Heroes (Eirik Book 2) (23 page)

“I’ll travel with her to the store. You two”—I indicated Rhys and Nara—“go ahead when you are done and assess the situation before we arrive.”

Rhys and Nara finished their meal, put their dishes in the sink, and took off. I waited until they had disappeared into the living room and opened a portal before moving from the counter to a chair.

“May I ask you a question, sir?”

“That depends.”

“How did you get the news about the dead Witches?”

A weird look crossed his eyes. “I have my contacts. You see, I don’t know whether to trust you yet or not, Eirik Baldurson. What’s your interest in my daughter?”

“I want to protect her and keep her safe.”

The chief shook his head. “I may not understand what happens when she goes into a trance, but she never got hurt until she came to help you. It’s been four months since that happened and you never came to see her or thank her. My daughter defended you passionately. She said you’re doing a lot to help your family heal, so I’ll try to keep an open mind. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if your presence here is because of the attacks on the Witches or something else.”

Damn. The man was tough and intuitive. “We are here to help. I may not have prevented Celestia’s injuries before, but I promise you I will protect her with everything I have from now on. I will never let anything like that happen to her again.”

“That waits to be seen.” He glanced toward the living room and stood, smiling. “Taking off, pumpkin?”

“Yes, Daddy.” Celestia carried a suitcase and her usual sling bag. “I’ll be back after we close the shop to collect a few things I put in the washer.”

I got up and grabbed my coat.

“I suppose the breakfast dishes will wash themselves,” the chief said, and I froze.

“Dad! Leave him alone.”

“I’m just trying to determine what kind of man he is. So what is it going to be, Son?”

Now the old man was messing with me. If I stayed to clean up the mess I’d made in their kitchen, it would prove I was trying to impress him and I’d break the promise I just made to protect Celestia.

“The dishes will have to wait, sir. I’m escorting her to the store and protecting her just like I promised.” I ran out the door and followed her to the car. Her father came to the door just as I sat in the front passenger seat. “Damn, your dad is a hard-ass.”

She laughed. “That was nothing.”

CELESTIA

Eirik rested his arm on my headrest and played with my hair, my necklaces, and my danging earings. It was as though everything about me fascinated him.

“I thought you were coming to watch me train today and make our first snowman,” Eirik said when we were halfway to the store.

“I’m so sorry. Can you take a rain check? Hayden really needs my help today. Her mom is not back yet.”

He ran the tips of his fingers down my neck and followed one chain to the stone pendant, his touch light and intimate. I couldn’t help the shudder that rocked my body. If he noticed it, he didn’t show it. He continued messing with my senses, and I let him. My responses were new and exciting. And even though I didn’t understand them, I didn’t want to run away from them.

“I guess I could train in the evening or tomorrow morning,” he said, sounding preoccupied. I glanced at him and found his eyes on me as though my responses fascinated him. He smiled. “You’re still helping me find my grandmother?”

“Of course.” That smile of his never failed to make my heart skip. It was part cocky, part challenging. Made me want to stop the car and kiss the crap out of him.

“Eyes on the road, Dimples. I can look. You can’t.”

I grinned. “It doesn’t work that way. If you can look, so can I.”

“Not when you are driving.” His hand moved to my cheek, and I leaned into it. “I love your dimples.”

“Thanks. So what did you and Dad talk about?” I asked to get my mind off my sudden urge to turn my head and kiss his fingers.

“My life in Kayville. High school sports. He told me he held the state record for fifty and a hundred freestyle throughout his high school career.”

“The trophies are in his study on display.” He never understood why I hated water when he was like a fish.

“Do you swim?”

I shuddered at the thought, remembering why I hated water. My mother had tried to drown me several times and failed. Eirik sensed my reaction, stopped playing with my dimples, lifted my hair, and gently rubbed the back of my neck. My mind went foggy. He had magic fingers.

“From your reaction, I guess you’re not a swimmer,” he said.

“No, I’m not. In fact, I have a debilitating fear of water.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” I didn’t want to explain and spoil the mood. I’d told him a bit about my mother four months ago, but we’d been discussing the premonitions about me, not all the things she’d put me through. “I love our house even though it’s a waterfront property. Dad loves to fish, so it’s perfect for him.”

“What about you? What’s perfect for you? What’s your dream home?”

I shrugged. “I’ve never given it much thought.”

“Think about it. I love houses with indoor swimming pools. In fact, I’m thinking of getting one. If you like, I can help you get over your fear of water. The world will be destroyed by water during Ragnarok and I want you to survive.”

