Immortals (Runes book 2) (16 page)

“Consort, as in his wife?”

“Wife, mate, partner, whatever you want to call it. The gods take many consorts, but the first one stays by their side until the end of the world.”

I shook my head. “I love Eirik, but I’ll never be his, uh, consort. We did date, but we decided we were better off as friends. Besides, he likes someone else.”

Lavania’s eyes narrowed. “The Mortal blonde?”

“Yes. Her name is Cora Jemison.”

“She’s not right for him.”

I frowned. “You don’t know that. Cora is nice and funny and loving. They’re perfect together.”

“She’s a Mortal, Raine. She’ll never be good enough for him,” Lavania said calmly without derision or anger. “Surely, you see that. You cannot allow this relationship to continue and must find a way to stop them.”

“Why? My parents married despite the odds. Who are we to decide who Eirik dates or loves?”

Her eyes flashed. “Eirik’s not just any deity. He’s Odin’s grandson. His family would never allow him to associate with someone like her.”

“You don’t like her because she’s human?”

“No, this is beyond the fact that she’s a Mortal. There’s something about her that bothers me.” She leaned forward, her eyes acquiring a weird glow. “Please, convince him to come here for lessons. I can help him.”

By making sure he didn’t hook up with Cora? Why did Lavania care so much about Eirik anyway? “Okay, I’ll talk to him, but I can’t make any promises.”

Sounds came from upstairs, and we glanced up. Footsteps and raised voices followed.

“They’d better not track mud on my bedroom floor,” Lavania mumbled, standing. She walked to the foot of the stairs. Her frown cleared, and she smiled. “How did it go?”

“As expected,” Andris said, his feet appearing first and then the rest of him. “Torin owned the field. She thinks he cheated.” He jabbed his thumb to indicate Ingrid, who was right behind him. “I’ve seen Torin play all sorts of sports, and he’s a natural. The Titans didn’t stand a chance.” He turned and saw me. “Still here?”

“Don’t be rude,” Lavania said, smacking the back of his head as he walked past her. “Did you have fun, Ingrid?”

“Yes.” Ingrid smirked and threw Andris a mocking look. “Torin cheated.”

“Torin would never cheat,” I jumped in. “He’s honorable, hard-working, and noble. He’d rather lose than take shortcuts.” Silence followed my outburst. Three sets of eyes studied me with varied expressions. Lavania’s was thoughtful, but Andris smirked with amusement while Ingrid’s could only be described as mocking. Once again, heat crawled up my face. I stood. “I gotta go.”

“Not after such a heartfelt speech. Don’t you want to know how your man did?” Andris asked, stopping by the counter and throwing me a teasing smile.

I cringed. “Uh, we won, and that’s all that counts.”

“So true,” Lavania said. “I’m out of here, children. I’ll be back tomorrow night. Don’t mess up the house while I’m gone. You throw a party, you clean up. Andris, remind your brother to get a portal and put it in this room or you will start using the bathroom mirror or walls.”

“Already bought two,” Andris said with a proud grin. “I’ll pick them up tonight.”

Lavania blinked. “That’s great. Thank you.”

“Told you I’d remember.”

“So you did.” She patted his cheek. “I’m proud of you.”

Andris grinned. “Say hi to old man Belmar.”

“My mate is not old, but I’ll tell him you said hi. Be good. Tell your brother I’m proud of him, too. Ingrid,” she pinned the girl with a censoring glare. “My boys don’t cheat.”

Ingrid swallowed. “I didn’t mean it. I was just, you know, messing with Andris. Tell her we were just goofing around.” She threw Andris a pleading glance. He smirked, but didn’t come to her defense.

“Then all is forgiven, Ingrid, even though I think the joke was in poor taste.” Lavania glanced at me and added, “I’ll see you tomorrow, but we will start early on Monday. I’ll let you know when.” She didn’t wait for my response. As she disappeared upstairs, I started for the door.

“Whoa, where are you going, Raine? Stay with Ingrid until Torin gets back.” Andris glanced at his watch. “Or until I get back.”

I didn’t want to stay with the Valkyrie. She didn’t like me.

“I don’t need a sitter,” Ingrid snapped.

