Vindicated by Bella Klaus

Chapter Twenty-Two

Idescended into the darkness of Fenrir’s throat, my insides churning with cold anticipation. My wolf clung onto the back of my tunic, still trying to break my fall. By now, Thor had disappeared into the unknown, and the only source of illumination came from the light streaming in from the sky.

After about a minute of drifting, the shock and panic that had seized my mind gave way to confusion. None of this made sense. Fenrir had described his wolf as lonely and desperate for companionship. During the time my wolf had been in Midgard, they had become close. So why had he swallowed us?

Dim light shone down from below. I blinked over and over, my breath quickening, and it took a moment to realize that it wasn’t the enchanted hammer glowing within a stomach full of acid. I was pretty sure digestion wasn’t a matter of falling into a pool of corrosive juices.

“Do you know what’s happening?” I asked my wolf.

Her muffled bark indicated that she did.

“Thor got swallowed.” My voice shook. “Did Fenrir just try to eat us?”

She growled.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Perhaps I’d been too hasty to judge, but Fenrir’s recent actions hadn’t exactly been the act of a grateful wolf. In the folk tales, people who pulled thorns from lions’ paws got rewarded, not eaten.

I bit down on my bottom lip, trying to fathom why a wolf would try to swallow his liberators. “Is this a portal?”

Another affirmative bark.

Every muscle in my body relaxed, and I exhaled the longest breath of relief. “Thanks for letting me know, although at some point, we need to develop a form of sign language in case you ever need to shout out a warning.”

She gave me a muffled yip.

The light became brighter, surrounding our bodies, and making my eyes sting. I squinted, but I couldn’t see anything through the shine. My wolf released the back of my tunic, and I dropped a few inches to the ground.

“Lydia,” a deep voice sounded from a few feet away.

“Fenrir?” I blinked the glare from my eyes. When it faded, I was standing in the middle of the fighting ring beside my wolf.

I glanced around, looking for signs of Thor, but he wasn’t in the basement. Before I could speak, Fenrir strode toward us, his arms clutching my corpse. His blue eyes shone as brightly as those of his wolf, and his curls gleamed like sunlight reflecting on the petals of a buttercup. Everything about him glowed, from his alabaster skin to his brilliant white teeth.

My breath caught. The first time I met Fenrir, I had mistaken him for an angel. Right now, he looked like a god. Common sense slapped me upside the head. That’s exactly what he was: Fenrisúlfr, the Norse deity with all his powers restored.

“You did it,” he said, his voice breathy with awe. “Both of you.”

Wolfette’s happy bark communicated the extent of my joy, my relief, my triumph. The lupine inside Fenrir contained two thousand years of pent-up magic. Two thousand years of power that Fenrir could use against Queen Hel.

Fenrir lowered the legs of my corpse to the floor and cradled it to his side. With his free hand, he reached out to me. As if pulled by magic, I drifted toward him so we stood mere inches apart. His fingers brushed my cheek, sending ripples of pleasure across my skin.

“Thank you, Lydia.” His voice was choked. “When I bargained with you to free me, I hadn’t imagined you would unleash my power.”

My wolf barked.

Fenrir’s eyes softened, and he gazed down at her with a broad smile. “And thank you, my beautiful, sweet girl.”

She jumped up at him, her front paws landing on his chest.

“Can you feel your wolf?” I asked.

The corners of his eyes creased. “Yes, for the first time since waking in this body. Before then, I only had a vague sense of him, which became stronger when he interacted with your beast.”

My brows drew together. From the way Fenrir spoke, it seemed like he was imagining my wolf frolicking with a lupine the size of an elephant. “You realize he’s a lot bigger than before? I think he accidentally swallowed Odin and some other gods.”

“Then that will be more power for me.” He placed a hand on my shoulder, sending ripples of rapture across my skin. “We have less than an hour before dawn. Let me put you back into your body.”

I parted my lips to protest and to ask him about Thor, but then clamped them shut. What was the point of delaying my return to life when I could just as easily tell him everything when I became corporeal?

Fenrir pulled me toward my corpse and let a peculiar form of gravity suck me back into place. I awoke with a gasp, my eyes flying open, and my heart galloping a frantic beat.

