was all an act…” He blinks, nostrils flaring. Slowly, Kivistö straightens, that enormous frame going taut as he sniffs the air. His Majesty grabs my arm in one big paw before I can seize the wind. “ Or was it? ”
I force a laugh despite the sudden fear squeezing my gut. Shifter senses are nothing to be trifled with. “Don’t be stupid, bruin. I have my own plans. And her getting killed is a headache I don’t want. At least not yet .” There is the sharp edge of ice in my voice. I have to sell this. Nobody is allowed to suspect how I really feel about Seph.
“If you lay another hand on her,” he whispers, “I’ll end you. No matter what it takes.”
“It would take more than you have, Your Majesty.” My magic lashes out at him, turning his hand black with frostbite before he can yank it away. He winces, but shakes it off with a shifter’s casual healing, his skin whole and unblemished in seconds. “My interest in Persephone is not personal, not anymore. I got what I needed from her long ago, remember?” I give him a long, hard smile, watching his lips thin.
For an instant, I think he’s going to try and hit me again, but Kivistö only studies me carefully before nodding once. “You’re a piece of work, Frost. I never want to see you on my land again, understand?”
However I feel about the bruin king, he’s not a stupid man. I don’t think he’s anywhere near convinced, but as long as he protects her, it’ll have to do. I nod shortly. “Fine. Consider it done.”
Even in the darkness I can see the calculating look on his face as the wind takes me away. I don’t like that look, but what choice do I have? I need to keep Seph safe. Even, and especially, from me.
Three months ago…
Despite his wholehearted belief of the prophecy, I get the impression Cerunnos is pissed off that we were right. That one little witch really could touch the power of the gods. Of course, I can barely believe it and I was there. I saw her wielding death and it took my breath away.
Not to mention most of my hope.
“I am not refusing,” I say, aiming to placate as usual. “I am merely suggesting we wait until your plans have aligned.”
“Is that all?” Cerunnos’s voice seems to crackle and stretch across the cavern, sinking skeletal fingers into my chest, trying to dig out the truth. “Somehow I never thought you cared much for my other plans, Frost.”
I shrug. “Perhaps not, but as a tactical move, waiting a bit longer seems best. There are still many who oppose your methods. Going after her on the cusp of your takeover is an unnecessary risk. The backlash from her sisters alone could upend all our work, expose your hold on the Council…and maybe erase it forever.” I can’t resist the dig, reminding the creature in front of me his hold is tenuous at best. I can’t be the only one who suspects what, and who, he really is.
His eyes flash red, but his lips tighten. It’s a solid argument, but that doesn’t mean he likes it. “She’s an abomination, Frost. One that you have sworn to end. Yet nine years later, here we are, still waiting.”
“Waiting,” Loki echoes gleefully, sneering at me with that crazed light in his eyes. “Destroy her before the witch kills again.”
I raise an eyebrow. Loki doesn’t give a shit about Cerunnos’s true magic bullshit or Seph, he just wants to revel in the fallout. Nothing ever changes. “Says the man with the blood of thousands on his hands.”
“No more than you, Jokul. No more than you.” That’s not really fair. The deaths my elements have caused in hundreds of winters are innumerable, but I still say that makes me better than Loki, who revels in these vicious and deadly games.
Perhaps I’m fooling myself. Chaos is natural, too. Despite his faults, Loki has always followed the rules. He’d never go so far as to upend the planet, turn life and death inside out and upset the balance between his element and order.
Seph will.
I remember the
I force a laugh despite the sudden fear squeezing my gut. Shifter senses are nothing to be trifled with. “Don’t be stupid, bruin. I have my own plans. And her getting killed is a headache I don’t want. At least not yet .” There is the sharp edge of ice in my voice. I have to sell this. Nobody is allowed to suspect how I really feel about Seph.
“If you lay another hand on her,” he whispers, “I’ll end you. No matter what it takes.”
“It would take more than you have, Your Majesty.” My magic lashes out at him, turning his hand black with frostbite before he can yank it away. He winces, but shakes it off with a shifter’s casual healing, his skin whole and unblemished in seconds. “My interest in Persephone is not personal, not anymore. I got what I needed from her long ago, remember?” I give him a long, hard smile, watching his lips thin.
For an instant, I think he’s going to try and hit me again, but Kivistö only studies me carefully before nodding once. “You’re a piece of work, Frost. I never want to see you on my land again, understand?”
However I feel about the bruin king, he’s not a stupid man. I don’t think he’s anywhere near convinced, but as long as he protects her, it’ll have to do. I nod shortly. “Fine. Consider it done.”
Even in the darkness I can see the calculating look on his face as the wind takes me away. I don’t like that look, but what choice do I have? I need to keep Seph safe. Even, and especially, from me.
Three months ago…
Despite his wholehearted belief of the prophecy, I get the impression Cerunnos is pissed off that we were right. That one little witch really could touch the power of the gods. Of course, I can barely believe it and I was there. I saw her wielding death and it took my breath away.
Not to mention most of my hope.
“I am not refusing,” I say, aiming to placate as usual. “I am merely suggesting we wait until your plans have aligned.”
“Is that all?” Cerunnos’s voice seems to crackle and stretch across the cavern, sinking skeletal fingers into my chest, trying to dig out the truth. “Somehow I never thought you cared much for my other plans, Frost.”
I shrug. “Perhaps not, but as a tactical move, waiting a bit longer seems best. There are still many who oppose your methods. Going after her on the cusp of your takeover is an unnecessary risk. The backlash from her sisters alone could upend all our work, expose your hold on the Council…and maybe erase it forever.” I can’t resist the dig, reminding the creature in front of me his hold is tenuous at best. I can’t be the only one who suspects what, and who, he really is.
His eyes flash red, but his lips tighten. It’s a solid argument, but that doesn’t mean he likes it. “She’s an abomination, Frost. One that you have sworn to end. Yet nine years later, here we are, still waiting.”
“Waiting,” Loki echoes gleefully, sneering at me with that crazed light in his eyes. “Destroy her before the witch kills again.”
I raise an eyebrow. Loki doesn’t give a shit about Cerunnos’s true magic bullshit or Seph, he just wants to revel in the fallout. Nothing ever changes. “Says the man with the blood of thousands on his hands.”
“No more than you, Jokul. No more than you.” That’s not really fair. The deaths my elements have caused in hundreds of winters are innumerable, but I still say that makes me better than Loki, who revels in these vicious and deadly games.
Perhaps I’m fooling myself. Chaos is natural, too. Despite his faults, Loki has always followed the rules. He’d never go so far as to upend the planet, turn life and death inside out and upset the balance between his element and order.
Seph will.
I remember the
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