Howl for Me (12 page)

Logan snorted. “You’ll fit in just fine.”

“Have you had any other dreams?” The red-haired man staying suspiciously close to Fenris was watching her closely. Unless she missed her guess he was the other redhead’s brother. They looked alike.

She bit her lip. Her dreams had been frequent and intense since moving into her new condo. One of the recurring ones sprang to mind, and she spoke without thinking. “Does dreaming about the end of the world count?”

The hard-eyed, cold man wrapped a surprisingly warm arm around her shoulders. “Do you like pepperoni?”

She looked up at him, and suddenly he wasn’t quite so scary anymore. “Yes.”

“Me too.” He led her away, all the time chattering about nonsense and pizza toppings. She found herself relaxing with him.

Who knew she’d find comfort with the Terminator?

“I still don’t think this is a good idea. If we blow our defenses it will take all day for Logan and Travis to put them back up.” Kir was biting his nail. He’d led them into his bedroom where Skye couldn’t hear them. The woman didn’t know it but she’d just tumbled right into a living myth, and Fen had the feeling she wouldn’t be climbing out again anytime soon.

Logan removed Kir’s thumb from Kir’s mouth. “It’s okay, babe. Do what you have to do. You’re the only one who can.”

Kir looked up at Fen’s father, those blue eyes turning stormy, literally. “All right. But don’t do anything foolish, understand? This is going to be down and dirty. The last time we visited the Bifrost Bridge we took our time, cast the spells carefully to hide our presence. This is going to blow the wards in a loud way, you know that, right?”

“I know, Blondie.” Logan took hold of his hand and looked straight at Fen. “Guard Jordan for me.”

Fen nodded. He’d guard his new mother, and the siblings growing inside her, with his last breath.

“Thank you.” Logan smiled at him. “We’ll be back.”

“We?” Kir was staring at Logan as if he’d lost his mind.

“You think I’m letting you out of my sight, Blondie?”

Kir rolled his eyes. “Sit, Kir. Stay. Good dog. Woof.”

Logan’s brows rose. “Be nice or I won’t take you walkies.”

“Why am I being left behind this time?” Jordan’s hands were on her hips. She scowled at her husbands. “You took me to Hel, why not Yggdrassil?”

“Because of what guards it.” Logan held up his hand. “It’s not up for debate, and we don’t have much time. We’re going to fetch Morgan and Magnus and be back as quickly as possible. Ask Fen or Travis or, hell, your uncle what guards Yggdrassil.”

Kir tugged on the pendant around his neck and suddenly Gungnir, the Godspear, was in his hand. The tip glowed brightly. The last time Fen had seen it the tip had glowed blue. Now it shone with a warm red light that seemed to mimic his father’s fire.

“Yes, that’s a promise and a threat.” Logan winked at Jordan and clasped Kir’s free hand. “Let’s go, love.”

“We’ll be back. Keep an eye on the girl.” Kir sighed, and the storm clouds darkened. “I’m not certain, because it’s been a while since I’ve seen her, but I’m pretty sure that’s Skuld, the Norn of the Future.”

“Which means we have a shit-ton more trouble than we originally thought.” Logan blew a kiss at Jordan. “Be
good
.”

“Me?” His mother protested. Logan just shot her that demonic smile of his and stood by Kir’s side.

“Wait!” Jeff ran forward. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Shoot.” Kir was already frowning at Gungnir, concentrating on the spell that would rip a hole in Midgard, the place humans called Earth, and lead them to the Bifrost Bridge that spanned the void between Midgard and Asgard. From there they’d be able to make their way straight to Yggdrassil, the World Tree.

“What does
elskede
mean?”

Fen’s cheeks heated as his father sent him a knowing look. “It means beloved.”

There was a ripple in the air, and before Fen could blink Kir and Logan were gone, sucked out of the room with a boom that shook the windows.

“Shit.” Jordan blinked rapidly. “He wasn’t kidding about that being dirty. I think I’m blind.”

“What the hell?” Travis ran into the bedroom, also blinking rapidly. “What the fuck was that? Every ward in the building just blew!”

“Kir and Logan went walkies.” Jeff ran his fingers through his curls. Fen smiled. Already he could sense the changes in his mate. Jeff’s hair was slightly longer, a little bit wilder. He couldn’t wait to see how it would end up. He adored Jeff’s hair.

“Shit. They could warn a guy.” Travis groaned. “Did you say Logan went too?”

“Yup. They left me behind. Again.”

Fen winced at the anger in his new mother’s voice. “You have some of my father’s magic. You could assist Travis with reestablishing the wards.”

