Prophecy (29 page)

No one seemed surprised at these revelations. What did this guy mean Liam was stronger than the leader would ever become?

“Coward,” the hairy one spat. He raised a hand toward the chandelier. “Odin watches and what do you show him? Weakness.”

“Out.” Mason appeared behind him, visibly taller than I’d seen him before. His face was stricken with angles. Muscles tested the elasticity of his skin. He curled one massive hand around the hairy one’s neck and lifted him off his feet. “In our house you’ll live as we live. We are the sons of Kratos, Bia, and Zelus.” He tossed him like a ragdoll into a set of onlookers and they all went down like bowling pins.

“What about her?” A kid half my age moved through the legs of standing men.

“He’s a child,” I whispered.

“I died a hero,” he responded, his chin high with pride.

“Nothing wrong with his hearing,” I added.

“We stop aging at the time of our rebirth,” Liam explained.

Justin could be eighteen forever. Wow. What a nightmare. I wanted to get older. Buy beer. Go to college. Get married. Have a family I’d never abandon.

Liam shoved hair off my shoulder. “This is Callie. She’s important to me, and I advise you not to forget.”

The ravens cawed and flapped overhead.

Liam looked at the birds and scanned the crowd. “As you can see, Odin has an interest in her as well. Tread carefully where Callie is concerned.”

Many of the men lowered onto one knee before the ravens. Did they not notice two giant black birds on the chandelier until Liam pointed them out or was it the mention of Odin by name?

“You may stay as long as necessary, but depart at your first opportunity. This isn’t a halfway house for weary travelers. The town already thinks we’re insane.” Liam placed his lips beside my ear. “Stand tall, chin high, walk to the kitchen with the confidence you use around the pool.” He kissed my cheek.

“Can I get you something from the kitchen?” he asked in a louder voice.

I nodded.

“Excellent. After you.”

I turned and walked on shaky legs through a pile of Vikings still gathering their wits and picking themselves up off the floor where Mason had sent them. Inside the kitchen, I sat on the nearest stool and shook. Liam pulled the door closed behind us.

“Well done.” He grabbed my face in both hands and pressed his lips to mine. The sweet scent of his skin overwhelmed and softened me. Anxiety rolled away.

His lips roamed over my jaw and neck. His hands found the hem of my sweater and traced my ribs beneath. Each swipe of his thumbs over the cotton of my bra sent ripples of excitement through me. I locked my ankles behind him.

“I can’t keep my hands off you,” he gasped. “I feel like I should apologize, but I’m not at all sorry.” His teeth skimmed my earlobe. “You’ve bewitched me.”

A purr vibrated in my chest and Liam growled in response. He pulled back an inch and closed his eyes. His breath settled.

“Hey.” I pulled him in for another kiss. “I wasn’t finished.”

He kissed my nose before pressing his forehead to mine. “It’s good to know my self- control is still in working condition. You seem to have removed all my other good sense.”

“What’s that mean?”

“I know better than to do this.” He pressed his mouth to mine. His tongue traced the line between my lips and they parted. “I indulge when I shouldn’t. I haven’t in many years. Not like this.”

I rolled my eyes. “Is this the part where you tell me I’m different? And I go all soft and let you carry me to your bed?”

His lips formed a tiny smirk. “This is the part where I shamelessly announce my love for you and humbly admit my selfish indulgence has become something I’ll never undo, quite possibly to the detriment of all those brothers counting on me. I won’t carry you anywhere near my bed because self-control is one thing, but I’m no saint.”

He loved me. My heart hit frenzy level, banging wildly. Tears stung my eyes, both from wonder and delight. I swallowed the emotion. “You’re stronger with a woman. Victoria told me.”

“Physically, yes, but love distracts me. The men saw my feelings for you when we stood out here. The Stians will see it, too, and they’ll come for you. Distraction is death in my world.”

“So, don’t let me go.” I pulled his face to mine and dusted his lips with kisses. “Keep me close.”

“Liam.” Mason appeared beside us.

“Ahh!” I pressed a hand to my chest. “Where did you come from?”

“Greece originally, but the parlor just now.”

Liam ran a thumb over his lips and smiled. “Yes, brother?”

“It’s nearly dinnertime. How will we feed them?” His eyes widened in despair.

