Not Broken: True Destiny, Book 5 (3 page)

“Yes. Now spill.” Skye leaned her head on her hand, her expression eager.

“I had a couple of things on my mind, and I’m not sure where to start.”

“That’s easy. Start with the hard one.”

He almost laughed. Easy. Slade wasn’t certain he knew what easy was. He tilted his head, wondering how best to phrase what he wanted to say without sounding needy. “I want my brother to stop treating me like I’m broken.”

She seemed surprised. “Really?”

He scowled. “I’m not broken, Skye. I might be bent—”

She immediately held up her hands as if to stop him. “I leave that to your mates to discover, thanks.”

He rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. I’m weak right now, I get that. I can barely stand for more than five minutes without needing to lean on something. My flesh is still knitting back together.”

She slowly sat up straight. “How bad was the beating, Slade?”

He stared at her, knowing she’d be able to read his pain in his gaze. She might no longer be Skuld, but she still had power. “Jeff and I will have matching scars.”

“Oh.” She shivered, power flashing in her gaze. “Oh, Grimm needs to hurt.”

Slade nodded. Hopefully he’d be the one to do the hurting, or at least the one to bring the popcorn and video camera. They could have family movie night.

“Have you spoken to Fenris about this?” she asked, her gaze thoughtful. “If he knew you wanted to be closer I can’t imagine he’d say no.”

“The only thing I can think of is he’s worried about hurting me. I’m injured prey, he’s
the
werewolf. Maybe that’s what’s wrong.”

Skye frowned. “I doubt that’s it, but I know a way we can find out for sure.” She pulled out her cell phone and tapped something out, holding the phone away so Slade couldn’t see.

Part of him knew Skye wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, but… “What did you just do?”

She grinned as the doorbell rang. “Called in an expert.”

Slade stood and carefully made his way to the front door. He opened it and groaned. “Aw, fuck.”

Jeff Saeter gasped in outrage. “Sir! I am a married man.”

“Hi, Jeff!” Skye waved as the red-haired mate of Slade’s brother gently pushed past him.

Jeff was a shorter version of Magnus and Morgan, less broad in the shoulder but with the same twinkling gaze and vibrant personality. He’d been the first one to hug Slade hard, ignoring the outburst from the rest of the family. He’d somehow known that Slade needed to be held tight. “Hey, sweetie.” Jeff bent over and kissed the Norn on the cheek. “Where’s my brother?”

“Which one?”

“Either.” Jeff flopped onto the sofa, snarling when his hair landed under his butt. “Stupid wolf.”

Slade glanced at Skye. He’d already heard the grumbles about how Fenris, who worshiped Jeff’s red curls, had willed them to grow. Jeff was now unable to cut his hair short. It would simply grow back overnight. The women of the family were teaching him how to deal with the unruly mane, and while Jeff grumbled Slade could see the pleasure he tried to hide. The fact that Fenris loved him so deeply kept the grumbles to just that, nothing but good-natured bellyaching.

Still, Slade wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity to tease his brother-in-law. “What’s he an expert on, crème rinse?”

Jeff eyed him with a cheeky grin. “I always wanted to ask you something.”

“What?” Slade had a bad feeling about this.

“Are you really hung like a horse?”

Dead silence filled the room as Skye and Slade stared at Jeff.

Finally, Slade allowed a slow smile to cross his face as he leaned back against the door. “Jealous?”

Jeff cleared his throat and crossed his legs, his cheeks turning red. “Nope.”

Slade moved away from the door, aware he was going to fall down soon if he didn’t sit down. The skin might be intact now, but the nerve endings beneath were still off-kilter. It made every movement painful and sometimes disorienting. “So. Skye tells me you’re the authority on all things Fenris.” He sat next to Jeff, trying to look casual.

“That
would
be me.” And Jeff looked very pleased by that fact. “What can I do you for?”

Slade chuckled. “Honey, you couldn’t afford me.”

