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The same damn questions kept swirling through her mind.They refused to go away, and only got louder…

Could she spend eternity using her Magic to hide who she really was?Was that a lie?If so, was it possible to live an unending deception for all eternity?Would her Enchantment even work on Hope?

After all, he was an Omnipotent Being, and yes, she thought it worked on Desi, Faye, and the others when she used it for parties or when out and about with people she didn’t know, but were they just being kind and not mentioning it because they loved her as much as she loved them?It was something she’d thought about asking the Omnipotent Sisters a million times over the years but had never had the nerve.

Of course, none of that mattered.It was the unknown of her mother that had the icy fingers of dread creeping up her spine.

“I’ll kill Angrboda before she gets more than three of those hateful digs…”

But that was as far as Carys got before Liv roared, “Damn you, Hel!Open the door!I know you’re in there!I swear to the All Father and the goddess Frigga!I promise you by all of Thor’s strength!I will knock this fuckin’ door down if you don’t open it right this minute!”

“I’m coming,” the goddess sighed, knowing there was no reason to yell, the Valkyrie could’ve heard a pin drop a hundred miles away.Liv was only bellowing to make a point, and Hel was not about to play the game.“Just hold your damn horses.”

Grabbing the huge brass knob shaped like a Wolf’s head, a gift from Garmr the last time she remodeled, Hel gave it a sharp twist to the right, jerked open the door, and leaned against the wood, tapping the perfectly manicured nails of her live side in a staccato temp she hoped highlighted her irritation.Meeting Liv’s glare with one of her own, she motioned with the fingers of her dead side toward the inside of her home and sassed, “Guess you better come in.We don’t want the neighbors gossipin’, now do we?”

“Wow!What a welcome,” the Valkyrie scoffed, walking across the threshold with Dade on her heels.“It’s almost like you aren’t happy to see us,” Liv added as she continued down the hall, the thud of the soles of her boots against the tile like the pounding of war drums.

Stopping right in front of Hel, the absolutely massive Timberwolf had only to lift his snout to meet her stare.Burning a bright golden amber, the flecks of green and brown glittered like gems in the depths of the Lupine’s eyes.It always amazed her that even though she stood five foot ten inches tall in her bare feet, the Lupine of Legend was just as tall while on four paws, but on this occasion, all Hel could do was return his look and shrug.The wonder and awe she usually experienced when in Dade’s presence were nowhere to be found.She knew why the Valkyrie and her Familiar had come knocking.It confirmed what she’d just told Carys, and she wanted no part of it.

Yet, there she was, and there they were.Sometimes life just wasn’t fair.Then again, no one ever said it would be.

Just about ready to tell both powerful Beings that they could stay as long as they wanted but she was going to bed, Dade’s deep, rumbling voice rolled through her mind.“She is worried about you.”Waiting for the briefest of seconds, he added,“She’s not going to tell you that.She would never let you know how much she cares.Valkyries see that as a weakness.But you know I do not lie.So, please try to be patient with our girl.”

“Yeah, sure, I live to serve,”Hel mentally sighed, pushing the door shut as Dade continued his journey into Castle Niflheim.“After all, I have all the freakin’ time in the world, right?”

ChapterFourteen

“I’m on my way!”Turning toward Pat so quickly that the kitchen was little more than a blur, Hope made it precisely three steps before his Cousin warned, “Don’t you think you should call Hel?You don’t really know…”

“Oh, yeah I know,” Hopper shot back.“You saw it just like I did.Hel was spelled H-E-L not H-E-LL.The message was clear.My Mate is in trouble, and it’s my job to make sure nothing happens to her.”

Another quarter turn and Hopper was headed for the hallway.With one foot over the threshold, Pat appeared two feet before him.With his hands up either ready to physically stop Hopper or feign surrender which was totally out of character and pretty much out of the question since he had the endurance and tolerance to withstand more than any other, the Omnipotent Being known as Patience left only his right hand with the index finger pointed toward the ceiling where it was as the other dropped to his side.“Hold on just a second.Please…”

Hand instantly on the outside of Pat’s upper arm, Hopper was just about to physically move his Cousin out of the way when Pat continued, “…take a breath, and think.”

“Iamthinking,” Hopper growled.“I am thinking that my Mate is in trouble, and I need to help her.I can’t just…”

“I know you can’t let anything happen to Hel,” Pat empathized.“But you also cannot rush halfcocked into a situation you know nothing about.”

Free arm flying in the opposite direction, Hopper pointed at the painting that had just a moment before been a Magical viewscreen displaying the face of Empress Scathach and a perfect view of his favorite garden on Dreki Island.“You saw it!You heard it!There is no doubt what is happening!I need to go!NOW!”

“No!”Pat’s answer was firm, resolute and carried a good smack of Magic that stung Hopper’s cheek just a tad.“Youneedto contact Hel.Just reach out.Get confirmation that sheisin danger then we can go charging in like the Cavalry.It just makes sense.Isn’t that the first rule of engagement?”

“Engagement?Are you serious?”Hopper was sure he was losing his mind.He needed to go.He needed to help his Mate, but for some reason, he was still standing between his kitchen and the hallway arguing with Pat.Was it because his Cousin was always the voice of reason?Probably, but the little voice in the back of his mind, the one with no impulse control and the unquenchable need to be with their Mate was screaming, stomping its feet, and demanding that Hope take action, any action, just do something.Nonetheless, he continued, “You are comparing being there for my Mate with war?Have you lost your mind?”

“No, I have not lost my mind,” the Omnipotent Being known as Patience slowly shook his head.“I am trying to make you see reason.I am trying…”

“You are trying to make me go apeshit crazy!And you are throwing out analogies that make no sense, If I didn’t know better, I would think that you are just trying to confuse me.”

“Now you know…”

“Yes, I know you would never do that,” Hopper cut in.“But you are confusing the issue.Confirmation is not the first rule of engagement.When is.Then comes where, how, and against who your military force can be used.”Dropping outstretched arm and moving the one from Pat’s shoulder to his head, Hopper nearly pulled every hair from his head as the blunt ends of his nails raked across his scalp.“And now you have me talking about military strategy instead of gettin’ the hell outta here.”

“And it’s a damned good thing because if you were listening to yourself, you would agree with me that you are being rash and could be running straight into a trap.”

“What the…?”

“I am trying to say that although you know the answer to when and where.You have no idea about the how or who you are up against.”