Perfekt Control (The Ære Saga Book 2) (5 page)

“
Skit
,” I swore again. “I’ve never
seen anything like that. What the Hel did that thing do to Tyr?
Elsa, do you think you can heal him? If not, I’m calling Odin for
reinforcements, and telling Heimdall to Bifrost Tyr back to the
healing unit.”

“I can try.” She exhaled. “No doubt those
shadows are filled with dark magic, but I’ve expunged it
before.”

“They’d have to be, in order for the vacuum
to work. We programmed it so it would only attract the bad stuff.
We didn’t want to trap anything with it the dark energy could feed
off.” I waited while Henrik ran to Tyr’s side. Freya might have
been in more immediate danger, but protocol dictated we ensure the
safety of our primary charge before pursuing any secondary threats.
Henrik checked Tyr’s vitals, then looked at the birdie with a
nod.

“Oh, thank Odin.” I exhaled. “He’s alive.
Elsa, turn the birdie on Freya so we can strategize her extraction.
Henrik, you’re the only conscious god in the field. Stay with Tyr
while Elsa evaluates Freya’s situation.”

A ragged breath reminded me I was failing at
my
other
responsibility.

“Oh, Mia.” I turned around and wrapped my
arms around my friend. “I’m sorry. But he’s going to be fine. They
didn’t kill him, and Elsa should be able to withdraw the lingering
dark magic that’s keeping him from insta-healing.”

“Insta-healing?” Mia’s quivering lip totally
undermined the projected brave face.

“Hey, I know it’s scary after last time. But
I swear, we’re not going to let anything happen to him. Trust us?”
I squatted down so we were eye to eye.

Mia nodded. “I’m trying. Now what’s
insta-healing?”

I could always count on her analytical mind
to override her emotions. She was
so
Tyr’s
perfekt
match. Before I answered her question, I turned to Elsa. “Freya’s
not on the screen.”

“No, she’s not,” she murmured. Her brow was
furrowed in concentration.

I bit back my panic. “Did those things take
her through the portal?”

Elsa shook her head. “If the portal opened I
would have felt the energy surge. They must have moved her
somewhere within the forest. Give me a minute to sweep the
area.”

Oh, thank Odin. Freya’s still in the
realm
.

While Elsa waved her hand to redirect the
camera, I turned back to Mia and called up my best calm voice. “So,
insta-healing. You know how our bodies just sort of instantly heal?
The process is slowed, or even debilitated by the presence of
darkness. But Elsa can remove the darkness. The perks of having a
healer for a friend,
ja
?”

“I’m going to have to ask you how being a
healer works.” Mia pulled her fingers away from her mouth. Poor
thing would be all kinds of furious when she realized she’d
shredded her nails.

“I’ll explain everything.” Elsa kept her eyes
on the screen, studying the panoramic shot of Tyr, Henrik, and the
forest surrounding the portal. “It’s mostly energy based—some
chakra cleansing, some flower extracts. Oh, no. Brynn, look!” Elsa
pointed to the monitor and concrete walls slammed against both
sides of my heart.

“Henrik!” I shrieked. “Stop them!”

But it was too late. As Henrik jumped up from
Tyr’s side, two new shadows flung Freya into view. They rammed her
back and forth between them, driving her toward the portal as they
delivered one final blow. Freya’s legs flew out from under her and
the shadows swept in, whirling around her in a funnel and pulling
her through the indigo door. The door shimmered and disappeared in
a burst of smoke.

And just like that, the Goddess of Love was
gone.

WHATEVER BLOCKED OUR POWERS
lifted
when Freya disappeared. The sounds of grunting gods and combat
boots pounding dirt flooded the man cave as Forse pushed himself to
his feet and loped unsteadily to Henrik. The boys each shouldered
one of Tyr’s arms, and dragged him back toward the cabin.

“Audio’s back. Henrik, are you and Forse
okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. But Tyr’s still out of it. You saw
what happened with Freya?”

“
Ja
. She’s gone. And I’d imagine any
trace of the magic left with her. At least you have the shadows
that attacked Tyr in the vacuum. We can send them back to Asgard
with Heimdall, and Odin or Thor can assess their origin.” I glanced
at Mia. She sat perfectly still, drawing shallow breaths. “It’s
okay,” I reminded her. “Elsa can heal him.”

