Fall (The Ragnarok Prophesies) by A.K. Morgen Read Free Book Online Page B

was war. I guess that changed things, even if the thought did make me sick to my stomach.
    “I’m sorry you lost her,” I said softly.
    He met my gaze full on. “Me too.”
    I settled back against my headboard, closing my eyes. There were a thousand more questions I wanted to ask, but I didn’t have the heart to push. I didn’t necessarily like Ronan, but that didn’t mean I wanted to pick at his still raw wounds. He’d earned my respect if not my friendship, and I honestly didn’t want to make things worse for him.
    I let my mind drift as I waited for Dace to finish his shower, trying to find a little quiet in the storm in my head. I focused on the pack, listening for the slightest murmur or stir from Buka, but as usual, I found nothing. They were too far out, hiding in the thick press of trees that extended for miles in every direction throughout central Arkansas. My weak connection with them didn’t extend that far.
    “You know it’s only a matter of time until they stop hiding in the shadows,” Ronan said.
    I wasn’t sure if his words were a statement or a question, and I didn’t need to ask to know he wasn’t talking about Buka and her pack mates. “I know.”
    “Dace isn’t ready.”
    “I know that, too,” I whispered. Dace wasn’t ready, and that worried me. If Sköll and Hati came for us… would he even fight, or would he trade his life for mine? I think Ronan and I both knew the answer to that question. Dace would move Heaven and Earth to keep me safe. I felt naïve for ever believing that was a good thing. It wasn’t, and Ronan and I both knew that, too.
    Dace was losing it. Big time.
    “I won’t let him risk Dani’s sisters,” Ronan warned. For once, he didn’t sound cold or distant. He sounded almost apologetic.
    “You need him,” I whispered, my throat raw and my eyes wide.
    Ronan met my gaze again and nodded. “I do.”
    But not as much as he needed Sköll and Hati to die, or Chelle and Beth to live. If Dace got in the way of that….
    I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. “I’ll stop you.”
    “You’ll try,” he said.
    I narrowed my gaze on him, then sighed. I didn’t have the energy to fight, not when we both knew how things would end if it got that far. Freki lived inside me, but, even now, she was little more than a ghost. Without her strength, I couldn’t stop Ronan any more than I could Sköll or Hati.
    “He needs time, Ronan.” I doubted my plea would do any good, but there was no way I would let Ronan hurt Dace. I’d find some way to get through to Dace first. I didn’t have a choice.
    “We’re out of time. If you can’t get him under control, I will.”
    I opened my mouth to ask what Ronan expected me to do when Geri roared.
    The violent, unexpected sound split my head open with a fierce, tearing pain.
    I cried out, reaching up to cradle my head between my hands.
    Freki twisted and fluttered inside me, too weak to do anything more than howl faintly for her mate.
    Dace tore the bathroom door open, slamming it against the wall outside my bedroom. The bed shook beneath me from the force.
    Geri roared again, raging at some unseen threat. He refused to stop long enough for me to follow the disjointed thoughts skittering this way and that or to question Dace.
    Something was happening though. Something big.
    A chorus of howls sounded from the woods behind the house. They were faint, far away, but full of the same anger working Geri into a frenzy.
    A soft huff whispered through Freki’s cage, which only served to make Geri howl louder.
    Dace poked his head through the door. Water dripped from his hair, down the sides of his face, and over his bare shoulders. His muscles were tense, his jaw clenched. He strained hard, trying to keep Geri from wresting control away from him.
    To his credit, Ronan didn’t ask a single question.
    I wasn’t built the same way.
    What’s wrong?
I demanded, pushing the thought at Dace as hard as I could.
    His gaze fell on me for