“
She
does.” He pointed at me. “Torin’s orders. I have a hot date I can’t afford to miss, so see ya. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” He chuckled and disappeared toward the garage, but I saw the pain in Ingrid’s eyes. She liked him. Maliina had bragged how she’d asked Andris to turn her sister into an Immortal just because he had once shown an interest in her. How had she put it? You always keep your enemies closer than your friends. She’d seen her own sister as an enemy because Andris had shown interest in her. Some sister.

“Where are you going?” Ingrid asked when I started for the door.

“Home. Goodnight.”

“But you heard Andris.”

“I sure did, but that doesn’t mean I have to do as he says.” I reached for the doorknob.

She moved so fast she was by the door before I opened it. “You’re going to get me in trouble. When Torin gives an order, we follow it to the letter. You can watch TV or read something. I’ve plenty of books on my Kindle.”

“You know something? Torin is not my keeper or whatever, so I don’t have to listen or agree with everything he says.” Annoyance flashed in her eyes, and I felt bad for putting her on the spot. “Why don’t you come over to my place instead?” I heard myself say.

Ingrid’s brow rose. “What?”

“Come and hang out at my house. I have homework packets I’m still working on, but I can take a break. We can get to know each other.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why would I want to do that?”

For one brief moment, something in her eyes reminded me of Maliina. She definitely hated me. Could she be the one vandalizing my locker? “I’m leaving. You can either follow me or stay here. That’s up to you. The invite is open.”

“Not interested. Oh, and Raine,” she added, stepping away from the door. “Just because you have everyone around here panting to turn you doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. You’re too emotional and juvenile to make a good Valkyrie. Maybe you should just do everyone a favor and tell them you’re not ready.”

Please, who did she think she was talking to?

She glared as though my face reflected my thoughts. “Don’t leave the cul-de-sac without telling me first.”

I waved and left. After her smug speech, I couldn’t wait to become an Immortal just to rub her nose in it.

10.
 
UNEXPECTED RAGE

Hours later, light flashed on and off outside my window. That had been our signal when Eirik lived next door, but Torin had used it once, too. I ran to the window and sighed with disappointment when I realized it came from Eirik’s Jeep, not Torin’s window. I crawled out of the window to the balcony and peered down. Cora and Eirik waved.

“Keep it down, guys.”

“Then get your butt down here,” Cora yelled. “We won.”

“Come on,” Eirik added. “We’re going out to celebrate.”

I missed my tree and the way they’d just climb up. Across the street, Mrs. Rutledge pushed aside the curtain and peered outside. Any more yelling and she’d slap me with a noise ordinance. She hated me. Always had.

I checked my watch. It was almost ten. Crawling back into my room, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt. Lights were still on under my parents’ bedroom door. I knocked, heard Dad’s deep voice respond, and opened the door. He was doing something on his laptop and had headphones on. Mom snored slightly on the other side of the bed.

“Can I go hang out with Cora and Eirik?” I whispered. “They just came back from Portland, and we won.”

He smiled. “I heard.” He checked at his watch. “Isn’t it a little late to be going out?”

“It’s only ten.”

He went silent, and I was convinced he’d say no. “Be back by midnight.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I hurried beside him and kissed his cheek. “Goodnight. Love you.” I raced for the door.

“Uh, Raine,” he said before I closed the door, and I turned. He studied me intently, a gentle smile on his narrow face. “Do you want to go for a run tomorrow morning? I plan to leave around nine.”

Somehow, I had a feeling he’d meant to ask about my time with Lavania. Was he ready to start running? He’d been in a coma for months and still looked, I don’t know, sickly. “Okay. Be ready to eat my dust.”

He chuckled. “We’ll see. Have fun, and be careful.”

I closed the door and frowned. He was taking this Valkyrie business hard. Running with him might bring some normalcy back into his life. Dad was a triathlete and had done several triathlons the last couple of years. Before the plane crash, he’d been training for his first Ironman competition. Even when I used to swim, he and I would run on weekends. We often entered local 5K and 10K races together.

Makeup done and hair brushed, I grabbed my ID, debit card, and a jacket. Downstairs, Cora met me in the driveway with a hug.

“You should have been there, Raine. Torin was amazing.”

I glanced over at his house. The lights were on. Was he home? “Where are we going?”