“Shit.” My knees gave way, making my legs collapse, but Fenrir tightened his grip around my waist.

“Are you all right?” He stared down at me with a frown.

“Fine,” I said through ragged breaths. “It’s just like waking up abruptly.”

He pressed a soft kiss on my lips and brushed the hair off my face. “You need some bedrest.”

My wolf barked.

Fenrir turned to her and smiled. “I won’t forget about you, but let Lydia get used to being in her body before you join her.”

With a whine, she pushed her head against Fenrir’s side. He chuckled and ran his hands through her black mane.

I pressed my lips together in a tight line. If Fenrir thought I’d spend the next few hours lying in bed while he went out to face Queen Hel and her minions, he obviously didn’t know his mate. I glanced around the basement again, wondering why I wasn’t seeing signs of Thor.

“Hey, Fenrir, there was another god—”

“Thor?” he asked. “He and his hammer fell to the floor a few minutes ago. I sent him upstairs to get something to eat before we venture into Hell.”

“So, he’s corporeal?” I asked.

Fenrir nodded.

I rolled my shoulders, my gaze dropping to my wolf, who stared up at me with bright, expectant eyes. “Time to put us back together, because we’re going to see you out.”

He stared down at me, his eyes narrowing. “Strange.”

My brows rose. “What?”

“I thought you would insist on coming with me.”

“What makes you think—”

“Because I know you, Lydia Gerrison,” he said, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. “You are devious, daring, and deliciously seductive, and you are also inappropriately brave.”

“Does that mean I can come with you?”

He pressed a kiss on the tip of my nose. “Absolutely not.”

“That’s all right, then,” I lied. “If you could give me back my wolf—”

“And have you fly through Hell breathing fire at my enemies?”

“I never told you how much bigger you’ve grown,” I murmured.

Fenrir drew back. “What are you talking about?”

“Put me back together again, and we’ll explain what we saw in Midgard.”

He stared at me for several moments, the muscles in his face tightening. I knew exactly what Fenrir was thinking—he wanted to keep me safe from what was going to be an epic battle between gods and demons, but he clearly didn’t understand the extent of his power.

“Listen to me.” I smoothed a hand down the contours of his chest. “If you really think I’ll be a hindrance or a hostage, I’ll stay behind.”

“Really?” His flat tone told me he knew I fully intended to tag along.

I nodded. “But you’re more powerful than you could ever imagine. Thor described your wolf as bigger than Valhalla.”

“He wasn’t saying that when he landed in this basement,” Fenrir said.

“Oh.” I frowned. “What did he tell you?”

“He demanded the whereabouts of his father and brother,” he said.

“Where are they?”

Fenrir shook his head.

I cringed. “Maybe your wolf got so big because he ate them?”

“Perhaps.” Fenrir hovered his hand over Wolfette’s head, making her disappear.

“What did you just—” My wolf reappeared inside me with a surprised bark. “Oh. How did you put her back like that?”

Fenrir wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me in to his chest. “I have dominion over shifters. More importantly, I need to offer you my heartfelt thanks.”

My gaze dropped from his magnificent blue-green eyes to a pair of perfectly shaped lips. They parted in anticipation of a kiss, and every fiber of my being wanted to drift closer to his mouth.

“Aren’t we getting close to dawn?” I asked.

“There’s always time for a kiss,” he said in a deep voice that swept over me like a caress.

I wrapped both arms around his neck, threading my fingers through his silken curls. “Perhaps you’re right.”

“Lydia?” he murmured.

“What?”

“I have existed for millennia, but I haven’t encountered anyone else as awe-inspiring as you.”

My breath caught, and I stared deep into his soul. Fenrir had declared his love multiple times, but after having seen the extent of his power and having it thrum against my body, the thought of him and me together was enthralling.

“I don’t know why fate gave me such a perfect mate,” I said as my lips drifted toward his. “But I’m so thankful that you’re mine.”

My soul thrummed in resonance with Fenrir’s, even though mine felt insignificantly small in comparison to his immense power. None of that mattered, since we were such kindred spirits united by loneliness, isolation, and pain.

