Page 98 of Fallen Gods

Well, that’s a new development.

Rowen briefly makes eye contact with me before looking at the ground. Is he feeling guilty? I mean, whatever, it’s fine if he wants to date, but she doesn’t seem like his type, and wouldn’t that be an insanely huge conflict of interest?

Once off the elevator, everyone falls into step as we make our way along the trail through the trees to class, with me taking up the rear. The air may be thick with mist, but it smells amazing,fresh. Pine and autumn and fresh rain, and I can almost pretend this is just a normal day in college, headed down the path with my new friends.

Almost.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice Rowen beside me until he clears his throat. He’s slowed down to my pace like he’s waiting for me.

“It was the nightmares. That’s why I was sleeping in her room.” He says it under his breath. “Really shitty, freaky nightmares. I die every time. I thought maybe I’d sleep better with someone else in the room.”

“Err, that doesn’t sound pleasant. Do you think you ate something bad? Or”—the look I get is one of pure irritation—“maybe it has to do with your past, with your scars.” I hate bringing it up, but I have to believe that at some point, he needs to deal with his trauma. Maybe it’s trying to fight through when he sleeps. “You’ve had it rough. Maybe it would help to talk to someone.”

He barks out a laugh. “Yeah, let me get right on that. I can imagine it now. ‘You see, doctor, I work for Odin. Yes, that’s the one, the ruler of Asgard, about this tall, dark demeanor, not the hero you think, has lots of tattoos, doesn’t eat fish, might kill me one day, but it’s strange, I just can’t seem to close my eyes without dreaming of my death.’”

I wince. “I mean, at least they’d medicate you?”

“Very helpful.” He scowls and eyes Eira, who’s out of earshot. “Your father can’t know. He seems to think he can fix any sort of weakness, and if he can’t fix it, he makes whatever reminds him of said weakness disappear. I don’t want to be next, Rey.”

His voice is desperate, filled with fear. I touch his arm. “I won’t let that happen.”

“You have enough on your plate dealing with Erikson and finding Mjölnir.”

I consider telling him about the runes on Aric’s back, but I hesitate. Aric and I struck a truce. We sealed it with blood. I hate to admit it, but it felt good to work with my enemy, and now breaking that enemy’s trust feels wrong.

Besides, a small part of me is saying not to tell Rowen everything. He can’t help but forward all intel to my dad, which would put him in an impossible situation.

We reach the arts building and walk in. We’re side by side, making our way down the hall, since his class with Eira is in the next room over from mine. I see Aric sitting by himself in the same spot as yesterday. I feel different, though—we’redifferent. Things have shifted from complete hatred to a weird hot-and-cold game to a possible truce. I’m not sure if crawling into his bed helped or made it worse. Can’t wait to find out.

“Hey, Rowen, can I ask you something?” I reach for his arm, forgetting it’s his injured one. My fingers come into contact with torn skin, deep scars, pain, but what I feel more than anything is immense heat followed by so much hatred, it takes my breath away.

My Aethercall has never done that before, reversed itself on me and shown me someone else’s direct emotions.

I drop my hand. “Sorry.”

He flexes his arm and shrugs. “It’s fine. You had a question?”

“Yeah, um, I wonder where Thor stored it, you know? I guess I never asked my dad, but do you know, when Mjölnir wasn’t being used, where it would chill?”

I smile.

Rowen doesn’t.

“It’s sentient. It chills wherever it feels most at home, I guess.” He shrugs. “I’m sure at one point…before the war, that would have been next to Thor’s heart.”

Next to Thor’s heart. The thought of it sends warmth through me, but the feeling is fleeting. Thor is gone. Mjölnir is inmourning, hidden by the Giants that stole it, until the right person can find it. I hope with everything in me that that person is me. So many lives depend on it.

“Rowen!” Eira calls out.

“It seems I’m being summoned. Keep me updated, though.” He stops and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. “If anyone can do it, Rey, it’s you.”

If only I believed that.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Aric

Rey’s quiet as we leave the arts building together. We talked in class about finishing up our Ice Caves paper, but both of us knew it was really about making a real plan to find Mjölnir. Neither of us brings up the sleepwalking. I’m pretty sure if we did, I would explode on the spot, and it wouldn’t be because of any runes.