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  Senior stood, placing his empty mug back onto the counter. I snatched mine up as I realised I might not get the chance to drink it. My addiction to tea was something I kept a tight secret. It was my tic.

  “Rusty...okay. I taught Isaac this spell when he was a teenager. I wanted him to grow into a powerful warlock so he could take over from me. He did well for the short time he did, but...”

  His throat bobbed as he came around the counter, his sentence left unspoken. Reaching a hand out to the dog, he waited for him to approach.

  Tugging on his collar, Chloe encouraged him to go to Senior. After a second, Rusty obliged, nudging the old man’s outstretched hand. Senior closed his eyes as he placed his palm onto the dog’s head. Rusty sat, his gaze glazing over.

  Nodding once, Senior opened his eyes and patted Rusty’s head before going back to his seat behind the counter.

  “Thank you!” Chloe said, trusting that he had delivered what we’d asked.

  “Rusty?” I called, not totally trusting that he had done the spell.

  The dog turned to me, looking directly into my eyes. I froze, solid. Trying to tug on my arms and legs, I groaned when I couldn’t even move my mouth to smile, let alone talk.

  “Okay, Rusty.” Chloe tapped the dog’s nose gently to break eye contact.

  He looked away, releasing me from the spell. It was stronger. Before, I had been able to move my mouth, but not this time. As long as the dog didn’t use it on any of us, it would be a brilliant weapon.

  “What do we owe you?” I asked, fishing into my pocket for my wallet.

  Senior held up his hand, his face severe. “Nothing!”

  “Nothing? I don’t think so.”

  The old man’s face grew hard, the stubbornness radiating off him. “You killed the...thing...that ended my son’s life. This is my gratitude.”

  “Most of the underground world believe it was Trygger’s fault that the leaders were kidnapped in the first place.”

  I could have strangled Chloe. Biting my tongue to stop myself from eliciting the words that wanted to lash her, I faced Senior.

  “If you hadn’t killed Victor, we would all be dead. That’s the way I view it. Now, please, go. I have customers waiting outside. You might want to use the back entrance, a Dark Crawler is lingering.”

  Shit. Nodding my thanks, I tugged Chloe’s arm as she tried to look out of the front window. If we didn’t hurry, I would have to kill it, and I really didn’t have the time or inclination to bathe myself in the stench of rotting flesh.

  “Over there.” Senior indicated a bright orange beaded curtain.

  Taking Rusty’s lead, I ducked through, swearing when I got caught on the beads. Chloe giggled behind me as she untangled the stupid flowery things from my jacket.

  “Bloody stupid...”

  “Come on!” She shoved me from behind as soon as I was free.

  Rushing through the corridor, I took us out the back door, into a concrete area. A car parked in the way of the exit, the window wound down. A short bald man, his moustache twitching, crooked his finger, calling me to him without any words.

  “Is that...?”

  What was it with the underworld leaders? We had shared an evening together, and all of a sudden, they wanted something from me. I had more important things to be getting on with.

  “Yes, that’s the police chief. Stay here.”

  Handing her Rusty’s lead, I approached the passenger window. The man wore a grey suit, his navy blue tie covered with pictures of guns. Dickhead.

  “What can I do for you?” I opened up the dialogue, not best pleased that my day was being interrupted by a corrupt human.

  The man’s lip turned up in a snarl. He had no idea that I was there, which meant he was around the back of the shop for a different reason. If he was there to threaten Senior, I would force him to change his mind.

  “I wasn’t here to see you, as you may have guessed. However, my running into you may have just saved the warlock.”

  “Saved?”

  Tipping his head to look up at me, he attempted a smile. It creased his ugly face, not making it any more attractive. No, he was an ugly bastard. Inside and out.

  “Get in,” he ordered.

  Raising my eyebrows, I went to the back door. Winking at Chloe, I got in, thankful for the blackout windows. When the door was shut, I sat forward, wound my arm around the copper’s chest and held my dagger to his throat.

  “What the fuck do you want with the warlock?”

