Runes #03 - Grimnirs (21 page)

“You mean when he’s not driving me nuts and making me want to knee him?” Raine laughed, and I grinned. “Way, way above Eirik. Drew doesn’t count.”

“Aw. Poor Eirik.”

“I feel bad for him too, but Echo caught me by surprise.” I parked the car in the university parking terrace, and we started toward the Draper Building, Walkersville’s sports
 
and recreation complex. “I can’t help how I feel.”

“I know. What did you mean by he runed you to sleep?”

I quickly explained about Echo coming to my room at night to keep an eye on me.

“How sweet. Are you going to forgive him?”

“Eventually. Right now, let him stew. He acted like I’d hurt him, when it’s the other way round. I’m pissed and hurt.”

“I don’t think he’s going to make it easy for you to stay pissed because he is here.”

I followed her glance and sighed. Echo watched us from the entrance of the building and completely ignored the college students who kept turning to check him out. Even the guys found him intriguing. How could they not when he looked like a fallen angel in his black clothes, duster, and those unusual eyes?

“Please, don’t mention our conversation,” I whispered.

Raine shot me an annoyed glance. “Really? You really think I would?”

“He can be very charming and persuasive.”

Raine rolled her eyes.

Echo straightened when we approached the door, but I ignored him. Raine slowed down.

“See you after practice, Raine.”

I ran inside, almost bumping into students. The building tended to be busy this time of the evening. I showed the girls at the recreation service desk my school ID then ducked into the changing room. Warm-ups had already started when I entered the pool deck. Coach waved me over.

“Are you sure you should be swimming?”

“My hand is healing fast.” I showed him the hydrocolloid adhesive pads. “The doctor said this should keep the water out.”

“All right. Use the fourth lane and see me after practice.”

“Okay.” I went to my lane and checked the bleachers to see if Raine and Echo were there. They weren’t. Frowning, I dove in. Warm-ups were often intense, but Doc kept them short. He always made us taper down before a meet. If a swimmer pulled a muscle or got injured, we’d be in trouble. As it was, we were short on faster swimmers.

We lined up to race. Kicker was with the team on the lane to my left. She winked. “So it’s over between you and Mr. Hottie-in-a-Trench-Coat, huh?”

I shot her an annoyed look. “Yes.”

“So then why is he here?”

I followed her gaze to the bleachers, and my eyes met Echo’s. He winked. Where was Raine? I almost missed my turn and dove into the water seconds late. I pushed myself, kicking and pulling, happy as a clown. Echo was here. Watching me. Maybe I
was
going to listen to what he had to say.

I finished the lap and pulled out of the pool.

Doc checked his stopwatch and gave me a thumbs-up. “I want to see that drive tomorrow, Jemison. You just dropped nine-tenths of a second.”

I smiled and looked toward the bleachers. Echo got up, and my stomach dropped. Dang it. He was leaving. Instead of walking away, he moved closer to the pool and sat down again.

Smiling, I went back to practice. He was still there when I finished.

Doc pulled me aside when practice was over. He checked my hand. “Did it hold?”

“Oh yes.” I wiggled my fingers. “I’ll be here tomorrow.”

“How is Raine doing?”

I shrugged. “Okay.”

“Do you think she’ll come back to the team? We could really use her.”

Raine was too busy with her after school activities to swim. “I can talk to her, but I’m not making any promises. Her dad is pretty sick, and he’s all her family is focusing on right now.”

“I see,” Doc said, bending down and picking up a pair of goggles a swimmer had left behind.

“Like I said, I’ll talk to her.” I left him doing rounds, collecting things students forgot. I carried my stuff in a mesh bag and disappeared into the showers.

“So you two are back together?” Kicker asked as we changed.

I didn’t understand her obsession with Echo. Why should she care whether we were back together or not? “No.”

“I want to know where he bought his coat. It’s exactly like the one worn by the lead singer of the Reapers.”

“Oh. I’ll ask him if you like.”

She gave me a thumbs-up and disappeared with Naya. I finished getting dressed and grabbed my bag. Echo stood by my car when I entered the parking terrace, and he wasn’t alone. A girl was talking to him.

The green-eyed monster reared its ugly head somewhere deep inside me. I fought it. I refused to be one of those girls who became jealous just because her boyfriend said hi to another girl. Not that Echo was my boyfriend or anything like that.

He saw me and started forward, the girl completely forgotten. She stared after him and then at me, shrugged, and walked away. The monster quieted down.

