Page 78

Maude stood on the small overlook that was nestled against the temple’s southern side, attempting to slow her racing thoughts.

From where she stood, Maude could see the ocean crashing against the rocky shore, the water pitch black as far as she could see.

Moonlight beamed on the sea foam that bubbled up at every violent crash of the waves and then washed away.

She wanted to wash away with the tide and disappear into the Void that lies between their world and Hela’s.

The small patio overlooked the ocean and sprawling city below the temple.

It had a long stone railing that would prevent someone from toppling over the steep edge, which was where Maude stood now.

The archway that opened into the patio was tall and narrow, and the tiles surrounding the arch were an eclectic collection of gold, silver, and bronze.

To her left, there was a small patch of grass that seemed to serve as a small garden at one point in time but was now wildly overrun with clover.

Opting to wear her harem pants from Logi in hopes they would be cooler than the leather leggings she had been wearing, Maude was desperate for a breeze.

She had come outside in the hopes that the night air would cool her heated skin, but the air was as hot and humid at night as it was during the day.

Even the linen shirt she had torn up to make bandages for Gunnar was stifling to wear, the cropped length of it stopping just above her waist, leaving her stomach and waist exposed to the night air .

She tore her gaze from the violent ocean and turned from her spiral before it consumed her. Hoping to find solace in the night sky instead, Maude tilted her face up and closed her eyes.

You killed them all.

Ever since she had woken in that tub to see Herrick’s face twisted in disgust, Maude hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what had happened with the raiders.

She did not regret what she had done; they would have killed Herrick and taken her to her father.

While Maude would have gone down trying to fight them alone, she could not allow Herrick to be killed.

She had snapped, but she did not regret it.

What she felt ashamed about was how Herrick had looked at her afterward. She had burnt herself out today to protect him and his friends. While she didn’t expect Herrick to be overjoyed at her actions, she had not expected him to be so angry about it either.

She had gone to bed sooner than everyone else, opting to sink into oblivion rather than talk about her destruction.

Except, the look on Herrick's face was burned into the back of her mind like he was finally seeing her for who she actually was and didn’t like it.

Just like she knew he would feel when he finally saw her true colors.

Maude had woken when she heard Liv and Herrick speaking.

Her heart had shattered for her friend when she eavesdropped on Liv’s story, but she could not react if she wanted to stay unnoticed.

Once Liv had trailed off, and Herrick was silent, she crept out of the temple and ended up on this overlook, needing to feel open air around her before the swirling hatred for herself drowned her.

There was only silence, but Maude felt Herrick behind her before she saw him, her body tensing to turn toward him before she stopped herself.

Rather than having a repeat of the disastrous night in the gardens when the Flame Assassins had cornered her, Maude breathed in and turned to face him before he could get too far onto the overlook.

“Did you need something?” Maude asked, biting through the aches that racked through her with the movement as she pulled herself up onto the low wall acting as a barrier.

Her burnout was still working against her. She should be sleeping, but Maude had never been one to sit still for a long period, even if her body was aching and screaming at her to listen.

Herrick stood in the archway, not quite crossing over the threshold that would put them alone together on the overlook, shadows concealing most of his features from her.

His dark hair was loose around his face, the curls falling forward onto his forehead, and he wore only the black pants he had brought with him, opting to stay bare-chested in the heat of the night, his necklace of runes in their perpetual resting place.

All runes were present except for one for water, as it was currently hanging in the hollow of Maude’s throat.

Even in the moonlight, she could see the tattoo that covered his entire upper body, the ink matte in the bright light.

The dragon head resting over his chest with its tail circling his left arm was so beautifully detailed that Maude had been desperate to trace it with her fingers.

Or her tongue. The scales that covered the rest of his chest looked like permanent armor in the dark, the runes blending into the art seamlessly.

“I needed to talk to you,” Herrick said, his voice softer than she expected.

“I figured you wouldn’t care to,” Maude replied, bitterness heavy in her voice. “You seemed thoroughly repulsed by me earlier.”

