Chapter 20 | Ravinica

Chapter 20

Ravinica

WE WASHED OURSELVES in the lake, since we couldn't well return to Vikingrune Academy covered head to toe in blood and expect anything other than spears at our necks.

I spotted a shallow point on the other side of overgrown weeds and mossy stones on the shoreline, and started moving toward it. I could feel everyone's eyes on me . . . so I decided to do something daring. The bitch in me wanted to see what would happen.

"Grim," I murmured from the bank, kicking my boots off and wading a foot into the water. "Join me? I can't reach everywhere."

If there was innuendo in my loaded words, Grim understood it. Even if I hadn't meant it, the bear couldn't stop the low rumble from slipping past his lips.

Sure enough, I got the response I expected when Grim lumbered toward me at the bank: Expressions of dismay from Arne, jealousy from Sven, and practiced stoicism from Corym. Magnus' gray eyes flared with a lustful promise, to get me back for what I was doing to him.

I hoped he made good on the promise, once we had more time together.

I peeled off the rest of my clothes, back facing the entire gathering, and walked into the water, giving everyone a full-moon shot of my large ass, thick thighs, and toned back.

It made me smile when I heard the hisses and sharp rattles of breath from everyone.

Once we were in the lake, hidden from view by weeds and stones, Grim asked, "What makes me the lucky one, little sneak?"

I chuckled and glanced over my shoulder at the giant man. His clothes had magically disappeared, of course. As it should be.

"I trust you the most, Grim," I said simply.

"Even after what you just witnessed me do?" He clicked his tongue. "Your trust may be misplaced, lass."

"Bullshit. I'm the only one who can calm you. I know you'll never hurt me."

He let out a low sound, and his hands fell on my shoulders. Gently, he poured water on me and soaked my back and hair, plastering it to my scalp. "You're right about that. I'll also kill anyone who tries."

"Exactly. That's how I know I can trust you. You're my protective bear-serker." I bobbed my eyebrows at the joke.

Something is seriously wrong with me that I'm joking after such a bloodbath.

The location where we stood, waist-high in clear water, was gorgeous. The surface shimmered like moving crystals from the moonlight, which was softening and giving way to early daybreak as we stared up at the sky. Stars beckoned to us.

The circular lake was more of a large pond, ringed by wildflowers, mossy banks, and an entire ecosystem of kaleidoscope colors and wildlife, with the tall peaks of the trees of Delaveer Forest spreading out in every direction beyond us.

This place was a hidden gem. A secret lagoon I wanted to swim through and get lost in for days. I could do it, too, with Grim Kollbjorn by my side.

Grim let out a contented sigh behind me, his fingers kneading in my silver hair made dark from the water. I closed my eyes and leaned back into his chest, the feeling of his fingers on my scalp nearly orgasmic.

"Careful how close you get, little sneak," he murmured. "I have half a mind to ravage you right here in the lake, where everyone can hear you."

"I have half a mind to let you."

I could feel Grim's smile as his chin fell on top of my head and his hands roamed my shoulders and back. "Alas, we don't have time, as much as it pains me to say. I'd never be finished with you—not until you were a satiated, mewling mess."

His words brought a delightful shudder to my body, heat pooling deep in my belly. It wasn't like him to talk like that. It sounded more like what I imagined Sven would say, the arrogant wolf that he was. Possibly even Magnus.

But Grim? Hmm. I like this side of him.

"We should be away from this area soon," he finished.

His logical words killed the moment, and I frowned. My eyes opened. "I know. That's another reason I know I can trust you, Grim. You aren't afraid to be pragmatic, even when I'm practically begging for you."

"Believe me, it pains me to do so." A soft sigh escaped his lips. "We'll have our moments. Many of them. Again and again—"

"O-Okay, okay. Now you're just teasing me."

He grinned.

The bear shifter was managing to keep his body not-quite-pressed against me, showing incredible restraint. I mean, my bare ass was practically pressed up against his middle, yet I couldn't feel his warm cock on me because he was keeping it away.

Swallowing hard, trying to force away the incredibly lustful feelings lighting my body on fire, I changed the subject. "Can I trust Arne, Grim? I want your honest opinion."

For a moment, all was silent. I turned once he had finished with my back, stared up at him because I wanted to read his eyes. They told the truth of a man.