I slowed down as he got closer. “I’m still not ready to listen—”

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, swim bag, wet hair, and all.

“I’m sorry I hurt you, Cora,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to. I’d do anything to undo the way I behaved. I want a chance to explain, and if you decide never to talk to me after that, I’ll completely understand.”

The timbre of his voice washed over my senses in such a delightful way that I shivered. He sounded really sorry, and it felt wonderful to be in his arms. Funny how warm he was when he hadn’t visited Hel.

He leaned back and studied my face with such intensity I started to fidget, my heart tripping with anticipation and apprehension.

“I didn’t mean to leave you the way I did last weekend,” he said, stepping back and taking my gym bag. He gripped my arm and nudged me toward to the car. Instinctively, I pressed the button to unlock the car. “I should have stayed and tried to explain, but reasoning went out the window when I realized what I had done to you. I was pissed. Shocked. In denial. I made a terrible mistake.”

His words hit me hard like a brick wall. “I was, uh, a mistake?”

“No, sweetheart. Not you. You are the most honest thing in my life right now. You told me you couldn’t be the person I claimed you were, but I refused to listen or even consider you could be right. I had all the evidence that I was dealing with two different women, but—”

“What evidence?”

“You. Maliina might have looked like you, but she could never be you. I noticed a few minor details.” He glanced at my chest and then my face and grinned. “Yours are perkier and bigger and… more responsive than hers.”

My face grew hot. “You have a one-track mind.”

“No, I don’t. Just stating the obvious. But beyond the physical, there’s… you. You are stubborn, opinionated, and take such pleasure in pissing me off.”

I grinned.

He sighed. “It’s not funny. Women adore me.”

I rolled my eyes. “For an apology, yours sucks.”

He winced. “You are also giving, loving, and an amazing listener. From the first kiss, I noticed the difference in the taste and texture of your lips, but I wanted you and couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed…”

“That I wasn’t Maliina?” I whispered.

He lifted my chin with his forefinger and studied my face, eyes blazing. “The gem hidden underneath the vampy exterior, except I was dealing with two different women. You are the gem. She is the vamp.” He tucked strands of my wet hair behind my ear and moved his hand as though to cup my face. He stopped, fisted his hand, and let it drop by his side. “St. James was right about me. I use people and discard them when I’m done. I play dirty and don’t care who gets hurt in the process as long as I win.”

“But—”

He placed a finger on my lips. “Let me finish. I’ve been doing it for centuries, and I don’t think I can change. I’m no good for anyone, least of all you, doll-face.”

“Don’t say that!” I whispered.

He closed his eyes, and when he continued, his voice was heartbreakingly sad. “I will bring you nothing but misery and heartache, Cora. Believe me. I know what I’m talking about.” He opened his eyes and ran his thumb across my lips. His head dipped as though he was going to kiss me, but he stepped back, arm dropping to his side. “I shouldn’t even be touching you. Come on. I’ll escort you home.” He reached for car door and indicated I enter.

I pushed the door shut. “What do you mean by you know what you’re talking about?”

“It can’t work between us.”

“Why not?”

“You know why.”

The pain from a week ago returned. This time, it was worse. “Because I’m not Maliina? I’m not tough like her and would get easily hurt by the big bad Grimnir?”

Echo sighed. “This has nothing to do with her. Please, get in the car.”

I didn’t budge. “Is it our age difference? Raine and Torin are making it work.”

“Our age difference doesn’t bother me. You are Mortal, Cora, while I’m a Grimnir. I deal with the dead.”

“So do I.”

“It’s not the same. Our worlds are not supposed to mix.”

“Raine’s mother and father made it work,” I said.

“And see what’s happening to him and Raine.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Norns and the Valkyries, even the gods, never forget. How do you think her father, a man who took care of himself physically and watched what he ate, got cancer at such a young age? That’s the Norns doing. I’d hate to see you hurt because of my choices.”

I laughed. “You’d hate to see me hurt? What do you call what you are doing right now, Echo?”

“Doing the right thing.”

“For you, not for me.” I yanked the car door open and got behind the wheel. He gripped the door when I would have slammed it. “Let go.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Whatever makes you sleep at night, pal.” I started the car and backed out, forcing him to jump back. He moved to the other side of the car, opened the door, and sat beside me before I switched gears. “Get out of my car, Echo. Let’s make this break clean and final.”

“I can’t do that. I need to explain why I came to your bedroom that first night.”

