Dana Bell - Morgan's Fate

Logan edged a little in front of Kir. “How do we know you’re not a spy? Frigg could have sent you here to sabotage us.”

Sif shook her head, her expression sad. “I wanted to join you that day at Fred’s house, but I wasn’t certain I would be welcome.” She glanced at Logan, pushing her golden hair behind her ear. “Sigyn wants to come too.”

He could only imagine Logan’s expression. His ex-wife would be an uncomfortable addition to their little family, especially since she still yearned for Logan with all her immortal heart. Where Sif had accepted Thor’s desire to be with the woman he loved, Sigyn had never once given up hope that eventually Loki would return to her.

Logan shook his head. “Jordan won’t—”

Sif held up her hands in a pleading gesture that nearly broke Magnus’s heart. “Please? She’s promised not to try and separate you. She… we just want to be free of Frigg.”

“But you can’t, not without someone strong to protect you.” Magnus stared down at the top of Sleipnir’s head, startled that the small man had caught on so quickly. His raspy voice held a note of compassion.

“You think we should allow it.” Magnus was stunned. She could be a spy for Frederica, or working for Grimm. No way would he allow her near Sleipnir.

Sleipnir looked up at him, his golden-brown eyes brimming with something Magnus couldn’t quite name. When the shifter went on tiptoe to whisper in his ear, Magnus bent so he could hear him better. What he said startled the hell out of Magnus, and gave him hope for the first time in centuries.

Odin carried his lover to the boat, placing her inside with all the gentleness she deserved. Grief, an almost foreign emotion, tightened his chest as he stared down at her pale, beautiful features. He placed her weapons at her sides, then covered her in her favorite white fur coat.

“It’s time.” Adam Grey, aka Frey, clapped Grimm on the shoulder, his gaze hard as it rested on Rina. Adam had sought him out; why, Grimm had no idea. He doubted it was in order to help Frigg, the frigid bitch. For now, Grimm would allow him in Valhalla, but he planned on keeping a close eye on the Vanir who’d fathered Jordan Tate-Saeter.

Odin nodded. Nothing could bring his beloved Rina back. Hel would ensure that. The bitch would see to it that Rina never again saw the light of day.

Ah, Rina. Foolish, beautiful Rina, who’d died for prophecy and would now spend eternity in Helheim, paying for imagined sins. His throat constricted, the pain almost too much to bear.

How had he allowed this to happen? How could he have allowed an emotion so deep to enter his heart? When Heimdall had brought her body he’d roared his rage, knowing she’d died by the Guardian’s hand. Not only had the Guardian killed his beautiful lover, he’d allowed the others to enter Asgard.

For that alone, Grimm would make him pay. And he knew just how to do it. But it would take time to plan properly, to make sure none of the others interfered.

The Guardian would regret taking his love away.

Grimm shoved the boat off the shore, keeping a stoic expression on his face as it set out to sea. Rina would have her lover see her off, would know even in the beyond that he’d remained strong for her.

He pulled an arrow out of his quiver, wrapping the end in a gasoline-soaked rag. He lit it on fire before sending it on its way. He watched the fiery light arc until it alighted on Rina’s pyre, the flames leaping high almost immediately.

When the boat was nothing more than a bright spot at the edge of night, he turned to Adam. “Now. About that alliance…”

Dana Marie Bell wrote her first short story when she was thirteen years old. She attended the High School for Creative and Performing Arts for creative writing. When her parents moved out of the city and placed her in a Catholic high school for her senior year she tried desperately to escape, but the nuns held fast. She’s now a USA Today best-selling author.

Dana lives with her soul mate and husband Dusty, their two maniacal children, an evil ice-cream-stealing cat and a bull terrier that thinks it’s a Pekinese. She also suffers from a rare inflammatory arthritis and can be seen walking with a cane or tooling around in her mobility scooter. Her condition was the inspiration for Belle’s hip injury in Steel Beauty .

You can learn more about Dana at: www.danamariebell.com and danamariebell.blogspot.com