Seeress: Book Three (Runes Series) (22 page)

Torin looked around, his face harsh under the bright hospital light, frustration churning in his eyes. “Norns and Valkyries cover their tracks in two ways. They erase memories or switch bodies. My mother was given a Saracen body disguised as me to bury. Let’s find the morgue.”

“Should we be going after the other Seeresses?” Andris asked, standing his ground.

Torin threw him an annoyed look. “We need to confirm the MO they’re using.”

Andris’ eyes narrowed. “What purpose is knowing this going to serve?”

“It will confirm what Raine overheard,” Torin growled. “If the Norns are recruiting, this entire mess with the Seeresses is a ruse to reel her in. And I’m not letting that happen.”

We found the morgue. A single attendant was filling out the paperwork. There were a few bodies by the door. With his back to us, he didn’t see tags move as we checked them. He happened to turn just after Torin exposed the Seeress’ face.

The attendant jumped up and walked to the gurney. “Hmm, how did you do that, pretty lady?” He studied the dead woman. “Poor thing. So young to be dead.”

“Is that what you guys are seeing? A young woman?”

Torin and Andris nodded.

“With runes all over her,” Andris added.

“What do you see?” Torin asked.

“An old woman covered with runes.”

We left the morgue and followed Andris to several other hospitals. All had Seeresses replaced by dead bodies. Some of the bodies were men. The Norns I’d met weren’t working alone. The energies in each hospital felt different. A lot of Norns were out tonight.

“Let’s find the Seeress’ personal effect,” I suggested after the last stop.

Torin and Andris stared at each other. They didn’t look too happy. I shifted from foot to foot. When their gazes shifted to something behind me, I turned to look, but there was no one there.

Torin took a step back and shook his head. “No,” he said firmly.

“Then how do you plan on finding the people after me? The Seeresses have been taken. And I’m sure the killers won’t go after more or the Norns would know about them. The only connection to them are their personal belongings and what I can see when I touch them.”

“I don’t like what it does to you when you go all golden eyes.” The emotions in his eyes were raw. “You go to places I can’t go, see horrible things, and I’m helpless to help you.”

“It’s not real, Torin. I know that now.”

He lowered his head until we were eye level. “But I’m the one who hears you scream and feels you shake.”

That sounded gruesome. “Listen, if I can stand it, so can you. It’s not real.” I moved closer to him. “You are real. What you feel for me and I feel for you is real. And I want our lives free of evil people chasing me and Norns using you to get to me. We stop these people now and deal with the Norns later.” Once I figured out what they meant by officially making a choice.

He sighed. “I’m taking you home right now. Then I’ll—”

“You know what? I don’t need your permission to find out the identity of the person after me. You’re not the only one who can smile and lie and make people do your bidding.” I turned off my runes and started toward the entrance of the morgue. Personal belongings were sent to the morgue with the bodies.

The next second, my feet were in the air as arms snatched me up and brought me against a solid body. “Engage your runes, Freckles.”

“No. I will not let them use you to get to me.”

He laughed. “Do you know how ridiculous you look floating and kicking in mid-air?”

“Let them think I’m a ghost—”

“Hel’s Mist! I’ll get them.” Andris marched toward the morgue entrance. “When she starts reaping, you two are on your own,” he threw over his shoulder.

I re-engaged my runes. “Thanks, Andris. As for you…” I wiggled out of Torin’s arms and turned to face him. “You’re such a douche. I’m doing this for you. For us.”

He chuckled. “I don’t recall asking you to be my guardian angel.”

“Neither did I ask you to be mine, you jerk. Yet here you are. You were gone for two days trying to find the person after me and came up empty-handed. We’ve spent hours chasing hags all over the globe, and they still bested us. Why are you so afraid to let me use my gift to identify the people after me?” I planted my hands on my hips and cocked my head. “What? Only you get to play the hero and do all the rescuing? Would it put a dent in that humongous ego of yours if I rescued you once?”

He pretended to think about it, head tilted to the side. “I took care of myself for centuries before you came along, and I’m really good at it. So yeah, the day I let a young woman rescue me is the day I stop being a man.”

