Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
"Fine, so they go to Not-Hell," she grumbles, finally loosening her grip on the pillow. It's misshapen now, all the feathers having escaped to the ends. She doesn't notice. "And the Valkyrie soul-bound the warriors they found worthy because Odin decided that was the way. What does this have to do with the price of tea in China?"
"It has nothing to do with the price of tea in China."
The tiniest of smiles dances across her lips. "It's a saying, Dax. It means I think you're telling me pointless, irrelevant things."
"Ah, I see." I push away from the wall, taking a tentative step in her direction. She doesn't immediately back away from me. A good sign. "Two thousand years ago, most of the Valkyrie were killed in the Final Battle."
"You mean Ragnarök?"
I nod. "With so few left to ferry souls across, the Forsaken started snatching them. Thousands upon thousands of souls, destroyed by an evil you can't even begin to comprehend."
"Wait. Who are the Forsaken and why do they want souls?"
"They're an ancient evil. One that predates anything you know." I hesitate. "I suppose they're the original concept of evil. Religion never gets it right considering not even the Gods would reveal where they came from, but religion tries to explain their existence the best it can."
"And they want souls because that's just their thing?"
"Nei. They feed off them."
"Gross." She scrunches up her face. "So, ancient soul-eaters."
"It's more complicated than that. Souls are power. They feed off the power for their dark magic. But ja, that's the gist of it."
"This was so not in the book my mom read," she mutters.
"It would not have been. The Æsir forbade any mention of the Forsaken on earth."
"Why?"
"Look what people have done with your devil," I murmur. "They exalt him as if evil deeds and the subjugation of the soul are something to aspire to. Do you think it would have gone differently with the Forsaken? The Æsir wouldn't risk starting a cult of willing disciples. Better to pretend the Forsaken didn't exist at all than to risk giving them an army of followers."
Rissa's brow furrows as she considers this. She's silent for a moment before she nods, swallowing hard. "Yeah," she whispers. "I guess you're right."
"The Valkyrie who were left after Ragnarök knew they had to do something to stop the Forsaken, so those who weren't bound to a warrior began to lay with humans."
"Lay with? You mean sleep with, right?"
"Ja. Sleep with." I take another step toward her. "They hoped to bolster their numbers by birthing Valkyrie capable of joining their ranks."
"Did it work?"
I shake my head. "Something else happened instead."
"What?"
"They set in motion a prophecy that will save the nine realms forever. Or destroy them for eternity."
She absorbs this quietly, her lips slightly parted.
"Your great-great-great-great grandmother, many times removed, is the daughter of one of those Valkyrie, elskan-ljós."
She laughs abruptly. "You almost had me for a minute there, Dax."
"The man you set on fire last night was Forsaken, Rissa," I growl. "Others will be coming for you. They won't stop until you're too powerful for them to stand against."
"And the Valkyrie sent you to kidnap me for my own protection, right?"
"The Valkyrie are dead!"
She flinches backward, her face paling. Her laughter fades, silenced by my roar. I immediately feel like a drittsekk for shouting at her. It's not her fault she doesn't understand. None of this is her fault. But her life is in danger, and I need her to take that seriously. It's the only way she survives. And more than anything—more than Valhalla or the portal or the prophecy—I need her to survive. Our bond demands it.
That's my priority now. That's what I'll give my life to protect. Her. Even if it means watching the realms fall to darkness.
"The Forsaken murdered every remaining Valkyrie three hundred years ago, Rissa," I say, more calmly than I feel. "They invaded Valhalla and destroyed everything in their path. We've been stranded here since, waiting for the five prophesized to restore the cosmic balance." I take a final step toward her, this one putting me within reach of her. I place my hand beneath her chin, tipping her face up to mine.
She doesn't flinch from me. She doesn't run screaming. Her gaze flickers across my face, her blue eyes wide and solemn, as if she's trying to work out for herself if I'm being honest or if I've lost my mind.
"We've been waiting for you, Valkyrie."
"No," she whispers, shaking her head. "No."
"Ja. Yes."
"I'm not who you think I am. I'm not what you think I am."
"You're Valkyrie, my Valkyrie."
"Y-your Valkyrie?" The tip of her tongue darts out, sweeping along her bottom lip.
I fight the urge to groan at the sight of it. Fight the desire to dip my head and taste it for myself. Gods, how I crave her. In ways so profound they defy description.