“Uh, Brynn?” Henrik’s voice shook. When I
looked back at the screen he’d shifted Tyr onto Forse, and was
frantically searching the ground. “The vacuum’s gone. There’s no
trace of it. They must have taken it through the portal.”

“How? I had my eyes on the shadows nearly the
entire time. Hold on.” I swiped the screen, turning back the
footage, then running through it frame by frame. Sure enough, one
of the shadows swept low to the ground in the exact spot Henrik had
dropped the vacuum, before it flew through the indigo door.
Skit
. “Yeah, they took it. Good thing we made more than one,
but still…”

“Now we have no leads.” Henrik tromped back
to Forse, and took his share of Tyr’s weight. “We’re going to get
him back to the cabin. Have Elsa prep the healing box.”

“Already on it,” Elsa said. She set the
birdie to auto-pilot, and keyed a code into Tyr’s laptop. A drawer
popped out of the desk, and Elsa extracted a small silver box.
“Brynn, can I move you over there?”

“’Course.” I stepped to the side and watched
as Elsa activated the box. It unfolded itself, becoming a fully
stocked healer’s table, complete with flower essences and the
all-important vitals rectangle. Elsa used her magic to raise the
rectangle over Mia’s chair, then looked at our friend
apologetically.

“I’m really sorry to have to do this, but I’m
going to need that seat.”

“Of course.” Mia jumped to her feet and fell
to the ground in one swift movement. “Sorry,” she muttered. I
reached down to pull her up, and she shook her head. “I’m a little
nervous after last time.”

“I know.” I wrapped my fingers around her arm
and squeezed gently. “If it helps, it gets easier. You get
desensitized to the attacks.”

“I wish I could say that was helpful.” Mia
sighed as Elsa manipulated the chair into a reclining position. Now
it resembled something of a bed. Tyr’s legs would hang off the end,
but it would get the job done. “Thanks for trying, Brynn.”

“What are friends for?” I shrugged.

“Okay. I’m ready for them.” Elsa stepped back
to admire her handiwork. The leather seat had transitioned to a
pull-out bed, with the requisite vitals monitor hovering above. The
healing table stood at the ready, offering all the standard
Asgardian remedies. An uncorked vial rested on its side, ready to
trap any lingering dark magic. Elsa would dispose of it in her own
way.

“Good. Henrik, we’re shutting down now.
What’s your ETA?” I spoke to the screen.

“I’m circling the perimeter to confirm no
additional active portals. I’ll be there in three minutes. Keep Mia
and Elsa on lockdown,” Henrik answered.

“Affirmative.” Three minutes would have to be
enough. I turned to Elsa and Mia. “I’ve got to do something before
they get back. Can I have a second?”

Elsa blinked in confirmation and touched
Mia’s elbow.

“Come on, Mia. Let’s pack your things. Tyr’s
going to want you at the safe house for a while.”

Mia nodded, but I could see the resignation
in her eyes. “What’s my excuse for skipping class this time? Strep
throat? Mono?”

Elsa smiled, despite herself. “The kissing
disease would seem appropriate,
ja
?”

Mia squeezed my arm as she passed through the
door. “Should I pack a suitcase for you or Tyr? Which one of you is
stuck on human-sitting duty?”

“Stop it. And I’m not sure,” I admitted. My
teeth worried my bottom lip. “This only happened once before; we
don’t exactly have a protocol for it. But don’t stress about me,
I’ll pack for myself.”

Mia gave a single nod and pushed through the
door. She was back to her composed self. “Well then, I’ll throw
some things together for Tyr. I’d imagine things are going to move
very fast once they get back. And nobody wants to be caught with
unwhipped meringue.”

I loved our human, but sometimes the things
she said made less sense than troll talk.

Mia and Elsa rushed out of the room in a blur
of glossy waves and lavender and vanilla perfumes. I sank onto the
floor as I picked up my phone and dialed. My stomach turned exactly
once at the thought of delivering this news, but I forced it to
still. With deliberate effort I closed my eyes, inhaled through my
nose, and willed my stomach to settle. After five seconds that felt
like a lifetime, I regained command of my body.

Perfekt
control was one of the first
things they taught in valkyrie school.

“Brynn.” My mother’s warm voice came through
the phone after only three rings. “How are you? Are you eating
enough? Your dad and I saw those photos of you with that mortal
girl you’re looking after—she looks lovely but both of you could
use a good meal. Why don’t you come home for the weekend and—”

“Mom,” I interrupted. “I don’t have much
time.”

