Bonus Scene

THE UNDERGROUND REALM

THE NoKK

I'm walking down a street in Bergen, holding Brandon's hand. I'm in my human form, because I'm still more comfortable in public like this. I'm a shapeshifter, and taking on other forms is a part of who I am. I'm learning to accept that.

Bergen's rainy, and today's no exception, no matter that it's summer. I've made sure that Bran's comfortable and dry with a Nordic jacket and sturdy umbrella.

We make our way through the old merchant area. The buildings here are twisted, almost zigzag. Some of them are built from trees—full trunks, instead of milled wood.

Brandon's dark eyes are wide as he tries to take in everything. The waterfront activity. The tourists. And how Bergen is a gateway to the wild fjords beyond.

"You know that if you wanted it, I'd give you my soul," Brandon says.

I blink at him. "What?"

He raises his eyebrows.

"I do not want to take your soul from you," I protest. Though, while that desire has been banked since we bonded, I admit it still exists. But there are more important things, like making him happy.

He smiles. "I'm serious. Anything of me you need, you can have. I feel like you've given me all of you."

My heart pings. "I love you."

"And I love you."

We spend the day exploring. While we have reserved a hotel for our time in Norway, part of me wants to take him to my true home.

"Do you want to see the underground realm?" I ask.

Bran's eyes shine with excitement. "Yes! Is there anything special I need to do?"

I shake my head. "We're bonded. You can come visit with me and then return to your regular life."

"Will I be able to breathe there?"

I smile at him and nod. "Yes. Everything will be fine."

We walk to a large river on the edge of town. I need a body of water in order to access the realm. First, I transform into my true self. Then, holding Brandon's hand, we wade into the water.

I use my powers to create a protective bubble of air around us so we can breathe and our clothes won't get wet. It's a version of the same manipulation I can use to stop waterfalls. I don't need the bubble, but Brandon does.

Brandon watches the water swirling around us as we sink deeper and deeper into the river.

"This feels really weird," he says, reaching out a finger to touch the water. "Is this what it's like when you swim? Like you can just move the water? Cut through it?"

"Basically, yes."

With a few more steps, I transport us to the entrance to the underground kingdom. The underground world isn't run by the same laws of physics that apply above. We can travel vast distances instantly.

We step inside, and Bran looks around.

"Whoa."

We're on a street. Instead of direct sunlight, the rippling water around our protective bubble provides filtered light for us to see. There are houses and caves and places for n?kk to sleep, work, and play.

I grin. "Come on. Let me show you where they take the souls. I don't think it is going to be what you are expecting."

We walk a short distance and then turn toward the main part of our settlement. There is a large, central hall where most of the n?kk gather. We step inside and are met by the chatter of voices speaking Old Norse.

No one pays us any mind, but Brandon's eyes are bigger than I've ever seen them. "Is this … a bingo hall?"

"Yes. We love our bingo halls."

He shakes his head. "This is not at all what I pictured."

"What did you picture?"

"I thought it would be, you know, like nature. Shadowy. Caves. That there would be a lot of rivers and, I don't know, maybe fires burning in torches along passageways. Not, like, fluorescent lights and tables covered with bingo cards."

"Those aren't fluorescent—they're phosphorescent."

He looks more closely at the lights and around the room. "Oh, wow. This place is as big as those convention centers where they hold car shows. I bet they could have a thousand n?kks in here with room to spare. I had no idea there were that many n?kks in the world."

"The largest community lives here."

Brandon peers at the tables. "Those bingo cards … what are they made out of? It doesn't look like paper or plastic."

"They are made of souls," I say.

Brandon spins on his heel to face me. "Wait, what?"

"N?kk play bingo using the souls of the humans we have dragged down here."

"That's kind of horrifying."

"You see why it was so important that I resist you. I did not want you to be turned into a bingo card."

"Wow. I don't mean to judge," Bran says, "but this is strange."

"I can imagine. While I am used to it, it can take a bit to sort out, mentally."

"Thank you for not turning me into a bingo card."

"You're welcome." I kiss him. "I told you there was too much paperwork involved with taking a soul. And bingo cards aren't the only way we can take your soul. I could've put it in that jar you gave me the spider in. Remember?"

"Seriously?"

I nod.

"This place is … interesting." Brandon's eyes are trying to take everything in, but it's clear it's too much for him.

"I should clarify, this isn't all there is to the underground world. There are places that are shadowy, too."

"Then lead on, boyfriend, and show me all the weird and wonderful ways of the n?kk." He takes a deep breath. "I … I would still give you it. If you wanted it."

"I don't need it." I kiss him. "Come on. Let me show you my home."

Brandon walks with me to the house where I grew up. It is definitely shadowy, compared to the bingo hall.

"This is more what I expected," he says, pointing at the harp and fiddle in the corner of the dark home.

"Sometimes unexpected things can be amazing, though," I say.

"Absolutely." He grins. "Play me my birthday song, my n?kk. Please?"

"Anything for you."

Thanks for reading The Nokk and the Jock . Be sure to read all of the Creepin U: MM Monster romance series!