Dead Embers by T. G. Ayer Read Free Book Online

where were the occupants of
this hall? And where was Freya? I swallowed my curiosity and walked to the
empty dais.
    "Ah, welcome to my humble home, Brynhildr."
    The voice floated around me, twisting its way hypnotically
into my mind. The intoxicating warmth of love and fealty swelled within me,
forced there by the magical allure of the voice, but I fought down the
enchantment. I blinked, glad I was able to hold off the thrall of this powerful
goddess.
    I had the sense to pretend though, and just stared ahead
calmly as if her magic had won me over, the way it worked on all her other
thralls. I waited for her to appear, knowing there was no sense upsetting her
by revealing how little power she had over me, not when I relied on her to keep
Aidan safe.
    Freya stepped onto the dais, materializing from shadows to
corporeal form in a matter of seconds. Her little magic trick failed to
surprise or disconcert me; I'd been treated to Freya's appearances and
disappearances before.
    "Come forward, child," the gentle voice beckoned,
and a smile twitched at her lips. She dazzled the eye, no less beautiful than
the last time I'd seen her, when she'd taken Aidan from Odin's hall and
promised to find a way to help him.
    "How have you been, Brynhildr? I believe you have fared
well with your training."
    The normalcy of her questions threw me. The goddess was
making small talk with me, and yet I knew she would gladly end both Aidan's and
my lives without blinking a single one of her gold-tipped eyelashes. Small
talk? Really?
    Oh, I'm excellent, my lady. Except for the part about
missing a boyfriend because some ungodly god decided it was good sport to
poison him and have him carted off to Hel.
    "I have, my lady." I had no choice but to maintain
a certain civility, since she happened to be the only one who could possibly
cure Aidan. When she planned to get around to it, I had no idea, but I had to
hope. And I had to behave.
    "You are here to see him, I assume?" Freya moved
toward me, silken silent grace. I could see how men fell in love with her on
sight. Worry and a twinge of jealousy rose in my throat like bile. I had to
admit I hated the thought of leaving Aidan here with her when I returned to
Asgard. What if she found a cure and he regained consciousness, and what if he
fell in love with her and didn't want me anymore? When confronted with this
vision of beauty and manipulation, I suspected few men could resist.
    Besides, Aidan and I had barely had much opportunity for a
normal relationship. In fact, we'd spent the better part of ours apart, with
Aidan either dead, dying or in a coma. My heart hurt to even think about it.
    I answered her question with a nod. "I promised I'd
come to see him."
    She laughed, soft and slightly mocking. "Do you really think
he heard you, my dear?"
    "Studies say that coma patients can still hear the
people that speak to them," I replied, keeping my tone as flat as
possible, even though every instinct made want to scream at her.
    "Ah yes. The doctors of Midgard. Perhaps there is some
truth to that, Brynhildr." She inclined her head and said no more. Was
that a dismissal? Had she just provided permission for the visit? I wasn't
sure.
    A movement at my side stirred warm air against my skin, and
I turned to meet Astrid's blue gaze. Great. I now stood face to face with the
one person I'd prefer to avoid.
    And by her dark scowl I guessed she was no more pleased than
I at our reunion. The stunning, blonde, blue-eyed ideal of a Valkyrie hated me
with an undeniable and yet unfathomable passion. Hated me for something I'd
apparently done in a previous life. A life that I still found hard to believe
in.
    Good thing she'd disappeared off to Helheim with Freya. Best
place for the goddess's pet. I was glad I hadn't seen her in Asgard at any point
since Aidan had been sent to Hel. I don't think I could have controlled myself.
Her snitching had enabled Freya to blackmail me into finding her necklace. I
blamed Astrid. If it hadn't