Page 65 of Rune

Now, she glanced up to me. It was too fast for me to try to say anything, but long enough to see her desperation.

“I need to help her.” I stood.

Ve held fast to my hand. His grip only fastened when I tried to pull loose.

“Let me go.” Blood rushed into my head, and my breathing quickened. I must get to Tova’s side. But Ve wouldn’t let go.

“They will kill you,” he said. He stood to make us appear more natural but made it clear that his hand—and impossibly tight grip—wasnot going anywhere. I stared at him. The touch I’d found sweet a moment ago was now clear, and it was never out of affection. It was to hold me back.

“Look,” he said, ignoring my glare.

I swung to see Tova. She fumbled through the weapons, limping on her leg, as Glyn strutted toward her. She took her time, messing with each one as blood dripped down her leg. She was coming undone at the seams. At last, her fingers played with the edge of a spear, then she yanked it out.

She’d found Balder’s spear. Now she knew Glyn wasn’t playing by the rules, and she wouldn’t either.

I prayed Balder’s words were true and this spear would let her win.Let it be strong enough to save her. She held it up, and hurled it at Glyn.

At their distance, Glyn had enough time to dodge. She laughed as she watched it whizz by, and my heart sank. She had the winning weapon, and she’d literally thrown it away.

But as Glyn was laughing, Tova slid a dagger out from her sleeve. I’d seen it amongst the weapons. She must have stashed it as she pretended to fumble for the spear. With precision, she flung the dagger, and it struck true.

The hilt protruded from Glyn’s chest. She looked down, then back at Tova.

Tova held the gaze as Glyn fell. Only when she’d stopped moving did she look away, back to Trig. He was bent in relief as Odin sat with a small smile on his face, and the rest of the arena celebrated.

Would they have celebrated if Tova had fallen? Did they care who won, as long as it was a good show? The truth was bitter, but this time, Tova had come out as the victor. The praises were for her.

Amidst it all, Tova straightened to shout. “You will all see me again in three days’ time.” She walked to the edge to be closer to Odin, and closer to Trig. The wound on her leg didn’t appear to bother her anymore, and now I wondered if she’d exaggerated the injury. “And you will all see why I have Odin’s favor when I win.”

She bowed, gave Trig one last look, and walked back into the darkness of the tunnel.

I tore my hand from Ve, and he let go.

“I can’t watch anymore,” I said. Before he could stop me, I slid from the arena, a mix of horror and relief balled into a tight knot in my chest that I feared would never unravel. Mortal blood was spilling into the dirt, and it was draining my heart at the same time.

I’d never get over the fear of seeing my sister almost die. And I’d never move past the gods cheering as mortals were slain before them. I’d been trying to figure out where I belonged, but now I knew.

Even if I was a goddess, I didn’t belong here. I wasn’t born for a place like Asgard. Danmark was my only home.

As soon as I hit the open air, I ran.

TwEnty-TwO

BY THE TIME I reached Hitta Haven, I was soaked in sweat, drowned in fury, and primed with a new plan.

“I’ve been doing this all wrong,” I whispered as I stripped the steel blades from my damp forearms and let them clatter to the ground outside the temple. Let those serve as an ominous warning to all who come near.Don’t. The door swung silently as I stormed inside the temple to the only place that felt safe in this entire world, and still it wasn’t safe enough.

I’d wanted to uncover if I was the missing goddess as if that mattered. It didn’t. My past, my parents, my bloodline, none of that held me captive. I was bound to nothing other than my own fate, and that was in my hands. Even if I was born here, I owed Asgard nothing; even if I belonged on Earth, Iowed my clan nothing.

The pyre of unanswered questions would relentlessly burn in the back of my mind, but if Tova and I were out of Asgard safely, then nothing else mattered. That had my complete focus.

All she had to do was survive in three days’ time, when the remaining mortals were let loose in the city and the last one standing claimed victory. She would be the victor.

“Rune.”

I stumbled at Trig’s voice, and spun. He stood here, unaccompanied, unchained, and squinting through the bright light seeping through the tall windows, casting the entire room in a glow that filled the spaces our stare took up. Trig stepped over the daggers I’d dropped.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

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