Page 127 of Fallen Gods

She pushes herself up on my chest. “What?”

“It’s sort of fitting, isn’t it?” I ask. “Me and you. Sigurd and Odin. Giants, Gods, all equal players. Everything in balance.”

“You’re sure?” she asks.

No. I pull her down against me, breathe in the smell of her, the clean air and crushed wildflowers. “I’m sure,” I whisper.

I tighten my arms around her, brushing my lips against her forehead before pulling her fully into my arms again.

Her breath hitches. “Will you be angry if you wake up and I’m in your bed again?”

“No.” I press my mouth against her neck. “I’ll be angry if I wake up and you aren’t.”

We have one more day of reprieve before we’re back in class together, and I wonder how I’ll be near her, acting normal, when there’s now this massive thing between us. And a road ahead we can’t avoid even if we try.

We’re still in opposing camps, something we can’t ignore. And the fact that someone brought in the fourth rune means our every move up to now has been followed.

If it was Odin, then one would think he’d just call her and sayget it done.

I groan and get out of bed, then walk over to my game room. The cow’s still there. It’s ugly, a relic of a past that was best left forgotten.

I feel Rey before I see her. “The last rune,” I start. “Which one is it?”

She presses her lips together like she doesn’t want to say it, then finally whispers, “Thor’s rune.” She sighs. “Thurisaz.”

The word falls like a stone the instant it’s out, sinks into my stomach and just stays there like a curse.

“Thor’s rune,” I repeat. “The rune of protection and destruction. A weapon and a shield all at once. The thorn that wounds, the hammer that crushes, the force that defends. At least, that’s what it’s supposed to be, what it was created to do.”

My chest feels too tight, like I’m bracing for an impact I can’t stop. But she doesn’t say anything. She looks at me, like she’s studying me and my reaction. I don’t know how to feel. Is “disappointed” even the right word?

I want to unlock who I am, but I’m starting to wonder if it will be at the cost of losing the one thing I care about in this world. Will she hate me for what I become?

Rey reaches for my hand and squeezes it. Her eyes are filled with so much emotion, she doesn’t have to say the words. I sense them.

And it’s the same for me.

“Promise me.” I turn fully to her and make sure I have both of her hands. “Promise me that no matter what happens from here on out, you’ll still look at me the way you are right now.”

“How am I looking at you?”

“Like I matter. Like you’re on my side.”

Her eyes well with tears. She nods, and then: “I promise. I’ll always look at you like this.”

It’s a beautiful lie.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Rey

I wake up with Aric holding me in a cocoon of protectiveness that’s so fiercely tight, I can barely move. When did we fall back asleep? What time is it? Did we miss class? And then I remember today is Sunday. My stomach dips as I realize that this little bubble of normalcy—classmates, parties, laughter—they’ll really all be done for me when Monday hits.

The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, one I want to wash away.

Aric stirs and pulls me back against him when I try to get up. Okay, I need water.

He’s so strong, I can’t break out of his hold, so I try to squirm away, and when he still doesn’t release me, I go for holding his nose and mouth closed. He jolts awake and falls back off the bed, taking me with him in a tangle of limbs and comforter.