“What is it?”
“You must pretend to be mine as well. It’s essential to my research that I bring a date to meet my family.”
“Your research? What does that have to do with our false courtship?”
“It’s a secret. I’d rather not discuss it until I’m certain it’s ready. Trust me when I say that my research could benefit shifters greatly—including your family. But that’s only if my family knows they can trust ulfhednar.”
This is insanity. He won’t say yes.
“Agreed.”
I can’t believe my luck! “Oh, marvelous! What’s your number? Text me all the details, and I’ll see you later tonight.”
We exchange numbers, and Lyall leaves, looking like he’s just been struck by a train. I can’t wipe the smile from my face. Thisis genius! Lyall will utterly charm my family, and I will have that potion ready in no time.
After I see Gunnar at dinner tonight. No, he won’t be there. Will he? Oh goddess! Will Lyall even survive dinner if Gunnar thinks we’re dating?
My joy sinks like a stone into my stomach.
Fuck. What have I gotten myself into?
Chapter 3
Gunnar
I could not bringmyself to stay for supper with my family and Arlo. I thought I could until I’d opened the door and seen them holding hands. I’d wanted to tackle my brother to the ground and make him regret putting his hands on my mate.
But Arlo isn’t mine. Will never be mine. Nor do I want him to be.
Still. It would take a stronger man than I ever could be to watch the man I was destined to be with choose my own damn brother over me.
But why shouldn’t he? Lyall is kind, fiercely loyal, and devoted to those he loves.
Which is why Lyall’s actions make no sense at all.
Ever since we exiled Soren, Lyall has never so much as looked at another person with interest. Soren may have betrayed us, but he and my brother were still mated. Could Lyall have truly moved on? Mayhap, but there’s a voice inside me that snarls a warning.
Something is not right.
As the days pass and my family sees less and less of Lyall, my suspicions grow fangs and claws. He’s hiding something, just as I feared from the start.
There is only one way to find out what, and it could cost me everything. If I’m right, and I fear I am, then knowing and doing nothing could cost me my brother. I’ve already lost so much. I will not lose him, too.
In the dark of night, I enter the longhouse as quietly as I can. Kieran keeps a branch of Yggdrasil in their home. The branch of the World Tree connects all nine realms, and my family uses it to travel across time to visit friends in the future. Shame curdles in my stomach as I leave the house with the branch in hand. Only cravens sneak around like thieves, but I will return it as soon as I can. Even Odin used deceit in the pursuit of knowledge, power, and the means to protect his kin.
I leave the village behind and head for the beach where our boats are moored. I drag a rowboat out into the water and take up the oars. The waves carry me out to sea. The branch of Yggdrasil is smooth in my hand. I run my thumb over the rune for home, carved into the center of the branch.
Home can mean many things, but to me, it means pack and brotherhood. Squeezing the branch, I close my eyes and think of Lyall. His smile is the first thing that comes to mind, bright as sunshine on a clear day. He always made me laugh with his antics when we were children. He’d challenge us to lick icicles and keep our tongues there until it started to burn or to breath-holding competitions when we went swimming.
My throat thickens.
Gods, if anything has happened to him—
There’s a flash of light behind my closed eyes.
Ahead of me, a shimmering portal yawns wide over the water.
I row until my shoulders burn and the light obscures my vision.