The thump, thump, thump of my heart accelerated as our connection pulled our lips closer. When they finally touched, it felt like he had reached into the very core of my being.

“Lydia.” His hot breath fanned across my lips.

“Yes?” I whispered.

“If I don’t return from Hell—”

“You will,” I said.

“But if I don’t—”

I brought our lips together and silenced his words. Fenrir still couldn’t fathom the enormity of his power and his ability to win. Hell, I couldn’t, and I had stood between the wolf’s mountainous ears.

Fenrir’s lips were strong, firm, demanding, and whatever he was about to say melted away with our joining.

I kissed him back with a fervor that conveyed the depth of my love. Fenrir wasn’t just my mate—he was the god who had plucked me from disgrace and elevated me and those I loved to the top of our pack.

He cradled the back of my head with his large hand, his tongue twisting around mine in a dance I never wanted to end. He kissed me like this would be our last, but I kissed back, knowing that our upcoming confrontation would mark our freedom.

The touch of his body against mine made my head spin. I would have melted against him if it wasn’t for the strong arms tethering me to his chest.

“All right,” he murmured into the kiss.

“Huh?”

“There’s no chance of winning if I’m considering defeat.”

I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen.”

He drew back and stared down at me with a comforting mix of love and wonder. “How can you be so sure?”

“Even if you’re the alpha this village needs, you’re still Fenrisúlfr.” I slid my hands from around his neck and placed them on his shoulders. “There’s a reason why Odin feared you and your siblings. You hold more power than I could describe, and that doesn’t even count all the people and wolves you’ve absorbed over the years.”

The corners of his lips curled into a smile. “Shouldn’t I be the one giving you encouragement?”

Warmth radiated from my heart. “I’m just doing what you did for me when Beowulf and Alpha Gundahar were breaking down my door.” I leaned in to him and gave him a peck on the lips.

Fenrir and I clasped hands, our breathing synchronizing. We stood face to face in silence, our foreheads pressed together for support. I didn’t need to use our mental connection to understand this would be our last moment of calm before we confronted Hel.

My wolf seemed to know this too, and she leaned her front paws against the barrier, seeming to join us.

“Are you ready?” I murmured.

“You’re still planning on coming with me?” he said, his voice flat.

“I’ll fly away at the first sign of trouble,” I murmured. “And it’s impossible for me to come to permanent harm when I’m tethered to an immortal.”

He cupped my face with both hands and tilted up my head so our eyes locked. “Be careful.”

“I have far too much to lose to not take care of myself,” I replied.

Pulling away, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and hugged me into his side. We walked through the fighting ring, through its open door, and down the steps that led to the basement.

“What did I ever do to earn such a loyal and beautiful mate?” he said with a warm smile.

“And stubborn,” I added.

He huffed a laugh. “Disobedient, too.”

I pressed a kiss on his cheek. “Wasn’t that already covered in the stubborn part?”

“You’re both.” He opened the door to the stairwell and we ascended the two levels to the top.

Light shone from the dining room into the hallway decorated with stuffed animal heads. I no longer grimaced at the sight of them. Death was an inescapable part of a world where beings hungered for power. If things went right today, both our hands would be coated in demon blood.

The door to the dining room opened, and the twins stepped out, dressed in the uniforms of our enforcers. They carried their helmets under their arms, making it easy for me to tell them apart.

“What are you two doing?” Fenrir asked.

Umber held up a pistol with a glowing magazine. It was the same ammunition the enforcers had used during the battle against demon invaders.

“We’re coming with you,” he said.

Eagon raised his chin. “You’ll need backup if you’re going to Hell, Alpha.”

“The two of you will work with Randel to keep Lunaris safe,” Fenrir said.

They exchanged puzzled glances, but it was Umber who spoke. “Alpha—”

“Stand down,” Fenrir said with a bite of power. “Lydia and Thor are all I’ll need for this mission.”

My brows rose. He could have used his alpha magic on me at any point when he’d told me not to come with me, but he hadn’t. Suppressing a smile, I gazed up at his profile. We were about to step into the biggest danger of our lives, yet Fenrir wasn’t being protective and heavy-handed.

