The ghostly deer danced on its feet, and the head was tossed back, the solid antlers nearly hitting a blown-out light fixture. “What makes you think I know?”
“Because you’re here to gloat. I’d sew your mouth shut if I thought it would do us any good.”
“I have needle and thread in my bag. Say the word,” Eir said, the spear in her hands not moving a millimeter.
Loki laughed in a way that made Jono’s bones hurt. Fenrir sank his claws into Jono’s soul but remained quiet. Jono didn’t know if it was out of fear or self-preservation.
Thor vaulted over the bar counter, landing with a heavy thud. He straightened up to his full height, tiny lightning bolts arcing over Mjölnir’s corners, the short handle swallowed up in his grip. “Too scared to show your face in person, Loki?”
“I wouldn’t have shown up at all if not for my traitorous son.” The skull swung to face Jono, its eye holes glowing with an eerie yellow light. “Hel will never welcome you again if you commit to this path. Would you give up your home for a war you can’t win?”
Jono’s bones thrummed with a growl only he could hear. Patrick glanced back at him, and Jono half thought Fenrir would take control again, but the god remained silent.
Loki’s laughter made Jono’s skin crawl. “If that is your choice, then war it shall be.”
The ghostly skeleton flickered and disappeared, like a glitch on a computer screen. The bone skull clattered to the floor, every spear point following its fall.
Brynhildr spun her spear to rest the metal-shod butt on the floor. She looked over at Thor, mouth pulled into a taut frown. “What are your orders?”
“Ride,” Thor said.
Brynhildr nodded sharply. She angled her spear to press the tip to her throat. Even as the weapon spun in the air, it shrank until it was once again the size of a pendant she hooked to the leather cord around her neck.
“We’ll search for the Allfather. What will you do?” she asked.
“There is a fundraiser dinner scheduled at Au Hall tomorrow night. There are meetings I must take today in Odin’s place.”
“I thought you’d be out searching for him?” Patrick asked.
“Odin would be displeased if we ignored the business of politics in this city.”
Patrick snorted. “Keeping the throne warm?”
Thor ignored him and turned to set Mjölnir on the bar counter near Wade, who stared at it with narrowed eyes and took a slow, contemplative bite of his apple.
“Don’t steal his hammer,” Jono warned.
“I wasn’t going to!” Wade protested.
“You were thinking about it.”
Hinon slid off his barstool and tugged his jacket straight over his shoulders. “I’ll help with your search from on high.”
“Thank you, cousin,” Thor said.
The immortal headed for the exit, knocking a fist against Thor’s shoulder as he went. “This is everyone’s war, not just yours. We’ll find Odin.”
“What are we doing?” Wade asked.
Patrick sheathed his dagger, scowling at Jono. “I drive you guys back to the hotel and Jono here tells me why Eir offered to heal him before I go back to work.”
This time, Jono couldn’t bite back the wince.
13
“What happened?”
Jono sighed. “Can we not do this in the car? I’m fine.”
