Kalindra (GateKeepers) (17 page)

“I didn’t.” She wouldn’t. What would be the point? The valkyrie couldn’t help her. No one could. Nothing had the power to bring back the dead. Sorcerers could reanimate the flesh, but not bring her Cameron back.

Except…

Valkyrie meant
chooser of the slain
in Old Norse. A long time ago, valkyries had hunted for heroes amongst fallen warriors. They had hunted battlegrounds for those souls worth saving, turning them into the immortal Einherjar, a race of warriors who lived at Valhalla and fought for the valkyries’ cause.

Cameron had a warrior spirit greater than any other human. The valkyrie could save him. Transform him into an Einherjar. They could have more than just one human lifetime. They could have forever together.

“Well, somebody brought me here.” The woman pursed her lips, then muttered, “I assumed it was the gateway, but as
you’re
still here, I guess I haven’t been chosen.”

The gateway. It must have summoned the valkyrie here. No other force had the power. But why? Kali was still the Keeper. Her connection to the portal was as strong as ever, a presence breathing inside her. Filling her.

But if she were alive, and still Keeper, why the valkyrie? She looked down at Cameron’s body and understanding filled her. Gratitude welled up, breaking past her lips in a sob. The gateway had brought the valkyrie here as a solution. Somehow, it understood her pain, and had brought her someone who could bring him back.

She’d given up everything for duty, and now, the gateway was giving back to her.

“This man…” Kali choked on the words, and cleared her throat. “This man fought beside me. He is a true warrior. You were brought here to bring him back.”

“That magic hasn’t been used in a long time.”

But it existed. And it could bring her love back to her. Nothing else mattered.

“But you know how,” Kali stated.

“How do you know that?” She appeared upset. But it was obvious. She must know the secrets to turn a human into an Einherjar. Otherwise the gate wouldn’t have brought her.

But Kali said nothing, letting the other woman come to her own conclusions.

Finally, the valkyrie crossed toward them and bent to examine Cameron. Her hand touched his cheek, and Kali held her breath. Any minute now, Cameron would breathe again. His heart would start beating. His body would heat, and his color would return. Any minute. Then she could pretend this whole thing had never happened. She’d never forget the pain, but if Cameron was alive, then that was all that mattered. She squeezed his hand and bit her lip to hold back her sobs. Any minute, and Cameron would be back.

After a moment, the valkyrie shook her head and backed up.

“He is too far gone.”

“No!” Kali cried. How cruel. To give her hope only to take it away. The gods wouldn’t be that cruel. It wasn’t possible. “Try again.”

“There is no point in trying at all. His body is cold.”

Slowly, Kali rose to her feet, grabbing Cameron’s sword and using it as leverage to push herself up. Then she pointed the weapon at the woman. She’d fight her if she had to. She’d kill.

“Try again.”

The woman smiled. A menacing smile if Kali had ever seen one. What trick did the valkyrie play?

“There might be a way. If I had the proper incentive.”

The tip of Kali’s sword hit the ground in her surprise. What did she have that the valkyrie would want? Kali wasn’t exactly rich, but she’d give everything she had to get him back.

“What do you want? Gold? Weapons? They’re yours.” Anything. As long as she got Cameron out of the deal.

“I don’t want your gold,” the woman said with a sneer.

“What then?”

“I want your gate.”

Shock crashed through her. The gate? The valkyries had never attacked the gate before. Such a thing was without honor. Why would they want free access to Earth?

“Free passage?” Could she do that? Her duty cried out at the injustice. But then she looked to Cameron and knew her duty didn’t matter. Her pride didn’t matter. All that mattered was him. But her words only seemed to incense the woman.

“Idiot. I want the gate. To be gatekeeper. And all the honor that goes with it. You aren’t worthy of the gate. I can protect it best.”

Despair buckled her knees. The valkyrie wanted to be gatekeeper. The one thing Kali couldn’t give her. It wasn’t hers to give. The only release from service was in death. And Kali had no control over who replaced her.

“If I could…” Kali didn’t finish.

She’d fought with the gateway for centuries. They were a team, just as much as she and Cameron had been. But if given the choice, she would give up the duty in a heartbeat. To save Cameron. Because life without the duty of the gate would be a hard adjustment to make, but life without him was impossible.

“Please,” she begged. “It’s not in my power.”

“Then you’re out of luck. I want nothing else.”

Kalindra sobbed harder, knowing it was over. If she could guarantee the woman would be chosen next, Kali would gladly give her life for Cameron’s.

Hopelessness spread through her. It was over. No more options before her. He was gone. Well and truly gone. How could life be so cruel? To present her with a way to bring him back, only to take it away. She couldn’t do anything more for him. Dying inside, Kali lay down next to his body, and curled into his side. The pain had seeped to numbness, weighing her limbs down like sandbags.

Maybe the valkyrie would take pity on her and kill her. Or she’d wait for the next attack on the gate. Wouldn’t be too long. The assaults had been happening regularly. She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest. She’d stay right here, and die beside him.

Warmth filled her, starting inside her where her connection to the gate lived, spreading out until she felt the comforting embrace everywhere. She sat up and raised her hand to her cheek where she could have sworn she felt the brush of a kiss. Then it was gone.