“Cliff House,” Cora said.

Cliff House was on 14
^th
North and had arcade games, bowling, and rock walls, which was the biggest attraction for most teens. I slipped in the back while Cora took the front passenger seat.

Funny how everything was reversed now. I often sat in front with Eirik even before we’d started dating. Cora always took the backseat. Sitting in the back felt weird. I stared at Torin’s house as we drove past and wished he was with me. I hated being a third wheel.

***

We parked behind the tall L-shaped, two-storied building and piled out of the Jeep. The taller part was in the back, the climbing walls with their color coded rocks visible through the glass walls. The entrance was located on the center of the lower rectangular building. Visible through the walls were the Jump Zone’s huge, colorful air-filled slides, hoops, trampolines, and a karaoke stage. In the middle, separating Jump Zone from the rock walls, were the video games, bowling lanes, and the rollerblade track. Cliff House was a giant money-sucking den of badassness, and I’d blown away part of my allowance in this place countless weekends.

Eirik slung his Nikon around his neck. He worked on Kayville High’s newspaper and never missed a chance to photograph students. The parking lot was crowded, which meant inside was packed.

Sounds from video games, music, and children screaming greeted us when we pushed open the door at the front entrance. People milled from machine to machine, some paired while others hung out in groups. I didn’t see anyone from the football team, which meant Torin wasn’t here. Disappointment rolled through me.

“Are we rollerblading, bowling, rock climbing, or just blowing our money on video games?” Cora asked, waving to someone she knew.

“Rock climbing.” Eirik glanced at me and cocked his brow. I shrugged. I didn’t care what we did. It was nice to be around people who didn’t recognize me and treat me like stale leftovers.

We paid the climbing fee, got our wristbands, and headed toward the arc leading to the high-ceilinged rock climbing room. Most parents preferred to keep their kids jumping, tumbling, and playing dodge ball in the Jump Zone, so there were very few under-ten kids around machines. The walls were popular with people of all ages. I’d seen kids half my age race up the walls like giant spiders.

Boisterous laughter welcomed us when we entered the rock climbing room, and I saw why. The football players, their girlfriends, and fans filled most of the tables and chairs, eating pizza and recapping today’s win.

My eyes found Torin, and something inside me wilted. He was getting the star treatment, two cheerleaders by his side and two more seated behind him. He looked up, and our eyes met. He cocked his brow, as though surprised to see me.

Yeah, right back at you, pal.

Despite my mental bravado, it hurt to see him with other girls. Drew and Keith saw us and waved.

“Maybe we should start with the games,” Eirik suggested, and I knew he was trying to spare my feelings.

“No. Let’s do this.” We found an empty table, left our jackets, then headed to the counter and showed the guy behind the counter our wristbands. We had passes to try all four levels.

Cliff House color-coded their levels. Orange was for beginners and corresponded to levels v-zero to v-two according to the outdoor rock climbing grading system. Green was for intermediate climbers on v-two to four, yellow for advanced climbers on v-five to seven, and red markers were for seasoned climbers like my parents. They’d passed v-seven eons ago. During our last climb, I’d made it to v-five. I sucked at rock climbing. Even Cora had passed me a while back. Eirik often climbed with Dad and was a monkey in human form. But then again, he’d had plenty of practice climbing the tree outside my window.

“Can we have a contest?” Cora said, coming to stand beside me.

“That’s a no-brainer. He’ll win.” I jabbed my thumb to indicate Eirik.

“No, he won’t,” Cora retorted. “I’ve been practicing.”

“Since when?” Eirik asked.

“Since our last contest. Just so I can beat you.” She went on her toes and pushed her face closer to his. “So bring your a-game, hotshot.”

“How about a dare?” he said so softly I barely heard him.

Cora nodded. “Okay.”

“If I win, you go a whole day doing everything I ask without being mouthy.”

Cora’s eyes narrowed. “If I win, you’re mine for a day, too.”

I loved the way she’d worded it and grinned when uncertainty flickered in Eirik’s eyes. Poor guy. He had no chance against Cora. My eyes went to the ballplayers. Torin was gone. Where did he go? I started to search the room, but the vibes from Eirik and Cora drew my attention.

