The Fire Within The Night (Night Aberrations - Book Two) Read online

  “Jakob doesn’t trust him,” I confided. “But I think he’s okay to a degree. He seems to be a big fan of my grandmother.”

  “Weren’t we all?” she sighed. “Alva was a wonderful female. Jakob may not be her biological son, but he is very much influenced by her. I am not surprised that he has decided to take the smartest course of action. Loki does have a long reputation of defecting in order to gain what he desires. He would abandon your rebellion if it gave him an opportunity to kill Odin.”

  I nodded my agreement and wished Jakob was here with me to hear this. “Can I ask how you found out about the rebellion? I know Soren has gone out of his way to keep it a secret.”

  “Of course, you can. Myrgjöl told me.”

  “Emelie’s grandmother? I haven’t met her yet.”

  “She sees a victory for your little rebellion … well, if you have us as allies, that is.” Her eyes lit up. “Kicking Odin’s ass … that is such an intriguing thought. It almost makes me want to join forces with your dreadful brother.”

  I grinned at her devious expression. “It does have something, doesn’t it?”

  She chuckled. “I am told that Odin has grown complacent in his defense, that he is letting creatures that are run by selfish gain and insanity control what he should have command of. It will make defeating him almost too easy.”

  “How do you know all of this?” I asked, hoping that she would share what she knew. The rebellion needed her information—like yesterday.

  “It is simple, child. I have spies. Every kingdom does. Some are just … better than others. Though Myrgjöl’s information is invaluable, it can be a little erratic in coming. It is important to me to stay abreast of the happenings within the realm.” She turned her head toward the room we’d just come from and smirked. “Ah, here are two now. I placed them in Álfheim to watch over Soren’s rebellion, but by your memory they were far away, were they not?”

  “They were,” I answered with some hesitation. Where was she going with this?

  The two males that had given me the shifting stone, now both six foot in height, walked in single file to stand before us. They looked from me to their Queen with nervous faces before bowing their heads.

  Layla stood to greet her spies. “Chase, come.”

  I looked behind me and saw Chase hovering at the door. She appeared reluctant to join us, but obeyed the queen’s request with a heavy sigh. “Yes, mother?”

  “You may take Erin and leave. There is much to be done.”

  “Yes, your majesty.” There was no emotion in her voice.

  I stood and curtseyed. “Thanks for having me, Layla.”

  A warm smile lit the queen’s features. “You are most welcome at any time. However, that invitation does not extend to your brother—any of them.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.” Grinning, I joined Chase, and together, we made our way to the exit.

  She raised her eyebrows at my smile. “That went well, I presume?”

  “Why? What were you expecting?”

  “One never knows with my mother. She has this calm before the storm thing going on. I am afraid for the ones we’ve left with her. If she finds that they have crossed her intentionally, we will never hear from them again, and I’m not talking banishment.”

  I pondered that scary thought as Chase laced her fingers with mine and shifted us back to the store.

  The second we materialized into the back room, I called to Jakob. Mad or not, he needed to know what had happened.

  His relief came through the connection before his apologetic voice did. “Erin, please forgive me.”

  “There’s no time for that, Jakob. You have to warn everyone!”

  “What is it?” His tone was all business.

  “The ‘Queen Layla’ Soren and I met on Ásgard was Viveka in disguise. She’s tracked everywhere I’ve been by the shifting stone she gave me.”

  “Do you still carry the stone?”

  “No, the real Queen Layla has had it destroyed.”

  “How did you come to meet the faery queen? Älskling, where are you?”

  “The bookstore, with Chase, the freaking faery princess.”

  “Ah … pardon?”

  “Chase, the one that works at my store, is … wait for it … Queen Layla’s daughter.”

  His astonishment washed over me. “Chase … but she is a warrior.”

  “Yeah, a warrior assigned to watch over me for the last eighteen years.”

  “That is … an ingenious way of keeping a close eye on a potential enemy, is it not?” There was a bit of humor in his response.

