CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN“Ijust hate when he does that,” Vig told Stieg.Of all the Ravens, he was closest to Stieg but they never discussed the fact. Vig knew that would only make Stieg uncomfortable. He preferred to see himself as a man standing alone. But Vikings never stood alone. They couldn’t afford to. They needed each other to man their boats, to raid with, to protect their lands. They needed each other to survive. But Stieg’s life before the Ravens had been hard, and he’d never quite been able to shake that feeling of always being on the defensive. That he and he alone could protect himself from the horrors of the world.“Trust me, the kid’s better off.”“I know. I know. Sometimes Odin just pisses me off.”Stieg chuckled. “Yeah. He does that.” He motioned back toward the main Raven house. “Hungry?”“Nah. I’m going home.”“Hoping your girlfriend called?”“As a matter of fact . . . yes, I am.”Vig walked to his house. It was a little after 2 a.m., but he wasn’t really tired. He could eat, though.Then again, he could always eat.As Vig came through the trees, he saw Kera sitting on his porch. She was still in her combat clothes, her head bowed.“Hey, hey,” Vig greeted when he got near.Kera looked up and gave a close-lipped smile. “Hey.”Vig stopped. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing.”“How did your hunt go?”“Personally, I don’t think it went badly at all. I stopped them from massacring thirteen hippy witches.”“That’s good.”“Yeah . . . except I don’t think the other Crows feel the same way about my lifesaving intervention.”“Why?”“They all started to give me this look.” Kera gazed at him, her mouth curling into a horrible forced smile.Vig winced. “That’s not good.”“I know! And then, while they were looking at me like that, they’d say things like, ‘Oh. Well . . . that’s good. Uh . . . yeah. Sure. Good.’ And then walk away. Since I’ve done that to people myself when they’ve fucked up royally, but I didn’t want to be the one to tell them . . . I know what I’m looking at.”“I’m sorry.”“I’m not,” Kera admitted. “I did the right thing,” she said adamantly. “I think.” She shrugged. “Maybe.”“You’re not sure?”“Not really.” She put her hands in her hair, scratched her scalp. “Ahh! This is so frustrating! I’m not used to not feeling confident when it comes to military decisions.”“I wouldn’t worry, Kera. If your decision was a mistake, you’ll know when it comes flying back to haunt you.”“Thank you?”“Sorry. Was that too direct? My sister says I’m too direct.”“No, no. I like direct. Even if it means things blowing up in my face.”Vig decided to change the subject. “How did the flying go?”“They threw me off a building, two managed to catch me and drag me all the way to and from the witches’ location.”“They didn’t teach you to fly?”“I don’t think they wanted to be bothered since they’re not sure I can deliver. I just didn’t see the point of killing people who hadn’t actually done anything wrong yet. They just had some necklace. They hadn’t actually used it yet.”Vig sat down next to Kera on the porch, their legs hanging over the side, their shoulders pressed against each other.“Not every situation requires a full-on murderous assault, Kera.”“Did you kill anybody tonight?”“Yeah.”“Oh.”“But we also rescued some kids. That felt good.”“Maybe I would have been better off being a Raven.”“Probably. But you’re a girl. And girls are ooky.”That made Kera laugh.“Since we have a couple hours before daylight,” Vig suggested, “why don’t I show you how to fly?”“You don’t have to do that.”“Are you just afraid to fly?”“No.”“Did you vomit a little when the Crows took you up?”“No, I did not.” She brushed nonexistent hair off her face. “I threw up when we landed.”“Well, that makes all the difference.”“It does in my mind.” Kera jumped off the porch and faced Vig. “All right. Let’s just do it. Just do it and get it over with.”“It’s flying, Kera. You’re not about to be put on an altar as a human sacrifice.”She stared at him. “Are you sure?”“Positive.”“And you won’t let me fall to my horrifying and painful death?”“Never.”“Okay then.” She nodded. “Then let’s do this.”“Now before we start, there is one thing you always need to keep in mind during this process.”“What?”“That everyone, at some point in their life, wants to fly. And soon you’ll actually be doing it.”“Which means . . . what? Exactly.”“That you’re better than everyone else.”She laughed. “Well, when you put it like that . . .” 

