“I had to tell my daughter I wouldn’t be returning quite as soon as planned. I didn’t want her to worry.”
“Shalendra knows you have responsibilities. Now, take Aleksandra and Jakob to the southern point of the barrier. I have already placed Mikhail and Natalya to the west and Lilyann and Charles to the north.” She stared at the two werewolves standing behind Émilien, their eyes wide as they stared at his back. “Kazimir, you and Maxim take the position between Lilyann and Raisa.”
Freyja stared across the barrier. “Émilien, I need you to take your place between Natalya and Aleksandra, and I will go to the northwest spot.” Her sharp-purple gaze pounced on her assistant. “Alva, you and Bernard will remain here with the draugr you talked to. Make sure he understands we will be combining our powers with theirs to try to break the spell cast over them and the city.”
Alva nodded, then turned to the creature. “You heard all that, I hope?” He lowered his eerie gaze and nodded once before resuming his statuesque stance. “Definitely a man of few words,” she grumbled before turning to face the barrier. “Are you worried about any of this, Bernard?”
He nodded. “There’s a lot at stake—like the future and not getting killed by the ‘draugrs.’”
“The plural is draugar, and yes, I’m a bit worried about that as well. What kind of entity could control this amount of power? I can’t think of a single god or goddess, in any pantheon, who could wield such magic.”
“While I don’t know them all like you do, I can think of one god who may possess this kind of evil intent. Paired with an object of power, he would be almost unstoppable.”
She frowned up at him, and he could almost see her brain processing information at lightning speeds. “With a power object, Óðinn would be able to accomplish something like this, but Raisa just performed another draining of his powers to keep him calm and levelheaded, not that the Allfather could ever be considered levelheaded.”
“I agree. This also doesn’t feel like Óðinn. His power is heavier and lacks a certain finesse.” His gaze narrowed on the shimmery barrier. The iridescent swirl of colors—blues, pinks, and purples—reminded him of a large soap bubble, like the ones he used to make with his daughter. “Whatever created this has a much lighter touch to it, not feminine, but close. Whoever this is isn’t masculine but is a male. Can you think of any power object that could increase or manifest a god’s magic?”
Alva stared at the shimmering bubble in front of them, her mind immediately going to the topaz gemstone in her pocket. Would something like that be powerful enough to control so many of the undead? Her thoughts turned to other objects and mentally ran through the ones she knew, including Óðinn’s spear and helm, as well as others, like Thor’s iron gauntlets, belt, and hammer. There were too many to recall, but none of them were powerful enough to command an army of undead.
Finally, she shrugged. “I have no idea. There are simply too many to consider. All pantheons have power objects, so to figure out which one controls the draugar is next to impossible.”
Everyone is in place, Alva. The elves, along with Émilien, will begin, concentrating their power as a base for ours. Let’s see how Bernard fairs with the elves. He is unique in my group of soldiers and untried, yet he has exhibited exceptional abilities.Freyja’s sultry voice poured through her mind, boosting Alva’s own strength and calming her growing agitation.
With a side glance at the man standing beside her, Alva subtly nodded. It will be interesting, I think.
“Bernard, Freyja just told me the Ailuin, Lamruil, and Émilien will provide a base of elf magic, which Freyja and the rest will use to boost their abilities. The elves need you to help them.”
“Help how? I don’t have that kind of power. So far, the only real things I’ve been able to do are transport and seem stronger.”
“Focus like you did when you wanted to see the draugar. Channel the energy through your mind and body and picture a white light of power exiting your fingertips.”
He gave her a look of complete exasperation. “Are you serious? You want me to believe I can make light appear from my fingertips? Are you sure you didn’t hit your head when Maya held your prisoner?”
Laying her hand on his muscled forearm, Alva’s palm warmed, turning almost hot. Her skin tingled, like thousands of pins stabbed into each finger, then moved, the sensation racing up her arm. She jerked her hand away, curling it into a fist as the uncomfortable tingling eased, but kept her gaze on his. “Do you trust me?” she whispered.
His brown gaze darkened, turning almost black, but his face held no expression. She had seen that look before during their missions. It was his strategy face, which didn’t bode well for her. When he gave her a terse nod, her eyebrows rose in surprise.
“Yes, Alva, I trust you. Fair warning…I don’t give my trust to just anyone.”
She gave him a relieved smile. “I know. Now, the elves will have their arms raised above their head but at an angle, their fingertips pointing to the barrier’s center.” Reluctantly, he raised his arms but stayed silent. “Close your eyes and, like you did before, feel the power burning deep inside of you. Let it grow, filling you up until you think you’re about to explode, then let it siphon through your fingertips toward the center of the barrier.”
His brows drew together in concentration. A light sheen of sweat formed on his forehead and upper lip as his arms trembled. “There is something…an emotion I am very familiar with. This feels like fury and that my heart is about to burst.”
“That’s excellent, Bernard. Imagine tubes or lines inside your arms and that the power is flowing through them toward your fingers, like water. Keep your control centered...” A brilliant white light burst from each fingertip toward the center point and continued to grow as the stream widened. “Control it, Bernard. I know it’s difficult, but you really are doing great.” She watched as he struggled for a few seconds before the channel of light narrowed.
“That’s it. Now, I’m adding my magic to yours, so be prepared for some kind of reaction.” She widened her stance and held her arms at each side, her palms facing the barrier, which now glowed light pink. She channeled her magic and let it wind around and through Bernard’s stream. The jolt of rightness filled her mind and heart as their powers combined, blending and growing. Their strength increased so much, she almost lost control, something she hadn’t done since childhood.
She peeked through her almost-closed eyelids as the barrier shivered, like ripples on water from a strong wind. She held her breath, willing the opalescent monstrosity to disappear, but it merely shook once more, and then the surface smoothed and held tight.
This isn’t working.Freyja’s words were forced, almost blunt, the frustration evident in the emotionally charged tone.
Deep down, I knew it wouldn’t. What do we do now?
Let’s try one more strong push and see if we can find a crack. I’ll take anything right now.
Alva silently agreed, but the deadening sensation in her stomach didn’t bode well. “Freyja wants to give it one more powerful try. How are you doing?” she asked Bernard, who had rivulets of sweat running along the edge of his face.
“I feel like a bomb exploded nearby. My legs are shaking like gelatin.”