Jewels and Feathers (Race Games 3)

CHAPTEREIGHT

The apartment Muni called home was more a nest than anything else. Cluttered with things she’d collected throughout the years and some she’d found from her past, the apartment was still somehow both warm and organized. Shelves were lined with old books and trinkets collected from around the world. The sofa was the softest most luxurious thing she could find. The bed in her room was no different. It was a raven’s dream, shiny decorations every direction one turned their eyes to. It was no wonder the three men stood in open-mouthed awe when they first walked inside.

“You have a lot of. . .stuff,” Eirik commented, gazing at the shelves. There was everything on those shelves, from ancient vases to precious jewels. Eirik seemed entranced by the large glittering diamond just sitting on the shelf for all to see.

“It’s in my nature to hoard. I try to limit it as best as I can,” Muni shrugged. She wasn’t ashamed of her home but seeing three rather large men standing in the midst of it, she wished she would have left a little more space. The sofa, though large, wouldn’t be adequate for the three men to sleep on. “I’m going to go freshen up. When I come back, I can show you the car we’ll be racing in. I’ve been informed it was delivered to the parking garage while we were away.”

Vidar moved over to the window and looked out, always looking out. It was as if Vidar were a caged bird desperate for escape to the great big world outside. Muni knew that feeling well and wondered if it would be kinder to set him free than to keep him here, but she needed his help. After the Games, she’d set the Viking free. It was impossible to do it now.

Brin found his way to the kitchen immediately, always hungry. He was the largest between the three of them, his muscle mass likely requiring greater sustenance than the others. “There’s not enough meat in this fridge,” he grunted as he opened it and peered inside. Muni knew she’d need to put in a grocery order right away. Who knew what hungry Vikings got up to?

“I’ll get some things delivered. You’re welcome to anything in my apartment. Just please don’t ruin the artwork.”

Furrowing his brows, Eirik glanced around at the art he somehow missed. “You like art?”

Muni shrugged again, dismissive. Hug had never understood her penchant for art as most of it didn’t sparkle. “I’m a collector.”

And then Muni left the three men to explore her apartment while she used the bathroom and cleaned up. The trip back from Norway had been long but at least it had been productive. Throwing one last glance at Vidar still at the window, Muni closed her door behind her.

* * *

The parking garage beneath the apartment complex was equally as secure as the apartments were but still not necessarily top notch. Muni could afford better accommodations if she’d liked but there was something about being in the center of the city, sitting high above the ground, that sung to her feathered soul. She desperately needed to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of humanity, a far difference from her desires when Hug had been in this realm. Back then, she sought quiet. Now, she sought chaos and to be surrounded by it. It was as if now that Hugin was gone, she couldn’t sit in silence without aching. Living in the center of the city helped with that. The loud sounds of the sirens at all hours of the night, the street noises that never stopped, the occasional drunk shouting about the end of the world, it all lent to her comfort as strange as it was.

Muni had made sure to get a large grocery order delivered. The usual delivery boy had stared with wide eyes as Brin and Eirik had helped bring the large load inside and when Muni had tipped him with a large wad of bills, he’d nearly fallen on his tailbone. He was a good kid, trying to save money up for college, so Muni always made sure to tip well, but today, he’d had to haul a store’s worth of groceries and clothing up the elevator and to her. He’d deserved the extra cash.

“It’s better to blend in,” Muni commented. “Eirik already wears modern clothing, but Vidar and Brin, you’ll need to change. I ordered some clothing for all of you, so you have plenty.”

Eirik frowned. “How did you know our sizing?”

Muni paused and glanced up at him. “Facts come easily when you’re a collector of secrets.”

He blinked in response but dutifully grabbed the bag labeled with his name.

Brin greedily dug through his bag and pulled out jeans and a t-shirt before holding them to his chest. “You honor me, lady raven.” The next moment he picked up Vidar’s bag and tossed it over to him.

Vidar caught the bag easily and then, without opening it, set it to the side and crossed his arms. “I’m not changing my clothing. These are what a Viking wears.”

“But you’re not in your era any longer,” Muni pointed out. “If you go out wearing that, you’ll have people clustering around you. Are you interested in having more women taking photos of you?” His arms loosened. “That’s what I thought. It’s best to change so you’re not bringing attention to us.”

Begrudgingly, Vidar picked up the bag and ripped it open, digging through the outfits. Almost immediately, he began stripping his clothing off, revealing tantalizing muscle littered with scars. When he went for the waist of his pants, Muni blinked and turned her back, being respectful.

“You don’t have to turn away from me,” Brin commented behind her. “You’re always welcome to look your fill, Lady Raven.”

Muni snorted. And when she glanced gently back behind her, it was to find Vidar already dressed in jeans and tugging on the t-shirt. Brin, however, stood only in the jeans, the top button still open to reveal skin and the barest hint of the base—

“We should go,” Muni rasped, forcing her eyes back up to his. Brin winked and finished getting dressed.

If Brin and Vidar were attractive in their traditional clothing, seeing them in casual clothes with their tattoos and scars showing, their long hair on display, did something to Muni she hadn’t expected. They were rugged and yet put together. Eirik, though he always wore casual clothing, still had tattoos that peeked from his sleeve, just enough to tell her he had them but not enough to reveal what they were. His hair was shorter than the other two, but still longer on top, and his glasses somehow added to his appeal. One day, she almost wanted to see him in traditional Scandinavian attire. He’d no doubt look glorious with the straps and leather.

Muni was still thinking about the imagery and how she’d somehow picked the most attractive men to be on her team when the elevator arrived at the parking garage. She led the three men toward the glittering silver McLaren in her parking spot.

Eirik whistled, the sound echoing in the garage, as he leaned in and peered inside. “I’ve never seen a McLaren with a back seat.”

“It’s special ordered,” Muni offered, gesturing to the car. “Honestly, I don’t know much about it, but I can drive well enough. I ordered it from the Dyers garage. Danica assured me it would be sufficient for what I need.” When all three men looked at her in confusion, she clarified, “Danica is the mate of the Vampire King and his second. She won the Race Games a while back by sheer skill alone as a human. She’s respectable and highly sought after nowadays. I had to pay a pretty penny to get this in time. It hurt to give up such a large chunk of money.”

“I understand why it was necessary, but won’t this car be heavier than normal with it being extended? Not to mention adding our weight.” Eirik popped open the door and leaned inside, looking around at the top-of-the-line interior. Danica had outfitted the car with weapons and anything they could need.

“I’m not trying to win, warrior,” Muni answered. “We only need to survive. Better a tank than a bird.”

“It glitters like a diamond,” Brin commented, leaning in close to the metal-flaked paint job. “Shiny things,” he smiled, tracing his hand over the fender. “You weren’t joking. This metal beast is beautiful. The lines are like the finest ship. All it’s missing is a figure head.”

Vidar didn’t comment at all, but his eyes traced over the car as if he couldn’t quite figure out what he was looking at. Muni couldn’t blame him. In their time, Vidar and Brin were familiar with wooden ships and horse-drawn wagons. This was something else altogether. Still, the pinched anger on Vidar’s face confused Muni. She knew he didn’t want to be here, but time would go far faster if he’d simply work with her.

“This is what we’ll be driving into battle. You’re welcome to familiarize yourselves with it. We’ll be spending the entirety of the race within her casing.” Muni tossed the keys to Eirik and turned away. “Stay out of trouble if you go exploring.”

And then Muni returned to her apartment and tried her hardest to get the image of Vidar and Brin’s bodies from her mind.

But like many other things, she failed at that the first second she tried.