“Well, isn’t this a touching little scene,” a male voice said.
Hel’s head popped up and stared at someone behind him. Easing her away, he slowly rolled onto his paws and knees and found himself looking at the one person he had spent centuries hating. The reason he was stuck in wolf form. The Dark Fae himself, Fer-Diorich.
He lunged but only succeeded in falling on his face. Hel grabbed his arm and helped him into a sitting position, then slapped his shoulder. “That was stupid. Now sit and be quiet.” Turning to face the Fae, she glared. “Why in the hell are you here? For all the pain and suffering you have caused us over the years, I ought to send you to your Otherworld. Arawn would love to see your sour face.”
A smirk covered his face, which was anything but sour. For all his faults, the Fae was equally as handsome as an elf. Émilien couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the races. Both had long, black hair and pale skin, but instead of black eyes like Hel’s, the Fae’s were silver and eerie to look upon. The hair on his body rose, and his skin crawled like a million ants were in his fur. He didn’t dare tell Hel. She’d think he had fleas.
“Currently, you have worse problems than me.” The Fae’s gaze dropped to Émilien, who was struggling to stand. With a disgruntled huff, she leaned over and wrapped her arms around his and pulled him upright beside her. “While that was impressive, I don’t believe your lady likes you much, wolf.” Fer-Diorich’s smirking grin widened. “It’s good to see, though, you piss everyone around you off.”
“Not everyone,” Émilien growled, wishing his legs didn’t feel like limp noodles. He was grateful Hel hadn’t taken back her arm, which he was using as a support bar. Every moment they kept the Fae talking was a moment closer to him recovering from the poison. As the minutes inched by, his strength grew, and the nauseous rolling of his stomach lessened. “I thought I made myself clear the last time we were in the same room together. I will not fight for you, FD.”
A quick glimpse of irritation passed through the Fae’s silvery gaze, and one side of Émilien’s mouth rose in a knowing grin. The magical bastard hated the nickname he had given him.
“You both need to return to your own time. You shouldn’t be here.”
Hel frowned, her dark gaze intently watching the Fae’s every movement. Émilien knew the expression well. All the Fae had to do was blink wrong, and she would attack. Most people in their lives had assumed he was the one with the savage temper and power, probably due to his current physical state, but they would be wrong on both counts. Hel was territorial and vicious when it came to defending those she cared for, which made him a little warm and fuzzy inside to know she still cared.
“And why should we trust you?” she asked, her grip tightening around his arm.
“There are things that have been set in motion that I may not be able to stop, which bodes ill for all realms, if you don’t return to your own time.” His silvery eyes glowed in the firelight, but it was the hard expression on his face that gave Émilien pause.
“This has nothing to do with what you created me for?”
Fer-Diorich shook his head. “No, wolf. What I need from you will come to pass whether you resist or not, but this is different. You have a greater enemy than me, and it surprises me to no end when I say this, but I’m here to help you.”
Hel’s gaze narrowed. “I sense no altruistic emotion in your body or words, so why?” No sooner had she asked than her shapely eyebrows rose. “Because if this new enemy succeeds, your plan fails.”
Fer-Diorich tilted his head to her. “Not only beautiful but quite intelligent.” His gaze moved between them. “I can’t help but wonder what your offspring would turn out like—”
“Don’t even go there,” Hel snapped. “I am not into bestiality.”
The Fae’s dark brow rose. “Hmmm, definitely not the response of a loving wife.” Émilien’s heart ached at the disgust in Hel’s voice. Maybe he had misunderstood her earlier actions. Of course, it wouldn’t have been the first time, but for a moment, he had thought she still cared for him.
“Ex-wife,” Hel stated. “You had better forget anything your evil little brain is thinking because it’s not going to happen. Not now, not ever.”
“I wouldn’t say never, my dear. Stranger things have happened throughout history.”
“You do anything to me or force me into a situation I don’t want to be in, you’ll get more than you bargained for. While I have certain family issues, all I would need to do is call for my father. Alone, I’m a force to be reckoned with, but aligned with Daddy? You will regret ever seeing me.”
The Fae crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze narrowed. “You care nothing for the wolf, then?”
Hel turned her black gaze to Émilien He held his breath, willing her to not say the word that would cleave his heart in two. She squeezed his arm, her long nails cutting into his skin, the tiny sign giving him hope and leaving him wondering what she was up to. “No. I only want to return to my frozen realm and keep to myself. No family and no past to interfere with my life ever again.”
Fer-Diorich chuckled. “Damn, that’s low. What if I don’t believe you? I think you may be exactly what I need to either make sure the wolf does what he was created to do or give me someone who will. A son bred by the two of you would be exceptional in intelligence and strength.”
“You would have to get past my father first. He doesn’t like people taking things he believes are his, and a son of mine would be just what he would want in his own attempt at gaining domination over the Nine Worlds.”
Fer-Diorich scowled. “And who is your father?”
Hel gave him an evil smile. “Loki.”
Émilien couldn’t have bit back the laughter if he had tried. The horrified, if not a little sour, expression on the evil Fae’s face was priceless. “You bit off more than you intended, didn’t you, FD? Now, if you are truly willing to thwart whoever is after me, send us home.”
He turned to the demon brothers who, to keep from being noticed, had all but disappeared at the back of the cave. “Are you able to open a portal without being discovered?”
Brig nodded. “I can.”
“Good.” He glanced at Hel. “Do they have your permission to enter Niflheimr, specifically Helheimr?”