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“No need.Liv knows I’m here.She’s a freakin’ Valkyrie… almost as strong as any god or goddess.Probably stronger when push comes to shove.”Hel huffed out another exasperated breath, this one with such force that the curl touching the cheek of her dead side flew up, hung in the air for the briefest of seconds, then floated back into place.“And she’ll know where I went.That’s what I get for talking too much.I’ve told her more times than I can remember that I like to hide out at Garmr’s when I truly want to be alone.”

Rolling her head to the side, she noticed the tip of the nail on the end of her middle finger was quickly being filed down to a little nub.Letting her hand drop to her side, she put one bare foot in front of the other, not bothered by the bitter cold of the marble.After all, the Spell that kept it at a chilly thirty-three degrees Fahrenheit had been a gift from her cousin, Ullr, the Norse god of Snow.Since they were both pretty much outcasts, they were very close as children.He knew how she hated wearing shoes and never wanted her to scorch the bottoms of her feet.It didn’t matter that Helheim didn’t have fire and brimstone like Hell, the place where her Castle sat was very close to the center of the Earth and therefore way hotter than anywhere Topside–especially Galdhøpiggen where Ullr’s Cabin of Ice stood tall and proud.

“But the Valkyrie has never been to the Wolfman’s Pub.For that matter, she’s never been in many of your tunnels and only ever seen the parts of Helheim that are close to the Castle.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Hel grumbled.“She’ll just send out that blasted Timberwolf of hers.We both know that Dade will track me down.”Another exasperated huff and she added, “You know I love that Wolf.He’s truly one of the good guys, or Wolves, as the case may be.It’s just that I hate when Liv sends him to track me down.I feel like a bone being fetched.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, my beautiful girl.I am stronger and have more tricks than that blasted Lupine of Legend has ever seen.Besides, you know I’ve got your back.You don’t have to see anyone you don’t want to.Just ignore them all.They’ll get tired and go away sooner or later.”

“Thanks, Carys, but it’ll be easier to just let them in.The Great Goddess knows I do not want Liv calling Ari and Fate and telling them I didn’t answer the door.Quicker than two shakes of a lamb’s tail, another of my favorite human sayings–everyone with come running like the Castle’s on fire.Then they’ll make a fuss, try to feed me chicken soup or something equally dreadful.The last time it was saltines and ginger ale.YUCK!The drama that ensues will drive me crazier than I already am.”

Huffing out yet another infuriated breath, the Norse goddess of Helheim and the Dead stopped at the large, oval mirror with its ornate antique frame embellished with gems of every color, shape, and size.It was given to her by Freyja on her three hundredth birthday after Loki left early with one of his many conquests, and her mother didn’t even bother to make an appearance.It was the only reflective surface she trusted because there was no doubt that the Norse goddess of Love and Beauty had ensured it was pure, untainted, and not in any way Enchanted.It showed the good, the bad, and the ugly.It gave Hel the truth, and that meant more than almost anything to the goddess.

Pulling the long ebony tresses of the dead side of her body forward and pushing the white and silver waves of her live side to the back, she practiced smiling.It was forced, almost as if it had been painted in place on the vibrant half of her face.While her dead side, well, it was as unemotional and lifeless as the day she’d been born.Nothing new and nothing she could or would change.

Trying again, Hel finally sighed, “That’s as good as it’s gonna get.”There was no shine or sparkle, or even light in her eyes, but yep, it was all she had to give.

Inhaling deeply, she searched for peace, serenity, a calm that had been sparce since Halloween and damned near absent since Valentine’s.

Slowly exhaling, she counted to five.Rolling back her shoulders, she stood as tall as she could.

Leaning closer, she saw the elliptical pupils of Carys’s eyes looking back at her.Instantly, her smile became real, and the light returned to the eye on her live side.Even the glowing Eye of Metis shone brighter.Then the Dragoness reassured,“You got this, my girl.And I am right here if you need me to cause a distraction,”and Hel thought she might actually be able to open the door and not scream at one of her best friends in the whole world.

After all, none of it was Liv’s fault.If Hel was honest with herself, the Valkyrie was just as caught between a rock and a hard place as she was.Sadly, that didn’t make her feel any better.As a matter of fact, it pissed her off just a little bit more.How did the rest of her friends get drawn into the drama that Desi and Faye had made of her love life?

Then Carys’s words actually registered, and she snorted sarcastically, “You’ll cause a distraction, huh?And exactly how would I explain that to Liv?It would definitely let the Dragon out of the bag.”

“As I keep saying, just let me come forth.We can deal with whatever comes after that together.”

“I know you’re right.”Hel heaved her hundredth heavy sigh.“I also know that I made a promise to you on Halloween.I told you that you could make your grand entrance into the world, and although several months have passed, I still stand by that promise.”

“As we both get older by the minute.”

“Okay, fine,” Hel snapped, glaring at the reflection of Carys’s eyes in the mirror.“You find me a way out of going to anymore Matchmaking parties without causing the Omnipotent Beings known as Fate and Destiny to lose their ever-loving minds and you can burst forward, fly free, and announce your existence to the entire world with my blessing.”

“What are you doing, Hel?Trying to make a promise you know you will not have to keep?”Carys shot back.“There’s not another party.Desi and Faye have given up.You’ve finally won.You’ve worn them…”

“Don’t you be too sure, my dear Dragoness,” Hel taunted, imitating the voice, tone, and accent of her alter ego with eerie perfection for which she knew there would be retribution.“There are things you have yet to see.”

ChapterEleven

“Okay, the last batch of biscuits is in the oven.We have about nine minutes before…”

“Nine minutes?Ninewholeminutes?!Five-hundred-and-forty seconds?”Flipping his hands open with the palms up, he bounced them in time with every syllable.“Seriously?Nine minutes?Like only one less than…?”

“Ten?Yes, that’s good.Hopper,” Pat patronized with smirk.“You know how to count.I am so…”

Holding up his hand to stop his Cousin, Hopper huffed, “Can’t you just Magick those wonderfully golden pillows of awesomeness into existence?Just stop with all this…” Waving his hands over the cluttered, flour-covered countertop, he griped, “…Betty Crocker mumbo jumbo.Snap those fingers, wiggle that nose, or do a little dance and let’s get down right now with those biscuits.Pat.Come on, help a brother out.”

“Nope.No can do.”

“But why?”Hopper unashamedly whined, not caring that he would be teased mercilessly for his behavior.Adding a little oomph to his tone and nodding with the hopes that he was close to convincing his Cousin to do as he wished, the Omnipotent Being known as Hope pleaded, “Come on, Pat.You are an awesome cook.I mean, your biscuits are so frikkin’ good.Like the best I’ve ever tasted.I neeeeeeed more of them now.They are the only thing that’s gonna make me feel better.”

Rubbing his stomach and making a pouty face, he immediately knew the ‘sad boy’ routine wasn’t working by the annoyed look on his Cousin’s face.Switching gears, he tried self-deprecation.“I know I’ve been a pain in your butt and given you a lot of shit over the years, but…”

“More than a lot.”

Stopping short, he gave a single, sharp nod then adamantly agreed, “Yeah, okay, fair…” Nodding, he blew out an exasperated breath and ran his fingers through the messy curls atop his head.