Souls (Runes series) Read online

  It was nice to have him around, but I didn’t want to be selfish. “Shouldn’t you be reaping?”

  “I’m playing hooky.”

  “By chasing my friend through an Oregon forest? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know. You went to search for Dev and didn’t find him. Earlier you mentioned Grimnir Bounty Hunters.”

  He scooped me up. I smothered a scream and wrapped my arms around his neck. He continued walking without breaking stride, his runes flashing.

  “Put me down,” I protested.

  “When we catch up with her. She’s engaged her runes, and you still don’t have enough speed ones. What exactly has that Valkyrie been teaching you?”

  “Lavania is…” My voice trailed off when we entered a clearing and I saw Raine looking around with her hand covering her mouth. All around us were fallen trees, their leaves withering. Most had been uprooted, a few cracked near the base or split as though someone had hacked them with a giant axe.

  I wiggled out of Echo’s arms and went to Raine’s side. The look in her eyes was hard to watch. Could she really feel the dying trees?

  “I hate them, Cora,” she whispered, fighting tears. “They could have fixed this, but they chose not to.”

  I gripped her arm and tried not to cringe at the devastation. It was huge, yet I hadn’t heard anything on the news about it. But then again, the area was far off the trail. Most people probably had missed it.

  “Can you contact them to fix this?” I asked.

  Raine shook her head. “I’m fixing it. It’s my fault.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “It just is.” She freed her arms and reached down to touch a tree truck. Then she knelt near an exposed root and stroked it, her touch gentle. A sob escaped her.

  “Raine?” I squatted beside her, but her eyes had changed color. They were glowing golden. I’d only seen them like that once when she’d gotten a vision. Was she getting one now?

  Then she did something strange. She pushed her fingers into the soil. Maybe the strength runes on her face and arms made the act seem so effortless. Or maybe she was really one with the earth. Her eyes closed, tears rolling down her cheeks and dropping on the ground.

  “Come,” Echo whispered, taking my arm.

  “She needs me.” I tried to jerk my arm away. His grip tightened.

  “Not now. She needs to heal them, and you’ll only get hurt.”

  “Get hurt? What are you talking about?”

  “You’ll see. Come on.” He led me to edge of the nearest standing trees, leaned against the trunk, and wrapped his arms around my waist.

  Raine was muttering something under her breath, tears still streaming down her face. I wasn’t sure what to think. I stopped being skeptical about supernatural abilities the day I learned soul reapers were real. But what could she do?

  “What is she chanting?” I whispered.

  “Probably apologizing for having ignored them. Her kind doesn’t usually chant.”

  My eyes widened as the fallen trees around Raine slowly moved as though being pushed and pulled by invisible fingers. Their roots sank into the earth. One tree near Raine would have hit her, but it shifted ever so slightly and missed her on its way up. Once upright, the leaves appeared to lose their limpness as though water filled them. More trees rose, the effect spreading from where Raine knelt as though she was the epicenter, and the magic flowed from her fingers.

  “Wow,” I whispered, awed.

  “A Norn’s work is never done.”

  “You call her that again and you won’t like the consequences,” a familiar voice said calmly from behind us, and we turned to find Torin leaning against a tree, arms crossed, his eyes on Raine. He didn’t seem angry, just resigned.

  “Still in denial, Valkyrie?” Echo teased him.

  Something flashed in Torin’s eyes. “Screw you, Grimnir.”

  Echo chuckled. “Sorry, don’t swing that way.”

  “Thanks.” I wasn’t sure whether he was still talking to Echo or me, until his eyes connected with mine. “Somehow I knew she wouldn’t resist coming out to check on the forest. I’m happy she didn’t come alone.”

  Raine said he could sense when she needed him. He’d probably felt her pain and come running. Echo claimed he knew when I needed him, too, and had proven it over and over again when difficult souls hijacked my body. Each time he smirked smugly. I hugged his arm as we watched Raine practice her elemental magic.