  The wanker spluttered, completely caught off guard. His driver pulled a gun, aiming it at my head. I laughed, pushing the blade further into the detective’s skin.

  “Lower your weapon,” I ordered the hulking man.

  “Thomas?”

  Ah, that was his name. Or, surname, anyway. I hadn’t bothered to memorise every person who was at the club a week ago. Jack had been on the case, making sure to catalogue the leaders and their rescuers.

  The man tapped his arm. “Yes, do as he says.”

  If he swallowed too hard, the sharp blade would slice into his throat. It was best he kept his cool. Like me. I was calm.

  “I don’t think you know who I am, not really. You might think you do...all of you...but you’d be wrong. So, spread the word. I want a meeting with everyone who was at the club last week. Tomorrow night. Come back to the club and we’ll talk civilly. I won’t take any...threats...against each other, do you hear me?”

  “I’m not a fucking messenger.” The words ejected from his mouth, spittle following as he tried to keep completely still.

  Laughing, I sat forward to lean against the headrest. “Do me a favour? Knock yourself down a peg or two, won’t you? Or, I’ll do it for you. You’re a human, a weak-willed human. Trust me, you cannot take us down. So...it’s your choice. Tell everyone, or don’t. And, see what happens either way.”

  Whipping the dagger away, I stepped out of the car.

  Slamming the door, I smacked the roof. “Now, fuck off!”

  The engine started at the nod from Thomas as he rubbed his throat. As the car reversed away, I waved, blowing them a kiss.

  “You’ve got a death wish, haven’t you?” Chloe tugged Rusty’s lead as we made our way out of the alley.

  Grinning down at her, I winked. “Nah, I am the death wish. Anyone who wants to fuck with me...will wish they were dead.”

  2

  The Enemy’s Daughter

  “YOU’VE CALLED A meeting here?” Jack slapped the table, shaking the glasses.

  I lowered myself into the booth next to him, cringing when the leather seat dragged on my jeans. There was something disturbing about Jack’s favourite booth in his club. I hated to think of what he got up to under the cover of magic.

  We had come straight to the club from Senior’s shop, ready to tell Jack about our adventure. He had been looking into how much information Martin had been given about the club. If he did know of Kitty’s plan, he had hidden it well.

  “Yes, we’ve been bombarded by these people. They all want something now they know who I am. It’s time to put them out of their misery.”

  “You’re going to kill them all?” Chloe blurted, dragging a reluctant Rusty under the booth’s table.

  He had been stroked and adored by the people in the club. He wanted more. But, Chloe was being prissy about him. I didn’t blame her. If he turned that puppy dog gaze on anyone, they would realise he possessed magic. And, that wouldn’t go down too well.

  The music thumped, the beat vibrating through me. It was early, the sun had only just gone down. A handful of people were already dancing, awaiting the hours of sex, drugs and supernatural beings. Oh, the lure of just one night to be able to let my hair down and to release my pent up energy.

  Before Chloe had come into my life, I had been able to enjoy Jack’s club.

  “No, I’m not going to murder them. I’m going to tell them that I’m leaving London. I want them to get their shit together before I do.”

&
nbsp; Jack’s eyes bulged as he lowered his Martini. He had been sucking through a straw, his eyes glazing over as the alcohol went to his head. “You? Leaving London?”

  Nodding, I leant my arms on the table, facing him head on. “Yes. The next Fallen One will be somewhere else in the world. It was just pure luck that two happened to stay in London together. I’m not going to be so fortunate now.”

  Chloe ducked her head, her hand reaching down to pat Rusty’s head. Jack stared at me, his mouth hanging open.

  “What did you expect?” I said, not understanding their reaction. “I always move on.”

  “Trygger, you...have no idea...” Jack blinked as he waved at Serenity to get him another drink.

  Why the American student still worked for him, I had no idea. But, that wasn’t any of my business. She smiled, showing him a thumbs up as she went to work, mixing the drink.

  “What am I missing?” I asked, nudging Chloe in the arm to get her attention.

  She looked at me, a sadness seeping out from her eyes as her stare tried to wrap around me. What the hell? I didn’t understand. Jack was right...I had no idea.