Jordan grumbled under her breath, but Fen could make some of it out.
Cowardly wiener
was the nicest thing she said. “Fine. But if I screw this up I’m blaming hormones.” She stalked out of the bedroom, followed closely by a chuckling Travis.

Fen watched them go and wondered why Travis was so amused. “I don’t get it.”

Jeff patted his shoulder. “No man alive truly gets it, with the possible exception of your father.” Jeff shuddered and tugged on Fen’s hand. “C’mon. Maybe we can get Jordan to reheat the pancakes.”

Fen turned to his mate and whispered in his ear, “What’s a wiener?”

“Can you explain to me what an epidural is and why your sister was threatening to rip off my father’s man parts if she doesn’t get one?”

Jeff snickered and flicked the video game remote. Mario jumped over another slab and grabbed some gold coins. “It’s something that blocks the pain of childbirth.”

“Oh.” Fen frowned at the television. “How painful can it be?”

Jeff paused the game and turned to stare at Fen. “Carol Burnett, this famous comedienne, once said that if you truly want to experience the pain of childbirth, you should take your bottom lip and pull it over your head.”

Fen’s head tilted. “That makes absolutely no sense.”

“It does if you’re female.” The doorbell rang. Jeff set the remote down. “I’ll get it.”

Fen sniffed. With an alarmed snarl he hopped off the sofa. “Wait!” Fen stood and followed him, but it was too late. Jeff was already swinging the door open.

Jeff pulled back, startled when he found his father on the other side of the door. He hadn’t seen his father in over two months, not since Jamie was attacked. “Dad?”

Fred Grimm took one look at the wolf at Jeff’s heels and turned white as milk. He tugged on Jeff’s arm, almost pulling him out the front door. “We’re leaving. Now.”

Jeff pulled out of his father’s grip, all of the anger he’d been bottling up boiling over at the familiar sight of his father’s face. “Hi to you too, Dad. Jordan and Jamie are both fine. Jamie can even see out of both her eyes now. How’ve you been?”

“You think I don’t want to see Jamie?”

“When did you
try
to see Jamie?”

“They kept me away from her!”

“Who?”

“Loki and Baldur!”

Jeff shook his head. Behind him he heard Fenris moving around and knew the wolf would soon be out the door and at his father’s throat. “Damn, Dad. Your head’s really far up your ass, isn’t it?” Fred opened his mouth to reply. “Logan saved Jamie’s life.”

“He stole Jordan’s!”

“Logan sacrificed himself for her!” Jeff found himself in Fred’s face, defending Jordan’s beloved and his mate’s father. “He took repeated blows from, what’s it called again? Mjolnir? So that Travis and Kir and Uncle Val could get Jamie down off the damn cross and out of there.”

“He knew he’d live.” Still, Fred sounded almost guilty, as if he knew he’d done something unforgiveable. “Besides, I thought I was protecting Jordan. I had no idea your grandfather had Jamie. Do you think I would have left your sister there to hurt?”

“Jordan’s pregnant.” Fred went from red to white again so rapidly Jeff almost felt sorry for him. “Logan’s the father. So’s Kir. It’s twins. They’re deeply in love, all three of them. It’s almost disgusting how sweet they are together. Gives you a toothache.” Jeff growled at his dad, the sound feral. “By the way, are you going to kill my niece or nephew for being Loki’s child?”

“Aren’t you shacking up with one of Loki’s children? That makes you a little biased.” Jeff felt sick. He tried to take a step back, but Fred grabbed him once again. “You’re leaving. Now.”

The growl behind him raised the hairs on the back of his head. “I think Fenrisùlfr wants me to stay.”

There was the rumbling sound of thunder, and Jeff found himself on his ass behind Fenris, his guardian wolf standing over him, claws and fangs and fur beginning to sprout.

“I wouldn’t!” Fred sounded horrified. “I wouldn’t hurt my child.”

Jeff stood. “You already did. You left Jamie alone. You ignored Jordan. You might be willing to kill Jordan’s child solely because of who the father is. And you were ready to hurt me just because you don’t approve of my boyfriend. Are you still so far under Grimm’s thumb that you can’t see what you’re doing to us?”

Fred was shaking his head, his expression horrified. “I would
never
hurt you,” he whispered, his voice so tortured Jeff almost relented. Fred reached out, but Fenris got between them again. Fred’s arm dropped. “Jeff.
Please
. I love you. You have to know that.”

Jeff took a deep breath. “Will you go speak to Jordan and Jamie, without laying hands on them?”