Jeff looked shocked, then laughed. “As long as Magnus can, then I’m happy.”

“He can.” Slade couldn’t help the soft smile any more than the blush.

Jeff took hold of his hand. “In case I haven’t made it clear, I’m happy for both of you.”

“Thanks.” Slade took a deep breath. “But that’s not why Skye texted you.”

“Oh.” Jeff squeezed his hand. “This has to do with Fen, doesn’t it?”

Slade decided to bite the bullet. “Why is he avoiding me? Is it because I’m hurt and he’s afraid he’ll eat me?”

Jeff’s eyes went wide. “What? No!” Jeff sighed, running his hand through his thick curls. His hair was so long Slade could touch the tips without lifting his hand off the sofa. “Fen is giving you time.”

“Time? What for?” Slade was confused.

“To heal, and bond with your mate.” Jeff took Slade’s hands in his. “He’s all torn up inside, thinking that he barely knew you. Hell, he told me he ignored you because he thought you were…”

“A mistake.” Slade allowed that old pain to flow over him. The unwanted child, given away before he’d barely taken his first wobbly steps. It had taken him centuries to figure out it wasn’t his fault, that he’d done nothing wrong. Hell, it had taken another century after
that
to realize that Logan hadn’t done anything wrong either. Grimm had demanded Sleipnir and, thinking Sleipnir would have a good life with Odin, he’d been handed over. But not without a qualm or two, and certainly not without wishing that Sleipnir could have more than Logan could provide.

Jeff nodded reluctantly. “In a way, yes. You were an animal, intelligent for one, but still nothing more than a beast. And for him, I think you represented what he could have been if things had turned out differently.”

But that wasn’t Slade’s fault. It had never been.

“I know.” Jeff responded as if he’d said those words out loud. “And I’m working on him, I promise. He’s taking this almost as hard as Logan did.”

“But Papa speaks to me. Fenris doesn’t.”

“And if you don’t breach that gap you’re worried you might never grow closer?”

Slade nodded.

“Then come to breakfast tomorrow morning.” Skye piped in, startling Slade. He’d been so focused on Jeff he’d almost forgotten she was there. “Make sure you sit next to him and talk to him. If necessary Jeff and I will help.”

Jeff nodded. “Confronting him head-on might be the best way to deal with him if you were healed, but this might work as well.” He shrugged. “It’s worth a shot, anyway, until I can pull his head out from between his ass cheeks.”

Slade cocked an eyebrow. “I thought his head was between your ass cheeks.”

Jeff smiled. “And I’m very happy to have it there.” He waggled his brows. “When I’m not thinking about Vincente, that is.”

Slade tilted his head. “Who’s Vincente?”

Skye groaned.

Jeff rubbed his hands together and cackled evilly. “Oh, you precious baby. Just you wait and see.”

Suddenly, Slade was very, very afraid.

Chapter Three

“Oh dear.”

Sylvia looked up from her book to see Syd biting her lip. “What?”

“I just got an email from Frederica. She wants to meet us today.”

Sylvia put down her book, her heart pounding with fear. “Do you think she knows?”

“How? You only met with them this morning.” But Syd looked just as worried as Sylvia felt.

“I have no idea.” Sylvia bit her lip, her mind racing over the possibilities. Frederica didn’t have the same ability to keep tabs on the Aesir and Vanir that Grimm had. The ravens only answered to him, and now that he was no longer a part of Frederica’s life she couldn’t ask him to look for her. So unless she had someone following them, there was no way she could know that they were trying to join Kir. “No. I think we’re okay.”

“Then maybe it has something to do with why she’s been consulting so much with Henry and Luther.” Syd turned back to her computer, clicking away at whatever it was Syd did. Sylvia had long ago stopped asking what her friend did to earn human money. The lengthy explanation had made her head hurt.

“So you think Logan and Kir are right and she’s up to something.”