I flinched, the hurt swift and precise. “You’re not a man, Torin St. James. You’re an idiot, too pigheaded to appreciate anything, too blind to see beyond your bulbous aristocratic nose, and too arrogant…” My voice cracked.

His eyebrows shot up. “Bulbous?”

“You know what? Forget you.” I started toward the bathroom, fighting hard to contain the tears burning my eyes and the ache in my chest.

I pushed the door open, but he zipped past me and had the portal to my room open by the time I reached the mirror. I couldn’t believe he wanted me gone that badly.

I walked right past him, hating that I didn’t have a door to slam in his arrogant face. I turned to give him an evil look, but the portal was closing. Then I saw the smug smile and realized he’d just played me. He’d wanted me out of the way and played me like a fine-tuned instrument. Why?

“Jackass!”

The aroma of coffee teased my senses. It faded and then became stronger. “Wake up, Freckles.”

“Go away.” I turned my head the other way.

“Is there a water hose around here?”

He wouldn’t dare. Yes, he would. I flung the covers aside and found him at the foot of my bed ready to yank the covers off me. I gave him a look that would have stopped a lesser man cold in his tracks. Not Torin. He smirked. And he just had to be shirtless. From the sweat glistening on his chest and the scent of clean sweat, he’d been working out.

I threw a pillow at him. He ducked sideways, and it sailed past him.

“What do you want?” I asked in the meanest voice I could master when all I wanted to do was ogle him.

“Nice pajamas. Sexy.”

“Shut up.” I was wearing an oversized T-shirt with a right angle and
I’m Always Right
plastered across it.

“It’s eleven, Freckles.”

“So?”

He gave me a look that said he was losing his patience. “So what are you still doing in bed?”

“It’s Sunday, and if I want to lounge—

He pulled the covers off me. “We’ve got places to go. I left a note.” He sauntered to the bedside drawers and lifted a piece of paper. His eyebrows shot up. “How fast can you get dressed?”

I snatched the paper from his hand and read the scribbled words. It didn’t say he was sorry. “You didn’t apologize for last night.”

“How does kicking my ass sound for making it up to you?”

Now that was more like it. I grinned. “Okay.”

He chuckled and handed me the coffee. “Bloodthirsty witch.”

“Douchebag Valkyrie.”

He laughed. “Five minutes. Get your running gear; then come find me.”

I took my time finishing the coffee and found my running things. After a brief chat with Femi, I left for Torin’s.

He was seated on the couch in his living room, feet up on the coffee table, and looked up when I walked in. He gave me a slow perusal. My stomach clenched. He seriously needed to stop with the smoldering looks. I was mad at him.

“Nice outfit,” he said.

It was the same as the one I’d worn days ago. Except it was black and hot pink. Nothing spectacular. “Are we going running or what?”

“Woke up on the wrong side of the bed?” He put something down and reached for his sneakers. Then I saw what he’d put down and blinked. His cell phone. The instrument he refused to use no matter how often I begged him.

“You were using your phone.”

He cocked his eyebrow. “Yes.”

“You know
how
?”

He rolled his eyes. “Engage your runes instead of poking fun at me. I’m not a total Neanderthal.”

He
was
a Neanderthal. “I was sure you’d either ditched it or remodeled it.”

“I like big things, not puny things that fall apart when I touch them.” He gave me a slow perusal that said he wasn’t talking about engines. Confirmed it when he smacked my butt as he walked past. “Come on. Catch up, slowpoke.” He took off.

Show off. The Rutledges were coming back from Church, and I decided to pull the move Andris had taught me. The threat of death was a big motivator when it came to engaging runes and moving fast.

I stood right in the middle of the cul-de-sac entrance and waited until the car was a few seconds away then—

Torin snatched me and ducked to the sidewalk, almost wrapping us around a tree. “What in Hel’s Mist was that?”

I pushed him away. “Something Andris taught me. You should try it. It’s all about engaging your runes quickly and exercising your reflexes. It packs quite a punch, too.”

His lips pulled back in a snarl. “I’m going to kill him.”

