Chapter 14

Sweat dripped down my bare torso as I tried yet another new path through the woods. Ever since the townsfolk had caught my post-Alek rampage, groups of them had been sniffing around my woods, trying their best to smoke me out. Over the last two days, things had escalated. They weren't just sending search parties; now they were leaving traps. It meant my hunting sessions were more challenging, shorter, and, in the case of the villagers, far more dangerous.

I loped through the clearing, covered in blood and dirt from the deer I'd felled, but at least I hadn't been spotted this time. The sun had barely crested on the horizon, the sky painted in striking hues of peach and violet as the new year began. I'd left my K?rasta safely wrapped in the arms of her other mates after our surprisingly enjoyable party in Kai's tower. As much as I hadn't wanted to, these hunts were vital to me maintaining control over my beast. The interference from the townsfolk was starting to wear on me and my beast. Without an appropriate outlet for my rage, I was liable to slip. And I could not afford to slip because that only ended in one way.

Death.

With a frustrated growl, I jogged up the path to Blackwood and snuck back into the residence. Well, as much as anyone could sneak around in the old castle. Joffrey seemed to pop up like a bleeding ghost around every corner.

My room was silent as a tomb, the air stale because it'd been too long since I'd returned, but all I needed was a shower and change of clothes. Then I was back to claim my woman. I needed her next to me—under me, on top of me, the positioning didn't matter so long as I could touch her—in the worst way. Fuck, now I was picturing her luscious body bared for me, and all that did was make me crave her more. I knew from what Alek told me that this would never abate. She was made for me, and my soul cried out for her.

As I got under the hot spray of the shower, my thoughts didn't divert to the deliciously dirty things I wanted to do to Dahlia as I'd expected. Instead, they made an unwelcome left turn and landed on my twin. That instantly ended my arousal and soured my mood. A flash of Alek's expression when I told him what happened had my chest twisting. I fucking hated myself for causing him such pain, but dammit, that was the only way I knew to send him back to his family in one piece.

I scrubbed until my skin was pink and clean, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand and not the guilt over hurting my brother. Dahlia would be expecting me to spend the day with her now that she'd finished her book. And I wasn't going to let her down.

Getting out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist and padded into the bedroom in search of fresh clothes. Something she liked, such as one of my Henleys and perhaps those gray joggers she always said were indecent.

Just as I was pulling open my drawer, a shrill and unexpectedly loud song began to play. I startled, spinning around and staring hard in the direction of my nightstand. My phone was the culprit. I'd forgotten I'd turned it back on. But I'd done so for a very good reason.

There was only one person it could be. She'd selected that damn song herself.

"Moira," I growled by way of answer.

"Well, hello to you too, grumpy Hemsworth. You know, I really prefer the golden retriever version of you I got when you were at Ravenscroft with us. Such a happy puppy. Now you're like Cujo. I never know when you're going to bite my head off and give me rabies. You have had your shots, haven't you?"

"Do you have a solution for me?" I ignored her digs at my attitude because I knew they didn't bear any true weight. She couldn't go more than five words without some well-placed barb escaping her mouth. It was... what did she call it? Her love language.

She sighed. "Yes and no."

"What does that mean?"

"We can unravel the spell, but it's complicated and is going to take longer than I thought. I've contacted the Siren Coven for help as well. Helena, Izzy, and Gwen are incredibly powerful witches, even without their fourth, and have volunteered their skills."

"Where's the fourth? Do you need her?"

"No one knows. But we should be able to use what they can give us. It's just a matter of persistence."

I sat on the bed, frustration causing me to drag a hand through my hair. "So I'm just meant to wait here for you to tell me you succeeded?"

"No. You're meant to continue on with your life. You'll know when the spell is broken."

"How?"

"I used your blood in the ritual instead of mine. You're linked to it now, even more deeply than you were before. You'll feel the spell break in a way no one else who's affected will. For them, it might be like a shiver running down their spines. For you? Like you were shot through the heart."