Vig’s arms tightened around Kera’s waist and his wings extended from his back. He looked into her face, his eyes locking on hers—and they were flying.Heading straight up, past trees and nearby power lines, until he stopped to hover thousands and thousands of miles above the ground.Well . . . actually, they probably weren’t that far up, but it sure felt that way.“Kera?”“Huh?”“You’re not breathing.”“I’m not?”“No.”“Oh.” She let out a breath.“Now . . . take one in.”“Can we just get going on this?”“Not until you start breathing. Normally. Not like you’re going through labor.”Kera took a few seconds to remind herself how to breathe normally.“Good,” Vig finally said. “Very good.”Kera felt one of Vig’s arms loosen from her waist and she grabbed his biceps with both her hands, digging her fingers into the muscle.“I’ve got you,” he promised.“Are you sure?”“Of course I’m sure.”Vig pressed his fingers against her middle back, pushing her chest forward and into his.She liked how that felt even through her thin tank top.What she didn’t like was the brief pain that came when her wings extended from her back.“I know,” Vig soothed when she gritted her teeth a little. “It still hurts. It will for another day or two. But don’t worry. It won’t last.”Kera chose to believe him and focused on the feeling of air moving through and around her wings.She tried to move her wings by lifting her shoulders but Vig shook his head. “No. You don’t need to do that. Your wings move separately from your shoulders.”“Then how do I get them to, uh . . . flutter?”“How do you walk?” he asked, his voice low and calm, his body warm.Yeah, this was way better than getting this lesson from one of the Crows.“I don’t know,” she replied. “I just . . . walk.”“That’s what you need to do with your wings. They’re part of you now. So flying, getting your wings to move, is as simple as getting off a chair and walking.”“And how do I make that happen?”“Think about what you want. This is new to your muscles, like walking for the first time after an accident. You need to think about what you want your body to do and then your muscles will translate that into action. The more you use your muscles to control your wings, the easier it will become. Eventually, all you’ll need to do is think that you want to go . . . and you’ll go.”“Will it really be that easy?”“Eventually, yes. You just need to be patient with yourself.”“I don’t do patient. I can’t sit here and think for ten hours hoping my wings start to move when I really need them to move and function properly now.”“Okay.”“What are you smiling at?”“Well . . . your wings are moving.”Surprised, Kera glanced back and saw that her wings were moving. “Sure that’s not just the air up here?”“If it was, your wings would be high over your head. You are controlling them.”Kera dug her fingers into Vig’s flesh. “That’s great. But don’t let me go.”“I won’t,” he said on a chuckle. “I promise. Just enjoy. Close your eyes and try to understand what your muscles are doing.”Again, Kera ended up using her meditation skills.Of all the many things she’d learned while in the Corps, it fascinated Kera that the one thing she’d been using most the last few days was flippin’ meditation.She went through all her usual steps to ease into the meditative state and upon doing so . . . she could feel it.She could feel the muscles moving her wings. The feathers closest to her back brushing against her spine. The wind . . . God, the wind moving through each individual feather.Kera pulled her wings back into her body then thought about her wings extending. At first, nothing happened. She tried harder and still nothing.She quickly realized, though, that she was trying too hard. She needed to relax. She needed to breathe. So she did, loosening her finger-tight grip on Vig’s biceps and resting her forearms over his shoulders.That’s when she felt her wings extend from her back easily and with much less pain, and she heard Vig whisper, “Beautiful.”She didn’t know if he was talking about the way she seemed to be picking all this up relatively quickly or simply how she looked with her wings extended from her back. She didn’t know. She didn’t care. She just knew she liked it.Kera then brought her wings back a bit and let them . . . beat? Yeah. She let them beat against the wind while Vig held her. And it all felt so natural. So much a part of her already.“Kera,” Vig said, his voice so very soft. “Open your eyes.”Kera did, slowly. She smiled at Vig.“Look at yourself,” he gently ordered.She did that as well . . . and realized that Vig was no longer holding her. She still had her arms around his shoulders, but she was the only thing holding herself up.The realization nearly sent her plummeting back to earth, her wings abruptly retracting back into her body.Laughing, Vig caught her around the waist. “It’s okay.”“It’s not okay! You let me go!”“Because you didn’t need me anymore.” He kissed her. Nothing intense, just a peck. But again, she liked it. “Now, start again. You already did it once, you can do it again. I know you can.”So Kera did. 

