Page 14 of The Hard Way

But he never let me sleep with him.

“Let me care about you,” I whispered. “Let me love you the way you love me.”

He mumbled—he seemed troubled. I brushed back his hair. “Shhh.”

He seemed to sink more deeply into slumber. I stretched out beside him. It really seemed like I was helping him to sleep more peacefully.

And that was when he went wild, flailing, arms churning. He was like a wild animal—aggressive, frantic.

I scrambled away from him, but not before he cracked me in the ribs and the mouth. I tripped and toppled onto the floor, taking half the sheets and a lamp with me.

Thor rushed in. He took one look at me, and he went white. “Ice! Oh my god!”

I sat up, shaken, tasting blood. “I’m okay.”

Odin woke up then, rubbing his face, confused. “What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I said from the floor. “I startled you.”

Odin looked horrified. “Goddess…did I…”

Thor knelt in front of me and touched my lip. Sticky. Bleeding.

“Isis.” Odin sprung out of bed. “Oh my god!” He came to me, kneeling next to Thor, trembling hands hovering on either side of my cheeks, as though he was frightened even to touch me. “I hurt you.”

“It’s nothing.” I stood and winced as a sharp pain seemed to rip into my lung. I bit back my cry—justbarely.

“Isis! God!”

“Probably a rib out of place,” Thor said. “She’s okay.”

“It’s nothing,” I said again.

“It’s notfucking-gnothing. Stop saying it’s nothing!”

“I’m saying it’s nothing, too,” Thor said, “because it’s nothing, Odin. Because she’s fine. Go fill the ice bucket.”

Odin took my hand, horror in his eyes. “What did I do to you?”

Thor huffed out a breath and stormed away, returning with a damp towel. Odin took it from him and blotted my chin.

“It’s okay, really.” I tried for a smile. “I should apologize for startling you.”

Odin just stared, eyes steely with pain, like all the happiness and warmth had gone out of them.

Thor helped me out to the front room. “Seriously, Odin. Ice bucket. Now.”

Odin left, and Thor settled me into a chair. “How bad is it really? Your chest.”

“It’s sharp when I breathe. I feel like I can’t take a deep breath!” I was starting to panic.

“You’re okay. Stay calm.” Thor dabbed my chin with a damp towel; when he pulled it away, it was pink. He poured a whiskey into an empty coffee cup. “Drink. Down it.”

I threw it back. Warmth moved into my chest. It actually did calm me. “Whiskey for breakfast. It’s definitely a vacation now.” I laughed, and then the knife of pain stabbed me. “Ow. Fuck!”

Odin stood in the doorway holding the ice bucket, looking devastated. “I did this to you.”

“No.”

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