Herrick sighed and walked toward her, stopping at the barrier beside her and leaning his forearms on it. She tried not to notice how the muscles in his back rippled with the movement.

“Tell me what happened,” he said quietly. “Please. ”

“You said it best,” Maude bit out, forcing her eyes from his strong back. “I killed them all.”

“Maude,” Herrick said, his voice barely restraining the exasperation in it.

“There’s nothing else to tell. I killed them, and I would do it again,” she said flatly.

“There has to be more to it than that; I know it.”

“I think you’re saying that there has to be more to me than this.” Maude let out a cynical laugh. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there isn’t, Herrick.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” Herrick said, annoyed. “You spoke with one of the raiders before you snapped. What did he tell you?”

“Nothing of importance,” Maude said, extending her hand in front of her to assess her nail beds.

She felt Herrick move to stand in front of her before his hand shot out to grasp her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“Don’t do that,” he whispered, golden eyes pleading with her.

“Do what?” Maude asked, trying to avoid his eye.

“Don’t lie to me. I know you better than that; I told you this.”

She shook his hand off. He released her face but did not move further.

“I’m not lying,” Maude said, looking up at the sky again. “The raider said Helvig paid them to bring me back to Logi. Nothing important, like I said.”

Herrick eyed her. “Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?” Maude tore her eyes from the stars to look at Herrick.

“You wouldn’t lose your control like that over your father still hunting you,” he said, moving closer to her again. “You would be pissed, but you wouldn’t have obliterated them all at once like that.”

“ Stop ,” Maude growled, hands fisting at her sides .

“I think they threatened more than your capture,” he continued, ignoring her rise in anger. “I think they threatened your friends. Me.”

“I said stop.”

“I think you’re trying to hide that you care about us; your argument before we got to the roof tells me that.”

“Don't be ridiculous, Herrick,” Maude replied.

Herrick stepped into Maude’s space now. He reached up and twisted a long strand of her loose hair, which was still damp from when Liv and Eydis had cleaned her up.

“And let’s not forget what you said to me when I brought you back to the temple.”

Maude froze, her breathing becoming shallow.

“You said they were going to kill me,” he whispered, his cool breath skating across her skin and giving her the relief she had been seeking from the night air.

“Yes,” she said, attempting to keep her voice even. “So I stopped them. I became a bigger evil to stop them from harming you. Is that what you want to hear from me?”

Maude tried to get off the barrier.

“Wait,” he said, moving to stand between her knees, stopping her from moving further. “Don’t go.”

Herrick put his hands on her thighs, boxing her into his body. The only alternative would be to go over the railing, which seemed to be the best way to escape whatever Herrick was about to say.

“I know why you did what you did,” he said, leaning in slightly. “I would have done the same thing if they had threatened you that way. But you took that option from me, minn eldr , when you booted me out of the fight and put the burden on yourself.”

Herrick lowered his forehead to hers. Maude tried to breathe evenly .

“You don’t have to make these choices alone anymore.”

She closed her eyes—the truth of his words echoing through her, though she tried to refuse them.

“But I do, Herrick. I have always been alone in this, and tonight proves that I need to leave. Every moment I stay with you all is another moment you are in danger,” she whispered, unable to keep her voice strong anymore.

Maude tried to pull away from him, but he only brought his mouth to her ear.

“Stay,” Herrick whispered, his mouth skimming over the skin below her ear. “Stay with me, minn eldr .”

A shiver ran down her spine at his words, the feel of his breath on her neck, as she arched into him slightly.

“Herrick,” Maude breathed, all the reasons she should leave dying on her tongue.

Herrick’s hands moved, skimming her hips and closing around her waist as he pulled her closer to him.

Bracing her hands on his arms, Maude tried to keep their bodies apart, but when Herrick ran his thumbs under her shirt and along her exposed ribs, the flesh sensitive and hot, her restraint snapped.