Getting one where?
I frowned. “Since I won’t be there, it doesn’t really matter.”

That stopped the questions, but instead of feeling better, I felt bad. He talked of Ragnarok and my dream home when he was an Immortal and I wasn’t. He would live forever while I wouldn’t. That had been bugging me since Friday, and I needed to let it go
.
He and I were from two different worlds no matter how often I forgot when he looked at me with those gorgeous amber eyes.

“What do you think?” he asked.

I glanced at him, my cheeks warming up. “About?”

“You didn’t hear a thing I said, did you?”

“Sorry.” It was next to impossible to find a place to park near the store, so I parked across the street. Eirik stopped me from getting out of the car by running his knuckles across my arm. The gentle caress took my breath away and left me staring at him in confusion. How could one man’s touch be so electrifying and others leave me indifferent?

“What’s wrong, Dimples? Are you mad at me?”

“No, I’m not mad.”

“I can smell emotions. Fear. Anger. Excitement...”

“You can?”

“Yep. And right now you’re angry. Was it because I told your father about portals and cloaked in his presence?”

“No, that’s not it. I just want this Witch problem to go away.” I studied the people entering the store. “Look at them. They’re here before most stores are open because they’re scared. Did I tell you someone is stealing dead bodies from morgues and cemeteries? Dad thinks something evil is brewing in our communities.”

“Your father cannot solve this problem. It’s supernatural.”

Eirik stroked my knuckles with his thumb, his movements slow like he was memorizing the texture of my skin with his fingers. I wanted to close my eyes and pretend I had zero worries or he and I were on a date.

“Dad can solve anything,” I bragged. “He’s a brilliant detective.”

Eirik chuckled. “I’m sure he is, but this is out of his jurisdiction. Maybe you guys should stay in Eljudnir until the Grimnirs find whoever is doing this. Rhys and Nara have dealt with Immortals and know how they think. No matter how powerful Witches are, they cannot fight Immortals.”

I rolled my eyes. “They told me the same thing last night. When you said ‘you guys,’ did you mean Zack, Hayden, and me?”

“Yes. They might enjoy the visit.”

I chuckled. “They’ve never even met you, let alone know who you are, Eirik. There’s no way they’re going to go anywhere with you. Zack is just beginning to embrace his gifts, and Hayden would never leave her mother behind when there’s danger.”

“Yet her mother left her behind the day after the Witches were attacked,” he said.

The timing of Tammy’s disappearance was odd, but she wouldn’t desert Hayden in the face of danger. Could there be more to it? Had that man forced her?

“Are you staying or heading back home?” I asked.

“I told your father I’d keep you safe. I can’t do it from Helheim.”

His chipper mood was beginning to irritate me. I grabbed my sling bag and got out of the car. The suitcase would be okay in the backseat.

“Now what did I do this time?” Eirik asked, sliding out of his seat.

“Let’s go.” I crossed the street with him right behind me. I pushed open the door to Tammy’s Cauldron and gawked. The sheer number of customers in the store was mind-boggling. The line to the checkout wound around a shelf and was all the way to the front entrance. Zack was talking to several customers to my left.

“Is it always this full?” Eirik asked.

“No.”

Hayden waved me over. As I got closer, I noticed a familiar face among the customers. Wes was arranging something on the shelf. Damn, I’d totally forgotten to call him. Eirik noticed him too and frowned.

“What is he doing here?” he asked.

His resentment of Wes was ridiculous. “Helping. He’s our friend and a Witch.” Since I wasn’t connected with my cloak, I couldn’t tell if Rhys and Nara were in the store. “Are your guys here?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later.” I went behind the counter and stashed my sling bag away. My eyes locked with Hayden’s.

“Your mom?” I asked.

“Not back yet.” Something flashed in her eyes so fast I wasn’t sure what I saw. I’d say it was panic, but I could be mistaken. “Open a register.”

Eirik’s words returned to haunt me. Where was Tammy? Should I start to worry now?

“What can I do to help?” a familiar voice asked, and I looked up at Eirik.

He looked completely out of place. Though he wore a duster like a reaper, he didn’t have that hard, in-your-face arrogance reapers exuded. He carried himself differently. Regally. Like he wasn’t going to demand respect, but he expected you to give it to him anyway. He’d changed so much in four months.

“Hayden?” he asked, completely ignoring me and smiling at her.

She glanced at me then him, utter confusion on her face.