“Shoot.” I hopped off the stool. “I need to see Mom before she leaves for work. We always eat together if I don’t have to work. I need to tell her about Coach Larsen.”

“Can I walk you home?” Liam followed me to the door.

“No. Don’t worry about it.” I scanned the lawn and wondered if I’d made a mistake. A handful of nymphs lounged in the grass as if it was July instead of October. I shivered at the thought. They watched Liam closely, defying the casual air they put on.

“They’re curious,” he whispered. “They aren’t used to competing for attention.”

“Jeez. They’re going to compete?”

He laughed. Raising my hands to his lips, he pressed kisses against my fingertips. “May I come over later?”

“I think you should sleep over.” I eyeballed the knot of seductresses camping on his lawn. “How quiet can you be?”

His breath tickled my ear as the tiny word formed in the chilly air between us. “Very.”

* * * *

I walked Mom to her Bronco a few hours later. Chester peed on her tires as we said good-bye.

“Study hard. Lock the doors. Call me if you need anything.” Worry wrinkled her forehead.

“I’m walking Chester before going inside for the night. I promise. Windows shut. Doors locked.” I crossed my heart with a finger.

“I don’t want to be the next mom getting a call from the hospital.” Her eyes glistened.

“I won’t let that happen to you. I’ll lock up and stay inside.”

She slid behind the wheel, looking like she’d rather stay until I was safely inside, but I was eighteen. Not eight.

“Come on, Chester.” We headed for the cornfield as Mom’s taillights rounded the corner. “You have to make it fast. Mom’s worried and I have to study.”

Chester trotted happily into the shadows, dragging me behind him. “Woof.”

Chills ran over my arms. “What’s wrong?”

He sniffed the air, swinging his nose in the night. “Woof.” His nose dropped to the ground and sniffed the grass. “Woof.”

My senses went on high alert. Leaves rustled at my feet. Distant voices and music drifted through the cornfield from Hale Manor. “They’re having a party. Now, do your business.”

I strained to see someone in the darkness, to find danger in the shadows. If there was a reason for Chester’s barking, aside from the party next door, I needed to know. Only the sounds of autumn surrounded us. Swirling leaves. Wind. A squeaky windmill in the lawn across the street. Everything sounded right, but the shadows of cornstalks morphed into scary things.

“Hurry, Chester.”

“Woof! Woofwoofwoofwoof!”

A hand clamped over my mouth from behind, smashing my lips, threatening to bust my teeth with inhuman pressure. I dropped Chester’s leash and put my hands to better use. I scratched and clawed the massive arms wrapped over my chest, attempting to pry them loose. My nails ripped through hot flesh. I stomped my feet into enormous shoes and kicked the air behind me, connecting once with my attacker’s shins. A low chuckle jostled me as we moved away from the house, into the cornfield.

Stank breath washed over me. “I will claim you in honor of Tony, my fallen brother. Tonight you will call out his name.”

Wide arms constricted over my lungs, raking fire through my chest. I slid in the dirt, dragging my feet to hinder our progress. He adjusted effortlessly to my protest, never missing a beat. Wide fingers curved over my face in a tight line, covering my mouth and pressing against my nose. I worked my teeth free and bit him. Metallic tasting blood seeped into my mouth and he squeezed his hand tighter, unaffected.

My world shimmered at the edges. Air ceased to pass through his fingertips. Black dots floated in my vision. My knees buckled.

“Caw!”

Feathers dusted my arm. The deadly grip on my lungs released by a fraction, and I dragged in a searing, ragged breath. The night air rushed sweet and savory to my brain, bringing with it clarity and fresh pain. My attacker swung one arm overhead as the ravens regrouped and dove at us again. They cawed louder. Their relentless swooping and cawing elicited a string of brutal oaths from the man now palming my face with his free hand.

“Woof! Woof! Woof!” Chester’s barks grew louder by the second. The birds, the dog, and my attacker made a terrible racket, while I struggled for air.

“Caw!”

“Woof!”

“Fuckers!”

I clawed at the hand gripping my face. I was free except for his giant fingers squeezing bruises into my cheeks, jaw, and forehead. He passed me off from one gargantuan mitt to the other as he swatted the ravens. I wriggled and he released my face to grip my neck. His fingers anchored deep into the skin beneath my jaw. The world grew dark.

Feathers beat against my face. Talons ripped into my shirt.

“Callie!” Liam’s voice burst through the whooshing of my ears.