  “I wouldn’t put anything past Layla. She was enraged when I told her she’s been impersonated.”

  His chuckle filled my head. “Indeed, I thought that she might be. Anything less than that would be out of character for her. She is a singular creature, with a mind as sharp as her tongue.”

  “Remind me never to piss her off.”

  “Let us hope I never have to, my love,” he said in a serious tone. “I believe dusk is fast approaching in New York. Will you wait for me at the store with Chase? I do not care if your brother has forbidden it. I will not feel at ease until you are safe in my arms.”

  “Are you going to tell Soren where you’re going? I couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice.

  “No.”

  “He will be angry with you, won’t he?”

  There was a pause as if he was choosing his words with care. “I wish the circumstances were different, Erin. Believe me, I do. However, this obstacle with Soren is minuscule when compared with our longevity, and it changes nothing for me. He may oppose our love, as is his right, but if it is your desire, I will leave the rebellion and we can be together on Midgard or anywhere of your choosing. The ‘where’ of it matters little. I will have you as my mate in any fashion, if you choose to allow it. I leave the choice to pursue what we have found together in your hands, not Soren’s.”

  It must have hurt him to offer an escape route to me. I could feel the desperation and sincerity come through the connection in waves. He couldn’t bear to lose me. And I couldn’t … no, wouldn’t, let that happen. “You’re pretty much stuck with me forever, you know.”

  “Beloved, I am not stuck with you. I am blessed to be your mate. I love you, and I will join you in five minutes.”

  “Me, too. Hurry.”

  When Chase realized my conversation was over, she bombarded me with questions. “What did my mother say while I was gone? Is she going to join the warriors in their rebellion?” Her eyes shined with genuine excitement at the thought.

  “She did say that she was tempted to join, but she didn’t give a definite answer. What I do know is that she doesn’t like Soren or Kristian.”

  “That is so not a newsflash. I’ve known it for at least a thousand years.”

  I stopped and stared at her youthful face and pink hair. She looked like she could still be in high school. “How old are you?”

  “Twelve hundred and three.”

  I sat down at the counter and sighed. “All of you are so … old.”

  Chase laughed and walked to the other side of the counter. “Gee, thanks. You say the kindest things.”

  Mortified that I’d said something so unfeeling to her, I backtracked. “I meant that I feel like an infant compared to all of you. Is there anyone in the Norse-lands besides me and Emelie that are under five hundred years old?”

  She switched off the espresso machine with a bemused smile playing at her lips. “Not one.”

  “Really?”

  “No. Of course there are, silly girl. There are millions, and not just on Midgard.”

  I sighed in relief. “Good.”

  “So, who’d you call to?”

  “Jakob. He’ll be here in five minutes.”

  “I am already here,” he said, coming out of the darkened back room.

  “Jakob!” I exclaimed, before throwing myself into his waiting arms.

  He held me tight for a moment
and then bent to kiss me, hungrily taking my lips with his. “Please, forgive me, älskling. I should have told you.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, snuggling into the wide expanse of his chest. “I should have let you.”

  “Whoa,” Chase muttered, her voice ringing with disbelief.

  I looked over to find my friend’s mouth dragging the floor. She looked like a cartoon character. “What are you staring at?”

  She walked up to Jakob and took his face between her hands. “Yep, green eyes. You’re not Kristian. I think you might be channeling Kristian’s sexy persona though.” She flicked the collar of his shirt. “You’re a hottie, Jakob. Who knew?”

  Jakob laughed and gave her a hug. “That is the closest I have ever come to getting a compliment from you, so I will take it as such. How are you, Princess?”

  “Never been better. You?”

  He glanced at my inquisitive face and smiled. “I know the feeling, my old friend. Erin, did Chase tell you that we were comrades in the Elven War?”

  I jerked my gaze to Chase. “You were a soldier in the Elven War?”

  “Sure. It was fun.” She waved away my questions. “So, what’s the plan, Jakob? Is Erin staying here with me or with the rebellion?”

  His raised eyebrows told me that he hadn’t expected Chase to know about them.

