Valkyrie's Sacrifice - Angel Lawson Page 0,2
knees, then feet, towering over my friend. Her cheeks are pale, her stomach massive. “It’s Miya’s…somewhere safe.”
“The wards are very strong. If you hadn’t had the ring, I never would have found you.” She looks me up and down. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say. “What about you? The baby? The Guardians.”
Her hand runs over her stomach. “We’re fine. Worried, but fine.”
“The apocalypse—”
“Has begun. We know.”
“Is it there? Back home?”
She shakes her head. “No. It seems contained to the Lowerworld for now, but the Guardians have a way of keeping track, primarily through their artwork.” She holds up a book. “This is for you.”
The book is heavy, bound in a dark brown leather, runes stamped on the cover. “What is it?”
“Dylan has transcribed what he can surmise from Sam’s photos and Bunny’s paintings. Both a view into the Lowerworld.” She reaches into her pocket and removes a small velvet pouch. “Damien made these.”
I take the pouch and look inside. There are six rings. “What are these for? Protection?”
“You could say that.” She glances over her shoulder. “I don’t have much time. You don’t have much time. The gods are impatient and are ready for you to join the fight.”
“Marshal is still healing.”
“Then help him heal faster.”
“The nurse and caretakers are doing what they can. The wound is bad—probably poison or something mystical. I don’t know if or when he’ll be better.”
Morgan takes my hands and the ring flares with heat. “Hildi, you are the only one that can help him right now. Use the bond.”
“You want me to sleep with him?”
She shrugs. “If you have to, although I’m not sure that’s necessary. The bonds are more than about sex, although that can be when it’s most powerful. You’re tied to these men. Capitalize on that connection—on your ability. Test it. Push it.”
Like the Immortals' strengths and abilities boosted when they came to the Academy. Agis’ ability to read if people were telling the truth—and his wings appeared. Armin’s power of removing obstacles, physical or mental. Rupert’s telekinesis. They’d all grown when they entered the Academy. If my power was truly to balance the Immortals, then I should be able to use that to help Marshal heal.
Except…
“I’m not sure I trust him, Morgan. He’s been cruel and hateful. Deceitful and disloyal.” Or, I wonder to myself, was that just a ruse to keep Roland and Victorine on his side, to gather intelligence and protect us? He’d certainly intervened on my behalf more than once while they were torturing me at the Academy.
“Friend, you have to have faith in the process. You either believe in this or you don’t.” She gasps and touches her belly. Fear ripples through me.
“Morgan!”
“It’s okay. It’s just the baby kicking. Alive and ready to enter this world, but before she can come, the world needs to be safe.” She squeezes my arm. “Trust your instincts, let the power in you lead your decisions. It’s how you’ll win this war.”
Instincts… “Agis confessed to me that he’d already bonded to me long ago—before we even came here. He called me his mate.”
Her eyes brighten. “And?”
“I kicked him out.”
“Oh, Hildi, why?” She appears crushed. “Why would you turn him away? It’s a sign that things are coming together.”
“Because he lied to me—and hid himself—his face—and his feelings. He fought against me publicly, making me feel foolish and off center.” I lower my voice, though no one is around. “He came to me at night, like a flicker of a dream, and we…”
She leans forward. “You what?”
“Had earth-shattering, soul-restoring, sex.”
Her eyebrow shoots up. “And this is bad because...?”
“I don’t know. I’m just confused. I’m not accustomed to juggling the emotions and minds and bodies of five damaged, immortal warriors.”
She laughs. “That I understand. It’s not easy, and despite their incredible strength, you have to be stronger. Underneath the muscles and brawn and power are men—boys—that need nurturing and stability. You’re the one that will get them through this, to help them win, as a group. Together.”
“But—” I start, wanting to say I’m not sure I’m ready, that I don’t totally trust Marshal, and how I’m completely confused. I want to tell her I’m scared, but her image shivers, flickering into nothing. I close my eyes and when I open them, I’m standing in the bathroom staring at my reflection in the mirror. A dream, I tell myself. It was just a dream.
Except, in my hands are the book and pouch.
I sigh and look at my reflection in the mirror. My white-blond