Chapter Thirty-Four

The last of Brenna’s strength left her in a single, long sigh. She slumped against Erik, her knees weak. 

Her head spun, the reality flashing her world into sharp focus.

Freyja had gone and taken neither of them with her.

Kara was out of the picture.

Brenna blinked, accepting the truth. She was with Erik.

In the middle of a mass killing.

“Look,” Erik said into her ear. “Don’t say anything. Just look.” His arms curled around her protectively. “It seems Freyja tidied up all the loose ends.”

She glanced around the clearing, holding her breath as she spotted Jake sitting in the canvas chair—his usual seat.

Brenna couldn’t help glancing over at where he’d been lying in the destroyed tent only a few seconds ago.

It’d all changed, as if someone pushed the rewind button and backed up everything to before Kara arrived. The tents restored, the fire rekindled to the vibrant, lively flames she’d left before creeping into the woods to confront the intruder… Everything was as it had been before.

“What the fuck?” Jake grunted as he put both hands to his head. “Damn it, Mark. I told you not to toss any of those funky herbal cigarettes you got from those kids into the fire. Burned up and knocked me the hell out.” He shook his head. “Some weird dreams scattering through my mind—haven’t had anything like that since ’Nam.”

Brenna looked down. Her shirt was bloodless, the stain left by Kara’s lance gone as well as the wound underneath.

“All fixed,” Erik murmured in her ear.

The tents had been restored to their original shape, all damage from the berserker wiped away. Mark sat in his chair, a dazed look on his face as Lucy and Helen occupied their own space. The trio blinked as they took in the scene.

“Wow.” Lucy rubbed her eyes. “That was some crazy stuff.” She spotted Erik and Brenna and leaped out of her chair. “Erik! When did you arrive?”

Lucy grabbed him in a bear hug, dragging him out of Brenna’s embrace. “And oh my God—you shaved and cut your hair!” She touched his bare cheek. “Not looking too bad.”

Helen smiled. “Must have snuck up on us when we weren’t looking.” She pointed a stick at Mark. “Good watchman you turned out to be.” She eyed Brenna. “Everything all right?”

“We’re fine,” Brenna said, working hard to keep the laughter out of her voice. “We’re just fine.”

Jake scratched his beard before waving them on. “Well, then, pull a chair up and tell us what you’ve been doing for the last month.”

Erik nodded and led Brenna closer to the fire. “Mark, where’s your phone?”

The blond man dug into his back pocket. “Here. Why?” He frowned, looking at each of them in turn. “Did you call me to say you were coming back and I missed it?” He growled as he touched the small screen. “Damn. I’m always out of the loop.”

“No, no.” Erik chuckled. “You’re right where you’re supposed to be.”

It wasn’t until they had crawled back into their own tent that she dared to talk to Erik about what had happened. The last few hours had been a crazy whirlwind of reacquainting herself with her friends, who she had seen die in front of her. They laughed and talked and acted like nothing had changed.

“Not for them.” Erik drew his fingers along her arm, raising goose bumps. “Far as they’re concerned, I came back on my own.”

Brenna accompanied him back to the parking lot to pick up his duffel bag from the rental car, curious as to if anything else had been changed by Freyja’s manipulations. The plane ticket was there from Erik’s frantic travels.

“The time line’s pretty much the same.” Erik studied the small burner phone. “I’m supposed to be fighting in Erie tomorrow night—that’s correct.”

“Erie?” She sucked in her breath. “If you want to go then…”

“No. No more fighting. At least not in the cage.” He entwined his fingers with hers as he threw the bag over his shoulder and started walking. “I’m done with that part of my life.”

“What will you do?” She paused. “What will I do?”

“Whatever you want to do.” He swung their hands, laughing. “After we finish in Washington.”

“You want to finish the trip?” She lowered her voice as they neared the group.

“Of course.” He nodded toward the other veterans. “They’ve got stories to tell, and we’re going to be there to support them.”

They set up their tent to the side of the other two, Brenna quietly moving her belongings back in.

As they finished up, Brenna spotted Mark sitting by the fire, rubbing his belly.

“You good?” Erik asked.

“Yeah.” He let out a loud burp. “Just an upset stomach. Must have eaten something that didn’t agree with me.”

Erik grinned and led Brenna into their tent. The two sleeping bags were zipped together.

She sat down on one, toeing her shoes off. Despite her exhaustion, they still had plenty to talk about.

“Mother…” She choked up. “She was part of this all along, I believe.” She detailed the dream back in the park.

Erik let out a soft whistle. “I wouldn’t have believed before but…” He drew a finger along her arm before slipping his hand under her shirt. He pressed it across her bare belly, where the lethal wound had been. “I’m believing a lot more things as of late.”

“A Son of Odin.” She exhaled. “I never…”

He silenced her with a passionate kiss, wiping the rest of the sentence from her mind.

“I thought I’d lost you,” he said as he pulled back. “I’m never going to let you go. Never.”

She tried to find the words for the emotions drowning her but couldn’t.

He ran his hands along her arms, moving to flick open each button on her blouse with slow, steady precision. She found herself holding her breath as he eased the fabric off her shoulders, letting it drop away.

“So soft…” he murmured as he unclipped her bra and drew it down her arms, tossing it to the side.

“Of royal blood,” she said as he laid her down on the sleeping bag. “I had no idea they existed.”

“I don’t care.” He laid down a series of light kisses along her cheek. “Except that it brought you to me.” Erik paused, locking eyes with her. “That’s all that matters.” He cupped her cheek. “You were willing to die for me. Hell, you did die for me—I felt the life leave your body.”

She nodded, at a loss for words.

His hands stripped her jeans off with military-like precision, leaving her naked and open to him.

“I…” She paused, trying to make sense of the thoughts racing through her mind. “I never thought it would end like this. In any of my wildest dreams, I never saw this happening.”