  The forest healed. No tree, bush, or vine was left on the ground. Even the ones with broken branches and cracked trunks were whole again. Leaves no longer looked starved for food and water, buds bloomed and even petals on the ground were back on the branches. It was hard to believe my best friend could do something this, I don’t know, amazing. Made what I did with the souls and their loved ones seem so unimpressive.

  Raine stood and looked toward us, her eyes still glowing. She laughed and turned around with her arms stretched. Hugged a tree. Smelled a flower. Kissed a leaf. A few seconds ago, she’d been performing something only a goddess would do. Now she was acting like a child at a candy store.

  “You have a tree hugger for a best female friend,” Echo murmured.

  Literally. I grinned.

  Torin chuckled and walked past us. I didn’t hear the exchange between him and Raine, but her laughter rang out. I could swear the trees swayed and whistled back.

  “She’s a healer,” I said.

  “A Norn,” Echo corrected. “Unless she finds a way to use her powers to her advantage and beat the older Norns at their game, she will leave him to join them.”

  “Don’t say that. He’d be devastated.”

  Echo shrugged. “He’ll get over it.”

  I glanced at him. “You, my love, have no idea what you are talking about. If you knew how he feels about…”

  Jealousy flared in his eyes. “And how do you know about his feelings for her?”

  “He told me,” I teased him, but it only made him scowl harder. “When his mother used my body to communicate with him, you impossible reaper.”

  The jealousy melted away. He grinned. “Want to have lunch with me?”

  “Will you tell me about GBHs?”

  He frowned. “What’s that?”

  “Grimnir Bounty Hunters.”

  “Nope.” No explanation or excuses.

  I studied his expression and saw through his tough exterior. He was mad at himself for not finding Dev. Echo was a hands-on kind of guy who hated depending on others. That he had to use these bounty hunters to find Dev must have been eating at him, and I wasn’t going to rub it in. He’d tell me everything when he was ready.

  I glanced at my watch. I had several hours to kill before heading to the nursing home. “Okay, let’s do lunch, my reaper. Can we ask them to join us?”

  “No.”

  “Echo—”

  “I want you to myself, and I know the perfect place to go. First, we have to stop by a sandwich store.”

  “We’re having a picnic? I know the perfect spot not far from here.”

  He looked around and shuddered. “No. I hate outdoors. Especially forests.”

  I didn’t ask him to explain because I already knew. His people had hidden in the forest while being hunted down by Roman soldiers. I wanted to replace every terrible memory he had. It might take centuries, maybe even millennia, but I wasn’t giving up.

  I reached up, wound my arms around his neck, and kissed him, pouring all my love, hopes, and dreams into the kiss. He welcomed me as usual, not holding back, taking charge of my senses and owning them. Every shaky breath, every nip, every groan claimed me.

  Laughter penetrated the sensual haze surrounding me, and I ripped my mouth from Echo’s.

  “You guys need the forest to yourselves?” Raine teased.

  “Yes,” I said, my arms tightening around Echo’s waist.

  He shuddered. “No. We’re right beh
ind you.”

  I sighed. Some ghosts were harder to run from. The forest could wait, but I wasn’t giving up. I would find a way to make those ugly memories go away.

  4. GRIMNIRS

  “Let’s hang out, guys,” Raine said, her eyes volleying between me and Echo. Was it my imagination or did she seem more energetic than earlier? It was as though healing the forest had sparked something inside her. Torin couldn’t seem to rip his eyes away from her.

  “What she means is we need to talk, so grab a seat while I make lunch. You forgot to say please, Freckles.”

  “Like this?” Raine walked to him and kissed him. Not an innocent peck. More like an I-want-to-devour-you, tongue-dueling invasion of the senses. I felt the heat from across the room.

  Torin staggered backwards when she finished. “Hel’s Mist, Freckles,” he muttered then turned and stumbled toward the kitchen.

  Raine grinned and glanced at us. “I needed that.”

  “What happened to you?”

  “Using my powers unleashes this thing inside of me, and I just want to—” She blinked as though realizing what she’d said, and color rushed to her cheeks. “Kissing him makes my world right again. Um, come on.”