Kali looked down in confusion and hurt. The connection to the gate was gone. Completely and utterly gone. Abandoning her as much as Cameron had. They were both gone, he and the gate. For the first time in centuries she was truly alone. How could it have abandoned her in her time of need?

“I knew you’d come around,” the valkyrie said, a smug smile on her face.

Kali didn’t understand. She started to cover Cameron’s body when the woman stepped forward.

“Do you want me to turn him, or don’t you?” The woman’s voice carried a wealth of annoyance.

Comprehension had her eyes widening in shock. Her gaze shot toward the portal. It couldn’t be… But there was no denying her sense of the gate was gone. And the valkyrie was saving Cameron, something she said she’d only do if Kali made her gatekeeper. Which could only mean one thing. The gate had given her up, released her from duty. Because after so long together, it knew her emotions. It sensed her pain, and wanted to fix it.

The gate had let her go.

With a gasp, Cameron sat up. Whole, and alive, and so beautiful.

Crying out, Kali flung herself into his arms. Safe. She breathed in the scent of him, ran her hands over his face, chest, and arms. Hardly daring to believe he was back.

She stared at the bloodstain on his chest. When had the valkyrie removed the sword? She hadn’t even noticed. So much blood. The rip in the fabric drew her attention. Would he have a hole in his chest to match? She pulled the shirt up, and saw unmarked flesh. Tears ran down her face as she touched him.

“What–”

Kali cut him off. “You’re back. You’re back.” No matter how hard she tried, it seemed all she was able to say. She punctuated her words by raining kisses over his face. Then she pressed her lips to his, desperate to put all her emotions into that kiss. She poured it all in; her fear and pain from losing him, the desperation to save him, the knowledge that life without him had no meaning, and her surprise and elation at having him back. So much joy.

Her breath caught on a sob as realization and relief hit her. Not just back, but immortal. They now had forever together. Nothing would ever come between them again. She wouldn’t let it.

“Thank you,” she managed, gazing at the valkyrie. The woman had given her world back to her. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Lystrada.”

“Lystrada.” She would remember that name. It would be ingrained in her memory. A debt she could never hope to repay. “If you ever need anything…”

“Do you doubt my ability to hold the crossing?” she asked, affronted.

Kali smiled. She remembered having such pride. Too much to ask for help. After a few decades, that would change.

“I think you’ll do an amazing job. But if you ever need help–”

“I won’t.”

“Okay. But the offer will never be rescinded. Ten years from now, ten hundred years from now, if I’m alive I will come.” Time would not diminish her gratitude. Every day, every second, she had with Cameron would remind her of what the valkyrie had given her.

“Kali.” Cameron whispered her name. “I don’t understand. I remember…”

Dying. He remembered dying. Kali closed her eyes, wishing she could take that memory from him. She would remember the suffering at losing him forever, but still she would spare him that if it were in her power.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Shhh.” His lips caressed her wet cheeks. The tears wouldn’t seem to stop. Everything kept playing over and over in her mind. She hadn’t just come close to losing him. She
had
lost him. “It’s okay. I’m here now.”

“But you died. You died and I couldn’t help you.”

“I’m not dead now.” His hand reached up to touch his chest as if to assure himself of that. “How is that possible?”

Kali leaned back, putting some distance between them. Confession time. Hopefully, he’d be as happy about the transformation as she. She left her hand on his arm; some contact with him necessary for her sanity.

“Lystrada brought you back.”

“How?” He scowled at the valkyrie. “What did you do to me?”

“Saved you,” Lystrada replied, looking bored with their exchange.

“Why do I feel different?” he asked.

“In order to bring you back from…” She couldn’t say it. Couldn’t even think it. “She had to turn you into an Einherjar.”

“A what?” Anger and fear flashed in his eyes.

“An Einherjar. Immortal warriors of Valhalla.” At the word
warrior
, he seemed to settle, making her smile. So typical.

“What is Valhalla?”

“Home of the mighty valkyries,” Lystrada answered.

Cameron’s gaze darted between her and Kali.

“Does this mean I must go to Valhalla?”

“No.” But Kali didn’t know for sure. She looked at Lystrada for confirmation.

The valkyrie just shrugged.

Kali rolled her eyes. She needed a little more than that. “Well?”

“No one has been turned to Einherjar in hundreds of years. They probably don’t even know he exists.”

“And if they do know I exist?” Cameron asked.

“They’ll probably come after you.” Another shrug.

Let them try. Nothing would take him away from her. Death had tried, and lost. A few valkyries were nothing to worry about.

“Did you say ‘immortal warriors’ before?” His finger pulled her chin until she looked at him.

“Uh huh.”

“So I’m immortal?”

“Gives a whole new meaning to together forever. I hope you’re not regretting your promise.”

She closed her eyes as his hand swept into her hair. A sob tore from her throat. She’d thought she’d never feel his hands caressing her again. Never see the love shining from his eyes again. To have it all back was too much and not enough.

“To stay with you forever? Never. I will love you until the end of time.”

Emotions swamped her. Gods, she loved this man.

“I’ll love you longer.”

Gentle hands pulled her onto his lap. Hard arms, full of movement and life, surrounded her, enveloping her in his heat. His scent, unique to him, tickled her nose. She hungrily breathed it in, giving herself over to the sensations overwhelming her. From here on out, she wouldn’t take one moment with him for granted.