Knuckles cracked as my mom clamped down on
the phone. “What now?”

“Freya’s been abducted,” I whispered.

The strangled cry that came across the line
made it clear my mother knew what this meant. Not that she’d ever
forget.

“Again?”

“Again,” I confirmed. “Tyr’s going to
formulate a strategy and get everyone situated. He’ll probably
contact Odin in the next hour or so. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t…” My mother trailed off.

“I just didn’t want you to hear it from
someone else first. Tyr, Henrik, and Forse are on their way back to
the house right now. We’ll work out a plan, and I’ll let you know
who’s going after her and who’s running intel from the
compound.”

“Please volunteer for intel,” Mom wheedled.
“I can’t lose you.”

“It doesn’t work like that,” I reminded her.
“And you’re not losing me. I’m great at my job, remember?”

Mom sighed. “Your job. Why couldn’t you be a
healer? Or a fight choreographer? Or a Norn…” The sadness seeped
into her voice.

“Nobody’s immune, Mom. You know that.”

“Yes, but… you don’t have to go
looking
for trouble.”

To distract myself from losing control, I
loosened my braid and used my fingers to comb through my unruly
waves. I focused on the texture of the strands and the tug on my
scalp as I crafted a low ponytail.
Control regained. One minute
left
. “I’m not looking for trouble, Mom. I’m looking for Freya.
Or, I will be, if that’s Tyr’s order. This is his call. I just
wanted to let you know.”

“Is Henrik with you?” she asked.

“He’s on his way back right now.”

“Okay.” Mom sounded relieved. “I’m so glad
the two of you have each other. He’s always looked after you. I
still remember the night he stepped in to take you to your Fall
Ball in high school, when that horrible boy stood you up. Henrik
saw you sitting on the porch steps in your beautiful dress, crying,
and ran next door to put on his suit and—”

“Not the time, Mom,” I muttered.

“Right. Sorry. Be careful, sweetheart.” This
time, the tension in Mom’s voice was tempered with love.

“I always am. And I promise we’ll get Freya
back before things go too far. It won’t be like last time.” My
breath caught on the words.

“I know you miss her, too,” Mom
whispered.

“
Ja
.” I pressed the heels of my hands
to my eyes to stop the tears threatening to escape. “I’ll let you
know when I’ve got my assignment. We’ll find Freya before the
realms notice the absence of love,” I promised.

“Please hurry,” Mom urged.

“We will,” I murmured in agreement. There
would be no time to lose. Freya represented all that was good in
the realms. The love she instilled upon beings of all species begat
kindness. And that kindness was infectious, spreading like a ripple
across the calm waters of a pond at sunrise. We needed her love
like we needed air—it was our life force, the energy that gave us
strength to fight for
ære
—for honor—even in the face of
total defeat.

Without it, there would be only chaos.

“Please be careful,” Mom urged again.

Before I could answer, the front door
clicked. Heavy male footsteps pounded up the stairs. They sounded
angrier than footsteps had any right to. Not without good
reason…

“Gotta run. Give Dad a hug for me.” I hung up
and shoved the phone into my back pocket. I raced into the hallway
and nearly collided with an angry deity.

“As God of War, I wholeheartedly object.
Sending my guards in my place is a display of cowardice, and a
gross misuse of resources that will lead to—” Tyr stopped shouting
into his phone, presumably to hear whoever was on the other end of
the line. After a moment, his eyes narrowed. “You can’t issue an
order that will compromise Freya’s rescue. I’m the most effective
tracker we have. I should be on the ground for this.”

“What’s going on?” I whispered to Henrik, who
flanked Tyr.

“Odin’s telling Tyr how to run the recon. And
apparently he’s not telling him what he wants to hear.” Henrik
raised an eyebrow.

“You’re setting them up to die, and you know
it!” Tyr yelled. “This is obviously some kind of trap.”

He fell silent as Odin explained something we
couldn’t hear. After a moment Tyr’s shoulders dropped. A command
was a command, and Odin was the only god who outranked Tyr.

“Well, if it is me they’re after, you don’t
need to hand them my bodyguards first. They’ll find a way to get to
me eventually, and—” Tyr broke off. As he listened, his free hand
made a fist. “Fine,” he snapped. “But my objection is on record.
And if anything goes down, I’m going in after them. Nobody else is
dying because of me.”