Demon Crossings (23 page)

Her phone was ringing when she got out of the shower. Across the room on the window sill in one of the few spots in the house where she got reception. She grabbed it on the last ring. Mike. She’d come back into Aiden’s room but he was gone. Her bags were set neatly beside a bench at the foot of his bed. For all his promises to give her time and space, Aiden was not above a bit of subtle manipulation. She smiled and sat down.

“Grace.”

“Sorry, Mike. I’m here. I just got out of the shower.”

“You’re okay then.” He sounded more annoyed than relieved. “I haven’t been able to get a hold of you for weeks. I was about to come look for you myself.”

“I’ve been busy.”

He paused, waiting, but she made him ask the question. She was hoping that he wouldn’t. “Busy with what, Grace? I thought you gave up on that case.”

“I did,” she said and winced. The truth she supposed would work as well as anything. “I met someone.”

The pause was long enough that she actually looked at the phone to make sure she hadn’t lost the call. “Who?”

“You want his name so you can run a background check don’t you? I’ve got good instincts with people, you should know that by now.”

“I trust your instincts. I don’t trust men. Strange men who keep you from coming home or calling your friends.”

“You’re a man,” she pointed out. Aiden was strange maybe and as for the rest… “I’m thinking about staying.”

“In Iowa?” He laughed. “God, must be love.”

She smiled. “Maybe. So were you just checking up on me or do you have something for me?”

What would she do if he said he had another case for her to consider?

“The grandmother’s dead,” he said bluntly and Grace sat up straight.

“What?”

“Maia’s grandmother. Two days ago. She had a stroke.”

“Was it…” She couldn’t force the question out.

“Was it Maia? No, not directly. This was her second stroke this year.” He paused. “I think that was part of the reason she was trying to figure out what to do with the girl. Her niece contacted me to let me know. I have her phone number and address. I told her you weren’t having any luck but she wants to see your report. You’ll need to contact her to settle up on any expenses.”

“She doesn’t have to pay me. I didn’t find Maia.”

Mike cleared his throat and when he spoke again his voice was low and tense. “She’ll ask questions if you don’t at least send a bill.”

He knew. Grace didn’t say anything, just held her breath while she waited to find out exactly how much he knew. “The niece has never met Maia but she seemed to think, based on some things her cousin told her, that the father had a lot more contact with the girl than we were led to believe. She thinks he took her and it doesn’t sound like she plans to aggressively pursue the investigation. But even with the grandmother dead, the charges against the dad would stand…if he was found with Maia. I know you, Grace, and I trust you. I
can
trust you, right?”

“Right.”

“What I’m going to do is believe that Maia’s in a safe place right now because I know you wouldn’t leave her anywhere else. And you…you’re going to make sure you contact the niece.”

Grace let out the breath she’d been holding. “I’ll do that.”

She promised to call him as soon as she was back in town. She’d have to go back even if she did decide to stay at least to take care of her condo and her things. She still hadn’t made up her mind for sure but the idea was starting to sink in, warming her up from the inside every time she thought about it. She could stay.

At the very least, she didn’t think it would be boring.

She went downstairs to the kitchen. Fen looked up from the table and a big smile spread over his face. He stood and wrapped her up in a bear hug, lifting her off her feet. “We thought we’d lost you.”

He passed her off to Christian who spun her into the kitchen and made her sit down at the table. Rane, sitting next to her, reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you made it back. Aiden says you might be sticking around.”

Christian pushed a mug of coffee into her hand and leaned back against the counter in the exact spot Aiden had—she tore her mind from that line of thought and took a sip of coffee, hoping they attributed the flush that came to her face to the heat. “I might.”

Fen grinned. “It’ll be good to have you around. You know, a normal girl.”

Rane pulled a face and threw a donut hole at him which he caught in his mouth. The back door opened and Grace craned her neck around to see Aiden holding it open for a young girl to come inside. Elin, following close behind holding a bowlful of cherry tomatoes, headed for the sink but Hallie walked directly over to Grace, a funny look on her little face. Probably wondering who this strange woman was in her kitchen.