Vig watched Kera unleash her wings again and begin the process of getting them to move on their own. This time it took her even less time. When he knew her wings could keep her aloft, he loosened his grip. She hovered there, by herself.It was beautiful.“How do you feel?”“I . . .” She briefly closed her eyes until she admitted, “Fucking amazing.”Vig grinned. “Told you. I’m going to pull away now.”Her eyes snapped open. “You are?”“Trust me. You’ve got this.”“I’ve got this.” She nodded. “I’ve got this.”Vig’s wings pulled him back, away from Kera, his arms slowly moving away from her completely.At first, she started to drop a bit. But she closed her eyes, relaxed her body—and probably her mind—and her wings took over, carrying her higher.Vig let Kera hover there for a few minutes. Let her get used to just that movement. But he had faith in her and her commitment to making things happen now.“Okay,” he said, “now you’re going to fly.”“I thought I was flying.”“You’re hovering. And hovering is really important. But now you’re going to fly.”“Okay.”“First you’re going to go higher. Then, you’re going to lower the front of your body and raise your legs out, arms at your sides. Keep your wings moving and you’ll see that they will go forward and back, using the air to push you forward. In scientific terms—”“I don’t do science, so don’t even finish that sentence.”“Okay. You want me to show you first?”“No.”Kera closed her eyes, took in a breath, let it out. She did that several times, then she shot straight up. Vig followed, watching her closely, ready to grab her if she started falling back to the ground. But she didn’t. Instead, she followed his directions perfectly and suddenly . . . Kera was flying. Her body cut through the air and she sped off.Vig rushed to catch up with her, watching as she flew. She abruptly turned in midair and came shooting back toward him. Her wings brushed against his face as she passed him. He turned and, again, followed her. But Vig quickly realized he didn’t have to anymore. Kera was moving on her own and completely comfortable.He stopped, hovering right over the Raven house. A few of his brothers returning from a hunt paused by him.“What are you doing?” one of them asked.“Waiting.”“For what?”In answer, moving like a missile, Kera shot by them. Even better, she was laughing.“We’re under Crow attack!” one of the brothers cried out.“We’re not under Crow attack,” Vig quickly told him.“Then what is she doing?”“Flying.”“Why is she doing that here? Over our territory?”“Because I’m helping her out.”Another brother laughed. “Helping her out. Nice, Rundstöm.”Vig crossed his arms over his chest and stared at his brother until the Raven eased back.“I was just kidding. I was just kidding!”Yeah. Vig loved what Kera called his “thousand-yard stare.” Loved it!Kera crashed into his back, her body right between his wings, her legs around his waist, her arms loosely wrapped round his neck, her chin on his shoulder.“Hi!” she greeted the other Ravens, sounding happier than he’d ever heard her. “I’m Kera.”“The new girl,” his brothers replied.“So,” one asked, “how did you die?”Vig growled and his brothers eased back.“It’s all right, Vig,” Kera said. “I was warned I’d be asked this question. Knife to the chest.” She patted Vig’s chest. “Right up to the hilt. It was most unpleasant.”“I bet. But you’re here now. Hanging on to our boy Vig.”Kera pressed her face against Vig’s. “I’m sorry. Were you two together?”His brother rolled his eyes. “No. I like a guy who’s a little more fem.”“Okay,” Vig said. “That’s enough. We’re done objectifying me. It’s not my fault I’m so damn handsome.”Kera laughed and released her hold on Vig, dropping back, and then shooting off. Vig watched her go before looking back at his brothers. They were all gawking at him.“What?” he finally asked them. “What are you all staring at?”“Did you just make a joke?” one asked.“Yeah. I’m funny.”“Not really. I’m funny. But you’re not actually known for funny. You’re known for being . . . ya know . . . Swedish.”“My people have a wonderful sense of humor.”“If you’re not going to take this seriously,” his brother said, shaking his head as the others headed down to the house, “we’re just going to end this conversation.” 

