“The same way I taught your father.With patience.So very much patience.And she’s no longer a mortal.Now that she’s been chosen, she’s a god by default, merely by her association with me.Again, she has been chosen.The end.”
His eyes fixed on the road ahead.“And what made you choose her again?”
MC’s sigh rasped in the dark car.“As previously stated, I didn’t, Harvey, and you know well that’s not how it works.The gods chose her.Her stars align with the needs of Midgard.”
“Then what madethemchoose her?”
“I have no idea.Why don’t you ask them yourself?”
As if.
There was no way, after all this time being out on his own, he was going to confront the gods.After his inability to take possession of MC, they’d turned their noses up at him.They called his inability to use MC’s powerdefiance.
Harvey clucked his tongue in disapproval.“This is crazy, MC, and you know it.She knows nothing about us, our Norse history, the world we live in.She’s Greek, for Odin’s sake.You’re literally throwing her into the fire.”
“Oh, no-no.I’m not.Thegodsare.They do essentially employ me, Harvey.”
“And the gods expect that little sprite of a woman to take on the Jötnar, should they choose to attack Midgard?”
The Jötnar—or giants, in mortal terms—were one of the biggest problems Dominique would face as the keeper of MC.He’d seen the Jötnar in action.
She was petite in stature, especially in comparison to a giant.How could she possibly defend herself?
“As you know, size and strength don’t necessarily make a bit of difference when wielding me, Harvey.All of your muscles won’t save you from a giant.Your mind will.Your spirit will.Your determination and skill when using me are the deciding factors.
“I tell you, Dominique and her pure heart, her insatiable tenacity, has the strength of one hundred giants.Not to mention, she’s generous to a fault.When you’re done complaining about her, you might ask her about her grandfather and the lengths she’s gone to in her fight for him and his care.”
He cocked his head.“Her grandfather?What does he have to do with this?”
“Yes.His name is Stavros.He and his well-being are but one of many battles she’s fought, and it had nothing to do with her physique, though you’ve made it clear you’re quite aware of her inthatsense.Regardless, her grandfather’s story is for her to tell, when she wishes to share.Until then, I’ll need your help in ensuring she finds her way.”
Now Harvey grew curious.But he knew MC well enough to know all secrets were safe with him, so he didn’t press.“I don’t have time to teach her the ways of the Norse.I have a business to run.I’m a shipwright, MC.Not a babysitter.”
His words came off callous, and instantly he wanted to take them back.Not so much because they weren’t true.Hedidrun a thriving business, but Dom hadn’t done a damn thing to deserve what was about to happen to her.
“So after all that complaining about throwing her into the fire, you’re just going to let her burn?”MC taunted.
Harvey turned onto a long driveway lined with glowing lampposts, his eyes widening as Nina’s castle came into view.When she’d saidcastle, he’d thought, okay, she had a big house.But she really did have a castle, with turrets and arched stained-glass windows and, if he was seeing correctly, a hedge maze.
In Long Island…
“Well, are we in agreement, Harvey?You’ll help me prepare Dominique for her reign over Asgard and the effort to protect Midgard?”
The only thing he could be thankful for at this point was the fact that all had been peaceful for quite some time with the Jötnar.It would buy them the time they’d need to teach Dominique without a serious threat in the offing.
Then he could go back to his peaceful existence and the business of building boats.
“Harvey?Answer the question, please.”
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, letting it go with a raspy sigh.“Of course I’ll help her, MC.”
How could he leave a helpless woman, one who knew nothing of his world, let alone the world of the paranormal, hang out to dry?
He couldn’t.He wouldn’t.
“Good show then.Now, let’s get to the business of turning our tiny warrior into a proper, fierce god.”
Closing his eyes as he put the car in park, Harvey prayed this wasn’t a mistake.That the gods weren’t trashing this poor woman’s life just to make him bend to their will.
