The thought sends a chill through my veins, colder than the grave. If Lilith has taken Dani, then there is no telling what horrors await her. What twisted games our Maker will play, what unspeakable torments she will inflict.
Lucian's voice, hard and sharp as a blade, breaks the silence. "We have to find her. Now."
There is no room for argument, no space for doubt. We have a name, a target. And now, we have a mission.
Rhyland
4
"Rhyland of Midgard." Odin's voice booms through the hall, his one eye fixing me with a stare that feels like it could strip the flesh from my bones. "A grave error has been made. It is only now that we realize the necessity of enlightening you."
An error? What kind of fucking game are they playing here?
The Zeus-looking bastard clears his throat, and my gaze snaps to him. "It seems we have all been deceived regarding your... existence. Upon this realization, we convened and summoned you here."
I clench my fists, my confusion and frustration boiling over. I don't give a flying fuck about their mistakes. All I want is to get back to Dani.
"Cut the crap and get to the point. I don't have time for this bullshit or whatever grand revelation you gods need to drop on me." I snarl, my patience wearing thin.
Odin gestures to the hulking man beside him, "Rhyland, meet Elysium. He is here to rectify the situation."
My eyes nearly bug out of my skull as I stare at the man who's supposedly Dani's father. Elysium? Here, in the flesh? What the everloving fuck is going on? And why in the world is he in Ásgard, of all places?
The questions swirl in my mind, but before I can voice them, Elysium speaks, his voice ringing with an otherworldly power that sets my teeth on edge.
"Rhyland Eriksson," he begins, his golden eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes me want to look away. But I hold his gaze, refusing to back down. "You have been misled about your true nature. It is time for you to learn the truth of your heritage."
For fuck's sake, here we go. I couldn't give two shits about this nonsense.
"Webelieved you perished centuries ago," Odin interjects, his voice grating on my nerves. "But we now understand our error. You were, in fact, resurrected—as a vampire. Thus, retaining your heritage, power, and role in this prophecy."
"Why now? Why the fuck are you just now telling me this shit?" I can't help but ask.
Elysium lets out a sigh that drips with frustration as if he's not thrilled with Odin's little revelation. "It was only when you unleashed your lightning that we recognized our grave oversight," he growls, his eyes flashing angrily.
Heimdall turns to me, his expression serious. "I couldn't pinpoint your location after I found out," he says, sounding like he's trying to explain how our little portal-skiing escapades through the realms fucked things up.
I shrug, unfazed by their little display. "Listen, I don't know what kind of games you all play up here in your fucking ivory tower, but I really couldn't care less about whatever bullshit you're spouting," I snap. "I have one mission, and that's protectingyourdaughter." I fix Elysium with a cold, hard stare, daring him to challenge me. I can see it in his eyes, those golden orbs that are so much like Dani's—he despises the fact that I've bonded with her, claimed her as my mate—tough shit.
"Make no mistake, boy! I still don't trust you around my daughter—your kind is tied to darkness."
"You may not like it, but Dani ismine," I continue, my voice low and dangerous. "And I'll be damned if I let anyone, god or otherwise, stand in the way of keeping her safe. So, whatever grand plan you have for me, you can shove it up your divine ass. I'm not playing your games."
The air is tense as I stare down the gods before me. I don't care who they are or what they want from me. All that matters is returning to Dani and fulfilling my vow to protect and love her, no matter the cost.
Elysium takes a deep breath, visibly struggling to maintain his composure. "I am well aware of that, vampire, which is precisely why I am permitting this union. You were destined to play a role in this prophecy—two saviors are needed to exist: mates of different worlds, one born of mortal and divine blood, and the other born of the gods."
Two saviors? The prophecy never mentioned two—only that finding one's mate would awaken their powers. Did I misinterpret it? Could the fucking puddle in Aquaria have been right when it spoke of'saviors'?
Butit still doesn't add up. Dani and I are two halves of a whole, two souls torn from different eras.
I stare at him, stunned. "If that's the case, wouldn't Dani had to have been born in my time if you hadn't assumed I was dead?"
Odin sighs, "Indeed. We had a mate chosen for you..." He glances at Elysium. "Do you wish to reveal the truth to him?"
My gaze darts between the two, my mind reeling. Heimdall stands beside me, still as a statue, but he can't even hide the unease radiating from him at this bombshell.
What the ever-loving fuck is going on?