“That’s self-explanatory,” I snapped and hit the gas. “You thought I was Maliina, and you came for a booty call.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, please. Do I look stupid to you? I was there. You practically mauled me.”

He closed his eyes and sighed. “There’s a reason I was there, Cora, and yes it had to do with her.”

I stopped at the parking booth and handed the guy the correct amount of money. “I don’t want to discuss her or that night, Echo.”

“Then listen.”

“Don’t feel like doing that either.” So hurt by his attitude I couldn’t think straight, I stared straight ahead and stepped on the gas when the parking bar lifted. I careened around a corner without slowing down.

“You may want to slow down before a cop sees you,” he warned.

I hated that he was right. I slowed down and took a calming breath. It was over between us. I had to accept it. Move on.

“About that night, you see—”

“Don’t. I don’t think I can take any more confessions from you today. Please.”

Surprisingly, he became quiet. I focused on getting home in one piece. What was involved in moving on once a guy dumped you? Hook up with a new guy? Forget about dating and focus on school? No, I was never big on sitting around and nursing my wounded pride. I needed a new boyfriend. Someone hotter than Echo. Someone who’d never hurt me.

“We still need to talk,” Echo reminded me when I pulled up outside my house.

“Not now.” I jumped out of the car, but he was faster. He blocked my path, runes glowing. The look in his eyes was heartbreaking.

“Can I come upstairs, so we can finish this discussion?”

I blinked. “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” he said. “I’ll wait in your room until you are ready to listen.”

“No. I don’t want you anywhere near me, Echo.”

He winced. “Okay.”

“Fine. Goodbye.” I took off and didn’t look back.

My parents were downstairs, and chances that they’d seen me talking to myself were high. They didn’t say anything though. We went through my usual afterschool ritual—they asked about school and swim practice and I gave them vague answers, grabbed something to eat, and headed upstairs.

For once, I didn’t search for Echo when I entered my bedroom. He was leaning against my car as though he planned to stay there the whole night, his eyes on my window. My heart tripped. Stupid heart.

11.
 
Searching for Maliina

Echo was still outside when I went to bed, but I knew the moment he appeared in my room. Awareness zipped up my spine. Too tired to fight, I ignored him. Or tried to. Surprisingly, I fell asleep.

He was gone the next morning, the throw rugs on the chair telling me he’d slept there. Mom was already in the kitchen, a hearty breakfast on the stove. She still wore her pajamas and her graying blonde hair was mussed from sleep. It was my first meet in weeks, and my stomach churned. I always got nervous before a meet.

“Can’t eat?” Mom asked, placing a lunch bag with my usual swim energy supplies—banana, granola bars, and bottled water—on the counter.

She knew me too well. I gave up the pretense of eating and put down the fork. The weather didn’t help either. It was raining hard. The situation with Echo and the Grimnirs made things worse.

Mom gave me a hug, and I let my head rest on her stomach and wrapped my arms around her waist. I needed a mommy-and-me moment. I needed to feel loved.

“Are you coming to the meet?” I’d never asked before.

She chuckled. “What a silly question. Of course.” She dropped a kiss on the crown of my head. “When does warm-up start?”

“Eight.” I looked at my watch and sighed. “I’d better get ready.”

“And I’ll wake up your dad. He had a late night, but he’s looking forward to watching you swim. We’ll be there before the meet starts.” She poured a cup of coffee and paused in the process of leaving the kitchen. “Make sure you have extra—”

“Goggles and caps, I got it, Mom.” I gave her another hug, put my plate away, and carried my snack bag. Doc always provided sandwiches and drinks, which I never ate. They got their sandwiches from a local store, and I hated limp lettuce and the bread they used. If I needed more munchies, I knew exactly where to go. This was a home meet, and I knew where all the vending machines were in the building.

My bag packed, I pulled the hood of my raincoat over my head and hurried to my car.

Echo wasn’t there. Somehow I’d expected him to be inside the car. Neither Andris nor Torin was waiting to escort me like they’d been doing.

I threw my gear in the front passenger seat and cranked the engine.

A chill crawled under my skin when I hit Orchard Drive. I wasn’t alone, and it wasn’t Echo. I checked the rearview mirror, but there was no one in the back seat. My head whipped left and right, but I couldn’t see anything. It was raining too hard.

Then I noticed the vines on either side of the road rustling in one direction as though something invisible was running through them.

Grimnirs in freaking hyper speed. Crap!