  She led the way to the kitchen. Echo and I followed slowly. Raine had just acted out of the norm, totally blindsiding me. Did magic affect her that much? There were certain things she didn’t discuss with me, but this was one I needed details about. Everyone knew my reaction to possession. Heck, they kept Twizzlers in every house just for that. I often craved them once I was done with souls. She obviously craved Torin.

  Femi, Mr. Cooper’s nurse, cut us off, her eyes on Echo’s face. “Ah, here’s my hero and his lovely girlfriend.”

  Echo stiffened, and my antennas buzzed.

  “Hero?” I asked.

  “We fought side by side, that’s all,” Echo said quickly.

  “He’s being modest,” Femi corrected. The combination of blue eyes and golden-brown skin gave the Egyptian an exotic look. She only reached up to Echo’s chin and had to tilt her head back to stare into his face. “You saved my life more than once.”

  “It was nothing.”

  Femi chuckled. “I’ll have you know, my dear, that my life means everything to me. If you ever need a favor, find me.”

  “That won’t—”

  “Ever happen, I know,” she finished and laughed. “What could I, a mere Immortal, possibly do to help Hel’s favorite son? Men.” She shook her head, and we exchanged a smile. Female bonding moment ensued. “Come find me if you need anything, doll.”

  I nodded. “I will.”

  She patted my arm and continued toward the den where Raine’s father now slept. Echo and I joined the others. He was uncomfortable with praise. How silly.

  “You’re my hero,” I whispered, hugging his arm.

  “That cape I wear with pride.”

  In the kitchen, Torin was busy arranging condiments on the counter. Echo had been itching to leave when we were in the forest, but now he seemed, I don’t know, content to stay. Worse, I saw the look he and Torin exchanged. It had serious ominous undertones.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Torin paused in the process of opening the fridge door. “Echo told us evil souls were around. The Earl lost about six Immortals, and their souls disappeared before the fight ended. They might be gunning for us.”

  “We just want to make sure we’re on the same page on what to do if they bother you,” Raine said, going to stand by Torin. She rubbed his back. She couldn’t seem to keep her hands off him.

  I glanced at Echo. He looked preoccupied. “You didn’t tell them about Dev?”

  “He is none of their business,” Echo whispered back. “He’s mine.”

  “Ours,” I corrected.

  Lunch turned out to be fun and long. Echo even relaxed and teased Torin about his miniature sandwiches, which were amazing. Then conversation became serious.

  “I think you should go on a helping-souls freeze until we round up all the souls of the Earl’s Immortals,” Torin suggested. Echo nodded with more enthusiasm than I liked. Raine didn’t jump on their bandwagon. Possibly because she knew me. I never ran from anything.

  I shook my head. “What if I knew the people before they died? I’ve helped quite a few from the local hospitals and nursing homes, and I’m not going to stop just because of a few angry souls.”

  “Cora,” Torin and Echo said at the same time, but Raine raised her hands and stopped them.

  “Don’t gang up on her,” she said. “I agree with her. She can’t stop helping others out of fear.” Both men groaned. She just ignored them. “We have to come up with another way to protect her.”

  “Thanks for the support,” I said, and we high-fived.

  Torin looked ready to argue. He glared at Echo. “You need to reason with your woman.”

  My jaw dropped.

  Echo laughed. “How about you focus on yours. I don’t see her agreeing with you. One kiss and you turn into a doormat.”

  Torin glanced at Raine. “Really?”

  “We don’t kiss,” she said, leaning into him. “We affirm. With a touch, a look, or a smile.” She kissed him again. Or maybe it was the other way around because when he lifted his head, she wore a dazed expression.

  Okay, whatever she was on, I wanted some of it. I tried to jump from Echo’s lap and drag her upstairs for a girly chat, but Echo’s arms tightened. He’d pulled me onto his lap during lunch.

  “Where were we?” Torin asked. “Oh yeah. You said you had everything covered when Cora’s not at school.”

  “Yep.” Echo rubbed his cheek against my arm. “They won’t bother her, or if they do, I’ll know.”