I reached down and threaded my fingers between his.

A blond man stepped out in the hallway, his features identical to Fenrir’s except his hair was duller, his eyes dimmer, and his skin slightly too dark. He drew his brows together. “It looks like you’ve had a power upgrade. Hold on a second.”

Pursing his lips, he brightened his hair and eyes so they matched Fenrir’s exactly, and then turned his skin a perfect alabaster. “There,” he said with a broad smile. “What do you think?”

Fenrir raised a hand. “Your help is no longer necessary.”

His features fell. “If you’re angling for a refund of your deposit, you can think again. It was difficult enough to shift into a realistic rendition of a god.”

Mum stepped out from the dining room, followed by Randel and Mr. Owen, who each wore masks of concern. Mum’s eyes were red-rimmed, as though she had already known I would insist on accompanying Fenrir to Hell.

A lump formed in the back of my throat, but I swallowed it down. The worst had already happened—I had died, but I’d returned. As long as I had Fenrir at my side, I would never have to worry about perishing.

She stared up at Fenrir and murmured, “I hope you don’t mind, but I took samples of both of your hair and hired a pair of shapeshifter faeries for the handover.”

He shook his head. “Thank you, Sybil, but we have the situation under control.”

The faerie folded his arms across his broad chest. “The rest of the balance is also due by the close of business today. And don’t think I won’t waive the extra supplement I was due for the dangerous mission.”

I narrowed my eyes. “We’re not paying you the full amount for doing nothing.”

Fenrir placed a hand on my shoulder. “Forget about the money.”

“Wait a second.” I narrowed my eyes. “How does someone as pedantic as you get to work on dangerous missions?”

The faerie bristled. “I may not be the best shapeshifter, but I’m excellent at opening portals. Once my adrenaline kicks in, I can escape from any old dungeon.”

My brows rose, and I turned to Fenrir. “Let’s bring him along in case we need his skills.”

“Fine.” He glanced in the direction of the front door. “Where’s Thor?”

“Still eating,” shouted a voice from deep within the dining room.

“Dawn is nearly upon us,” Fenrir growled. “Bring the entire platter if you must, but we’re leaving.”

My gaze jumped to Mum’s, who wrung her trembling hands. I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Try not to worry about me. Fenrir’s more powerful than you could possibly imagine. He’ll make sure we come out of this alive.”

She wrapped both arms around my neck. “But do you have to be there?”

“I wanted her to stay behind and keep the pack safe while we went into battle,” Fenrir muttered.

“Lydia has never backed down from a fight.” Mum squeezed hard enough to cut off my air.

I gave her a pat on the shoulder. “It’s all right, Mum, I’ll be back before you know it.”

“All right.” She drew back, her lips trembling.

Phina appeared from nowhere and slipped herself between us. “I did some research on the Monarchs of Hell,” she said as she hugged me even tighter than Mum. “Each of them holds a ring, which lets them draw on the power of their Faction.”

“I think I know which one you mean,” said Fenrir. “My sister always wears the same diamond and ruby ring. It’s either on her middle finger or on a chain around her neck.”

“Too tight.” I gave Phina a tickle that made her loosen her grip. “Thanks for the advice. We’ll look out for it.”

Releasing me, Phina tilted her head up and beamed. “Come back and train me for the upcoming trials.”

I pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Of course.”

Thor stepped out into the hallway, carrying an entire platter of yesterday’s roasted chicken, potatoes the size of my fist, sausages, bacon, and scrambled eggs. His hammer rested wedged in the crook of his arm as though he hadn’t spent the past two millennia separated from such an important and powerful weapon.

He ruffled Phina’s hair with his free hand. “Thanks for the food.”

Phina gave him a sunny smile. For someone so committed to her studies, meeting the real-life Thor had to be momentous. “Will you tell me more stories about Asgard?”

He gave her a jaunty wink. “Of course.”

I clapped my hands together. “Right then, let’s go.”

Mr. Owen cleared his throat. “The Angel King called twelve times while you were in the basement. I told him you were not to be disturbed.”