“No, you’re not. Andris believes in me. He trusts me to protect myself. Try it sometime.” I backhanded him on the chest and took off toward Orchard Road.

Torin raced past me and ran backwards. “I trust you.”

“Doesn’t seem so. Where are we headed?”

“Follow me.”

We took back roads, racing past cars. He leaped over oncoming cars, making Andris look like an amateur. But then again, what did I expect from an adrenaline junkie? A few times, I was sure he’d knock his perfect teeth on the road, but he rolled as he dropped and sprung to his feet.

My heart trembled every time he jumped. Who did he think he was? Invincible Spiderman? I almost snatched him from the path of an oncoming truck. I was shaking by the time we reached the edge of the trees.

“Ready for phase two?” he asked.

I blew out a breath, my heart pounding, while all he had to show for his stunt on the road were smears of dirt on his clothes.

“Freckles?”

“Don’t do that again,” I said.

He frowned, and then it dawned on him. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’ve pulled that stunt a gazillion times.”

The smirk that curled his sculptured lips only further infuriated me. “I don’t care. I will not…” My voice broke. “I cannot watch you do that again, Torin. Just promise. It’s stupid and dangerous, and I know you can self-heal, but you just
cannot
do that.”

“Whoa, okay.” He raised his arms. “I won’t. Ever. And you won’t listen to Andris’ stupid ideas.”

If he’d felt half of what I did watching him, then never again. “I promise.”

“Good. Ready now.”

I nodded. He plunged into the forest, shooting past trees like he expected them to move aside for him. At least I knew the trees would lose if he hit them.

I engaged my speed and sight runes. When the terrain became difficult, I added endurance ones. It didn’t matter which ones I chose, the effect added to the rush. I felt alive, energized. It was too early for hikers, except for a few die-hards, but Torin still chose less popular trails and unchartered territories. I was right behind him. Trails were everywhere, some popular and beaten-down, others with undergrowth due to lack of use.

He started slow as though giving me time to catch my breath. Then he picked up speed. He pushed me hard, going faster and faster. A few times I wanted to beg him to slow down, but I couldn’t give him the satisfaction. I might not be able to beat him, but I could bloody well keep up.

Bloody well. Ha. I was even beginning to talk like him.

I lost sense of direction after a while. The creeks and campgrounds were starting to look the same. I knew we were south of Oregon 6 because of the ATV trails. Luckily, the season for all terrain campgrounds didn’t start until the end of the month.

I shot past Torin as we neared the top of a hill.

“Slow down!” he yelled.

Oh, he thought he was slick. I had the lead. “Sour loser.”

I kept going, until I burst through the trees into a clearing and something red caught my eyes. I slowed down and stopped when I recognized the picnic basket and the neatly-folded blanket on top of it. We’d used them before in his living room during winter.

My watch said we’d been running for over an hour, which meant he’d made this run earlier. One way with a basket of food and drinks. That alone was enough to steal my thunder. For about a second.

“I beat you fair and square,” I called out when he appeared in the clearing.

“Show off.” He pulled off his shirt and wiped his neck, his movements graceful.

“Except you were here earlier,” I added, dragging my eyes away from his abs. I removed my top too, leaving my sports bra. Cool air kissed my bare torso. I dropped the shirt, reached down, and stretched my legs.

“I knew how far we’d go before you started to wilt,” he said, stopping behind me.

“I don’t wilt. I can handle anything you dish out. If you didn’t notice, I kept up with you until you slowed down.”

He ran a finger along my sweaty back. Since we still had our runes engaged, sparks exploded under my skin and shot every which way. I moaned. Or maybe he did. I couldn’t tell.

This was the problem with runes. When engaged, they heightened our senses. It was as though energy bubbled on the surface of our skin, needing to be released. We engage speed runes, we run faster. Strength runes? Flatten something. Endurance? Climb a freaking rock. Standing next to a man that pushed our buttons with just a look, we might go ape.

It took all my willpower to straighten and move away from him, disengaging my runes when he did his. Slanting me a smirk that could be hot one second and infuriating the next, he opened the basket, removed two bottles of water, and threw one my way.