I reached for my cell phone and floored the gas. My heart pounded, my hand shaking so hard I almost couldn’t punch the numbers. Any minute, I expected the Grimnirs to hit the car and squish me like a bug. Raine didn’t pick up her phone.

I yelled something into the phone and dropped it, my hand returning to the steering wheel. The Grimnirs stayed with me, inching closer. They were now on the grass and bushes, blurry mini twisters from Hel. Shaking, my chest hurting with each breath, I ran a stop sign and entered another street, tires squealing. Lucky for me, it was Saturday and the traffic was nonexistent. And only a fool would run in this downpour.

A shadow appeared in the back of my car. No, not a shadow. The beginning of a portal. One of them was trying to get inside my car. Echo’s words screamed in my head. They had no problem attacking a Mortal.

Where was Echo? I deliberately swayed, making the car zigzag so they wouldn’t create a portal. My eyes darted around between the road, the Tasmanian devils racing my car, and the rearview mirror. My windows frosted and a chilling draft filled the car. My crazy driving hadn’t stopped them.

A scream filled my car.

I didn’t realize it was mine, until Echo’s voice reached me from the back seat. “It’s me,” he said calmly. “Stop the car.”

I slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched in protest, and the back wheels turned and skidded as the car swerved and rotated until I was facing the opposite direction. I brought us to a stop on the side of the road, almost landing in a ditch. Frantically, I searched the hedges.

“You okay?” Echo asked.

No. I opened my mouth, but my teeth were chattering so hard I couldn’t speak. He moved to the front passenger seat.

“You are going to reopen your wound,” he warned, gently prying my fingers from the steering wheel. He was cold—his clothes, his skin, his hands—but those arms never felt safer or more comfortable when they pulled me into his chest. His face, when he buried it in my neck, was arctic too, but I welcomed it. It was familiar.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I was only gone for a moment and didn’t think they’d come after you right after I left. Luckily, I heard you.”

He didn’t make sense. How could he have heard me when I’d never called him? But his breath was warm on my nape. Another familiar thing. My heartbeat slowed down, and I opened my eyes.

“Did… did you stop them?” I asked.

“They’re taking care of them.”

“Who?” As the question left my lips, Torin appeared from the other side of the road and sauntered across the street. The rain didn’t seem to bother him. He wore sweatpants and his leather jacket only. He was also barefoot.

Torin opened the door and slid in the back seat. “We got them.”

“Good. We are even now,” Echo said.

“I didn’t do this for you.”

“It doesn’t matter. Your debt is repaid,” Echo added firmly as the other door opened and Andris joined us, his silk pajamas plastered to his body.

“Hel’s Mist! It’s cold out there,” he griped. “Next time you feel like racing Grimnirs, Mortal, make sure it’s in the afternoon or far, far away from this stupid state and weather.”

Echo stiffened.

“I have to go,” I murmured. “Warm-up will be starting soon.”

“Are you serious?” Andris asked. “After being chased by Hel’s private army you still want to go to that stupid meet?”

Echo growled. “Shut up, Andris. You talk to her like that again and I’ll...”

“You’ll what?” Andris asked.

Torin gripped Andris’ shoulder. “Easy, bro.”

“You should be apologizing, not pissing me off, Valkyrie,” Echo warned. “I told you the Grimnirs were after her.”

“Except you haven’t told us why,” Torin retorted. “Two dead Grimnirs doesn’t make you innocent.” He used an artavus to etch runes on the car door and a portal appeared. I didn’t see where it led, but as soon he stepped into it, I heard Raine’s voice.

Andris looked at us and smirked.

“You’re trying my patience, Valkyrie,” Echo said.

“It’s going to take a lot more than a few dead Grimnirs to convince us you’ve changed, Echo,” Andris retorted.

“Too bad I’ve no interest in convincing you of anything. Cora is in this mess because of your idiotic decision. Get out of here before I forget she needs me.”

“Bring it on,” Andris snapped.

“Leave him alone, Andris,” I cut in. “Just go.”

A snicker escaped Andris. “Maybe you two deserve each other.” He created his own portal and left.

“You defended me,” Echo said, his voice softening, his breath warm on my nape.

I stared at our linked hands. His larger ones swallowed my smaller ones. He wasn’t cold anymore. “I hate it when they treat you like that. It’s also not Andris’ fault Maliina turned into a psycho. You should cut him some slack.”

“He’s an idiot. He turned her using his artavus, after I warned him not to.”

“He was in love and made a mistake.” I turned my head and our gazes met. His eyes were warm and hypnotic. I wanted to grab his face and kiss him, make him want me.

