Page 89 of Fallen Gods

Thunder cracks overhead, and lightning streaks across the sky.

Sigurd sounds an airhorn. “Due to the risk of lightning,” he shouts, “we need to clear the field. The rest of tonight’s festivities are canceled.” He shoots a glare at Aric. “Be sure to check your orientation week schedules. And mark your calendars for the Wild Hunt!”

Another rumble of thunder has the crowds of students dispersing.

I chance a glance at Aric.

I can’t shake how right it felt to be in his arms. But that’s just delusional.

There’s no world in which this works out. I know that. He does, too. So why is my heart beating so fast? Why do I want to lean toward him instead of away?

I swallow hard.

Why do Icarewhether or not he’s okay?

As our group starts to walk along the path toward the dorms, I fall into step. Reeve is waving his Nerf gun in the air and recounting his great victory like it’s one for the ages. Eira is hanging on his every word. Rowen and Ziva just look bored.

As we come toward that creepy basalt arch, the one that blew out my candle, I pause.

We’re past the point of pretending. Past the point of retreating to our separate corners.

There’s only one way forward.

“Aric,” I call out. “Can I talk to you really quick?”

Reeve stops next to him and says something under his breath. Aric shakes his head, then shoves Reeve ahead of him. He turns and crosses his arms as the rest of the group continues on. “You needed something?”

The third rune. A test. It’s time to reveal Hagalaz, and I know just the person to recruit.

It’s time to risk exposing everything.

“You.” I cross my arms. “I need you, and to be more specific, I need a Giant.”

Chapter Forty-Three

Aric

AGiant.

I exhale when she says the word. There’s power in someone knowing who you are, in someone confirming your truth. A smile curves my lips. “What gave it away? The lightning? The frost? Both?”

Every muscle trembles beneath my skin, my body still recovering from losing control, from the anger and the storm that followed. When I thought I was going to lose it in front of Professor Higgins, it was Rey who reined me in. Her kiss, her voice, everything she did tethered my emotions in a way that kept me present, kept me calm enough to hold it together, at least temporarily.

“Wow.” For just a second, her expression shows surprise, but then she grins. “Thank you for the confirmation.”

I shrug. Hiding is so fucking exhausting. “It’s not really a secret what I am—at least not to you.” Then why do I suddenly feel thrilled to be seen? “I mean, maybe to the outside world, but you are Odin’s daughter.”

Which makes this whole situation so much worse.

I should’ve let her burn. I should’ve felt no emotion. But she tried to protect me in my grandfather’s office and again when we entered the woods. Most would have let me destroy myself.

When my control broke and lightning struck the tree, my instinct was to protect her. So I did. I just reacted.

I told Sigurd to give me another chance to prove my loyalty to the family, to do what I couldn’t two years ago—and first chance I got, Isavedmy enemy.

But seen another way, maybe Ididn’twaffle on my vow. Iprotected Rey—because she’s a means to an end.

My powers are unlocking, and the runes lighting up my back are proof of that. For some reason, she seems to be the key. If I can control it, maybe I can channel it toward Odin and kill him once and for all. Wouldn’t that be sweet justice? Using his daughter to ultimately destroy him seems fair to me.