  “Nothing gets by Layla,” I reminded him.

  His lips quirked. “Indeed. Chase, it is my hope that Erin will consent to join me at the castle. Because of the breach, the rebellion has relocated there. You are, of course, invited to accompany your charge there.”

  “Is Evangelina still cooking for the royal family?” There was a hopeful note in her voice.

  He grinned. “She is.”

  “I’ll come then. Erin, you haven’t lived until you try her ambrosia cake. I can almost taste it now.”

  Jakob secured me to his side by a hand at my waist and held out the other to Chase. “Shall we?”

  Chase took his hand and gave me a wink. “We shall.”

  The courtyard of Väsen Castle was deserted when we arrived. Even the torches that had illuminated the area in the past now stood without their cheerful green flames.

  “What’s happened?” I whispered, afraid to speak aloud.

  “Dark elves can see better in the dark,” Jakob explained. “While we are at war, the castle is on guard.” He hurried us across the paving stones and into the safety of the kitchen.

  Squinting out of the doorway, into the vast darkness of the forest beyond the castle, I tried to make out the guards I knew were hiding there. There was nothing but blackness. “I guess I don’t have that talent.”

  “Ha!” Viggo’s taunting voice cried behind us. “There is something I can do that you cannot!”

  I ignored him until I sat at the empty kitchen table, then extended a choice finger. He didn’t notice. He was too busy taking a turn around the countertop with Chase in tow, a goofy smile plastered to his face. It was clear that they were buddies, even before he spun her, laughing, into the chair next to me.

  A bark of mocking laughter erupted from the doorway. “I get the next dance,” Nils growled. “At least, I know what I’m doing with a female.” He leaned against the doorframe and pegged Chase with a questioning glance.

  If I hadn’t heard the tiny, pained squeak from Chase, I might have never looked up to see the devastated expression on her face. But I did, and it slayed me. Nils was her unrequited love.

  Panicking, I scrambled up to my feet. “Chase, can I show you something … uh, privately?”

  Her voice wavered when she answered, “Yeah, sure. Lead the way.”

  I led her down the servant’s hallway, instead of taking the shortcut through the parlor Nils was blocking the passage to, much to Viggo’s amusement.

  “You are acting as a queen would already, poppet,” he pronounced with authority, the joyous grin still stretched across his face. “No lowly servants polluting the air in our hallways, by Gods.”

  With a weak, “Shut up,” Chase followed me into the narrow passageway with Jakob right behind her.

  Looking nervous, he implored, “Forgive me, Chase. I concealed Nils being a member of the rebellion out of fear that you would not accompany Erin if you knew.”

  “No. There’s no need to apologize. You are right, as usual. You’ve saved me, once again, from making a fool of myself. My superiors would have been appalled at a second desertion. They still have not forgiven me for leaving the Elven War, even today.”

  Uncomfortable with her teary-eyed gratitude, Jakob stammered, “Please do not allow yourself to … uh, vex about the circumstances, my lady. All will be well. You shall see.” After he gave Chase a pat on the back that was full of awkwardness, he kissed me on the cheek, and went back the way we’d come.

  I stared at his back as he walked away. He was the most perfect gentle-male, and to me, that was incredibly hot. “Jakob?”

  He didn’t turn around, but answered, “Yes, älskling?”

  “I’m rewarding you for the kindness you showed Chase.”

  “Indeed, my love?”

  “With my mouth.”

  He shook his head and laughed. “I look forward to returning the favor.”

  Smiling a loopy grin, I hurried a pale-faced Chase through the upstairs hallway and into Jakob’s chamber, which (thank goodness) bore no signs of the enthusiastic athletics we’d almost enjoyed just a few hours ago.

  She sank, boneless, onto the end of the bed. “I don’t think I can do this, Erin.”

  I sat down next to her, hugging her close. “How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”

  “I have not met with him since I left my post in the war. I couldn’t be around him, Erin. I couldn’t concentrate on my duties. My mother assigned me to your detail right after. It gave me something to focus on … something other than Fenrir, and since Midgard is largely ignored by the creatures of the Norse-lands, I haven’t had to endure seeing him—until today.”