As I chugged mine, I found myself watching him lift the bottle to his lips, guzzle, and swallow. When he poured the rest on his head, droplets flowing down his face to his chest, our eyes met. Time slowed down to a halt.

Twigs snapped, and I whipped around, expecting to see some wild animal. Instead two hikers invaded our little slice of Oregon Tillamook Forest. While Torin smoothly switched accents from British to American and chatted with the couple, I tried to control my thumping heart. It wasn’t the first time he’d pulled a switcheroo. How had he put it? People asked him less questions about his background.

I found the perfect picnic spot by a tree stump and spread out the blanket. When I looked up, the hikers were gone. Torin placed the basket on the blanket and sat on the tree stump. I dropped on the blanket and studied him.

“What are we eating?”

“Beef and turkey sandwiches and chips.” He opened the basket and handed me a wrapped sandwich, then dangled a big bag of spicy baked chips. My favorite. Torin hated spicy chips. How did he put it? They numbed his taste buds, while he liked to savor different flavors in each chip.

He moved the basket aside and slid next to me, so we lay on our stomachs, our shoulders touching. We ate in silence. He’d cut the sandwiches into tiny triangles. When he dipped his hand inside the bag and removed a chip, I stared. He didn’t hide his grimace.

“How’s this for an apology?” Torin asked.

“Great! But do you have to torture your taste buds, too?”

He slanted me a look. “You noticed.” He wiped his fingers on the blanket. “This is awful.”

I bumped him with my shoulder. “Don’t be a food snob. So why last night’s douchebaggery?”

He rolled on to his back and studied me. “I told you. I don’t like your visions.”

“That’s a lame reason. I’m a Seeress. Deal with it.”

He squinted at me, those ridiculously long lashes fanning his cheekbones. “I liked you better as just my girlfriend.”

I put a potato chip against his lips. “I was never
just
your girlfriend. I was me, before you, before us. A person with goals and dreams. Every time you say something idiotic, I feed you a chip. Open up,” I ordered.

He ate it, his eyes twinkling. “I love it when you’re bossy.”

“The Norns said your protectiveness will push me to them,” I reminded him.

He stopped smiling. “Bitter old hags. Why do you have to link with them? No chips. How did you link with them?”

“I don’t know.” The events from last night flashed through my head. “I wished it.”

He propped himself on his elbow, eyes sharpening. “Are you saying if you want to eavesdrop on them all you have to do is wish it?”

I nodded.

He laughed. “Brilliant. You can kick them out of your head anytime.” He munched on his sandwich. “I like it. I can live with that.”

I grinned. “Thank you.”

He ran a finger down my nose. He had a thing about my freckles. “Just like I
will
accept your visions.”

“Without head butting the person I’m helping like you did with Echo.”

“You weren’t helping him. He was being a shithead.” He tilted his head, eyes narrowed. “You are planning on helping other people?”

Torin didn’t sound too happy, but what I’d done for Rita and her mother flashed through my head. “Uh, yeah. My visions are becoming clearer, so if anyone needs my help, I’d like to help. Any objections?”

His eyebrows slammed down fast. “That’s a trick question.”

“No, it’s not. So?”

“Plenty of objections, but I’ll keep them to myself.” He went back to his sandwich.

Progress. I shifted and rested my head on his chest. His skin was hot. He rested his head on his arm and one hand played with my hair. “So what are we going to do about this guy after me?”

“You don’t have to do a thing. I’ve got it covered.”

I pushed him with my head. “OP, Torin. Not cool.”

“OP? Oh. I get it.” He chuckled, the sound rumbling through me. “Overprotective. Remember I was texting someone just before we left our place?”

Our place. I liked it. I turned my head to see his face. The sun danced over his features. He had such a beautiful complexion. No blemishes. No freckles like me. “What about it?”

“I was texting a woman.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

He’d better not. “Ooh, I’m jealous.”

He saw right through my BS. “Femi’s witch friend. She’s in New Orleans, but we have people in her store. A woman who looks like the witch and her ‘cousin’ from out of town. Both are Immortal. According to your vision, the guy and his goons will visit the store next week. When they do, we’ll get them.”