They were both still, their faces inches apart. The next second, they stepped away from each other, both of them blushing. A near-kiss and they didn’t even glance at me? Progress.

“We’ll start on green,” I told the guy behind the counter.

He checked the computer scene, tapped a key, and signaled his coworker. Soon we were strapping on the harnesses. I was halfway up the first wall when I felt like I was being watched. I looked over my shoulder to find Torin’s eyes on me. If he continued watching me, his harem would notice. For the rest of the climb and the next one, Cora and Eirik were lost in their little world. I was happy for them, but at the same time, envious.

“You’ll have to wait,” the harness guy said. “There’re only two open.”

“I don’t mind sitting this out.” I glanced at Eirik then Cora. “You guys go ahead.”

Cora shook her head. “No, I need a break and a drink. Eirik?”

“I’ll get us some.”

She already had him trained. Nice. “I’ll head to our table,” I said.

Cora watched Eirik walk away, a tiny smile on her lips.

“Drooling much?” I teased.

“Can’t help it. He’s so hot.” She glanced around and whispered, “See you at our table. I have to talk to someone.” Cora walked toward the ballplayers and was soon high-fiving them and bumping fists.

“What does a guy have to do to be on your vlog, Cora?” Trenton, a wide receiver asked.

“If Rita says it’s okay.”

Everyone guffawed. Even Rita, Trenton’s girlfriend, laughed. Cora tended to give personal stats on the guys she featured on her vlog after talking to their girlfriends and ex-girlfriends. The people who didn’t know her assumed she’d dated every guy she featured. Eirik hated her vlog.

Jaden Granger grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap. She pushed his head and stood. Immediately, she looked toward the food counter, where Eirik was still ordering our drinks, his back to us, which meant he hadn’t seen her. She continued to make her rounds. Sometimes I forgot how popular she was, another thing Eirik hated.

As soon as I sat at our table, someone slid beside me. A shiver of pleasure raced under my skin. Torin. His scent was as familiar as the freckles on my nose and so intoxicating. The heat from his body swirled around me, filling me with a need so strong it hurt to breathe.

My heart pounding, I turned and looked into his brilliant blue eyes. I tried to force my heart to behave. Unfortunately, when he was this close, my body and my mind were never in sync. I tingled. My insides turned into jelly. My heart… Oh, my heart recognized and beat just for him, the craving for him shooting off the chart.

“What are you doing here?” he asked in that spellbinding voice.

For a moment, I let it wash over my senses and soaked it in. When he cocked his eyebrows, sanity returned. I faked indifference and arched my brow. “Right now? Waiting for Eirik to get our drinks and Cora to finish flirting. We have two more climbs. Then we might go shoot hoops at the Jump Zone. What are
you
doing here?”

A tiny smile tugged the corner of his lips. “Celebrating with the guys. We won.”

“I heard.” I glanced over his shoulder. His teammates were watching us, his harem of cheer bitches glowering. “But I meant, what are you doing here at
my
table when you should be at yours being worshipped by your adoring fans?”

He shook his head. “They are not important. Where’s Andris?”

“I ditched him.”

His eyebrows arched. Why?”

“Because he was being a tool. You won’t believe what he did. He followed me all over the school like some Doberman guard dog, insulted my swim teacher, came to our store and pissed off my father, and then he had the nerve to tell me that
you
asked him to do it. You know, to keep an eye on me like I’m some helpless dimwit that can’t take care of herself. You’d never ask him to do something that demeaning to me, would you?”

 
“No.” He shook his head and flashed a wicked grin. “Never.”

 
“Good, because if you had, I would have made your life miserable.”

He laughed. “And I’d absolutely deserve it.”

“Dang, you’re good.”

“I know.”

I snorted. “I meant you’re good at lying.”

“It’s called self-preservation.” His eyes heated up. It took an effort to look away, but a lock of his hair had fallen on his forehead and I was dying to reach up and push it back. Fighting the temptation, I glanced at the girls at his table. They still glowered.

“So which one of the airheads are you dating?”
So I can plot her slow and painful death.

He glanced over his shoulder. “None.”

“Why not?”

“Something is missing.” He smiled at Nancy Carpenter, the girl who usually clung to his arm. “Take Nancy for instance, her voice—”