of War, effective immediately. Meet me in my chambers at sunrise to discuss our strategy.” With that, Odin swept from the Great Hall, his golden robes billowing behind him.
This was so not good.
I caught Gunnar’s look and closed my eyes. We wound our fingers together, and waited for the tirade to begin.
It only took Ull ten minutes to work through his anger. First came the shouting; then a few chairs were thrown, and finally, a flag was ripped from the rafters. Gunnar and I had seen it hundreds of times before. Ull’s temper was rivaled only by his stubbornness, and he’d made it more than clear to Odin that his assassin days were behind him.
“Sorry, mate,” Gunnar offered when Ull sat down.
“I will not do it,” Ull muttered, head in hands.
“You have to,” I whispered. “It’s a command.”
Ull raked his fingers through his hair and slumped back in the chair. “I can fight. I cannot oversee the attacks.”
“You’re going to have to collect the families, aren’t you?” Gunnar asked.
Ull nodded. It was the oldest trick in the battle book. Asgard was notorious for going after the families of infidels and holding them hostage, to force our enemies to back down. It was lousy, underhanded and cruel – but Odin always said, all’s fair in war. And the Father of All Things knows best… even when he was being completely and totally heartless.
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“Me too.” Gunnar clapped Ull on the back.
We sat in the Great Hall until the sun started to set. My roast would be ruined, but I didn’t care. None of us had the energy to head home. Who knew what the morning would bring?
As it turned out it, the morning was the least of our concerns. Nightfall was what we needed to worry about.
Chapter Two
WE’D BARELY MADE IT home when the sirens started blaring. I shot Gunnar an uneasy look as we raced to our bedroom, throwing dress robes on the floor, and suiting up in black combat gear. I grabbed my rapier and dagger from the hall closet and tossed Gunnar his crossbow. By the time we got back to the front door, Ull was already in his fatigues, battle sword in hand.
“Go,” Ull commanded. We obeyed. Despite his feelings on the subject, he was the best fighter among us.
We ran through the night, down the dark meadow and past the pond. The Great Hall filled as we entered, gods and goddesses moving into ranks. Ull took his place at the head of the hall alongside Thor. Together, they were a peculiar pair – one a battle-scarred redhead who looked like the stereotypical Midgardian Viking; the other a fierce blond assassin who looked like he might moonlight as a movie star. But they shared the same set jaw, the same intense look, and emitted the same waves of fury. Whatever was going down, it was serious. Gunnar and I stood in front of Ull and waited for our orders.
“Asgardians,” Odin’s somber tone rose through the frenzy. “Svartalfheim has attacked the Bifrost. Dark Elves overtook Heimdall and are crossing the bridge. I believe their goal is simple destruction, but we must protect the Unknowables nonetheless. Anders, your team is to guard the War Cabinet. Bjorn, ensure your men protect the Treasure Room. Dagnir, oversee the Sanctimony. And Magni, patrol the residential areas. The rest of you, follow Thor to the Bifrost.”
My brain clicked into fight mode, and I clenched my rapier in my left hand. I barely noticed Gunnar’s tug on my jacket as he pulled me to the wall.
“Inga,” he whispered. “Please be careful.”
“You too, baby.” I smiled. I knew he was worried, but I couldn’t contain my elation. I hadn’t seen a real fight in a century. Anticipation thrummed in my veins.
“I mean it. You are my life, and if anything happened to you—”
I cut him off before he could get too sentimental. “Zip it, Andersson.” I kissed him gently, melting against his soft lips. “Save it for the after party back home.” He raised an eyebrow and I