She was a beautiful child, her long hair neatly braided and a flush of color on her pale skin from the heat. She had freckles on her nose and huge gray eyes. Hallie had been barely seven years old when she’d been taken but Aiden said she looked almost exactly the same. She was the same, he insisted, although maybe a little thinner and a touch more subdued. He hoped that would change as time passed.

“Hallie,” Grace said, smiling but feeling awkward under Hallie’s scrutiny. Everyone’s scrutiny. They were all paying attention although only Aiden stared with a grim look on his face that said he was worried.

“Hallie,” he said, placing his hands on his daughter’s narrow shoulders. “This is the Grace I told you about.”

“I know who she is, Dad.” Hallie rolled her eyes and then turned back to Grace, a smile on her face that was a shadow of that bright fearless grin from the picture. “I met you when I was over there. You were in my head and you told me not to be scared. That you were coming for me. You remember right?” A flicker of uncertainty. “That wasn’t my imagination, was it?”

Grace cleared her throat. “That wasn’t your imagination.”

She took a step closer, shrugging off Aiden’s hands. “I’m sorry you got trapped there.”

An understanding passed between them and for a second, Grace was in Asgard, or that black and lonely place was here with them. It would take time for its taint to leave her system entirely. She couldn’t help but reach out and take Hallie’s hand, squeezing it in sympathy. Something flashed in Hallie’s eyes and she took a quick peek at her father, who was hovering to one side. Still grim-faced and frowning. Still wanting to step in and fix something. It hurt him, talking about Asgard.
She’s protecting him.

Grace squeezed Hallie’s hand again, drawing her attention back. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“I shouldn’t have told him you were coming,” she whispered. “It made him curious. The gray man.”

And Grace could feel Aiden’s tense, smothering concern shift to her. She didn’t have to look up to see it. “The Vanir,” she said. “I called him Vanir. He helped me to stay alive, helped me to escape. And now we’re both okay. We’re going to be okay.”

Hallie nodded and this time she was the one who squeezed Grace’s hand. “Are you staying here?” she asked. “I want you to. There’s a carnival in Decorah next week with a parade and rides. I can show you the waterfall we found when we were hiking last year. Bill wants Dad to play with the fiddlers and Fen’s going to try to win the lutefisk eating contest again this year.”

“Lutefisk?”

“It’s gross,” Rane said. “Like jellied fish. Stinks.”

“I won a hat,” Fen said, with a crooked smile. “It has horns.”

Hallie was still waiting for Grace’s answer. A determined little girl. Strong and very focused. Wonder where she got that from?

“Will you? Dad says…” Hallie glanced over her shoulder and trailed off when Aiden touched her shoulder.

“Why don’t you wash the tomatoes? I think Grace needs a little time to wake up before she starts thinking about lutefisk.”

“Okay.” After a small hesitation, Hallie stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Grace’s neck. “I’m happy you’re here.”

It was a quick hug but when Hallie stepped back, she was smiling, the shadows in her eyes gone, shaking off all that talk about Asgard like a dog shedding water. She’d be okay, Grace repeated to herself. They both would, no matter what she decided to do about Aiden’s offer. Hallie headed over to the sink and started chattering away at Elin, who helped her rinse off the tomatoes.

Rane leaned over. “Did Aiden tell you only five days passed for her there? She’s still sleeping with the lights on but she wasn’t hurt badly and she’s already starting to sleep better. Doctor says your displacement was nearly the same amount of time. The Vanir helped you survive?”

Grace nodded, not wanting to talk about it now. Fen glanced over her shoulder, winced at whatever he saw from Aiden and asked quietly, “Did he hurt you in any way?”

“No,” she said. “He didn’t. I actually tried to talk him into coming with me.”

Aiden made a sharp sound behind her but Fen, holding her gaze, shook his head. “He wouldn’t be able to cross and if even if he made it, we’d have had to kill him.”

