Jewels and Feathers (Race Games 3)

CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR

VIDAR

Vidar stared at the woman before him. He hadn’t been able to remember her face before, but now, her standing in front of him, she seemed. . .dull. There were no feelings of love there, no longing. After the initial surprise of seeing her, things were rapidly fading. Why had he loved her? There wasn’t even any love in her eyes despite pretending her excitement.

“I see you’ve already moved on from me,” Katla sneered, her eyes narrowing just slightly in accusation.

“I waited for you in Valhalla for thousands of years. You never came,” Vidar argued, his hands opening wide in supplication.

“I wouldn’t be in Valhalla now if you’d protected me,” she spit. “You’re a coward. Weak. And you’re already sleeping with another.”

Vidar blinked. “I waited a thousand years, Katla.” He took a step back. “You would have never spoken to me like this. You wouldn’t have blamed me. I know you.”

Her expression switched from anger to sadness as if flipping a coin. Her face twisted, her eyes grew moisture, and she pouted out her lip. “Don’t you love me, Vidar?”

Panic lit inside Vidar’s chest that he quickly squashed. This wasn’t Katla. It couldn’t be. She wasn’t like this. Though she had been manipulative, she’d never have blamed Vidar for what happened. They’d been unlucky and he’d fought until his last breath to protect her. Their entire village had perished that day along with them.

“I used to,” he admitted, his shoulders drooping. “A very long time ago. But you’re not here. You’re not real.” He thought about what love was, but when he pictured the feeling, it wasn’t Katla he saw.

It was Munin.

“You never loved me, Katla,” he said finally, meeting her eyes. “I was a convenient option at the time.”

Her face twisted. “Then allow me to send you to Valhalla again!” And she lunged toward him without warning.

Vidar grunted as she slammed into him and just barely kept the knife from his throat. She’d drew the weapon without him seeing, flickered between who he used to know and some sort of monster. She felt solid, but she wasn’t there. Vidar knew this wasn’t her.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he growled, shoving her back. But her fingers lengthened into claws as she tried to gouge his eyes out. A long thin line appeared on his skin where she made contact. “Katla!”

She didn’t stop. So Vidar did the only thing he could think of. With a violent heave, he threw her off of him and drew his sword. She didn’t even pause in her attack. She landed on her feet and lunged forward again. He raised the sword. . .

. . .and watched as it slid through her stomach.

She looked down at the sword and then up to him, tears lingering at the corner of her eyes. “Vidar,” she breathed.

And then she faded away. The illusion was gone.

Vidar tilted back his head. “She never called me Vidar,” he said to the sky and whoever was listening. “If you’re going to make illusions, you could have at least done your research.”

The ground rumbled in answer, and he turned, searching, only to find Eirik at the car, frantically calling for them.

“Where’s Muni and Brin?” Vidar growled.

“I don’t know!” Eirik replied, his voice frantic. “I don’t know!”