Page 161 of Fallen Gods

He’s about to die.

Chapter Eighty-Four

Rey

With a battle cry, Aric surges to his feet. His clothes burn under the heat of the lightning, and suddenly he transforms right in front of me. His body stretches to his full height, muscles surging beneath silver armor. His skin is pale as frost, hair jet-black, with pieces of ice clinging to the ends like adornments.

Odin stumbles back, true fear flashing in his eyes. “Impossible… You’re a Giant without any birthright—and Mjölnir is mine!”

Aric snarls, voice no longer just human but layered with undercurrents of thunder, the soft thrum I always felt but could never quite place. “Did you forget? I was only sleeping. And now—” He hefts the hammer, lightning spiraling around it like a never-ending charge. “You’re fucked for waking me up.”

He hurls Mjölnir. Odin barely raises a hand before Rowen leaps in front, deflecting the blow as the Nightfrost ring spirals out into a blue shield. The clash detonates in an explosion of light and frost.

I’m thrown backward, my ears ringing, the taste of blood sharp on my tongue.

Aric’s completely healed now—and the man is pissed as hell. Mjölnir returns to his hand, and he holds it high over his head, then bellows as he throws it down to the ground. Crackling fire erupts from where it hits, then snakes out directly to the men near my father, narrowly avoiding the unconscious Reeve but searing the guards alive. Then, just as quickly, a wall of ice appears, so frigid it freezes their skeletons in place before they can even fall to the ground.

“Thor!” Father yells, slamming his hands together, creating aloud screech that has me covering my ears. Ravens pour into the hall, surrounding all of us while he pulls Laufey to his side.

Rowen staggers, but Odin shoves him forward, fury carving his features. “Take Rey!”

“No!” I scream. I’m done being used.

I am the blood of Odin, daughter of Asgard.

I woke a fucking Giant.

And I’m worthy.

My gaze flickers to Aric as he smashes Mjölnir onto the icy ground again, causing a spiderweb of lightning to crack toward Odin and Rowen. Without hesitation, I hold out my hand.

Aric has only a second to smile at me before the hammer slams into my palm. “Awaken,” I whisper, then hold it high toward the ceiling. The sound of ice splitting fills the room.

Odin staggers back, eyes wide, and for the first time, I don’t just see fear on his face. I taste it.

And it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever savored.

I keep my hand raised, ready to throw Mjölnir and end this once and for all. But first: “Release Laufey.”

She’s still behind Odin, still chained, still looking terrified. I’m not leaving without her.

At the mention of my stepmother, Odin’s gaze turns assessing, shrewd. Like he knows he still has one card left to play. But in my world, it’s already game over.

“Thor. Now—” he starts in a low voice, but I heave Mjölnir above my head, putting every ounce of anger, fear, and retribution I have into the throw. Odin’s eyes widen in horror as the strongest weapon of the Gods hits him square in the chest.

“Father!” Rowen screams, pulling him to his side as blood spews from Odin’s mouth. He holds Odin tight, and then, just like Reeve did in the elevator, they both disappear into thin air.

He’s gone.

But he left someone behind.

Rowen has Nightfrost and a very wounded Odin, but we have Mjölnir. And we have Laufey.

I rush over to her. Her blue eyes lock onto mine as she slowly raises her shaking, bandaged hands and cups my face. “You did good, daughter.”

Tears well in my eyes. “Daughter?”

The fact that she can say it freely now makes me want to burst into tears. I throw my arms around her and hold her tight.