  I marveled at the length of time she’d lived with her sorrowful misfortune. Eighteen years might seem like far too long of a time to pine over a lost mate to an outsider, but I’d already experienced what it felt like to be so close to your mate and not be allowed to do anything about it. It must be agony for her to see him now. All of those resurfaced emotions—I did not envy her. “How did you meet him?”

  “He, the Väsen princes, and I were in the same guard during the war.” She paused, her anguish clear in her expression. “Though, I did meet him once as a young faeryling, when he had a short affair with my mother.”

  My jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me?”

  “I wish.” She stood back up and faced me. “That’s it! I just need to look at this from a different view—a soldier’s point of view. I’m assigned to watch over you, and damn it, that’s what I’m going to do. As far as I’m concerned, Nils doesn’t exist while I’m here.”

  I refrained from rolling my eyes. Sure, that would work. “Did you guys ever … uh, you know?”

  “No, but I remain chaste for him, as is our custom.”

  Well, if that wasn’t the most depressing thing I’ve ever heard. I will never, ever, ever utter another word about feeling like a spinster at twenty-five. A virgin for over a thousand years? Was there anything crueler than that?

  “I don’t get it. You’re you,” I gestured to her loveliness. “And he’s … him. Why would he reject you?” Chase was not just pretty; she was also royalty. Was Nils insane? Wait. Of course he is. This was Nils we were talking about.

  She sighed and stared at her shoes. “He doesn’t view me as a sexual conquest.”

  I was baffled by this. “But … you have lady parts.”

  Her face was deadpan. “Believe me, I know.”

  A light knock sounded on the door, and we both looked wordlessly at each other. Shrugging, I shook my head, indicating that I wasn’t expecting anyone. “Yes?” I ventured, hoping for a good outcome.

  Emelie’s almost
inaudible voice answered. “It’s me. Say, do you have Nils’ true-mate in there, by chance?”

  I yanked open the door and tugged her inside.

  She made a beeline for Chase, holding her hand out to her. “Hi, I’m Emelie, Soren’s mate. You must be Chase.”

  Chase took the hand that was offered with a skeptical look. “I am pleased to meet you, Emelie. I’ve long known your grandmother. Is she well?”

  “Oh yes. She’s fine, just fine,” Emelie answered, distracted by what she was seeing behind her shining, metallic eyes. No doubt, she was seeing Chase’s future.

  I giggled at her strange actions. “Uh, Em? You’re freaking her out.” Chase’s face held the same expression she wore when the little old ladies that frequent the bookstore try to engross her in a conversation about times gone by. Now that I knew how much older she was than them, that look made a lot more sense.

  Emelie blushed and relinquished her hand with reluctance. “I’m so sorry. It was rude of me.”

  “It’s fine. Like I said, I know your grandmother. She is a little … uh, overzealous sometimes, too.”

  I huffed. “Yeah, yeah, moving on. Get to the good stuff. Em, what did you see?”

  She smiled. “Nils, of course. God, he’s a moron to have not noticed you. He … um, notices you in the future.”

  I giggled again. “See, Chase? It’s just like I thought. He’s a dumbass. That’s all.”

  “Total dumbass,” Emelie agreed. “You look hot as a brunette. It suits you.”

  “I have the appearance of every other faery in Älvornas Rike with brown hair,” Chase pouted. “You’re serious? I give up the pink for him?”

  Emelie smirked. “Yep, but it doesn’t bother you much—eventually.”

  Sighing, she steeled her shoulders. “Well, the things you do for love, right?”

  “Right!” Emelie and I said in harmony.

  “Well then, let’s go brunette! Where’s a mirror. You have to help me decide on the shade.”

  “Yay!” I exclaimed. I was excited to see a glimmer of hope in my friend’s eyes and to do something that the future of the Norse-lands didn’t depend on. “The bathroom is through here.”