Syd shrugged. “She tried to get her hands on
Mjolnir
, and I don’t think it was because she wanted a memento.”

“Hmm.” Sylvia turned that over in her mind. “She wants Logan dead in the worst way, and Kir back at her side.”

Syd nodded, her attention mostly on her screen. “It’s possible Luther or Henry thought they could wield it since they also share Thor’s blood.”

“But the prophecy states
Mjolnir
will be held by Magni and Modi. And with the two of them following Kir…” It just didn’t make sense.

“Then whatever she had planned for
Mjolnir
fell through when the brothers found it.” Syd turned in her chair, finally invested in the conversation. “That means she’s going to implement Plan B.”

“Because she always has a Plan B.” Sylvia stared at Syd in horror.

Syd nodded. “And Plan B involves the ex-wives of Loki and Thor.”

Sylvia closed her eyes. “They aren’t going to believe this wasn’t the plan all along.”

Syd sighed. “It’s possible I’m wrong. She might just be planning a trip to Tahiti and wants us to water her plants.”

Sylvia rolled her eyes. “Oh, sure, because mistletoe requires such personal attention.”

Syd chuckled. “Okay, maybe not. There’s no use worrying over what she wants until we find out.”

“I think we should go pick up the surveillance equipment tonight. This might be our best chance to get it into place.” Sylvia stood and grabbed her purse.

“Sounds good.” Syd followed, grabbing her own purse and following Sylvia out the door. “I have the list of what we need on my tablet. It shouldn’t be difficult, especially since I know where Travis shops for his stuff.”

Sylvia was the one with a car, so she drove. Syd had a bad habit of getting lost in thought even behind the wheel, so she generally took taxis or the bus everywhere. It was one of the many reasons Sylvia had chosen to live with Syd, because the woman had a hard time with the necessities of life. Put her in front of her computer and she was a genius.

Put her in front of the wheel, and Mayhem became jealous of the amount of damage she could do in so little time.

“Where to?” Sylvia pulled out of the apartment complex’s parking lot and onto the street.

Syd quietly gave directions, and before long they were in front of a little shopping area full of electronics stores. Syd got out first and headed directly for a shop called Kerkelly Security. She opened the door, holding it for Sylvia.

An older human with salt-and-pepper hair and kind brown eyes smiled at them. “Can I help you ladies?”

Sylvia stepped up to the counter and smiled back. “We’re looking for help.”

The man’s smile dimmed. “What’s the problem?”

Syd glanced at Sylvia before pointing toward the case. “We need some surveillance equipment. We think our ex-mother-in-law is stealing from us, but the police won’t believe us without proof, so we want to bug our house and see if we can catch her in the act.”

The man nodded as if he’d heard a similar story before. “So you need things like a nanny-cam?”

“Exactly.” Syd smiled at the man, and the two began talking megapixels and download times and blah blah blah until Sylvia’s eyes crossed. All the electronic crap bored her spitless. Give her a remote control and she could figure out how to work the television, but that was about it.

When Syd was
finally
happy with her purchases she led the way back out of the shop and climbed into the passenger seat. “Now all I have to do is install a little gift in Frederica’s root directory and set up the nanny-cam in her bedroom and we’re golden.”

Sylvia blinked. “Do I want to know how you’re going to do all of that?”

“Nope.”

“Will it get us what we want?”

“It will give us direct access to her ingoing and outgoing traffic, so…” Syd shrugged.

“That would be a yup.” Sylvia made the turn into Frederica’s driveway. “Is it illegal?”

“Yup.”

“All righty then.” She pulled up in front of the double doors of the Grimm mansion, aware Frederica was already watching them. Now that her brain was no longer fried by apple juice cocktails, Frederica was back to being the evil bitch they’d all known and hated so long ago. “How do we do it?”

“I’ll take care of that, you just figure out what the hell she wants and how we’re going to survive this.”

Sylvia could do that. She was the warrior of the pair. Now that she had a chance to get out from under Frederica and the Old Man she was more than willing to fight for it.