He smiled. “All you need to think about now is that we’ve got a whole lifetime ahead of us, and I don’t plan to waste any of it.”

She ran her hands under his shirt, finding no trace of Kara’s deadly spear thrust. The original battle scars were still there—Freyja’s healing spells could only do so much, she figured.

Or Mother had decided to leave them alone, a reminder of the warrior she loved.

She ran her fingers through his hair. “You gave up Valhalla for me.”

“Yes. And I’d do it again.” He stripped off his shirt, making short work of the rest of his clothing. “But you gave up your own immortal destiny and decided to stay with me. So I’d say we’re even.”

“Not really. But…” Before she could answer, he pulled her close into a tight embrace.

“A Son of Odin,” she repeated as he drew his hands over her back, the delicious friction sending tremors through her body.

“That’s what the lady said.” He nipped at her earlobe. “I don’t feel any different.”

“Neither do I.” She swallowed hard. “Although I will miss one thing about being a Valkyrie—the flying.”

One hand slipped between them, caressing her damp folds, and she gasped.

“I can make you soar,” he said with a smile.

“Fly straight,” Brenna said, giving herself over to her desires.

“Hell, yeah.”

…

Six months later

“Right, let’s get started. Choose your partners.” Brenna walked around the auditorium, surveying her students. The Women’s Self-Defense day class had filled almost immediately after the notice went up at the community center. Another sign-up sheet for an evening session already had names scribbled on the side, hopefuls waiting for a space. Two classes in and no one had dropped out.

The women lined up in two rows, opposite each other.

She motioned one forward.

“Tonight, we’re going to work on how to break away if someone grabs you from behind.” She studied the eager faces. “Believe it or not, you can escape—no matter how large your attacker might be.”

It took her a few minutes to show the moves and a few more to convince the students it would work, their suspicious gazes switching into unabashed glee.

The door at the other end of the room opened, and she smiled, recognizing Erik.

“Right. Grab yourself a partner and start practicing those break-away moves. I’ll be right back.”

She strode across the floor, forcing herself not to run to him.

It’d only been two hours since Brenna had last seen her husband and yet it felt like years. He wore a light gray T-shirt, the sleeves torn off, and a well-worn set of matching sweat pants she longed to tear him out of.

He smiled, opened his arms, and the emotional dam broke.

Brenna charged at him, leaping into his embrace.

The hungry kiss lasted longer than she would have liked, and she knew more than one of her students was neglecting her instructions and watching.

Watch and be envious.

Erik pulled free first with a sharp laugh. “I’ll have to leave you alone more often.”

Brenna returned the grin. “How’s your class going? A lot of would-be cage fighters discovering there’s more to it than just snarling and screaming?”

He chuckled. “Had a few drop out when they realized they’d be starting with the basics—and little chance of taking me on, not at this level.”

He raised one hand, showing her the clean, unbroken skin. “Yes, I’m wearing gloves when showing moves. I remember my promise—no boxing without them. I’m showing more than telling, anyway.”

“Excellent.” Brenna dropped a kiss on his knuckles. “I want these hands on me, not in a bucket of ice, bruised and sore. Any problem with the administrators when you asked them about expanding our classes?”

“Not since I got the center that boost in funding.” He smirked. “When I mentioned we were at the rally in Washington, they got a whole lot more respectful. Dropped Jake’s name and Susan DeVecchio’s jaw hit the floor. The old man has connections now that he’s turned politician.” He looked past her at the students, busy trying to throw each other down to the padded mats. “Is it my imagination or do you have more tonight?”

“I’m thinking about scheduling a third weekly class to meet the demand.” She crossed her arms. “Good to put my training to some use.” She hesitated, just long enough to show her thoughts to him.

“Kara.”

They hadn’t spoken about her in weeks. It was a sore spot, one only time would heal.

Brenna nodded. “I still can’t believe she became so…dark.” She gave a mournful shake of her head. “She wasn’t the woman I lived with, trained with, worked with for so long.”

Erik pulled her back into a hug. “Any idea what Freyja would do to her?”

“I don’t know. Maybe re-assign her to Helheim, give her the task of taking damned souls there.” She shuddered, her mind racing as she recalled the haunted and sunken faces of the Valkyries in the other barracks. “I hope not.”

“She’ll find her way. As you keep saying, Freyja has her reasons. Along with Odin.” He kissed her again. “Time for both of us to get back to work.”

She nodded as he stepped back. “Kara’ll survive. Like we did.”

“Hell, we did more than that.” Erik laughed as he swept her up in her arms and swung her around. “We won. Because true love always wins in the end.”

She scrunched up her nose. “That sounds like something Freyja would say.”

“Then let’s keep on saying it.” He smiled and glanced at the ceiling. “Thanks, Dad.”

She giggled.

“Now let’s see if we can keep the bloodline going.” His voice dropped to the low, sultry tone guaranteed to send her pulse racing. “See you after class. I’ve got a few new moves I want to try out on you.”

Brenna grinned. “See you then, Son of Odin.”

She watched him walk away, enjoying the sight before turning back to her own class and clapping her hands together.

“Right—keep on practicing.”

One of her students, a blonde, looked over at the retreating Erik. “Where did you find him? And does he have any brothers?”

Before Brenna could answer, Erik stopped and turned around, giving the young woman a wide grin. “I’m the lucky one. She’s an angel who fell out of Heaven and landed at my feet.” He looked up at the ceiling. “As for brothers, well…none that I know of. Yet.”

The young woman laughed and turned back to her partner with a shake of her head.

Erik grinned as he tucked his hands in his pockets and walked through the door.

Brenna thought she heard a mischievous chuckle from overhead.

“Thanks, Mother,” she whispered under her breath.

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