Mimir said, his mouth twisting up into a wide grin. “You have been blessed with your monthly bleeding!”
So many emotions went through me at once, though complete mortification came out on top. “You… How do you know that?”
“It’s a very distinctive smell.” Mimir’s eyes flickered to my crotch, then back up to my eyes. “My dear girl… do you know what this means?”
Smell it. They could smell it. Just… great.
“I don’t know—probably that my brother-in-law murdered my unborn child?” I said, the words spilling out though I hadn’t meant for them to, laced with bitterness and a pain I couldn’t begin to process. “I haven’t had a period since my first heat, and I suspect passing into the death realm isn’t the healthiest thing for a fetus.”
“No.” Grim’s voice was almost a growl. Almost, but not quite. “You were not with child. I made sure.”
“He’s right,” Mimir said, his voice still way too happy. “It would have smelled differently. This is fresh, healthy moonblood.”
Relief I hadn’t been expecting washed through me. At least that was one loss I’d been spared.
Behind me, Grim breathed in deeply, clearly scenting me. “How are you doing this?”
Embarrassment reignited in my gut and traveled up to my face as the awkwardness of having the disembodied head of a prophet and my coldblooded murderer discuss my period set back in.
“I’m not doing anything. Pick up a biology book.” I turned away from both of them to retreat to the other side of the clearing.
“You are dead! This is impossible,” he growled, apparent frustration finally breaking his composure.
“I guess I’m just lucky,” I snarked. “And may I take this opportunity to thank you for killing me in such a way that I apparently get to keep my period for the rest of eternity? Really. Thank you. Nothing like scavenging for fucking death moss to stuff into your panties to really brighten your non-existence.”
“You don’t understand, plum,” Mimir said. “This is Hel. This is the realm of death.”
“I’m aware,” I bit, turning to shoot him a withering stare. “Everyone’s been quite clear on that.”
“Life doesn’t touch this place,” he continued, ignoring my sarcasm. “But you… Your body is preparing to bear a soul. It’s capable of birthing life. Here.”
“How?” Grim asked, voice twisted with darkness, but the irony of having him ask me the exact question I’d screamed at him over and over yesterday didn’t escape me.
I snorted, partly from disbelief. “How? You think I know how any of this bullshit works? You’re the magically gifted god. And you,” I pointed at Mimir, “are a literal prophet. You work it out.”
“In the well of eternity, this has never happened before,” Mimir said, his gaze turning distant as if he was searching a vast expanse for an answer. “Only mortals are gifted with monthly bleeds, but the instant a human crosses the border to Hel, there is no turning back. They are lost for eternity, and so is their ability to bring life into the world.”
“Maybe’s it’s a fate side-effect-thing,” I said, shrugging. “Does it really matter? I’m still dead, aren’t I?”
“You are,” Mimir said. “But—”
“But the second they smell you, every wretched creature in this place will either hunt you down to make you carry their spawn, or shred you apart to prevent you from birthing such a monstrosity,” Grim interrupted. When I turned to look at him, he was pinching the bridge of his nose in a very human gesture. “Gods damn you, why are you always such a pain in my ass?”
I opened my mouth to suggest what he could shove up said ass, but the realization of what he’d just said made the words die on my suddenly too-dry tongue. Seemed Mimir had been right—things could indeed get much, much worse.
Grim drew in a deep breath and lowered his hand. “Stay here. Mimir’s presence will offer you some protection. I will search the area—make sure nothing dangerous resides in the vicinity.”
Without waiting for my response, the darkhaired Alpha walked off to the edge of the clearing, letting the thick forest swallow him up.
“Something dangerous? Besides him?” I muttered.
“Come here, plum,” Mimir said.
I turned to him. “Why?”
He gave me a small smile. “No need for suspicion, young one. I am merely a head. I won’t be among the creatures attempting to impregnate you.”
I stared at him. “And yet you managed to lure me to Hel. Excuse me if I’m less than trusting.”
“I was not a willing participant in that ploy,” he said, the amusement in his