The front door opened as they got out of the car. Frederica stood on the top step, no longer the granny they’d become accustomed to. Instead, her shoes were four-inch red stilettos and her white suit was Versace, with a red silky top beneath it. Her blonde hair had been trimmed into a long, sleek bob with nary a strand out of place. Her makeup was flawlessly professional, just the right amount of color and shine for a woman who ran a multi-million dollar corporation.

If she’d been a different sort of person Sylvia might have admired her. But Frederica’s single-minded determination to destroy Logan and Jordan Tate-Saeter and restore Kiran Tait to her side had driven a wedge between them that nothing but Frederica’s surrender could remove.

That would happen when Frederica’s flying monkeys learned the fox trot.

Syd flinched at the hint of a scowl on Frederica’s face, and Sylvia straightened her spine. Better Frederica’s ire be directed at her. Syd couldn’t handle that kind of heat. “Frederica.”

Frederica, once Frigg and queen of the Aesir and Vanir, sniffed. “You’re late.”

“Traffic.” Syd spoke quietly, a pale mouse in front of a lion.

Frederica’s brows rose, but she didn’t question them further. “Follow me.”

She turned on one delicate heel and marched back into her mausoleum of a home.

Syd shot Sylvia a worried glance before following Frederica. “Um, Frederica?”

Frederica sighed. “What is it?”

“Bathroom.”

Frederica waved, but continued to head toward the sitting room. “You know where it is.”

“Thanks.” Syd nodded to Sylvia and took off toward where one of the downstairs bathrooms was. Once Sylvia had Frederica distracted, Syd would do whatever it was Syd had in mind.

It was Sylvia’s job to make sure she got to do it.

She followed Frederica into the sitting room, settling into a chair at Frederica’s wave. “What did you want, Frederica?”

The woman smiled grimly. “I want you to spy on my son.”

Oh, fuck. She’d guessed right for once.

“Or, more specifically, I want Syd to.” Frederica sat gingerly on her elaborate Victorian chaise and held up a tea pot. “Earl Grey?”

“Please.” She waited patiently while Frederica poured the tea, adding cream the way Sylvia preferred. She picked up the cup and sipped, nodding her appreciation at the warm, creamy flavor. As Frederica poured her own cup, Sylvia set hers down. “So. What exactly did you need Syd to do?”

“I want her to hack into Logan Saeter’s computer files and find something that will make my son want to leave him once and for all.”

Sylvia’s brows rose. From what she could tell Logan could set the house on fire and Kir would merely yawn and put it out.

“Where is Sydney?” Frederica frowned at the doorway.

“Ah.” Sylvia had to think fast. “We had cheese omelets for breakfast, and—”

Frederica held up her hand and shuddered delicately. “No need to say any more.” She huffed impatiently. “The girl knows she’s lactose intolerant.”

Sylvia ignored Frederica’s grimace. “What makes you think there’s anything on Logan’s computer that will piss off Kir?”

She didn’t like the way Frederica eyed her. Cold, calculating, and with a hint of disdain, the woman’s look sent a chill down Sylvia’s spine. “She’ll find something.” Frederica sat back, a smile on her face that reminded Sylvia of a cat. “Trust me.”

Sylvia nodded. “All right. I’ll speak to Syd, find out—”

“Find out what?” Syd entered the room timidly, her gaze grazing Frederica before landing firmly on Sylvia.

“If you can hack Logan’s computer.” No sense in hiding what Frederica wanted. That might make Frederica suspicious, and they didn’t need that right now.

“Oh.” Syd seemed to shrink in on herself. “I think I can.”

“Good. I’ll email you the details of what I want, and when I want it by.”

Frederica didn’t stand, but Sylvia knew a dismissal when she heard one.

She stood and took hold of Syd’s shaking hand. “We’ll wait for your instructions.”

