Page 69

Bonus Scene

Monty

Before Harlow arrives at Dark Haven

The little omega shuddered against the cold, side eyeing something beside her that only she could see.

How such a fragile being could be destined for something greater was beyond me. Yet, here I was, assigned to keep her safe.

Safe from herself, however, was debatable.

“Get up before you freeze,” I bit out, coming out of the shadows so she could see me. The way her eyes lit up at the sight of me had something warm brewing in me but I just chalked it up to needing to return to Helheim to recharge.

“Monty,” she let out a croak of a whisper, pushing her dirty-blonde hair out of her eyes.

She’d been in and out of asylums and the streets, and despite seeing her at her lowest I knew it made her stronger. At least out here she was happy, even if she was starving and cold at the moment.

“Let’s get you fed,” I grumbled, slithering through the shadows and stopping at the end of the alley. I could hear her sigh, but she listened, standing up and slinging on her worn backpack before following me.

There was a crowd walking by at that exact moment. If a small wave of shadow hit them and caused two women to drop their purses, things scattering about, including money, that was all me.

A twenty blew free, caught in the wind and encircled in shadows. I turned slowly, shifting it to the alley where it caught Harlow in the face.

She didn’t hesitate to shove it in her pocket and hang back until the chaos was over, the two women squabbling and blaming each other instead of the girl who had the money nestled in her pocket.

Before I could follow her I was pulled out of the human world, and dropped in front of Hel.

She sat there, stroking her hellhound and looking bored.

“And how is my prodigy?”

“Alive. Barely,” I sighed. “She needs somewhere to live that has real walls and food.”

“Then I suggest an asylum,” she hummed, unapologetic as I sneered. “Food, medicine to curb her condition, and shelter. It’s that or jail. I fear she wouldn’t survive there.”

“I can’t exactly hand-deliver her to one,” I pointed out. As a commander of Helheim, this was hardly my fucking job. That didn’t seem to matter to my queen.

“Ivar.” My name was a warning. To do her bidding and not to ask questions. As quickly as I got a taste of my home I was forced back to Harlow’s side.

She was now happily sitting at an outdoor table, stuffing her face with soup and a sandwich, savoring each bite.

My little human was both frustrating, and enticing. She was mine, regardless. I longed for home, yet I longed for it with her by my side. A companion that I could taste and possess, make mine.

She’d submit for me so beautifully.

Because despite her fragile exterior, my little human was witty and feisty. She had a fire burning within her that got her to this point.

I’d checked in on her from time to time, keeping her alive. It wasn’t until she was an adult that my role shifted and I was put as her sole protector. She was promised to me, she was mine, once Hel decided it was time.

I wasn’t patient. My little human was mine and I was ready to take her here and now.

But, we had a goal, one she didn’t know about.

I’d slowly lured her from city to city. Now, we were so close to the portal, and her destiny.

I kept vigil from the shadows until the next day. Her money ran out already, two meals in the city taking every cent. So, when she swiped a sandwich from the shop, I ensured he was paying attention, knocking something off the shelf.

As he screamed, she ran, weaving through the streets as the police were notified. Her record would ensure her trip to the asylum and Dark Haven was the only one nearby.

I told myself it was where she belonged, but betraying her was never how I intended to get her there.

Yet, what choice did I have?