  Torin frowned. “What if you’re at the bottom floor in Hel?”

  “I’ll know, Valkyrie,” Echo vowed.

  Their gazes locked. Then Torin nodded as though some super macho message had just passed between them.

  “Alright, the others will cover the school. If you see any soul you don’t recognize, find Raine, Blaine, or Ingrid. Yeah, I’m bringing them in the loop,” he added when Echo scowled. “Andris and I are gone most of the day. We only have one class this semester, and even that’s for show. Do you carry your artavus to school, Cora?”

  “Yes. I’ve used it to threaten a few difficult souls.”

  “Make good on your threat next time,” Torin said. “Immortals’ souls are not like Mortals’. They’re sneaky and will not leave your body until they’re good and ready. By then it’ll be too late.”

  “Not if I have anything to do with it.” Echo’s voice was chilling.

  “Your scythe won’t work on them the way it does on regular souls, Echo,” Torin snapped. “Once they’re inside her, there’s not much you can do unless you slice her open.”

  I shivered while Echo snarled. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

  Torin shook his head. His expression was calm. “No, it’s not. She’s one of us and we’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, but I want you to be realistic.”

  Echo told him what he could do with his realism in three different languages—English, Druid, and sign. If they were plotting to scare me, they’d succeeded.

  Raine elbowed Torin. “You didn’t have to be so graphic.”

  “We’re dealing with dark souls, Raine. Graphic is all I have.”

  “If a possession happens, I can take care of it. My staff is a lot more powerful than a scythe or an artavus.”

  “Staff?” I asked.

  She glanced at Torin, who didn’t look too thrilled with the change of topic. “The dagger the Norns gave me is not what it seems.”

  I sat up. “Really? What is it? Can we see it?”

  Another glance at Torin then Raine nodded. He wore a weird expression as he watched her walk away. Once she disappeared through the portal, he sighed, glanced at us, and scowled. I noticed why. Echo was studying him with a half-smile.

  “Something funny, Grimnir?” Torin
asked.

  “They gave her a staff, Valkyrie. Who’s not being realistic now?”

  Torin leaned back and pushed his fingers through his hair, but the locks fell back on his forehead. “Evil hags.”

  “Ahh, they’re the good ones. Sometimes you can’t fight the inevitable.”

  Torin cocked his eyebrow. “Wanna bet?”

  “How many rules are you willing to break?” Echo shot back.

  Torin’s eyes drifted to me before reconnecting with Echo’s. Then he smirked. “Every last one of them.”

  His British accent tended to be more noticeable when he was angry. He hated what Raine was becoming.

  “What do you think, doll-face? Should he break rules to stop Raine from joining the Norns?”

  “Absolutely. As long as Raine is in on it,” I said. “You go behind her back and she’ll never forgive you.” I tilted my head, and my eyes met Echo’s. “You help him and you’ll be sorry, too.”

  “You couldn’t hurt me, doll-face,” Echo said.

  Torin laughed softly, but I ignored him, choosing to focus on Echo.

  “Could too. And I don’t mean what you two do, pounding on each other. That’s just stupid.”

  Echo kissed my arm. “But it’s also a fun way of releasing steam.”

  I cocked my brow. “There are more fun ways of de-stressing.”

  He glanced at Torin, and the two of them exchanged grins. Heat rushed to my cheeks. Seriously? “I didn’t mean the two of you should, uh, you know.”

  “Define you know,” Torin said, blue eyes twinkling.

  “Yes, Cora-mio,” Echo piped in. “What exactly is you know?”

  The stinker. He was supposed to be on my side. I elbowed him and jumped off his lap. “You two,” I pointed at them, “have filthy minds, worse than old man Reeds.” My watch said it was a quarter to two. “I’m going to find Raine. Then I’m heading to the nursing home before my shift starts.”

  “Who in Hel’s Mist is Reeds?” Torin asked as I walked away.

  “One of her charges at the nursing home. He has a crush on her and is always complimenting her. I’m thinking about putting the old fart out of his misery and personally escorting his soul to the island.”