Fenrir wrapped an arm around my shoulders and continued down the hallway, leaving everyone else to trail behind us. “What did he want?”

“He said the lives of a dozen shifters weren’t important in the larger scheme of Logris and offered a last-minute evacuation package,” replied Mr. Owen.

Fenrir stopped walking. “What?”

The smaller man’s shoulders sagged. “I refused on your behalf, but the Angel King said that the Supernatural Council won’t offer support if war breaks out between Lunaris and the Sixth Faction.”

“Those bastards weren’t going to help us, anyway,” I snapped.

Mr. Owen pinched the bridge of his nose. “True.”

“Next time he calls, tell that winged wanker that Lunaris is no longer part of their shitty Council,” Fenrir growled.

One of the twins snickered, giving me an idea. I raised myself onto my tiptoes. “Umber, can I borrow your gun?”

He glanced at Eagon before extracting a regular-looking pistol from a holster. “This one?”

“The one with the enchanted ammunition.”

Eagon reached around his waist and unclipped his gun belt. “Take mine.”

Both twins stepped forward and attached the holster around my waist, adding enough enchanted ammunition to last several hours. Fenrir hummed his approval as they made me demonstrate how to load and unload.

“Thanks guys,” I murmured.

Umber wrapped his arms around me first. “Kick ass, Lydia.”

“Good luck.” Eagon glanced at Fenrir before giving me a brief hug.

As we reached the front door, it opened by itself to reveal crowds of people standing beyond the verandah in silence. They filled the entire lawn that stretched between the alpha’s lodge and the guesthouse, and spilled out into the driveway.

My breath caught. “How long have they been waiting?”

Mum cleared her throat. “You know the workings of rumors. Someone overheard Queen Hel’s ultimatum, and word spread that Alpha was going to hand himself over for the hostages.”

One by one, the people in the crowd noticed our appearance, and chatter spread across the lawn, followed by a subdued applause. It was probably due to the knowledge that twelve of our shifters were stuck in that Hellhole, their lives at the mercy of a psychotic Demon Queen.

Staying up all night also hadn’t helped.

“The villagers just wanted to show their appreciation,” said Mr. Owen. “If you could say a few words…”

Fenrir growled. “There’s no time—”

I gave him a sharp nudge in the ribs. “Just thank them for coming, and let them know you’ll do your best. You don’t even need to go up on the stage.”

With an annoyed snarl, he climbed on the verandah’s handrail, only for the cheers and applause to go wild. Fenrir turned to me, his eyes hard, and stuck out his hand.

I let him pull me up to his level.

The first traces of sunlight peeked from behind the horizon, brightening the indigo clouds within a midnight-blue sky. Torches around the lawn burned with Mera’s phoenix fire and my flames, lighting up the faces of the gathered people.

Everyone fell silent. I stared up at Fenrir, my heart swelling. Even if he didn’t like the idea of addressing crowds of civilians before a battle, this was all part of his dream of being an alpha.

“Shifters of Lunaris, let me assure you that I will do everything in my power to get back those who were taken from the village square and I will punish those responsible.”

My heart swelled. From the admiration shining in their eyes, these people had more than just the average level of confidence shifters held for their alpha. For the first time in decades, they had a leader with integrity. A leader who wanted the best for his people and not just himself.

“While I am gone, our High Shaman and her acolytes will reinforce the wards,” Fenrir said in a voice of steel. “Stay within them, and stay safe.”

They remained silent as though waiting for him to say something else, so I added, “Thank you, everyone, for your vigil. We’re looking forward to returning to you victorious and showing those demons that nobody fucks with the shifters of Lunaris!”

They erupted into wild cheers that made the air tremble with the force of their jubilation.

Fenrir turned to me and grinned. “You know exactly what to say.”

I sniffed. “You didn’t make me your co-alpha for nothing.”

His grin widened, and his turquoise eyes sparkled with mirth. “Perhaps not, but now matter how much I get to know you, I’m still amazed.”

We stepped down from the verandah’s banister, and walked beneath its wooden canopy.

Thor whistled. “How did you manage to gain such devoted followers?”

