Page 34 of Court of Heathens

“When you’re ready, I’ll tell you,” I promise.

Her face closes down, and with a huff, she flips over, trying to ignore me.

Chuckling, I move closer, spooning her as I wrap her in my arms. “One day, not never, little witch. I promise you that.”

“Whatever, demon.” She tries to scoot away, but I drag her into my arms.

“You need to sleep. Tomorrow, we will hunt your creature and the masked necromancer, but tonight, just rest. I have you.”

It takes her a while, but she relaxes into my arms and finally falls asleep, snoring ever so softly—a noise I have memorised.

As she does, I lean in like I do every night. “Adder, my real name is Adder.” My name gives power, but this little witch already has power over my soul, body, and heart. If we are honest, she always has. Giving her that last shred of me does nothing, and I have the strangest need for her to speak it one day and call me hers.

CREATURE

The darkness welcomes me, even as the creatures dwelling within the forest, ones that feel stronger and older than me, keep their distance.

What am I?

Where am I?

I do not know. I feel more like somebody’s thought, but I am real. I glance down at my hands. Hands, how do I know the word?

I do not know. All I know is that my eyes opened to find that woman before me and the darkness surrounded me, calling to me. Who is she? Is she the one who called me?

Was it her?

What am I?

These questions plague me as I wander a world I do not know, yet simultaneously seem to know everything about. Even now, I feel her calling to me. The darkness within her seems to match the one I feel flowing through my veins, yet she looked . . . scared.

I feel another call, something different and earthy, and it blasts through the forest, awakening all the creatures. It’s a cry for help, something instinctive. It screams of pain, terror, and anger.

Wolf. Something tells me it’s a wolf.

Turning, I lumber towards that call with nothing else to do.

CHAPTER 20

Ishould be focused on the issue of Mors and his mate being somewhere on Earth, trying to escape the other gods’ wrath, but I cannot seem to care. Let the others handle it. They do not need me, nor do I want any part of this.

I do not see who he is hurting by being in love. Mors clearly loves her, and she loves him. Only true love would bear such sacrifice. She was willing to kill us, and he was willing to forgo everything for her. That kind of love cannot be broken. Even a fool like me knows that.

Gods are not made to love, but it seems Mors has found a way. I’m jealous, but despite all that, I hope they win. I hope they conquer the obstacles the others are throwing their way. If anyone can, it is Mors and the woman who stood against us. Besides, I have a feeling they will not be the only ones who will stand against the others.

No one even notices when I disappear and reappear on my own island. They are locked in their own hatred and self-righteous justice. I know whatever happens next will not be good, but I will let them fight this battle. It is not one I wish to focus on.

The only thing I care about right now is Freya.

Is she okay?

What is she doing right now? Is the demon protecting her?Staring out into the clouds surrounding my island, I can’t help but reach for her, wanting to see her. I know I shouldn’t. I disappeared and I didn’t even say goodbye. She’s probably very angry about that, and that I lied to her about being trapped.

If she figured that out, then she might ask why and demand to know why I was so interested in her. I can’t very well admit it’s because I know what she is or the fact that I am supposed to report her and then kill her for being born, yet I haven’t. I’ve protected her. I hope that if she can control what she is, like she has been doing all this time, then she will stand a chance, and I want to give her that. She deserves a chance at life. It’s not her fault she was born the way she was, and if anyone can conquer this, it’s her.

I have to believe in her, in the goodness of this world, or it’s all for nothing. I have to believe in love, just like Mors did. If the god of death can face it for love, then so can I because Freya is something important. She’s the only being who has ever brought me back to life and reminded me of the beauty of this world I had long since forgotten.

Even now, everything looks different.

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