Page 49 of Fallen Gods

It’s the first day of college.

And I’m already late.

Crap.

That weird run-in with a mirror still has me a bit shaken as I scramble to get my stuff together for my first class.

I’ve looked a dozen times since last night, but I still can’t find the actual wound. Lying in that creepy-ass temple, for a few seconds there, I could have sworn Aric’s dark eyes burned bright when he was staring at me, asking if I was okay. He held my head briefly, and a cooling sensation washed over me so fast, I forgot all about the pain. It was strange, to say the least, and then suddenly we were out of the building and walking back like nothing had happened. The only other time I’ve ever felt that cooling sensation is when Laufey would heal me—but if anything, Aric would be the first to leave me to die, so there’s no way.

Maybe he’s sleeping but his powers aren’t?

Maybe the chill I felt was because of the very eerie atmosphere of the temple or the fact that I one hundred percent believe human sacrifices took place in that pool. How foolish, killing people to summon the Gods when the Gods have been here all along, just unaware of their own presence.

Imprisoned. Alone. Forgotten.

I can almost,almostunderstand the bitterness that overflows from my father.

The only real question I have is, what Gods were they trying to summon? The Giants? Us? I wonder if my father knows—not that he’d tell me, since it has nothing to do with Mjölnir.

Could that temple tie to Mjölnir? I feel like he would have said something if it did, but then again, he only ever speaks to me in half-truths.

I chew my lower lip as I riffle through my purse, looking for my key card. None of the runes outside the temple matched Laufey’s note. But the one on the mirror did. Raido’s a powerful rune, one associated with journeys and pilgrimages. So, not surprising to find it in a place of worship.

The campus, from what I’ve seen so far, is littered with runes, from the pathways to the buildings themselves. Sigurd Erikson has clearly set up wards of protection. To keep people out? Or to keep peoplein?

Hell, maybe they’re inactive. I stepped on Thurisaz when I first got to Endir, and the rock just stared up at me mockingly, no magic, nothing. If there’s any connection between the note from Laufey and the runes, it’s something I’ll have to investigate later. First things first. I need to focus on the new task at hand as my fingers close around my key card.

Finding my syllabus.

I quickly grab the printed schedule off my desk and shove it into my bag, snag my phone and tuck it into my jeans pocket, then pull open my door. Reeve is already standing on the other side, hand up and ready to knock.

“I was coming to make sure you survived the night after going through the Hall of Ormir,” he says, giving me an eyebrow waggle for good measure. Why are all the good-looking ones complete psychopaths?

“It was touch and go there for a few minutes.” I shrug and click my door shut behind me. “But I made it.”

“Damn.” Reeve makes a face.

I flip him off in response.

I can’t hear Aric in his room. Did he already leave? Am I that late? Reeve said yesterday that every student would be attendinga brief opening ceremony today before our first classes.

I have the sudden urge to check on him. He seemed pretty shaken last night, too. Except…why am I worrying about my enemy? Why did it matter? “Um—” I point at Reeve. “You should just go without me. I have to use the restroom.”

He frowns. “Are you sure? I can wait.”

“Yup! Save me a seat.”

“In hell? Absolutely. Front row.”

I roll my eyes at him as the elevator doors open, then shove him inside. “You’re a nuisance, Reeve.”

He grins. “You have no idea.”

The minute the elevator closes again, I bolt over to Aric’s door and press my ear up against it. I don’t hear anything.

I lean in harder, until suddenly the door yanks open. I tumble forward and crash into him. “Sorry, I was just—”Just what, Rey?There’s no answer that can hide the cringe at being caught eavesdropping.

His chest is solid and warm. I try to pull away, but he drives me backward, pinning me against the wall. Nostrils flaring, he leans in, his mouth brushing close to my skin like he’s seconds away from breathing me in. “What do you think you’re doing?”