18
Everyone arrived at Embassy Row, near the center of Washington, D.C. With a wave of her hands, Alva motioned for them to gather close. Freyja surrounded them once more with a new magical barrier to keep the draugar from hearing their plans, along with whoever else may be listening.
“So, what’s the plan this time?” Lilyann asked, smoothing her shoulder-length blond hair into a ponytail.
“We will do the same thing we did before,” Freyja said. “This time, though, Alva will add the magical boost she showed us in Asgard. Not even here will I divulge what that is...nothing is safe.” Her pointed stare moved from person to person. Alva sensed the goddess’s anger, blended with a bit of trepidation, and realized she was talking about Óðinn. Why him, though, and not Loki?
A second later, she knew the answer. Like Freyja, the Allfather had his own seidr magic...magic that could enhance or nullify hers. She couldn’t blame Freyja for being overly cautious. It had taken all of Raisa’s, Ailuin’s, and Lamruil’s magic to drain Óðinn’s power during the war. With all the new evil and chaos, he would be twice as powerful, and if Loki was helping him, he might even be unstoppable.
She caught Bernard staring intently at Mikhail, who returned the gaze with one of his own. After a slight nod, as if in silent agreement, they turned their attention back to Freyja, who repeated the same instructions as she’d given them the last time they were here. Each couple would take up their previous posts and focus on their own magic, because getting the barrier down was too important. They had to get Bernard inside.
The draugar remained standing with their arms outstretched toward the city. The same bluish-white light streamed from their fingertips and joined together to form the impenetrable barrier over the American capital. Surrounded by the same glow, the lack of breeze and their flowing white hair and robes gave them a spectral appearance. Alva’s apprehension rose.
She turned to face the draugr behind them. “King Ghaldath?” she asked and waited for his response. He lowered his gaunt face, his blackened eye sockets meeting hers. She smiled whenhe gave her a subtle nod.
“As I promised, we returned to help you—all of you. Is escaping your curse what you still want?” The creature once more nodded. “Okay then, we’re going to do the same thing as before. If you can pull back your magic, even just a little, we may be able to break you free from whoever is holding you against your will.”
She turned her back to Ghaldath and held out her hand to Bernard. Without hesitation, he threaded his fingers through hers, and a calmness settled over her. Sliding her other hand into her pocket, she wrapped her hand around the gemstone.
Closing her eyes, she focused her inner vision. ljómi, once more, I need your help. Someone has made a false promise to a group of draugar, commanding them to create an impenetrable barrier around a section of this city. To save the Nine Worlds and stop Ragnarok, wemust break through. Can you boost my magic and those who give us aid? They are my family.
The topaz warmed in her palm until the heat was almost too much before quickly cooling again. I take that as a yes? A single burst of heat shot through her hand. Thank you, my friend.
Turning, she smiled at Bernard. “ljómi agrees to help and will give the task her all.”
He raised one brow. “You named the stone?”
She gave her a quizzical look. “Of course. Everything should have a name. Now, concentrate on your inner magic. You’re Elfkind and very powerful, you know. You just need to practice.”
“Practice what? I have no clue what I’m supposed to do.”
She grinned. “You’re one of the smartest, most resilient people I know. You’ll figure it out.” She faced the barrier and closed her eyes. “Draw on your inner core of power. You have always done so, whether you realized it or not. Your strength is your well of power.”
Freyja, we are ready.
This fight won’t be easy, Alva, but we will all do our best. I haven’t told you often enough, but you have been an excellent assistant. There are so many things you have done for me, for Asgard and the other worlds. If I haven’t thanked you enough, I am sorry. Your father told me just before he died how proud he was of you. Your mother said the same. You are like a daughter to me, so as a surrogate mother, I treasure you, my dear.
Alva paused, unable to form a coherent thought. She’d never once thought about what she had done for the goddess. To her, her actions had been decided by fate. If she had the ability to help anyone in any situation, she would. Life was too precious.
Inhaling a shaky breath, she breathed through her slightly parted lips. Thank you, my lady. I don’t know what to say.
There is no need to say anything. Just do me and Isabel proud.
I will do my best. Alva tightened her grip on the stone. Okay,ljómi, it’s our time to shine. Are you ready? The topaz warmed and, as before, a distant buzzing sounded in her mind. She smiled and squeezed Bernard’s hand, then began drawing on her magic, siphoning it in a thin stream toward the barrier. When ljómi kicked in its mystical force, the stream lit up like a beacon, pulsating and glowing with untold power.
Behind her, she thought she heard a low grunt, but with the sudden howling of a freakishly strong wind, she couldn’t be sure. Narrowing her gaze to a spot directly in front of her, she increased her stream and saw a momentary ripple course through the barrier, but when she blinked, the iridescent wall seemed normal. They needed more magic.
Freyja, we need more! Tell everyone to hold nothing back.
“Draw out everything you have,” Alva shouted at Bernard, the wind’s screech reminding her of an animal’s or bird’s angry cry. After a few minutes at full power, her strength weakened. A blinding flash of golden light momentarily blinded her, and a searing pain tore through her body. Crying out in agony, she let the topaz slip through her fingers to the bottom of her pocket as she fell into darkness.
* * *
“Alva!”Bernard desperately tried to grab her as she toppled backward. Dropping to the ground a second before she hit, he pulled her against him. With trembling fingers, he swept the white hair from her face and cupped her cheek, willing his heartbeat to slow down. Defying his silent order, his heart sped up even more the longer he stared at her paler-than-normal face, which was almost as colorless as her hair.
“Wake up, ma tigresse.” He stroked her soft skin with the pad of his thumb, a back-and-forth caress, as he silently willed her to awaken. Minutes passed, and her eyes, lined with thick, white-tipped black lashes, as if they had been dipped in white paint, remained closed. He prayed to every god he could remember to keep her safe.
“Alva, I need you to come back to me,” he whispered as his chest tightened. The thought of anything happening to this amazing, perfect woman was beyond his comprehension because he couldn’t live without her. Not now, not ever.