“Just as well then,” she said. Aiden’s hand settled on her shoulder and she reached up to twine her fingers through his. She leaned into his touch, into his warmth and closed her eyes.

Grace waited on the porch swing, breathing in the cool air. She’d only been in Asgard for five days but nearly a month had passed here and the fields immediately surrounding the house were stubbled and bare. She could actually see their nearest neighbor’s barn from the back porch now, the roofline anyway, and the twin silos peaking up over the gentle slope of the next hill.

Aiden stood on the other side of the screen door. The uncertainty that made him pause before pushing open the door made her heart trip. She didn’t realize she’d been holding a breath until the door opened and then it all came out in a rush. She cast a smile over her shoulder. He sat down beside her. She curled her feet onto the bench then laid her head on his shoulder.

They’d had a stream of visitors all afternoon, coming to visit Hallie and to see her. They hadn’t gotten a chance to talk yet but she’d caught him watching her all day, with a hollow look on his face that twisted her up every time she saw it. He’d told her what he wanted and was waiting, had been waiting all day, to find out what her answer was going to be. No games. No pressure. She had an answer for him. She’d had one all day. She just hadn’t had a chance to give it to him. His arm settled around her shoulders and hesitantly, he touched her hair. His breath was shallow and unsteady but his heartbeat was solid.

“Hallie’s in bed and everyone else—”

“I don’t want to give up my work.”

His breath hitched and then he let out on a sigh. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, his arm tightened and then released her. “I understand.”

No, he didn’t. “I wouldn’t be able to help out with the farm and you wouldn’t want me to anyway. I killed all your flowers. The monk’s hats.”

“Monkshood,” he said, voice unsteady.

“My job will take me away from here, sometimes for weeks at a time.”

She couldn’t see his expression because it was getting dark, but suddenly his fingers were clutching into her back and he hauled her onto his lap.

“So long as you always come back,” he said roughly. His fingers clenched in her hair and he pulled her head back so he could see her face. “You’re sure? I can’t leave here. Bea…”

She couldn’t help the way her muscles tightened and he didn’t miss it. He took a deep breath and forced out what he had to say. “Bea came to see Ragnarok as a trap, a prison. Came to see me that way too, I think. I don’t want—”

“I don’t see it that way. I don’t see you that way.”

He stroked a rough finger down her cheek, across her lips. She pretended not to notice his hand shaking. “What do you see?”

“A home. A family.” She kissed him, soft and timid. “Love.”

He pulled her in close, rubbed his cheek against her hair and let out a shaky breath. “I love you,” he said fiercely, as if he could force her to accept it.

“I know.”

He wrapped her up tight in his arms. She shifted around until she got comfortable on all those hard angles. “There’s one other thing.”

“Anything.”

“I want you to teach me how to use that sword.”

When she looked up, his eyes were hard and narrow. “I don’t want you on the hunt.”

“I don’t want you on the hunt either.”

“Grace,” he groaned.

She pressed a hand to his chest. “If you have to go, I want to be there watching your back. If I’m in, then I’m all the way in. This isn’t me testing the water.”

“Damn it, Grace. It’s dangerous.”

“I know that.”

She could see the calculation in his pale eyes, even out here in the dark with the last wash of color from the sunset quickly fading to gray. “When I say you’re ready.”

He’d draw out her training until she was old and wrinkled. But she would take it for now. “Is that a yes?”

“Of course it’s yes,” he growled. “I hate it but I understand. If it’s what you need then you have it. I’m serious about your training though and if you think I’ll go easy on you, you’re delusional.”

She touched his cheek, skating her nails lightly over his whiskers. Then, not able to resist it any longer, she pressed up and kissed him softly. “I think you’ll be harder on me than anyone else.”

He slid his fingers under her jaw to keep her from silencing him with another kiss. His eyes gleamed in the half light. “And you know why that is?”

He wanted an answer. She swallowed and tried to duck her head but he held her there. Tears pricked her eyes. “Because you love me.”

Touch strong, eyes warm, voice a ragged whisper before he kissed her. “Never forget it.”