My limbs flailed against the inevitable.

“Callie.”

Green lightning illuminated the earth and I fell. Tears poured from my eyes in a deluge of terror and thankfulness. My lungs sucked in hungry breaths. Liam fell to the ground beside me and pulled me into his lap. He kissed my face and rocked me like a child in his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Callie. My love is toxic.” His quiet words tore the fabric of my heart. Would he never stop blaming himself? Would loving me be his misery? I hated myself instantly for being his cross to bear. Why couldn’t love be peaceful and sweet? Why was love always made of embers and ashes? Dirty. Painful. Tainted.

I opened aching eyes. Two dozen Vikings gathered around us, staring silently.

The ravens waddled in the grass at my side, wings half extended, ready for flight. They ogled us with beady eyes. Blood dripped from their beaks and talons.

I whimpered and pulled myself closer to Liam’s chest. Sobs thundered from my body, shaking me violently and knocking the wind from my lungs.

Liam lifted me in his arms, rising with ease, despite my weight. I pressed my cheek to his chest. A guy I’d never seen lay at Liam’s feet, drizzled in blood. Thin claw marks scarred his face, neck, and arms. His eyes were pecked out. I buried my face in the curve of Liam’s neck. Another rough shudder jolted through me and my teeth chattered dangerously.

Liam strode through Viking onlookers toward his home, and I blocked everything out. He carried me up winding stairs and through a doorway before setting me gently down.

I opened my eyes to the dim light of candles around a stately bed with four posters stretching to the ceiling. Liam had brought me to his bed. I pressed a palm over my aching head. My shoulders stung. Quiet tears rolled down my cheeks and my teeth chattered violently. I sniffled and pressed the heels of both hands against my eyes.

Liam stroked my head. “Lie back.”

Soft satin sheets caressed my face. Liam walked away.

He ran water in the next room where light spilled from a half-open doorway.

“Liam?”

He stepped into the room with a cloth in his hand.

“How are you?” Pain dripped from his words.

“Freaked.” A very large understatement. I took mental inventory of my faculties. “Sore.”

“You should rest. I won’t let you oversleep. I’ll get you home before your mom arrives from work.”

“I’m not going to sleep.” We were alone in what I assumed was Liam’s room for the first time. I’d nearly been killed by an enemy Viking outside my home. I couldn’t fall asleep if I tried.

“Here.” Liam sat on the edge of the bed and laid a cool, wet cloth over my forehead. He lifted a pair of capsules from the nightstand and cracked open a bottle of water. “I have something for your pain.”

I leaned forward, careful to catch the cloth as it fell from my eyes. The water burned a path down my hot, aching throat. “Thanks.”

“I need to take a look.” He pointed to my shoulder. Blood soaked the fabric of my shirt.

“Oh, your bed.” I wiggled to my elbows. “This is your bed?”

He smiled. “Yes. I don’t care about the bed. I do care if you get an infection or if those blasted birds gave you some kind of transmittable disease by mixing his damnable blood with yours.”

“Oh, barf.”

“Precisely.”

I pulled my arms in through my sleeves and worked the sweater over my shoulders. Liam angled his face away. I kicked off my shoes and socks before I got dirt from the cornfield on his bed. “I bit him. I bit Tony, too. Could I really get sick from their blood?”

He ran his thumb across my bottom lip. “Let’s hope not.”

“He could’ve killed me. I guess I’m tougher than I think.” I tossed my shirt onto the edge of his bed. “Okay, you can look.”

He didn’t.

“Liam.”

He peeked in my direction.

“It’s not like you haven’t seen my bra before.” A few select memories rushed past and a blush burned my cheeks.

A very boyish smile graced his usually troubled face. “I can look?”

“Yes.” I laughed. “You can look. Will I live?”

He frowned.

“Liam.” I kissed his cheek. “Either take a look at these claw marks or hand me the stuff to do it myself. I know you have a bandage somewhere in this room.”

He retrieved a first aid kit from the nightstand.

“What if I decided to sleep like you told me? At some point you had to take a look at this.”

“I don’t know. I thought of calling your mom, but how could I explain I let you get strangled and attacked by birds all at the same time?”

“Stop moping and help me.”

He turned to examine the cuts on my shoulders. “Do they hurt?”

“Not as much as my head. I think that jerk gave me brain damage.”