  “Jack, Trygger has lived so long, the ten years you’ve known him are purely a drop in time. A speck. A...”

  “Okay, I get it, sweet cheeks,” my friend interrupted, clearing his throat. “The bastard is leaving London. Good riddance, that’s what I say. At least I can get back to my normal life, instead of saving his arse all the time, ah, mate?” His cheeks flushed red when I stared at him.

  He might try to pretend that he was joking, but his indifference wasn’t that well disguised. To be honest, I hadn’t thought the man would be so worried about me leaving. We were grown ups, after all.

  “Don’t panic, knob face,” I said, smiling at him. “You’ll have Chloe to keep you company.”

  “What?” Chloe’s shout made Rusty get up at the same time as Serenity approached with a pitcher.

  She yelped as the dog slammed into her legs, almost knocking her over. Thrusting to my feet, I caught the jug as it released from her hands. Setting it down on the table, I nodded my thanks without smiling.

  Her own smile faltered as she tried to make eye contact with Chloe, but Freya’s descendant glared at me so hard, the intensity could have burnt a hole in my heart. But, it didn’t.

  “I’m not staying here while you go to find the next Fallen One. Freya sent me to help you!”

  “She did?” Serenity gasped, crouching down to make a fuss of Rusty.

  That dog was getting way too much attention. Well, way more than me, anyway.

  “Chloe...” I warned.

  The stupid woman had just told an untrustworthy source that she was related to Freya in some way.

  “Erm...” Chloe didn’t know how to cover herself, which wasn’t unusual for the goddess’s offspring.

  If only Freya had given her more of her genes, I wouldn’t have to constantly, or mostly, cover for her.

  “She’s talking about her boss, nothing else. I need help. Chloe is my hired...guide dog.”

  The small fist that connected to my stomach made me huff and laugh at the same time. Chloe was easily offended, I knew that. However, it was entertaining to make fun of her. I never meant anything by it.

  “I know who you are, Trygger. I also knew that Freya would send someone to help you. And, I know where the next Fallen One is.” Serenity gloated, her hands on her hips. “Wait,” she quickly added when my face hardened. “Only because I’ve read the book.”

  “Book?” Jack asked for me.

  Serenity raised her eyebrows at Jack. He took the hint and moved along the seat, allowing her to sit next to him. Rubbing her tattooed arm, she took a deep breath before she levelled her dark brown eyes on me.

  “It was five years ago when I found a book in my local library back in Louisiana. At sixteen, I was a bit of a book nerd, you know? This Norse book was a story, legend...about you.”

  I tilted my head to the side, watching her as she spoke. Who had bothered to write about me?

  “That’s why I came to London. I may have got a little sucked into mythology, all kinds, but mostly Norse, since reading that book. Then, I found another book. A more up to date one.” Serenity glanced at Chloe, her eyes smiling at her.

  My apprentice smiled kindly but stiffened. She held distrust of the young woman, too. That was good, at least I knew that Chloe had the same judgement as me. Jack had forgiven the girl far too easily in my opinion. Trust no one. Ever. Especially if they had already proved themselves to be untrustworthy.

  “Who wrote the more up to date one?”

  Serenity played with her dark hair as a bouncer approached the booth. “Jack, someone is at the door asking for you. She said her name is Hannah. We didn’t let her in because we remembered what you said about the Hagalaz cult.”

  Jack went to get up, but I stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Wait. Serenity, finish what you were saying.”

  “I wasn’t saying anything,” she replied, her eyebrows raising in a cocky gesture.

  “Answer the question.”

  Her lips pursed before she huffed out the air from her lungs, releasing her minty breath straight over me. “A man named David Morris. He’s a British professor. I thought you would already know about him.”

  I had never heard the man’s name. And, I didn’t exactly have time to start worrying about some professor. I had a Fallen One to research.

  “Jack?” the bouncer asked, looking over his shoulder. “That woman, Hannah...she’s getting irate, apparently.”

