The ax swung high, barely missing her as she twisted away, hearing a snarl of rage from the berserker.

Lucy came out of the tent with a pair of knives. She threw one at the man’s head before grabbing Mark’s arm to pull him out of the way.

The knife stuck in the fighter’s scalp, slicing through the long, matted hair—and it didn’t make a difference.

Brenna spared a glance around to see where Erik and Kara were. This was a diversion, a dangerous one guaranteed to keep her away from the pair as they fought with each other.

Mark let out a yelp as he scrambled away from the berserker, holding his hand to his stomach. Crimson crept across the front of his shirt, signaling the severity of the wound.

There was no choice to make.

She couldn’t leave these people, these humans who had become her family, to face this madman alone.

She charged at the giant again, fighting back the nausea in her belly at leaving him to face Kara solo.

Erik. I’m sorry.