“They’re the people I swore to lead and protect.”

The other Norse god shook his head. “The faith they have in you is unshakable. Even after thousands of years, I recognize that power. They’re worshippers.”

My eyes grew wide. “Do you think they could be part of the reason why his wolf is so big?” I asked.

“Undoubtedly,” Thor said. “Maybe if I got a town of my own, I might be able to garner that sort of admiration.”

“Focus on the upcoming battle,” Fenrir growled.

Thor strode behind us, still eating from the platter of food he’d gathered, and Phina walked at his side, seeming dazzled by his presence. Mum, Mr. Owen, and the others from the dining room kept close and formed the rest of our entourage.

The walk to the gates was somber, even though the shifters surrounding us seemed confident in our victory. As we stepped out from under the verandah, they parted to let us continue to the driveway and out of the compound’s open gates.

“Good luck, Alpha,” said one of the enforcers at the entrance.

Fenrir turned to address those following us once more. “You may walk with us to the edge of the wards, but stay within their protection,” he said with a flare of power. “Do not allow the demons to take any more of you hostage.”

As murmurs of agreement spread across the crowd, I squeezed his hand and said into the bond, “Thanks for making that an alpha command. They would have followed us out of the wards.”

Opposite the alpha’s compound was a road that stretched across Lunaris. Parts of it bordered a poppy field that separated us from two sets of wards that protected the shifters. The first was the one that encased our village, and the second was the magical barrier that protected the supernatural city of Logris.

Fenrir, Thor, and I stood outside the gates, staring across the expanse of flowers whose petals glowed an eerie shade of blood red in the twilight. Richmond Park extended beyond the wards, the human recreation ground that surrounded Logris.

I turned around, meeting the shining eyes of Mum, Phina, and the others, before addressing the faerie who had shape-shifted into Fenrir. A hooded cloak obscured his features, but his large frame was unmistakable.

“Ready?” I asked.

The faerie strode forward. “I’m charging double for overtime.”

Ignoring him, I turned to the others and said, “Let’s celebrate later with a hog roast.”

Each member of our inner circle gave us brave smiles and maintained a facade of confidence. They of all people knew the extent of the danger we faced, and they also understood that there was no guarantee that we would save the hostages and return unscathed.

There was also no guarantee that we would return at all.

“Let’s go.” Fenrir took the first step across the road toward the poppy field.

“How many enemies are we expecting?” asked Thor.

“Anywhere from eight to an entire legion,” Fenrir said.

Thor shook his head. “More heads for us to crush, then?”

Fenrir grunted his agreement.

As we crossed through knee-high flowers, I turned around to take another look at home. Everybody remained behind the gates—not just the wolf shifters, but the other species as well.

“Hey, Fenrir?” I asked out loud.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your alpha power should only work on wolves.”

“So?”

“Look.” I patted his shoulder. “The other shifters remained in place.”

Fenrir paused to turn around. “Interesting.”

“What do you think it means?” I asked.

He raised a large shoulder. “It’s just like you said. My power expanded, and it looks like I command all types of shifters now.”

Thor whistled. “Magic like that could be very useful.”

I nodded, and we continued in silence to the first set of invisible barriers, which shimmered over my skin. My entire skeleton shuddered as I remembered how so many of us had fallen through those wards and into the claws of demons.

“How will they know where to find us?” I asked.

“They’ll know,” Fenrir snarled as we crossed the second set of wards.

Even with the absence of tingling on my skin, I could tell we were in the Human World. The temperature dropped, and the stench of diesel and smog mingled with the scent of the trees. Fenrir growled, and I wrinkled my nose.

Richmond Park was beautiful with its extensive grassland and trees. It was also the habitat of red deer, spotted deer, birds, bats and rabbits. None of this mattered when the air was so tainted.

Thor gagged. “What the fuck is that smell?”

Before I could tell him that our magical wards filtered out the London pollution, a pair of skinny arms grabbed me from behind and yanked me from Fenrir’s grip.

I turned around to meet a pair of indigo eyes that shone with insanity.

“Lydia Gerrison,” Grog crooned, his arms tightening around my middle. “We meet again!”