Howl for Me

Chapter Six

Skye settled down on the white couch. She ignored the plate of food Logan placed in front of her. “I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but ever since I can remember I’ve had dreams.” She didn’t understand the look that passed around what was obviously a family gathering, but that didn’t matter. Getting them to believe her did. “Those dreams always come true.” She swallowed, hard. She could still see the innocent eyes of the dead children staring at her blankly. “I saw some people murdering an entire family. The man was called Old Man.”

“Shit.” Logan paced away, swiftly joined by Jordan.

“He called the female with him Rina.”

A stranger, one she’d never met, began muttering in a language that sounded vaguely familiar. Where had she heard it before? His hard blue eyes went cold, his harsh features turned deadly. He looked almost like the bad Terminator, the one whose whole body became liquid. Skye was deathly afraid of him in that moment.

She’d always hated that movie.

“Who died?”

Kir was kneeling in front of her, his hands clasped around hers. There was such warmth and caring in him that she couldn’t help but respond. “A family of five. There were three little children.” She was crying again. Gods, they’d been so young. “He put wolf fur in their hands. Why would he do that?”

“Did they say anything?”

She kept her gaze glued to Kir’s face, the gentle command that had entered his voice barely registering. There was something about him that made her want to obey him. “He said that someone named Tyr would pitch a fit over the murders and that he’d turn on Fenris.” She darted a glance over Kir’s shoulder to Fenris, to find him staring in turn at a blond-haired man who was missing a hand. Something about that man was also vaguely familiar. “Why would this Tyr turn on Fenris over wolf hair?”

“We need to contact Magnus and Morgan.” The blond held out his hand and a little redheaded female curled into him.

“No signal, remember?” Logan Saeter shook his cell phone.

The blond smiled. “There are other ways.” He raised his brows at Kir, who grimaced.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. That much power will blow the wards for sure.” Kir stood, pulling Skye to her feet. “Do you think you can sleep, or would you like something to eat instead?”

Skye drew in a breath. It ended on a sob. “Can we order in pizza?” She loved pizza. It was her comfort food of choice, but one she rarely allowed herself. All those calories from the cheese and the toppings went straight to her hips. But if any situation called for pizza, this one was it.

Logan snorted. “You’ll fit in just fine.”

“Have you had any other dreams?” The red-haired man staying suspiciously close to Fenris was watching her closely. Unless she missed her guess he was the other redhead’s brother. They looked alike.

She bit her lip. Her dreams had been frequent and intense since moving into her new condo. One of the recurring ones sprang to mind, and she spoke without thinking. “Does dreaming about the end of the world count?”

The hard-eyed, cold man wrapped a surprisingly warm arm around her shoulders. “Do you like pepperoni?”

She looked up at him, and suddenly he wasn’t quite so scary anymore.

“Yes.”

“Me too.” He led her away, all the time chattering about nonsense and pizza toppings. She found herself relaxing with him.

Who knew she’d find comfort with the Terminator?

“I still don’t think this is a good idea. If we blow our defenses it will take all day for Logan and Travis to put them back up.” Kir was biting his nail. He’d led them into his bedroom where Skye couldn’t hear them. The woman didn’t know it but she’d just tumbled right into a living myth, and Fen had the feeling she wouldn’t be climbing out again anytime soon.

Logan removed Kir’s thumb from Kir’s mouth. “It’s okay, babe. Do what you have to do. You’re the only one who can.”

Kir looked up at Fen’s father, those blue eyes turning stormy, literally. “All right. But don’t do anything foolish, understand? This is going to be down and dirty. The last time we visited the Bifrost Bridge we took our time, cast the spells carefully to hide our presence. This is going to blow the wards in a loud way, you know that, right?”

“I know, Blondie.” Logan took hold of his hand and looked straight at Fen.

“Guard Jordan for me.”

Fen nodded. He’d guard his new mother, and the siblings growing inside her, with his last breath.

“Thank you.” Logan smiled at him. “We’ll be back.”

“We?” Kir was staring at Logan as if he’d lost his mind.

“You think I’m letting you out of my sight, Blondie?”

Kir rolled his eyes. “Sit, Kir. Stay. Good dog. Woof.”

Logan’s brows rose. “Be nice or I won’t take you walkies.”

“Why am I being left behind this time?” Jordan’s hands were on her hips.

She scowled at her husbands. “You took me to Hel, why not Yggdrassil?”

“Because of what guards it.” Logan held up his hand. “It’s not up for debate, and we don’t have much time. We’re going to fetch Morgan and Magnus and be back as quickly as possible. Ask Fen or Travis or, hell, your uncle what guards Yggdrassil.”

Kir tugged on the pendant around his neck and suddenly Gungnir, the Godspear, was in his hand. The tip glowed brightly. The last time Fen had seen it the tip had glowed blue. Now it shone with a warm red light that seemed to mimic his father’s fire.

“Yes, that’s a promise and a threat.” Logan winked at Jordan and clasped Kir’s free hand. “Let’s go, love.”

“We’ll be back. Keep an eye on the girl.” Kir sighed, and the storm clouds darkened. “I’m not certain, because it’s been a while since I’ve seen her, but I’m pretty sure that’s Skuld, the Norn of the Future.”

“Which means we have a shit-ton more trouble than we originally thought.”

Logan blew a kiss at Jordan. “Be good.”

