Page 28 of Luna Cursed

They were sitting outside in the sunshine, eating, when Tor felt the first sticky wave of dark magic.

"Did you feel that?" he asked, looking around. Ciara immediately went on guard, her eyes scanning the families, university students, and pensioners walking through the park.

"What is it, Tor? What am I not seeing?"

"I feel magic."

"The same as Onsøy?" Ciara guessed.

"If not the same, then similar. It's dark and oily." Tor's head whipped around in time to see a tall, broad figure walk into the café. "There. That's a wolf. He was a friend of Varg. Fuck, what was his name?"

Ciara scanned the crowd. "There are too many people around to confront him, so what's the plan?"

Tor was flattered she would defer to him at all. It showed a trust he didn't know she had in him. "We stay out of sight and follow him. When he's alone, we'll take him."

Ciara nodded. "If he's here, there are bound to be others. How many followers does Varg have? Could he have more than one dig happening at one time?"

"Fuck, I hope not. There's always a possibility that he recruited the last of Vili's followers. They seemed determined to follow through with starting Ragnarök that they would follow someone willing to take the lead," Tor replied. The name came to him like a smack in the face. "Askel. The guy's name is Askel. He tried to get Gudrun to take him as an apprentice, but she refused."

"Why?" Ciara asked.

"Because he was a man. Völva are always women. He left not long after that, determined to follow his own path to magic."

Ciara clicked her tongue. "Followed it all the way to Varg and his fucked-up plans."

"He does attract a type. Makes me sick thinking about Linnea caught up with them, forced to serve them," he growled. He was doing his best not to let the guilt eat away at him; it wouldn't help them find her any faster.

"She didn't seem physically harmed. When I saw her, she was carrying around a large wooden bowl in a procession. Perhaps they were making her perform some ritual to Fenris? I'm sorry, I'm not good at recognizing magic. It's more Charlotte's thing," Ciara replied. She placed a hand on his forearm. "We'll get her, Tor, I promise."

"Can I ask why did you go looking for her after Svartalfheim?"

Ciara shrugged. "I couldn't stop thinking about what if it was Lachlan and no one would help me. I couldn't handle the thought of anything ever happening to him. I know what it's like to lose people, and I thought if I could give you back your sister, it might help repay all the help you've given us."

"I didn't fight Morrigan or any of the rest with the hope of payment, Ciara. It was the right thing to do, and you guys are my friends. Ortheyare. I'm not sure about you," he said, shooting her a smile.

"I'll keep you guessing a little while longer. It makes life interesting," Ciara replied, smiling back at him.

Askel came out of the café with a coffee and headed down one of the pathways.

"Fun time is over," Tor said, and they got up to follow him.

Ciara slipped her arm through his. "Try not to look like you're sneaking up on someone to tear their throat out. We are just a happy couple strolling through the park."

"Are we? Pretty sure there would be more kissing involved," Tor said.

"Nice try, but we both know if we start, we won't stop, and we will lose Askel."

Tor squeezed her arm. "I'm glad you recognize our chemistry."

"Animal magnetism?"

Tor raised a brow. "Was that an attempt at a joke? Who are you, and what have you done with Ciara Ironwood?"

"Shut up. And stop looking at me like that. We are working, remember?" she said, cheeks flushing.

"You were the one who said we were meant to be playing a happy couple."

"Something tells me our version of a happy couple isn't going to be the mushy-eyed mess that others are," Ciara replied.

---