Before Frederica could respond Sylvia and Syd were out the front door. “Shit shit double shit.” Sylvia slid behind the wheel and slammed the car door shut.

Syd slid into the passenger seat, making sure she closed the door before turning to Sylvia. “We have to tell them.”

“You think?” Sylvia started the car and drove carefully down the long driveway. She didn’t want Frederica to catch on to how nervous she was.

“In other news, I got what we needed taken care of.”

That was a relief. “No one saw you?”

“Do they ever?” Syd shrugged. “Not that I’m aware of.”

“Good. Then let’s get out of here.”

Frederica watched out the window as the two women drove away. Something had been off about them. Sydney had always been shy and retiring, but today she’d been almost nonexistent. And Sylvia had been far too accommodating and eager to please.

No. They were up to something, but for the life of her Frederica couldn’t figure out what.

“Love?” Henry sidled up behind her and put his arm around her waist. “Did you speak to them?”

“Did they agree?” Luther’s deeper tones surrounded her, made her shiver.

Henry and Luther. The brothers of Odin—Vili, now known as Henry Grimm, and Ve, aka Luther Grimm—were the only reason she hadn’t completely lost herself to the rage that had built in her as her traitorous husband’s apple toddies wore off. “They did, but…”

Luther took hold of her hand as Henry’s arms tightened around her. “But?”

“There was something wrong with the way they reacted. I expected an argument, or at least questions, but they couldn’t leave here fast enough.”

“It’s a shame Sydney is the best at computer hacking. She still has feelings for Logan.” Luther squeezed her hand. “Can you think of anyone who would do the work instead?”

Henry kissed the side of her neck, and Frederica tilted her head so he’d have better access. “Even if they aren’t as good, at least they might be loyal.”

“You think they’ll betray me?” Frederica thought her lovers might be on to something.

“It’s a possibility you need to consider, yes.” Luther turned her to face him, cupping her cheeks between his palms. His strength, his warmth held her steady in an increasingly rocky world. “The only other option is to accept—”

“No.” Frederica wouldn’t even think about it. “Baldur needs to return home.”

“Shh.” Henry moved to stand next to his brother. “You know Luther only has your best interests at heart.”

“I hate seeing you so unhappy.” Luther stroked her hair back, his expression filled with his love.

How had she ever looked at Odin and thought he cared? Luther and Henry had proven over and over what she was to them. She would forever be grateful to that cheating, lying whoreson for leaving her with them. “I know, love.” She returned his caress, smiling up at her lovers equally. “No. We’ll find another way. I will have everything I want.”

The brothers exchanged a glance, and she knew. She knew they didn’t quite believe, but she did. None of them were listed in the Edda as dying.

They would live. And she would have Kir and Holden back again.

“So, what do you think?” Magnus watched Val and Travis, hoping the two men would agree. It was a little much to ask, but he had the feeling Travis, at least, would be sympathetic. He’d called them to Morgan’s apartment, unwilling to bring Logan and Kir into this. He wanted to give Sylvia the benefit of the doubt and prove to them that what she’d asked for was actually what she wanted.

The two men glanced at one another. Travis was the first to speak. “I think we can do it, but it will take a little time to set up.”

Val nodded. “Unfortunately, I’ll have to do my part from a distance.” He grimaced. “Sydney is terrified of me for some reason.”

Travis’s brows rose. “Maybe because you tried to kill Logan multiple times.”

“I didn’t mean it.” Val rolled his eyes. “Some people really need to get over that.”

“Tell that to Sydney.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Val grunted in disgust. “Geez. Blow someone up a couple of times and suddenly you’re a bad guy.” He glanced over at Travis. “How will we do it without alerting them that we’re watching? Syd is really good with computers. She’ll detect it if we try to hack into her system.”

“Long distance surveillance. Break out the van, watch their condo. Move them in immediately if it looks like Frederica or Grimm are on to them.” Travis picked up his phone. “I’ll call in the cavalry and get Jeff to help.”