Valkyrie's Claim (Academy of Immortals 2)

“I don’t like it.”

“Well, it’s my decision.”

I don’t say it, but the rest of the sentence is implied. I’m the leader. I make the decisions—not Armin or the other Immortals. If I want to wear the ring, I will.

He nods and reaches for me. I’m on my knees on the bed while he stands next to it. He wraps his arms around me.

“Be careful. Anything—and I mean anything—out of the ordinary happens, you let me know.”

“I will.”

He kisses me, strong and with intent. Armin’s loyalty runs deep. The instant we partnered up and the moment I crawled into his bed, something shifted for him. I can feel it. It’s both flattering and terrifying.

“Any idea what’s going to happen tonight?” I ask, scratching the back of his neck. He purrs like a jungle cat.

“Not a clue,” he replies, fingers tight and possessive against my hips. “But I can promise you one thing, it’s not going to be good.”

4

Hildi

Elizabeth and I walk down the steep basement stairs together. Other students are in front or behind us, all anxiously eager to find out what’s on the other end. Armin suggested we go as a group, but even though boundaries are slipping, I want to maintain my image as a student. It’s strategic positioning, no matter what the students may have heard about me and the guys the night Gardner was killed.

When I killed him.

I anticipate that we’ll head to the training room—the one where Luke and Agis came to blows, but torches light the corridor in a different direction and soon we’re lead down a damp, cold path underground.

Goosebumps pebble across my skin. They’re not just from the cold, but from the memory of the soul-sucking chill of the abyss. We’re crossing under the realm of the monsters. I glance at Elizabeth. Her face is pale.

“Do you know where we are?” I ask, fighting the sensation of cold, evil fingers wrapping around my skin.

“Although it looks like the Academy is in the middle of nothing, it’s really linked to a million different worlds. There are access points all over.”

“Like the portal we fell through when we arrived.”

“Exactly. Portals, doorways, gates, halls, tunnels, mirrors, paintings…” She shivers and takes a shuddering breath. “They’re sealed off with magic. The students aren’t really given permission to come and go freely. Especially not when something like the crusade is going on, but the administrators can open certain ones for the school to use.”

“Any idea where this one is leading?”

She shakes her head. “Hopefully somewhere warm.”

“Come on,” I encourage her, taking her hand. A flicker of warmth radiates between us and we both look down. The ring gleams in the faint torchlight.

We hurry to the end of the path.

The room we enter is a normal temperature, like the Academy. A low howl echoes in the distance. I release Elizabeth’s hand, but she grabs it back.

“What was that?”

“I don’t know.”

But I do. I’ve felt it before, and suddenly, I know why the ring doesn’t scare me.

Those thoughts are overtaken when we’re squeezed and pushed by a growing crowd, down another passage. This one has large marble pillars, columns flanking both sides. Above is a clear, starry night. After a long, herded walk, we spill out of an opening at the end.

My jaw drops when I see where we are.

I’ve been in stadiums before. Coliseums. Fighting rings in different realms. But this one is different. The seats are in a wide, long oval, flat and made of stone. There’s nothing overhead but the night sky. The air feels warm and clean. Floating just over the sides are white, fluffy clouds. I’m certain if we jumped off, we’d fall down for ages before we hit the ground.