Dead Silence - T.G. Ayer Page 0,1

of each clap echoing in my ears. Although he smiled, the grin on his face was very much lacking in mirth. "Well done, Bryn. I knew you were smart but I've just seen the proof of it for myself."

I shook my head, feeling anger heat my cheeks. "It won't work," I snapped, glaring at him even though I had a sickening suspicion it might.

The spear seemed to sense the existence of Odin's blood in the veins of the wielder. Who knew exactly how the spear worked, how it knew who held it, or even how it knew where to take the one who bore it. So many things about Asgard and the gods didn't work the way science dictated.

And right now, Loki was about to use the spear of Odin to make his nefarious schemings all the more easy.

"Just because you want me to fail, doesn't mean I will." Loki smiled, his teeth shining, looking a lot like shark teeth. I blinked and shook my head listening as Loki sighed dramatically. "It's taken me a while to work this out. I had considered using just your blood, but you don't have enough of Odin's DNA in your veins, what with the polluted contribution of your human father."

I laughed. "I'm guessing you've already tried my blood." Loki just stared at me, his expression inscrutable.

He flicked his fingers and a shadow moved behind him. A frost giant strode closer, his glamor thinly applied so I could see the sharp edges of his icy features, the burning of pale blue fire in his eyes. I suppressed a shudder, determined not to show either of them my distaste. Or my concern.

The Jotunn brought a wooden chair forward and set it behind Loki, who immediately lowered himself onto the seat without looking over his shoulder. I had this ridiculous picture in my mind of Loki missing the seat and falling on his ass, and I had to force my lips not to curl into an appreciative smile at the vision. Cautioned by the strength of my hatred for this god, I forced myself to pay closer attention to what he was doing.

Strangely enough, when we'd first met, he'd been an interesting rival, charming and imaginative, always trying to test me by appearing in different forms. But then he'd stepped up the pace, crossed the line when he'd orchestrated Aidan's death. And it was clear to us that his ruthlessness knew no limits when we discovered Aidan was his grandson.

What man, or god, would willingly kill his own family?

I wanted to laugh now. I'd thought I was no longer naive, that everything I'd experienced since I'd been thrust into my new life as a Valkyrie of Asgard had educated me beyond my inexperience, but it seemed that I still retained some of that old innocence.

But I'd rather be innocent, rather be naive, because family was far too important. I guessed that was partly the reason I'd always wanted to give this trickster god a little leeway.

Because Odin and Thor loved him like a brother and a son.

Loki leaned back in the chair and shifted his hips, making a show of getting comfortable in the solid wooden seat. Then he rolled up the sleeve of his silk shirt. He looked far too nice to be spending quality time in a freaking barn, but Loki was dedicated to his own cause. I glanced at the wooden rafters above me, at the area in the loft to my right that held dozens of bales of hay.

Excellent location for the Bridge of the Gods to touch down. Considering all the places the Bifrost had already taken me I shouldn't be surprised.

The frost giant returned with a large cooler box which he now placed beside Loki, before walking right past, to coming to a standstill beside me. In his hand was a needle connected to a length of tubing.

A blood transfusion system.

The Jotunn connected the needle and tubing to an empty bag which he set on the floor beside Loki. Then he leaned toward me, lifted the golden rope just enough to pull my right hand out from beneath the ties. He pushed my leather jacket off my shoulder then awkwardly tugged the sleeve off my arm. I twisted away, not wanting to make it easy for him.

"Don't delay the inevitable, Bryn," came Loki's voice.

I ignored him, not planning on making it easy for the Jotunn. Despite my struggling, he uncapped the needle and inserted it into my arm so calmly