Arturo spun on his heel, and Nanshe cried out in frustration before jumping in front of him again, standing to her full height. “You listen here, wolf. I have no doubt of your power and your strength. I know how strong you are. You forget I am the Past Norn and am well aware of your history, the loss of your family, the loss of the woman you loved and the child you could not save.”
Arturo balled his fists and bared his sharp canines. “It's best for you to be quiet now unless you're going to show me exactly who killed the people who meant everything to me.”
“They did,” she said, “and because of what happened to them, you have become the man you are today and the ruler of the pack you own. Some things in history are unnecessary, much like what I am now certain my mate saw. But he does not understand history has to happen the way that it has. Thereisa possibility of making things have a different outcome. So you're going to help me find him because he is out there alone and there's danger.”
“I don't have to help you do anything unless you're going to give me something in return. You forget, I am a Born wolf and a Made Man. I am not simply some man you can order around and expect me to listen to everything you say. I have wolves and mages in my stead that I have to protect. I recognize the essence of a mate and how important as it is, and I am sure my wolf did not explain to you exactly who I am, but I’m fucking deadly and known to be so for a reason. If I am kind, it is because it is within my good-fucking-will. Nothing more. You would do better to remember.”
Nanshe screamed. “I refuse to pay any mind to how strong you think you are. I want to know my mate is safe, and he is not. I know what he must have seen.”
“Well, if you know what he's seen, you know where he's gone and you know why. Leave him be. If any wolf decides to leave their mate behind, they believe it is better for them to do so. I must trust that wolf. Our mates always come first. For him to make such a sacrifice and leave his pack in order to do so is no small thing. Itmeanssomething, Nanshe.”
“He doesn't know what is happening, Arturo.” Nanshe sighed. “Please. I have to help him.”
“What is it you think he has seen?”
Nanshe swallowed. Even the idea of telling Arturo made pain streak through her. Damn these godsforsaken rules.
“I see the telling silence, which means it's important and you can't say what it is. Well, here’s the deal. I am an Alpha, and my job is to protect my people. If you can't tell me why, and there's no one here to help, I must do this the way I have always done it. Stay here where you're safe. I can promise that when I find him, I will let you know he is okay.”
“That is not good enough, Alpha.”
“Well, it is what you will take. I am Alpha here, not you.”
Nanshe bowed her head in feigned acquiescence, finished with the Alpha and his pissing contest. She knew there was no way she would get the wolf to hear her, no matter what she said. Right now, all she could hope to do was maybe try to find him herself.
She stalked out of Arturo’s home. Outside, the fresh air and open space would feel better on her while she worked to scan the histories.
Yes, she knew that being with him could lead to her death. It had many times in the past. But what he didn't understand, and what he probably didn't stay within the vision long enough to see, was that her death was attached to things he had already changed by accepting her instead of turning her away.
He had potentially changed that outcome. Or at least that was what she hoped for. She would not believe a Norn would be created to be a mate only to be ripped apart. Norns could not die. Not entirely. They would always be reborn into a different body, a different time, or even reincarnated. Yes, they could lose this particular life and forget memories and have to start again, but once a Norn, always a Norn.
That’s how things had always been. As long as that rule hadn’t changed, it would continue that way. But she was determined to fight against time itself. Her happiness and the happiness of her mate were worth it.
The cool air kissed her skin, lifting her hair away from her shoulders. She could still smell the remnants of fire from where the dragon had ripped through the land. The people here were strong, and they were slowly rebuilding. And when Skuld came again, she would be met with resistance. These people would not let her simply tear their apart home and not deliver an answering blow.
It was something Skuld was not accustomed to. She always got her way and never had anyone to challenge her as fully as the wolves had. Nanshe felt a sense of pride because she knew her mate was one of those wolves fighting against her sister. He would not allow Skuld to take away his home without fighting tooth and nail first.
The ground beneath her feet rumbled as she scanned through history, looking for Carlo, looking for any trace of him and what changes he might have made to history. The ground rumbled harder, shaking her off her balance until she slammed to the earth. When she hit the ground, her eyes snapped open.
That was not history. Above her, a portal opened just inches away and Skuld peered through it.
“Got you.”
CARLO SPRANG OUT OFhis sleep, coughing and dispelling the vision that had clouded his mind. What the hell was that? Had he viewed history again? But it seemed he had just left.
What was happening?
He looked around himself, trying to get a sense of where he had passed out after going through his portal. He was lying in the middle of scorched land that was twisted and gnarled beyond recognition.
This was not home.
He'd intended to be teleported to New York City, one of the older locations for paranormals where the vampires resided. Even though that was their domain, he still had family property there from when he was human way back in the 50s. But this was not New York. The dragon had never touched the city or destroyed anything there.
Where am I?
He stood, trying to get his bearings, until he heard his name being called and he spun around. Torin was racing toward him.
“What the fuck are you doing in Scorched Earth?”