Kera felt invigorated. Alive. Free.This had been the most amazing experience of her life. But her muscles were getting tired and she was ready to get down.There was just one problem . . . she didn’t really know how.“Vig?” she called out as she circled above his house.“Do you think I’m funny?”Kera turned, found Vig perched on a branch in one of the trees.“How are you keeping your weight on that branch?”He shrugged. “I just do. So, funny? Not funny?”“You make me laugh. In a good way. Not in an ‘I’m laughing at you’ way.”“My brothers don’t think I’m funny.”“Probably because you growl at them when they piss you off.”“But I make you laugh?”“So far.”“I’ll go with that.”“I’m tired,” Kera announced.“Okay.”“I don’t know how to get down.”“I’ll help you.”“No. I need to learn to do this on my own.”“Okay. Then spot where you want to land, bring up your wings, and you can treat the air like brakes on a car. You’ll be a little off first but—”“I know. I know.”Kera looked down, picked a spot, and headed down. But as she neared the ground, she couldn’t seem to slow her body down.“Uh-oh,” she gasped, throwing her arms up to protect her face before she crashed.But Kera abruptly stopped in midair.She lowered her arms. She was inches from the ground. But as she looked over her shoulder, she saw that Vig was hovering above her, his hand gripping her tank top.“Gotcha!” he said, grinning, clearly proud of himself—seconds before Kera’s tank top ripped and she hit the ground. 

“Oh shit,” Vig gasped, dropping to a crouch beside Kera. “Shit. Kera? Are you okay?”Vig carefully turned her over and sighed in relief when he realized that she wasn’t answering him because she was laughing too hard.Brushing dirt off her face and laughing with her, he asked, “Are you okay?”“I’m fine. I’m fine.” She reached for his hand and Vig grasped it, pulling her into a sitting position.“I’m so sorry.”“Forget it.”Vig helped her stand. “Let’s get you inside.”Still holding her hand, Vig led her into his unlocked house and sat her down on his couch.He went to the bathroom and wet a washcloth with warm water. Returning to the living room, he sat on the coffee table in front of Kera and carefully wiped the dirt from her face.“Couple of minor scratches,” he told her. “Nothing you’ll need a blood transfusion for.” He removed the last trace of dirt from her face. “There. All done.”Vig pulled his hand away and that’s when he realized that Kera was staring at him. “What is it?” he asked.“You made flying fun for me.”“It is fun.”“But I was terrified and now I can’t wait to do it again tonight.”“I have no doubt you would have figured it out on your own without my—”Kera kissed him. She just sort of rammed her mouth against his and kissed him, her hands gripping his biceps.Just as abruptly, Kera pulled back, her eyes wide, her hand brushing against her mouth.“That was horrible and awkward, wasn’t it?” She shook her head, her cheeks turning a bright red from embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Vig. I don’t know what—”Vig gripped Kera’s face between his hands and yanked her close. He took a breath, realizing how long he’d been waiting for this, and kissed her back. She gasped in surprise and Vig took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth. She tasted sweet and, in a strange way, exactly like what he’d been waiting for. Like a candy bar one always wanted to try but never had the chance to taste. Until now.And Vig had been waiting for Kera a long time. Extremely long. Something he was not used to doing. If Vig wanted something, he bought it or made it or bartered for it. This was Kera, though.He forced himself to pull away from her, both of them panting.Vig looked deep into her brown eyes. He wanted to make sure they understood each other completely, because he didn’t want regrets later.“Kera, listen to me. I wish I could tell you that if we did this, I was going to be patient and warm and sweetly charming. I can’t. I don’t know how. And I’ve wanted you too long to pretend I can start now. So, if this isn’t what you want, tell me. Tell me and go. And know that nothing between us changes. But please tell me now, before we go a step further.”Kera’s expression turned . . . angry? Vig wasn’t sure.“What?”she demanded. “What are you talking about?”“I’m trying to tell you—”“Oh, shut up!” she snapped, shocking Vig into silence. “Eighteen months you barely say a word to me and now you decide to be fucking chatty.” She shoved his hands off her face and stood, walking around the couch until she stood behind it, glaring at him.“Kera, I’m—”“Shut. Up.” She pointed at him. “I don’t want to hear your bullshit.” Of course she didn’t. What made him think that—?“Just get your clothes off,” she ordered through clenched teeth, “and meet me in that goddamn bedroom.” When Vig sat there, gaping at her, Kera tore off the rest of her already ripped tank top and threw it in his face.“Now!”she bellowed like a pissed-off drill sergeant.Vig watched her disappear down his hallway, her stomping feet shaking his small home.Vig briefly closed his eyes. “Thank you, mighty Odin.” Vig grinned as relief flooded his entire body. “Thank you for everything.”Then Vig stood and went after his woman.