I didn’t want to let Thorin in, didn’t want there to be more between us than an agreement, a compact based on our mutual need for survival. His last words to me at the Aerie had indicated he wanted the same thing: distance, objectivity. But there he sat, slumped beside me in a dingy motel room in Sacramento, offering compassion. His presence felt like a lot more than a cold business agreement.
“I didn’t deceive you on purpose. At the Aerie. I was trying to protect you.”
Thorin exhaled a heavy breath. “I know that, and I should probably express my gratitude.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure that’s not really in the nature of a god, either, is it?”
Thorin looked at me, his eyes warm and brown. “Not so much.” His expression turned serious again. “I am immortal, Solina, and not so easy to kill. Going forward, I need to know you appreciate that fact. You should never make the choice to risk yourself for me or Val or any of our kind.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come. I shook my head, cleared my throat, and started again. “I understand. I do. But in the short time you’ve known me, you must have realized I’m not the type to sacrifice others to save myself. Which brings me to the reason I called you.”
“It wasn’t because you were longing for my companionship?” Thorin waved in a dismissive gesture. “Don’t worry. I won’t make you admit it.”
I laughed, thankful for the offering of his humor. “I do welcome your company, but you’re right, it’s not the reason I reached out to you. What I really want is to have your help in accomplishing two things.” I held up my index finger. “First, I want to stop running and hiding. I want us to be more proactive about our approach to Helen and Skoll. Get them before they get us.”
“And the second thing?”
I raised my middle finger, making a pair. “I want you to help me find Skyla.”
Thorin’s jaw slackened, and he blinked several times, obviously overcome by surprise. Then he recovered his composure and said, “I can agree with being proactive, but I don’t see how hunting for Skyla would be the best use of our time and resources right now. Why should we make finding her a priority?”
“Why? Because if you don’t help me, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of my life chasing me down and hoping you find me before the wolf does.”
That got him. Thorin sobered and rubbed his jaw. He raised his chin and peered down his nose at me, but a twinkle shone in his eye. “That’s not being proactive. That’s just wasting time.”
“Chasing me is a waste of time? You’re probably right, but chasing Skyla wouldn’t be. She’s my number-one ally. She didn’t abandon me when I needed her most, and now it’s my turn to not abandon her. Don’t tell me you don’t appreciate loyalty, Thorin. I know how you feel about Baldur.”
“If I were to agree to your demands”—Thorin’s eyebrow arched high in skepticism—“how would we even begin? She could be anywhere. Or nowhere. You should be prepared for the worst.”
“I know that.” I had, in a weak moment, admitted to myself that Skyla might be dead, but I wouldn’t abandon her until I had verified her death. No amount of reasoning would change my mind. “But I have to know, either way.”
“Should I call Nate and ask him to tell us what happened? Schedule a meeting and demand proof of life?”
“Do you think he would respond to that?”
Thorin gave me a what-do-you-think look.
I shrugged. “Well, if you don’t think Helen or Nate would be willing to just hand Skyla over, assuming they took her in the first place, then I might have another idea about how to track her down.”
Thorin’s head tilted, and his brows drew together. “What’s that?”
“Baldur. He’s an expert in searching for missing women, no?”
Thorin nodded.
“And how does he do that? Cross his fingers and pray for good luck?”
“He’s created an extensive information-gathering network,” Thorin said. “He’s always had such a thing, in one form or another. He’s always used it to find Nina.”
“Information-gathering network?” I laughed. “How come, when you say that, I picture courier pigeons and tin cans strung between bedroom windows? How’s his Morse code?”
“Don’t be so critical,” Thorin said. “You’d be surprised how well we’ve adapted over the years.”
“Okay, then. You’ve proven my point. Baldur is our best chance for finding Skyla. Let’s get to Baldur, plug Skyla into his system, and see what turns up. At the same time, we can track down Skoll.”
“And then what?”
I rubbed my hands together and grinned. “Then we kill him.”
Thorin had arrived via Aesir Interdimensional Expressway, and he didn’t offer to take us to New Breidablik on the same route. One of these days, I’m going to find out how they move around like they do. Instead, Thorin whipped out his cell phone and made a call, to order a car to come pick us up. After securing our transportation, Thorin called Val and shared our plans to reunite with Baldur at New Breidablik.
“If you want to know the details,” Thorin said, “meet us at the Executive Airport in Sacramento… Yes, Sacramento… Don’t ask. I’ll tell you later.”
“We’re taking your jet?” I asked after Thorin ended the call.
“No. It’s booked. We’ll charter a private flight.”
God of Thunder and Lord of Deep Pockets. The Aesir’s wealth was a handy resource for funding the prevention of the apocalypse. Sometimes, I felt a little guilty about all the money the Aesir spent on my behalf, but my logical side overruled my shame. It would’ve really sucked to have to say, “Sorry world, could have saved you, but I was too short on cash.”
After a while, a sleek black car rolled up to our door and honked. Thorin escorted me from the motel room and opened the car’s rear door. I eased into the buttery leather interior, all plush and full of new-car smell. Maybe I swooned a little. Thorin tossed my tote bags in the trunk and slipped around the car. He slid into the seat beside me and gave me a smug smile.
I waved in a gesture that encompassed the whole car. “Are you for real?”
“What do you mean?” Thorin asked as the driver reversed out of the parking lot, shifted into drive, and pulled onto the highway.
“I thought these were the cars the villains were supposed to drive.”