"That's... lovely," I deadpanned.

"Beggars can't be choosers, Thor."

"Don't call me that."

"Don't be so Thor-like, and I won't."

I heaved another sigh.

"You sure are mopey for someone who just got the news they were waiting for."

"But I didn't, did I? You essentially told me to sit around with my thumb up my arse."

"If that's what your takeaway from this call is, buddy, I'm sure glad I'm not your lady friend."

A low growl slipped free, but before I said a word, she gasped.

"Did you just growl at me? Look, I'm going to tell myself you're just suffering from low blood sugar or something because there's no way my Tor, my karaoke partner, my hair salon buddy, would ever growl at me."

"I'm sorry, Moira. I've been... It's difficult to contain my rage these days."

Just another reason my abbreviated treks through the woods were problematic.

"Aw, it's okay, bud. You're just a burnt cinnamon roll now instead of a perfectly cooked one. Still delicious on the inside, but a little tough on the outside."

I shook my head, not sure how I felt about the comparison. "Uh, thanks?"

"You're welcome. Now go wank one out and get yourself in a good mood, because I need you to do me a favor. And before you try and weasel your way out of it, you owe me. Big time."

I raised a brow, knowing I wasn't going to like whatever came next. "I'm listening."

"Please, for the love of Odin and all his ravens or whatever the heck your people believe in, please text your brother back."

She hung up before I could protest, and my stomach churned with guilt.

Hand shaking, I swiped my thumb across the screen until I opened the thread of hundreds of messages from Alek. I scrolled through them all, reading at random.

Alek:

Where have you gone?

Alek:

Eden misses her uncle.

Alek:

Tor, have I done something to upset you?

Alek:

You're worrying me. Please don't make me get Mother involved. You know how she fusses. You'll have the entire Novasgardian force breaking through the portal within the hour, and then where will we be?

Alek:

Happy birthday.

Alek:

You know, you're lucky we're identical, or Eden would have forgotten what you look like by now. Please contact me. We all want to see you.

Alek:

Tor.

Alek:

This is ridiculous. Why are you ignoring me?

Alek:

It's been months, brother. Tell me what's happened.

Alek:

What did I do to deserve this?

Alek:

That's it. Either you respond with proof of life, or I'm getting our father involved.

Alek:

All right, you called my bluff. I know better than to push that button. I won't select the nuclear option until I absolutely must. You're lucky that I know you're not lying dead in a ditch somewhere. You can thank Moira for that, you know. She mentioned that Lilith said you were at Iniquity recently. Is that true? What were you doing there?

Alek:

Fine, I can take a hint. But just know, I swear on the blood of the Allfather, no matter how hard you try to push me away, I will never stop searching for you, brother. Never.

The uncomfortable ache in my chest returned with the force of a sledgehammer to my heart. I'd behaved so badly. In my defense, I'd truly believed my actions to be the best for all of us, but in my misguided attempt to protect him, I'd done serious damage. Alek deserved better. Perhaps Moira was right. I needed to contact him, if only to begin the process of healing what I'd broken.

I began typing a message, my thumb hovering over the send button for several drawn-out seconds as I read and re-read the words on the screen.

Me:

I'm so sorry.

Before I made up my mind whether to hit send, an incoming call flashed on the screen. Kai. Why would he be calling me? In fact, how the fuck did he get this number?

I couldn't help but suspect Hook had been snooping around my room again. That sneaky pirate was always up to no good. It would be just like him to mention the re-emergence of my phone to the others.

"What?" I barked into the phone.

"You've been gone so bloody long we nearly sent out a search party. Get your arse back here so we can begin."

"Begin what?"

Unbidden, images of Dahlia and her other mates naked and writhing together in one big sexy jumble filled my mind. Kai sent the thoughts scattering with his exasperated reply.

"The tattoos."

"Oh. Is that today?"

"We were waiting for Dahlia to finish her book. She's done. It's time."

Running a hand through my still drying hair, I forced out a breath. "All right. I'll be right there."