They didn't see it because they'd covered their eyes, but Axoular and I saw the moment it shimmered away. Behind the illusion of the wall stood a woman in a stone doorway.
Axoular roared and I unholstered my gun as quickly as I could. “Who are you?” I asked.
She stepped forward, rolling her curvaceous hips.
I had to be honest with myself. The woman was the sexiest creature I'd ever seen, but also one of the most dangerous.
Elias's eyes recovered the fastest. “Valkyrie,” he inclined his head. “We have no desire to fight you.”
“I bet you don't,” she said, voice deeper than mine, and I had a husky voice. It wasn't masculine, just rich. “I would kill you.”
“What is your name, Valkyrie?” I asked.
“You may call me Kára.”
Anthony's mouth dropped. “TheKára?”
She inclined her head. “You must leave here now. I don’t want to kill you, who would not be welcomed in Valhalla.” She studied me. “You might be welcome by Frejya inFólkvangr.”
I couldn't help feeling a little proud hearing her words. Her demeanor of power and elegance made me want to impress her. I looked around at my group and realized they were all in a state of awe.
“No disrespect, Kára, but I need to get past you.”
“I can't allow that, Dragon. I must protect this space.”
“I'm Riley, Kára, and I can help you. If I kill Dumadi, will his hold over you break?”
Her face blanched. “He has no hold over me.”
My lies are necessary, Dragon. He holds my children.
I blinked. She'd spoken but her lips hadn't moved.
I'm in your head, Dragon.
“We will fight you, if necessary,” I said, but at the same time tried to think at her.How can we help you?
Her mouth moved, but I couldn't hear the words she said to cover our conversation.We must find my children before he dies. If he dies before he reveals their location, they'll starve to death wherever they're hidden.
Anthony snapped out of his reverie. “Valkyrie, you don't use magic, not as these witches do. Your power is different. How are you able to block the spells of these witches?”
I looked around and saw my wonderful backup entourage of witches staring at Kára with narrowed eyes. They'd joined hands behind me and muttered under their breath. I hadn't even noticed.
“That is for me to know, Supay.”
Anthony raised an eyebrow, then looked at me, at a loss how to proceed. The Valkyrie, from what I knew of them, were the fiercest warriors known. We didn't want to fight one and be slaughtered, nor did we want to fight one and kill her, risking a war with the others.
Dragon, I don't wield the magic protecting me from your spells. They're using me as a power siphon. If you can get around me and find the warlock that is nearby and kill her, my powers will only be in battle. And I highly doubt you can kill me. Feel free to try. If you succeed, I only ask that you find my children. I'll go home to Freyja and await the coming Ragnarök.
“Right then, only one thing to do,” I said, raising my gun and firing in rapid succession.Please don't die.
She moved before I had time to pull the trigger the first time, rolling to the right. I stopped wasting bullets and holstered my gun, grabbing Cindy and running through the door, away from the fight.Don't kill my people!I wasn't sure if she'd hear the shout from my mind, but I tried.
Cindy jerked away from me. “What are you doing?” she hissed, looking around in the dark cave. We had no light and no idea where we were going.
I pressed my lips against her ear. “We gotta find the magic-user that is siphoning energy from the Valkyrie,” I spoke as softly as I could, and luckily, she heard.
I looked back toward the entrance to the dark tunnel and watched as someone flew past the door, having been thrown if my guess was correct.Be safe.