In them, I saw determination. He said, "At first, I wasn't sure. At his core, the iceshaper is untrustworthy. Yet he fights for family. When Sven captured him, I lost control and slammed him against a wall, little sneak. I'm not proud of it."

"But?"

"Sven and I agreed it wasn't up to us to kill him, because that would be your decision. I stand by that. We told him he couldn't follow us to find you. But he was waiting for us in Isleton, the slippery cur."

Grim rubbed the back of his neck and scratched his bulging shoulder, like he was embarrassed about something.

He stared down his nose at me. "Arne led us to the bog-crone's cave, Ravinica. There, Sven tracked you all the way back to the elf camp, and to where we found you. We wouldn't have been able to do it without the iceshaper, honestly."

I blinked, taking it all in. Grim rarely spoke so much. When he did, it was because he had something to say.

I could read his amber eyes and see the confusion there. He didn't know if I could trust Arne—he was still trying to piece it together himself. But I believed he wanted to trust Arne.

Just like I did.

"For what it's worth, little sneak, I think Arne Gornhodr is trying to make amends, and beg your forgiveness. He wants to prove himself worthy to you."

Amends. Exactly what I sought.

"What . . . should I do?" I asked. It was silly of me to ask, yet I was at a loss.

Grim brought me close, cradling the back of my neck and pressing my cheek to his burly chest so he could pet me.

"That is up to you, love. I can't begin to tell you how to feel or react to what he's done . . . But maybe, if your heart is big enough to entrust pieces of it to me and Magnus Feldraug . . . perhaps you can find a piece for Arne Gornhodr, too."

I held onto Grim's words long after we left the picturesque pond, the bloody hillside, and made our way toward Vikingrune Academy.

I realized the ball was not in my court. I wasn't the kind of woman to forgive a man just because he was charming and attractive.

If Arne Gornhodr truly cared for me, he would prove it to me with his actions. Words were cheap. So far, as Grim had told it, he was on his way to atonement.

But he wasn't nearly there.

I left it at that, and thought no more about the situation as the dawn cracked the sky and filled with morning clouds and a thin fog.

All of us were dead on our feet, absolutely exhausted and famished. We kept each other moving with idle chatter, the guys telling me about some things I'd missed in the month I'd been gone.

Somehow, Vikingrune was both our prison and our freedom. We felt that if we could get there unseen, we could somehow escape this. Yes, tens of Huscarls were missing, and they would eventually be found rotting in the open sun.

However, nothing, so far, connected us to their deaths . . . which was a grisly way to think about things in and of itself.

At the same time, as poor Logaithn had reported, Vikingrune's western and southern gates had been closed and guarded. No one could leave or enter on their own, which was causing problems for shifters there. The full moon was nearing, and once they went into heat, well . . . all bets were off. The Hersirs would learn if their plan was horribly misguided.

My guys assumed the closing was due to the elves' initial attack at the creek, when the guards had been bringing me back to the school as a captive.

The humans' hated enemies arriving back in Midgard spooked the Hersirs and Gothi Sigmund.

Of course, no official announcement was ever given to the students saying that was the reason for martial law.

I wasn't sure if this was even a good idea. I was being led back here in shackles before all this. What makes me think it'll be any different now?

Part of me wanted to toss aside the bindings of the academy and join the Lepers Who Leapt. I couldn't be a full-fledged member because I now had magic at my disposal . . . yet I envied the freedom with which they roamed.

When I brought that up, Frida was quick to shut it down with a scoff. "We're constantly on the run, bog-blood. You don't want what we have."

Arne snapped, "Don't call her that, sister."

"It's fine," I said, lifting a hand. "It's what I am. I've heard worse."

Dieter grumbled, frowning at Frida. "I agree with Arne. That may be what you are, Ravinica, but that's not how the Lepers comport ourselves." He scolded Frida like she was a child, and she scowled at him.

Some old habits died hard. Being called a bog-blood or a half-breed was by far the least of my worries these days. To think, a few months ago in Selby Village, it was the thing that wounded me most.

Now? Odin eat me, I didn't give a shit. I had much more tangible, real threats to worry about.

Before we could go to the academy, we had one last stop to make.

