14
The moment Alva’s eyes filled with tears and her hand covered her trembling lips, Bernard sat down beside her, pulled her close, and hugged her small body against his. She closed her eyes and turned her face into his chest as she sobbed quietly.
“I’m sorry.” Émilien huffed out a shaky breath of his own. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. I just wanted you to know how much your father loved you. When you were sent to live with Isabel, well, I feared the worst and that she would fill your head with lies about Taeral.”
After a few sniffles and a soft hiccough, she pulled away, wiping the remaining moisture from her face. Bernard could only stare. Even flushed and with red eyes, she was so delicately beautiful. “I’m sorry too. I usually don’t fall apart like that. I guess too many things have happened in the last couple of weeks, and hearing about my father like that...” Her chin trembled and she shrugged one shoulder. “It’s hard to talk about my father. I don’t think I’ll ever get over losing him. And no, my mother has never spoken a harsh word against my father. My relationship with her is tenuous at best, and now that she’s sick...”
“What’s wrong with her?” Émilien asked. “I didn’t think anything affected that woman. I’ve never seen such strength, and I’ve known quite a few goddesses in my lifetime.”
“Freyja and I believe her previous consort did something to her. My mother loved Anders, but when he abandoned her...well, Freyja believes it jump-started the curse, but I’m not so sure about that now.”
“What curse?” Bernard glanced at her. “You’ve never mentioned a curse before.”
She tucked her legs under her, her fingers playing with the hem on one pant leg. “We don’t like talking much about it, but a Huldra’s fate is to make a man fall in love with her and marry. The moment he says the words “I do,” she loses her tail and the bark on her back. If the Huldra has a good heart and only takes enough life energy for her to survive, she will remain as she is. However, if the Huldra’s heart is bad and hoards the life energy, she will turn into an old hag.”
Her eyes momentarily closed. “Once the man is dead, she then reverts to what she was, beautiful again, with bark and tail. According to my cousins, my mother used to work hard, trying to convince the different clans throughout the Nine Worlds to stop their hoarding, each finding a man to love, not use. Then Anders arrived, and all that stopped. The few times I could tolerate being around her, she never paid attention to me or my sisters and didn’t act like a queen. It’s as if her mind wasn’t quite there.”
She dropped the hem and slid her hand up and down her leg. The tip of her tail twitched next to her foot. It reminded him of a worm, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. He’d learned on their first mission together she was self-conscious about it, so he forced his gaze back to her face. “There was a small revolt a week ago, and my mother and I are getting to know one another again. I only hope we can stop whatever Anders did to her in time. I can’t lose her too.” Her voice faded as she turned her stricken face to his.
With the pad of his thumb, Bernard brushed away a single tear as it slid from the corner of one sea-green eye. Every time he stared into their depths, he felt as if he were swimming in the Mediterranean, the cool waters rushing over him. It was an unsettling reaction, considering he should be in mourning for Savannah. There was just something about the woman in front of him. She was delicate, but not too much so, and lethal when the situation called for it. He still couldn’t shake the protectiveness she inspired in him.
“We will figure it out, ma tigresse, I have never seen you back away from any fight, no matter how impossible it is, so don’t begin now.”
Pressing her pink lips together, she threw her arms around him and held him tight enough to make breathing difficult.
“And a romantic too. Who knew?” Raisa chuckled as she appeared beside them, carrying a tray laden with mugs and small sandwiches piled in a high mound. She placed the food and drink on the dais and stepped back. “What have I missed?” Her gaze traveled from one person to the next, finally landing on her husband, who held out his hand. She took it and curled up next to him, his arm holding her to his side.
“I’ll explain later,” Ailuin said. “Right now, we need to gather the others and come up with an action plan.”
Raisa smiled, her green eyes sparkling. “I love it when you say things like that. Can I bring a few of the children?”
This grabbed Alva’s attention.She sat back, confusion filling her eyes. “Children? Since when do you have children?”
The pretty redhead laughed and Ailuin groaned. “That’s what she calls the werewolves. I will have you know, I’m too highborn to have furry kids.” Everyone burst out laughing, and a pink flush covered Ailuin’s face and neck.
Raisa patted his arm. “Believe what you will, my love. Believe what you will.” Her smile dimmed when she turned to Alva. “Now, what do you need us to do?”
Alva gave Bernard a quick glance before turning back to the Night Witch. “We encountered something on Midgard. Even with our combined magic, I’m not sure if we will be able to impact the magical barrier erected over the city.”
“Where on Midgard are we talking about?” Raisa asked.
“Washington, D.C.,” Bernard added. “Alva believes whoever or whatever it is, is invisible.”
“Great, the invisible enemy trick. Just what we needed.” Raisa rolled her eyes. “Maybe the wolves can sniff out whoever it is and their location. A concentrated attack is always better than sporadic hits and misses.”
“I agree,” Bernard said with a single nod. “How long will it take to gather and transport everyone to Midgard?”
The twins exchanged quick glances before Lamruil nodded and disappeared. All eyes turned to Ailuin. “Lamruil has gone to Asgard. He will update Freyja, Freyr, and Idunn, if she’s returned from wherever she disappeared to.”
“Idunn’s missing?” Alva sat up straighter, a worried frown replacing the previous sorrow. “Why did no one tell me? Freyja must be frantic.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean that,” Ailuin said. “After you were rescued, she said she had something to take care of and abruptly left. I don’t know about Freyja, but none of us have heard from her. I’m sure she’s fine. She’s probably just out gathering strange or rare herbs for her garden. She’s always looking for new additions. Freyja or Heimdall will make sure everyone is sent to Midgard. While we’re waiting for them, you two should go back and check on the situation to make sure nothing has changed. While it would fantastic if whoever this is, is gone, my gut tells me they’re still there and up to no good.”
“I agree.” Bernard shot a quick glance at Alva, who nodded. “The strength and malevolence we felt was overwhelming, and it was there for a specific reason. I think he or she is trying to keep me from fixing what I did.”
“I know I’m a little late to this party, but is what you supposedly did that important?” Émilien asked.
Bernard met the werewolf’s black gaze. “Is the fate of the Nine Worlds important enough?”