“Yes, of course.”

His large, strong father looked…depressed. Defeated.

“What about Magnus and Morgan?”

Fred stared at him. “You’re my children. All of you.” His face turned to Fenris and he swallowed. Some of the aggression he’d shown to Fen was still there, but the tone had changed. “Do you love my son?”

Jeff’s whole body froze. Fenris had said “mine” more than once, but those words had never passed his lips.

“Very much. I will protect my mate even from you.”

Fenris’s deep, growly voice washed over Jeff and he damn near passed out in relief. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about Fen, but damn. Knowing Fen loved him, even if it was just the beginning of their relationship, made him feel ten times better about…everything.

Fred nodded. He stared for a moment at Jeff. Whatever he saw there put a small smile on his face, and he wondered what Fred saw. He still didn’t look happy but he held out his hand to Fenris. “Welcome to the family.”

Fen took Fred’s hand carefully. “I don’t trust you. But you’re Jeff’s family. For him, I’ll try not to kill you on sight.”

Jeff rolled his eyes. “He’s so damn diplomatic. We should get him a job at the U.N. Or training Girl Scouts.”

His father just shook his head. “You look good, son.” He reached out and ran his hand through Jeff’s hair, the gesture so familiar it brought tears to his eyes. His father had always greeted him by ruffling his hair. Jeff hadn’t realized how much he missed that touch until he felt it again. “Has your hair grown?”

Jeff put his hand to the nape of his neck, startled to feel the curls gliding over the backs of his fingers. “What the hell?” He went to the first mirror he could think of, the one in the bathroom, and stared at his head in disbelief.

His curls brushed his shoulders. He knew exactly who to blame for that too.

“Fen! Get your ass in here
now
!”

The low growl of his own voice startled him. So did the glossy, reddish fur sprouting on his arms.

“Oh, fuck me…"

Grimm smiled. The wards were down. One of the stupid fuckers had dropped the wards, and now here he was, strolling into Loki’s home base as neat as you please.

“I’m in.” He hefted the box of flowers higher in his arms and pressed the button for the elevator. “Hold your position. I’ll be out momentarily with the furball.”

Soon it would all be over and no one would be able to stop him. Not Tyr, not Baldur and sure as hell not Fenrisùlfr. He whistled a merry tune as the elevator rose, nodding politely to everyone who entered. It wouldn’t do to have them see something he didn’t want them to. Using his inner sight, he nearly laughed with glee.

Every single ward was blown. The place glowed with shattered magical threads. Grimm would have no problem getting Fenris out of the building.

Nothing could stop him from destroying the wolf.

Soon the elevator stopped on the floor where he knew Loki and Baldur lived. The epicenter of the explosion was not far down the corridor. He had no idea what had caused it, and couldn’t care less.

A low growl sounded off to his left. A huge wolf pelted out the front door of one of the condos as if the hounds of Hel were after him. It had gleaming red fur and wicked sharp teeth. It skidded to a halt and snarled at the sight of him.

Grimm smiled and dropped the flowers, exposing the dart gun. “Gotcha.”

Fen helped a dazed Thor—no, Fred—back to his feet. Jeff had knocked the god on his ass when he’d raced from their home. Why he’d left the condo Fen wasn’t sure, but it couldn’t be good.

“What the hell?” Fred shook his head. “What just happened here?”

Fen snarled. “His transformation is complete. He’s mine now.” His mate was truly glorious, his wolf form fine and sleek. But he was out of the safety of their home, alone even if he was only a few feet away. Fen started to move past Thor, but the god was quicker. He shoved Fen back several feet on his way to his son.

“He’s a giant wolf running around a million-dollar-condo complex in the heart of the city, you moron!” Fred took off through the front door after his errant son. “Jeff!”

Fen followed. Something about Fred’s tone was off. Thor sounded terrified.

An explosion rocked the building, knocking Fen back several steps. He dropped to the floor, stunned. When his senses cleared Fen changed to his other self, his clothing going wherever it went when Fen changed, the fur and teeth and paws as natural to him as his two-footed frame had been. He streaked into the corridor to find Fred Grimm on his knees, clutching his chest. The smell of blood was thick in the air. Fred’s hand scrambled for Fen’s fur, grabbing a painful hold. The God of Thunder pulled Fen’s face around to his. “My father’s got Jeff.” He panted, his face a mask of pain. “The serpent…wasn’t your brother.” Fred Grimm lay down slowly, his face pale, blood streaking his lips. “I’m sorry.”