“Are you warm enough to let me go?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.

“Yes. Are you calm enough to drive?” His voice had gone smoky. Sexy.

“I’m good.”

He didn’t move. Neither did I.

“Your poor hand.” Without breaking eye contact, he brought my injured right palm to his lips and pressed a kiss to the healing wound. My breath caught. His eyes dropped to my lips. My teeth sunk into the soft flesh of my lower lip and he groaned. My eyes flew to his. I held my breath and waited to see what he was going to do.

“Cora,” he said.

The way he said my name in an achy I-want-to-kiss-you-so-badly voice had my heart leaping and warmth unfurling in my stomach. “Yes?”

“Drive.”

I blinked. “What?”

“Start the car.” He spoke through clenched teeth, his voice curt.

“But—”

“Now.”

He didn’t have to snarl. I got it. He didn’t want me. He was here to protect me. Nothing more. Nothing less.

“I get it,” I snapped back, turned away from him, gunned the engine, and took off. He leaned back and took his warmth with him. Funny, how fast he went from cold to warm to hot. And I wasn’t talking about his skin.

Pissed with myself for letting my guard down, I repeated,
he doesn’t want me… he’s here to protect me…
over and over, until I entered University Boulevard.

School buses were in the parking lot outside the Draper Building, but the students were already inside. It was a quarter past eight, and Doc was probably thinking I’d missed the meet.

I parked and glanced back at the brooding reaper in my car. Golden flames leaped in his eyes, but all he said was, “Go. I’m right behind you.”

I grabbed my bag and headed for the building, not looking back until I was inside. My car was visible, but I couldn’t tell whether Echo was still inside. Having him around was both frustrating and reassuring.

He doesn’t want me. He’s here to protect me.
I kept repeating that as I changed and headed to the pool.

***

I didn’t see Echo on the bleachers during the meet, but I felt his presence. Mom and Dad were hard to miss. Dad cheered the loudest, his voice following me out of the pool.

“Way to go, Cora!”

“That’s my girl!”

The good thing was he cheered just as hard for the other Trojans. Most of our students were used to him and just smiled. Others even waved. He did have quite a local fan base in the valley. It didn’t take the visiting team long to connect me to him. They stared as though he was a whack job and then smirked.

How I wished Raine were still with the team. Her parents had been just as bad as my father, and we had suffered the embarrassment together.

“Please come rune my father and make him invisible,” I texted Raine.

“I don’t think I’d know how,” she texted back.

“You are a seer. Use your powers.”

“I’m using what I know to make myself invisible, smarty pants. I suck at it.”

“Why do you say that?”

“The guy on my left is onto me or something. It was nice to see others catch your waves during the last heat.”

I glanced at the bleachers, but I didn’t see any glowing beings. “Where are you?”

“The hallway.”

I looked up the wall adjacent to the bleachers. The hallway’s glass wall was another viewing area, even though there were no seats. I saw her and almost waved. “You sure you don’t want to join my parents? You might calm my dad.”

“I’m about to leave. Just wanted to make sure things were okay.”

My stomach dropped. “Are the Norns around?”

“LOL,” she texted back. “Nope, thank goodness.”

“Have you seen Echo?”

“Briefly when I got here, but he’s gone. Gotta go, Cora.”

“I have two more heats. See you at your place later. Start working on my lost soul.”

“Okay. Will need to hear more on this morning’s mess, too. Torin was sketchy with the details.”

“Thanks for sending them.”

“That’s what friends are for. Later.” She disappeared from the window. I put my phone away and refocused on the meet. A few times, I found myself searching for Echo, and each time I wanted to slap myself.

It was over between us.

Seven schools were at the meet, most of them not top contenders for state championships. It was obvious some came out of curiosity to see the pool where lightning had nearly decimated our team. A few guys from the other teams even asked outright which one of us was the girl who’d had the premonition.

The meet ended at two. We got second place, while the guys placed third. Majority of us dropped time, so it was all good. In the changing rooms, I got more questions about the tragic Lightning Meet, as everyone was now calling it, and furtive glances. Some big mouth from my team had told them I was tight with Raine.

I stared down a few, but it didn’t stop them. I didn’t bother to change, just pulled on my sweatpants and jacket, grabbed my stuff, and took off.

Outside, the rain had stopped, but the sky was still overcast.

Kicker and her dynamic duo besties caught up with me just after I exited the building. We’d won the relays, and they were stoked.