It came toward the end of morning, when the sun finally showed her face and beamed brightly across the Isle through the clouds.

We arrived at the fringes of Isleton in Helgas Wood—the lighter woodland that circled the small island village and fed into the wider, denser Delaveer Forest.

There, Dieter stopped. It took me a moment to realize the Lepers joined him. Once I could feel the size of our group had shrunk, I slowed and scrunched my brow, turning.

The first sight of civilization was just ahead, with morning smoke-vents letting out gray columns of smoke into the sky.

Dieter nodded his head. "It's time, lass."

I blinked innocently at him. "Time for what?"

"The Lepers aren't going into Isleton. We've been showing ourselves too much there recently, overstaying our welcome. This is where we part. Which means . . ." Slowly, his eyes moved to Corym E'tar, standing close to me.

The Ljosalfar elf had been the closest man to me on our entire walk back from the pond, for hours. Almost like he feared what would happen if we were to separate.

The feeling was mutual.

"Right," Corym said, clearing his throat. He made to move from my side of the wood to Dieter's side, his body stiff as a board.

I grabbed his hand before he could get far, swinging him around to face me. My eyes drilled into his beautiful, smooth, deadly face, a helpless expression crinkling the corners of my brow. "This isn't forever, Corym."

He forced a small smile. "I know, lunis'ai. I won't let it be."

When I smiled back at him, sad and forlorn, his forced smile became genuine and warm. He squeezed my hand, finally letting me know how he felt about me—that the heady tension we'd fostered over the past month by each other's side was not just nothing.

There was something there, and I vowed to explore more of it. Corym E'tar was just as worthy and lovable and radiant as any human. More than most, in fact. He had his quirks and faults, like any of us, yet I saw through all of them and recognized the man he was—the kind who would sacrifice his own safety for people he cared about; one who would fight to the death to protect what was his.

We hadn't had our chance to spill ourselves to each other . . . but we would. Everything had been a whirlwind over the past few days. Just when we had started to get undeniably close, we were being ripped away from each other.

It was a fucking rollercoaster I'd gladly ride again and again.

"Keep her safe," Corym said to the men behind me, his voice stern and commanding.

He was a leader among the elves, and Corym's posture and demeanor brooked no argument. I heard a round of rustling clothes as the men nodded to him, giving him their silent oaths.

As the elf turned to leave, trying to unthread his fingers from mine, I squeezed tighter, keeping him there, pulling him in two directions.

Fuck it, I thought.

Corym chuckled, starting to spin to me again. "Ravinica, you must let me—"

I stumbled into him and slammed my lips over his, our chests bumping together. The kiss was awkward and deep and promising. His lips, softer than the warmest pillow, more inviting than a holy house during worship.

He groaned into my mouth, and when we pulled away, leaving everyone else stunned, I ran a hand over his chest and said, "Just in case."

". . . Just in case, lunis'ai ?" His cheeks were slightly pink, the decorum gone from him for the first time since our hug during runeshaping practice.

I was the cause of his fluster. It filled me with giddiness and excitement. Just in case something goes horribly wrong and I never see you again, silly elf.

"Never mind," I murmured. This time, I squeezed both of his hands before letting him go. "Sorry. I've wanted to do that since we left Elayina's cave. I didn't have the chance."

He dipped his chin and kissed me again, harder this time.

"Loki steal my fucking socks," Sven grumbled behind us.

His words made me chuckle in Corym's mouth, both of us smiling as our lips stayed locked. It seemed we both got immense satisfaction from the awkwardness the others must have been feeling to stand there and witness this—elf and human, kissing, perhaps for the first time in generations.

I wanted to do so much more.

"I've been wishing to do that since well before Lady Elayina's cave," Corym whispered to me.

Our words were low. A conversation only meant for us, despite the bodies on both sides of us.

"But we shouldn't have done it," he told me.

My forehead creased with wrinkles. "Why not?" I asked breathlessly, only wanting to kiss him again.

He cupped my cheek, massaging his thumb over my chin as he took me in one last time, his golden eyes flaring and meeting mine.

"Because now, every moment I'm apart from you, both waking and asleep, I'll only be thinking of the taste and feel of your lips. And the wait until I can do it again is going to be positively agonizing, lunis'ai. "