“He will come out when it’s time, right?” she asked, frowning.
“Yes. He’s been helping coma patients the last week and has become very good at disengaging. Why do they want him?”
“I don’t know. Do you want me to find Echo? He could tell them to get lost.”
“No, it’s okay. You and I need to talk.” I glanced at Ingrid and Femi. They were near the door to the pool room as though keeping guard. They were too far to hear us.
“You don’t have to say anything. Conserve your energy. In fact, I’ll go get Twizzlers for later.”
I grabbed her wrist. “I need to talk so I can stop thinking about Dev prowling around inside me like a caged animal. Dev, calm the hell down. No one is taking you anywhere. If I have to follow you to Helheim, I will. Get it?”
Aye, love.
“Good. Raine, do not interrupt, okay?”
She nodded.
I glanced at the other two women before saying, “My parents have lied to me all my life about who they are. They are Immortals, Raine.”
Her jaw dropped, eyes widening. “What? How?”
“Oh, thank God you weren’t in on it. I swear if I’d found out you knew, I would have disowned your sorry ass. Mom’s been acting strange since the night of the prom. A few times I came home to find her with red eyes. Finally, I insisted on answers.” I told Raine everything, and when I was done, she just sat there. Then she hugged me until I said, “Your mother knew.”
Raine leaned back. “Really? Do you think that’s why they’ve always pushed our friendship? You, me, and… Eirik?”
I followed her eyes to see Eirik enter the pool. He was dressed like an Asgardian in skin-tight pants made of some weird material, knee-length boots, arm braces, and even a cloak. The boy I’d known before was gone. Instead, there was a buff guy with an angular face and muscles. The pants and the vest hugged every inch of his body. Despite the outfit or the change in his physique, I didn’t have that innate need to get his approval or get his attention like I used to. Whatever hang-ups I’d had about him had long since disappeared.
Raine jumped up to hug him, but he studied me over her shoulder with a weird expression. Eirik planted a kiss on Raine’s temple, and the two walked toward me.
“Get out of her, Dev,” he ordered. Even his voice had changed. I wasn’t surprised when Dev obeyed. He disappeared fast. “The reapers are gone, and they weren’t after you.”
The relief of not having a soul hitching a ride inside me was sweet. I disengaged my runes and sat up. Dizziness washed over me, but I knew it would pass. Standing was out of the question. I would fall flat on my face.
“Am I getting a hug, Blondie?” Eirik asked.
I wrinkled my nose. “You know I hate that name.”
Raine laughed. “I’ll get you some Twizzlers. She needs the sugar after a possession,” she added for Eirik’s benefit and walked away.
Eirik sat on the lounge beside me and placed an arm around my shoulder. “I thought your runes helped with possession.”
“They make it less traumatic. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.”
“Me?”
“Don’t sound surprised. Could we go somewhere private and talk?”
“About?” I asked, wariness creeping in. He had a girlfriend now, so he couldn’t still be into me.
“Something I need to discuss with you.” His eyes were on Raine, who’d returned to the pool deck with a jar of the stringy sweets. Since I did most of my after school closure in the mansion, they had a whole cupboard of them. “Alone,” Eirik added in a low voice.
A year ago, I would have been thrilled at the idea. He had paid Raine more attention while treating me like his bratty younger sister. Now I was just irritated. I had enough on my plate without adding him.
“What is this about, Eirik?” I asked, not hiding my irritation.
“No need to be snippy, Blondie. Eat your Twizzlers first. Then we’ll talk. And if you want Echo to hold your hand while we do it, text him. Actually, it might be nice to have him there. I’m going to eat something in the kitchen.” He jumped up and walked away, grinning.
I glared after him.
“What’s going on?” Raine asked.
“I’d forgotten how easily he pushes my buttons.”
She frowned. “Really? Even now?”
“More so now because he’s so damn bossy.” I took the jar from her and grabbed two of the Twizzlers. “I can’t explain it.”
“Me neither.” She sat beside me and grabbed a couple of Twizzlers too. “I thought he did that before because you were into him.”
“I thought so too, but that’s not it. He’s just so… Eirik. Always having the last word. Where are the others?”
“Kitchen. Talking. When I walked in, they clammed up, but I’d heard them. I told them I knew about your parents and they didn’t need to pretend anymore. You should have seen their faces. I told them they should be ashamed of themselves even though it wasn’t their place to tell you the truth. I can’t believe Mom knew all these years. On the other hand, she had hidden stuff from me, too.” She stood and pulled me up. “Can you walk on your own if I let go?”
“No. Carry me.” I gave her a lost puppy expression.
“In your dreams.”
“I wonder how many people we know are Immortals.” I picked up my phone and looked around. “Dev?”
“He’s gone. Let’s go hear what other secrets they’ve been keeping from us.”
“Actually, Eirik wants to talk to me, so I won’t stay. But you can eat lunch with me tomorrow.”
I left her with the other women in the kitchen and opened a portal to the cottage. Eirik followed and looked around with interest. “This is not your farm.”
“Echo bought it for me. Do you want something to drink?” I headed to the kitchen, and he followed, frowning. “Oh, I heard about Celestia. Where have you been hiding her? And when do we meet her?”
“Anytime. You and Echo are playing house already?”
I bristled at the censure in his voice. “I’m eighteen, smarty-pants. I can play house with the guy I love. Not that it’s any of your business.”
He raised his hands. “I’m not complaining.” He grabbed a stool and watched me open the fridge. “I’ll have whatever you’re having. Is that leftover pizza?”
I piled the slices on a plate and warmed them in the microwave. I gave him a can of iced tea, which he gulped while eyeing the microwave. It was amazing how much he’d changed, yet stayed the same. I waited as he demolished the slices and chugged iced tea.
“Don’t they feed you in Hel’s Hall?”
He chuckled. “Maera would be insulted to hear that.”
“Who is Maera?”
“The cook and housekeeper at Eljudnir. She loves to ply us with heaps of food and gets insulted when we don’t finish. I never disappoint her. In fact, I’m her favorite.” He pushed the empty plate aside and checked his watch. “What’s taking Echo so long?”
“He’s not coming. You said you wanted to talk to me, so talk.”
He scratched his forehead and chuckled. “Easier said than done. Celestia is better at these things. I should have brought her.”
“Why are you hiding her from us?”
He grinned. “No one hides Celestia. By the time I finish explaining, you’ll understand why. You’ll like her.”
I rolled my eyes. It was obvious he was in love, and I was happy for him. “Is she the reason you want to talk? Because I’d rather just meet her and get to know her on my own without you being in the equation.”
“Ah, but I’m part of the equation. I’m her other half.” He blew out air. “Okay, I’ll start with me. A little over eighteen years ago, my parents had me. My grandmother was living with them at the time.” He stopped and scowled. “No, I’ll start with Crazy Granny. What do you know about Goddess Hel?”
“Is that a trick question? She is your mother, so I can’t say anything mean.”
Eirik grinned. “Hit me with all you’ve heard.”
“Really?”