“We had a bargain, you see. I would give her what she wanted more than anything in this world. A daughter, but not just any queen of her blood would do. Helle wanted the greatest Ironheart queen to have ever been born. A mighty queen to shake the roots of Yggdrasil itself. Of course I could easily oblige such a request. I eagerly poured magics and blessings into you, Helayna Ironheart, daughter of Loki and Helle. I gave you every power at my fingertips.”
Dread clawed at my ribcage, but I kept my face as smooth as possible. I didn’t want his power. Powers of mischief? Chaos? Lies? I wanted no part of such heritage. “What did you ask for in exchange?”
“All she needed to do was allow you to enter Hvergelmir when you came of age and were ready to step into your power. She wouldn’t have even had to send you. Even as a child, you were already strong enough to find your human companion on the shores of Náströnd and fetch her back from death’s maw. You could have easily found your way to Hvergelmir.If—” His eyes flared, spinning emerald fire into the night. “She’d allowed it. Instead, she clipped your wings and bound your magic to live a mundane life in Miðgarðr. Too afraid to unleash what we had wrought.”
“Why Hvergelmir?” I asked softly. I knew. But I wanted to see if he’d admit it. He’d wanted Jörmungandr to awaken, so Ragnarök would begin.
“To water Yggdrasil once more, not just with the wellspring but with your blood.Ourblood. To bring magic back to the mighty tree. Even my brother with his shining golden teeth will admit Yggdrasil was dying. Our fated end at Ragnarök was closer than ever, until you watered the tree. You alone have the power to reshape the end of the worlds as we know them.”
“Then why did you put me inside Jörmungandr?”
He pulled a lacy handkerchief from an inside pocket and lightly dabbed the corner of his right eye. “An unfortunate consequence, dearheart. Because your power had been bound by your mother for so long, it was stunted. Trapped inside you. The only way I could help you bring forth your full majesty was through pain. The risk was great, I will admit. I was terribly afraid you might die in vain. But of coursemydaughter found a way to embrace your power. You called out in a voice strong enough to wake dark alfar from eternal slumber. Though I wonder what Thor might destroy with his rage when his trusty hammer goes missing.”
My dark alfar had told me Mjölnir was one of their kind, but I hadn’t Called any but the three who’d rescued me from inside Jörmungandr. Dörr said he was like a child compared to how old—and large—Mjölnir would be. We certainly hadn’t found any of their kind outside of Hel.
I forced out a brittle laugh. “Wait, wait, so you want me to believe you killed my fox, stole me from my foster house, and imprisoned me inside Jörmungandr where he started to literally devour me—tohelpme?”
“Exactly.” Loki grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. “And what a formidable queen you are becoming.”
A ripple of magic hit the ground and billowed up around me like a horde of fireflies. I’d forgotten about the fresh bite on my wrist. My blood burned in the protective circle now. This house—and the land inside it—was mine. It recognized me. Ithungered for more. More blood. More power. “No thanks to you.”
He took a step toward me and Dörr bristled with a metallic rattle as if swords clanged together. Heimdallr also glided to the side, putting himself between us and Loki, though not so much that I couldn’t still see the god’s malevolent green eyes glittering like eerie lamps in the darkness.
“Allthanks to me, dearheart. You wouldn’t even exist without me. You wouldn’t have called such interesting Blood to your side if I had not intervened. You would still be trundling back and forth from an insignificant Scandinavian house to a tiny Minnesotan cabin to have your memories wiped, your power muzzled, and your wings clipped. Perhaps I should focus my efforts on your wolf brother instead. At least he’s not too scared to bare his teeth and claws.”
“That’s very interesting,” I said lightly. Allowing my lips to quirk ever so slightly, I willed my blood to pour from the bite marks on my wrist.
Blood fountained from my arm, cascading across the steps.
“By the magic flowing in my blood, I call upon Lady Hel and all powers of Her Infinite Darkness to lock Loki out of my blood circles. Never again allow his power to reach inside House Ironheart. I cast you out,father. Out of my life. Out of my house. Out of Miðgarðr entirely.”
“As you wish.” His eyes slitted. Green pulsed around him, cocooning him in a glowing emerald sphere. “I will burn the world for you when you call upon me in your darkest moment of need. Only I will be able to save you. Though you are appropriately named, daughter with the iron heart.”
26
DÖRR
My queen. So courageous despite her initial fear. I stood at her back, arms shifted into brutal swords, wings cocked and ready to leap into her defense, but there was no need.
She forced the god of mischief from her home with her very own power.
As soon as he disappeared, she lifted her bleeding wrist to me. I quickly licked the wounds closed and cleaned her skin of any trace of blood. I couldn’t resist allowing a low rumble of hunger and pleasure to roll from my chest. “He lies, my queen. In your darkest hour of need, I will be at your back, just like I am now. Nothing will ever force me from your side.”
“And I will always hear you,” Heimdallr added. “You won’t even have to be able to speak my name aloud. I will hear your thoughts and attend to you at once, from anywhere the Bifröst can reach.”
Still holding Clara’s hand, Helayna leaned back against me, allowing tension to bleed away. She sagged for just a moment, her body shaking. “Did it work? Or will he be able to reappear inside the blood circle?”
“With Loki, who can say?” Heimdallr replied. “It certainly drove him away now, so count it as a win. Your magic is a formidable obstacle he must heed. But also don’t assume he will never pop back inside the blood circle when you least expect it, because no one’s better than him at finding a way to weasel through a loophole.”
“Great.” She straightened, shaking her head ruefully. “I sent a mental warning to Eivind in case Loki decides to approach him, but I don’t know my brother will take it seriously.”
Clara gave her a concerned frown. “I don’t know if you’re aware of Narve’s lineage, but he’s descended from Loki as well through Fenrir. I admit, I always worried Loki would use Eivind to try and start Ragnarök. Perhaps that’s why he’s always feared being chained so much. He doesn’t want to end up trapped like Fenrir.”
“He runs to avoid his fear.” Heimdallr shook his head. “Which only brings his greatest fears to fruition.”
“Now he burns with sunfires,” Helayna said softly. “He’s a danger to Karmen. The wolf who swallowed the sun. I wish I could warn her.”
“I’ll reach out to the Isador consiliarius so they can get word to her,” Clara promised. “I’m sure she’s well protected by her Blood, but it won’t hurt to warn them.”