“I’m Celestia’s friend, and I know all this.” He indicated the store with a wave of his hand. Hayden shot me another look. I wasn’t vouching for him, but neither was I asking her to turn him down. The decision was hers.

“Okay. We are running low on anointing oils and herbs,” she said. “We have boxes of bottles and corks in the cupboards in the séance room. Right on the left when you enter the room. Bring the boxes out here. You and Zack can fill them.”

Wes had moved closer, his eyes on Eirik, who was headed toward the séance room like he worked in the store. I saw the question in Wes’ eyes, but I couldn’t answer him. A line was already forming in front of my register.

For the next several hours, we tried to reduce the number of customers, but more kept coming in. Every time I looked up, I’d find Eirik’s eyes on me while Wes’ volleyed between us. Having them around made me tense.

A uniformed driver opened the door to TC, and Giselle Mouton and her mother sailed into the store. The attack on Witches must have scared the crap out of Mrs. Mouton if she actually lowered her standards and came to shop at TC. Her family often went to Madam Gabaros in New Orleans.

They ignored the customers and walked straight to my side of the counter.

“I hear you are the one who saw the deaths of the Seeresses,” Mrs. Mouton said, her voice carrying. Browsers stopped whatever they were doing and turned to listen. The ones too far shuffled closer and angled their heads so they wouldn’t miss the exchange.

“Yes, Mrs. Mouton.” I continued to ring up the goods of the customer at the front of the line. I hated taking credit for my insider information, but I couldn’t tell her a reaper had told me the news.

“And you saw yesterday’s attacks?”

“No.”

“Then how did your father know about it? He called me before I knew about Lucie Waterman’s attack. Do you need to touch someone to get a reading?” She grabbed my wrist before I could answer and stopped me from handing the customer his bags.

“No, I don’t have to do that,” I said, trying to break free, but her fingers tightened. I couldn’t stand this woman. Grams couldn’t either. Mrs. Mouton was the representative of the Witches Guild in the county, but she always favored her coven.

“Are you coming to the meeting?”

“What meeting?” She was hurting me. I tried to wrestle my hand free, but her nails dug into my wrist. Her behavior explained the customers’ behavior. Whenever I handed them their bags, they kept touching my fingers and watching my face. Even the ones Hayden had served had picked up another item and come to me to ring it up.

“The Guild is having a meeting in the auditorium at the school this evening. The covens across the country were notified days ago, and you’d have known about it if you belonged to one. I expect you there at seven sharp. Where’s your mother?” she asked, glancing at Hayden.

“Let her go,” Eirik’s voice whipped across the room before Hayden could answer, and all eyes went to him. He stood at the far end of the counter, yet he commanded the attention of the entire store. His tattoo seemed to move as he crossed his arms.

Mrs. Mouton straightened her bony shoulders and tried to stare him down. “Young man—”

“Drop. Her. Hand.” His voice changed and his eyes slitted before they returned to normal. It happened so fast I wondered if anyone else noticed. Mrs. Mouton definitely did because she dropped my hand as though prodded and moved back.

“You see all these customers?” Eirik pointed at the line of people waiting to check out. “They were here before you. That means they get to receive services first. If you want to buy something, get it, and wait in line for your turn. If you want to talk to Celestia, wait until she’s not busy. Right now, she is.”

The woman stared at him, harrumphed, and turned, her head held high. The Moutons were at the door when the mother snapped at her driver and swept out of the store. Giselle ran after her mother. The customers cheered. I wanted to cheer too, but I realized the driver was still inside the store. He picked up a magazine from a rack and walked to the end of the line. Giselle’s mother had deserved the talk down. The woman was snooty. When her driver reached the counter, he bought the magazine, gave me pamphlets about tonight’s meeting to hand out to our customers, and left.

“I heard about the meeting two days ago,” a customer said, glancing at the pamphlet she’d just picked up. “That’s why I’m in town.”

The others in line grabbed theirs and flipped through them.

“Our coven met last night about it.”

“My sister in L.A. and her friends are flying in today.”

“Doctor B is going to be there,” another customer said, flipping through the program.

My eyes met Hayden’s, and her eyebrows shot up questioningly. I shrugged. I was going to need a better explanation about who Eirik was and why she’d never seen him before. A Witch from Europe and a member of the Guild would not cut it with her, not when Queen Bitch Mouton didn’t know him.

A couple more hours passed before the crowd trickled down. Either the ones who’d shopped told their friends I couldn’t get visions from touching them or Eirik had scared them. With fewer customers around, there was no reason for Wes or Eirik to stay.