  Pushing my hand off his arm, Jack shooed Serenity out of the booth so he could get out. She watched me, her eyes drinking in every nuance in my movement. Which was minimal. Was she checking to see if she had shocked me? Or, maybe she thought she would see recognition in my facial expression. Either way, she slumped back in the seat as soon as Jack left with Gavin, the witch bouncer.

  “Have you met this professor?” I asked her, looking straight into her eyes to read them.

  A slight shake of the head alerted me to her answer. No.

  Chloe tapped her short nails on the table, the movement drawing Rusty’s attention.

  “I’ve tried to get him to meet me, but he’s pretty reclusive. The book is interesting, you should read it.”

  Clearing my throat, I paused at what I was about to say when Chloe leant towards the American student.

  “Do you happen to have a copy lying around?” Chloe’s pale cheeks grew pink as Serenity licked her lips.

  It seemed the young waitress still had a thing for my protégée. Not that Chloe seemed the type to reciprocate her feelings, but her cough as she sat back brought a grin to my face. Oh, the amount of fun I could have teasing her...yet, her glare aimed towards me was a warning before I had even opened my mouth. That woman was getting to know me too well.

  Serenity got to her feet. “I do, actually. I’ll go and get it.”

  “Wait. You said you know where the next Fallen One is...tell me.”

  Cocking her head to the side, Serenity wound a strand of her dark hair around her finger. “Prague. The next Fallen One is meant to be in Prague.”

  She walked off, her denim-clad hips swaying as she glanced over her shoulder. Apparently, the student had forgotten that I was still pissed off with her. Well, I would set her straight as soon as she came back with the book. A book that I wasn’t actually interested in.

  Prague. I had been to the Czech Republic...a long time ago. In fact, a good friend of mine had lived there fifty years ago. I had visited a few times after he moved there from London. He was probably dead by now.

  “What the hell were you talking about when you said I wasn’t coming with you to hunt the next Fallen One?” Chloe hissed.

  Rusty bashed her leg with his paw, he didn’t like confrontation. Speaking of, where was Jack?

  “Trygger!” Chloe poked my arm, making me frown at her.

  “You’re better off staying here with Jack. I need you to
help me research where to go, then I’ll move to where he is and kill him.”

  A twinge in my chest made me look around. Was there evil in the room? No, it didn’t seem so. Was that...?

  “You can’t leave London without me.”

  London had become my home over two hundred years ago. The changes it had been through, the way it had grown...it was a part of who I was. Yet, it was time to move on. There was no point in getting caught up in the emotional side of leaving a city. Okay, so I may have travelled to other parts of the world to kill a Fallen One, instead of moving out of London, but a fresh start was required.

  There was too much history in England. Not only that, more and more underworld creatures were becoming aware of who I was. Which wasn’t a positive thing.

  “Chloe, did you really think...?”

  “No,” she interrupted. “I didn’t think...I know. Freya sent me here to help you defeat the last of the Fallen Ones. You will not relegate me to the fucking office like Loki’s descendants did. I’ve already helped you...haven’t I?”

  Our gaze locked, her dark brown eyes pleading with me. Not for permission to travel with me...but, for recognition. Holding back the roll of my eyes, I nodded reluctantly.

  “Yes, Chloe, you’ve helped me. But, how long will it be until you believe in yourself enough to not need me to placate you all the time?”

  Her dainty fingers landed on my wrist, squeezing the thick muscle there. “That’s it. Just once. That’s all I needed from you.”

  Dipping my head, I acknowledged her...probably for the first time. Once my family had been killed, I’d had to cope on my own. I had fallen in lust or love with women, watching them die from old age. I had made friends, seeing them get killed or sickness ravaging their frail bodies.

  I had never needed confirmation from anyone. Because, I had Thor’s power. I had something in me that no one else did. So, I didn’t understand why Chloe, a descendant of Freya, one of the most beautiful and powerful goddesses...needed me to tell her that she was okay.

  “Anyway, don’t you think Freya might have something to say if you dare to leave her precious...?” She paused, trying to think of a good word to describe herself, I was sure.