“Me?” His mother protested. Logan just shot her that demonic smile of his and stood by Kir’s side.

“Wait!” Jeff ran forward. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Shoot.” Kir was already frowning at Gungnir, concentrating on the spell that would rip a hole in Midgard, the place humans called Earth, and lead them to the Bifrost Bridge that spanned the void between Midgard and Asgard. From there they’d be able to make their way straight to Yggdrassil, the World Tree.

“What does elskede mean?”

Fen’s cheeks heated as his father sent him a knowing look. “It means beloved.”

There was a ripple in the air, and before Fen could blink Kir and Logan were gone, sucked out of the room with a boom that shook the windows.

“Shit.” Jordan blinked rapidly. “He wasn’t kidding about that being dirty. I think I’m blind.”

“What the hell?” Travis ran into the bedroom, also blinking rapidly. “What the fuck was that? Every ward in the building just blew!”

“Kir and Logan went walkies.” Jeff ran his fingers through his curls. Fen smiled. Already he could sense the changes in his mate. Jeff’s hair was slightly longer, a little bit wilder. He couldn’t wait to see how it would end up. He adored Jeff’s hair.

“Shit. They could warn a guy.” Travis groaned. “Did you say Logan went too?”

“Yup. They left me behind. Again.”

Fen winced at the anger in his new mother’s voice. “You have some of my father’s magic. You could assist Travis with reestablishing the wards.”

Jordan grumbled under her breath, but Fen could make some of it out.

Cowardly wiener was the nicest thing she said. “Fine. But if I screw this up I’m blaming hormones.” She stalked out of the bedroom, followed closely by a chuckling Travis.

Fen watched them go and wondered why Travis was so amused. “I don’t get it.”

Jeff patted his shoulder. “No man alive truly gets it, with the possible exception of your father.” Jeff shuddered and tugged on Fen’s hand. “C’mon.

Maybe we can get Jordan to reheat the pancakes.”

Fen turned to his mate and whispered in his ear, “What’s a wiener?”

“Can you explain to me what an epidural is and why your sister was threatening to rip off my father’s man parts if she doesn’t get one?”

Jeff snickered and flicked the video game remote. Mario jumped over another slab and grabbed some gold coins. “It’s something that blocks the pain of childbirth.”

“Oh.” Fen frowned at the television. “How painful can it be?”

Jeff paused the game and turned to stare at Fen. “Carol Burnett, this famous comedienne, once said that if you truly want to experience the pain of childbirth, you should take your bottom lip and pull it over your head.”

Fen’s head tilted. “That makes absolutely no sense.”

“It does if you’re female.” The doorbell rang. Jeff set the remote down. “I’ll get it.”

Fen sniffed. With an alarmed snarl he hopped off the sofa. “Wait!” Fen stood and followed him, but it was too late. Jeff was already swinging the door open.

Jeff pulled back, startled when he found his father on the other side of the door. He hadn’t seen his father in over two months, not since Jamie was attacked.

“Dad?”

Fred Grimm took one look at the wolf at Jeff’s heels and turned white as milk. He tugged on Jeff’s arm, almost pulling him out the front door. “We’re leaving. Now.”

Jeff pulled out of his father’s grip, all of the anger he’d been bottling up boiling over at the familiar sight of his father’s face. “Hi to you too, Dad. Jordan and Jamie are both fine. Jamie can even see out of both her eyes now. How’ve you been?”

“You think I don’t want to see Jamie?”

“When did you try to see Jamie?”

“They kept me away from her!”

“Who?”

“Loki and Baldur!”

Jeff shook his head. Behind him he heard Fenris moving around and knew the wolf would soon be out the door and at his father’s throat. “Damn, Dad.

Your head’s really far up your ass, isn’t it?” Fred opened his mouth to reply.

“Logan saved Jamie’s life.”

“He stole Jordan’s!”

“Logan sacrificed himself for her!” Jeff found himself in Fred’s face, defending Jordan’s beloved and his mate’s father. “He took repeated blows from, what’s it called again? Mjolnir? So that Travis and Kir and Uncle Val could get Jamie down off the damn cross and out of there.”

“He knew he’d live.” Still, Fred sounded almost guilty, as if he knew he’d done something unforgiveable. “Besides, I thought I was protecting Jordan. I had no idea your grandfather had Jamie. Do you think I would have left your sister there to hurt?”

“Jordan’s pregnant.” Fred went from red to white again so rapidly Jeff almost felt sorry for him. “Logan’s the father. So’s Kir. It’s twins. They’re deeply in love, all three of them. It’s almost disgusting how sweet they are together.

Gives you a toothache.” Jeff growled at his dad, the sound feral. “By the way, are you going to kill my niece or nephew for being Loki’s child?”

“Aren’t you shacking up with one of Loki’s children? That makes you a little biased.” Jeff felt sick. He tried to take a step back, but Fred grabbed him once again. “You’re leaving. Now.”

The growl behind him raised the hairs on the back of his head. “I think Fenrisùlfr wants me to stay.”

There was the rumbling sound of thunder, and Jeff found himself on his ass behind Fenris, his guardian wolf standing over him, claws and fangs and fur beginning to sprout.

“I wouldn’t!” Fred sounded horrified. “I wouldn’t hurt my child.”

Jeff stood. “You already did. You left Jamie alone. You ignored Jordan. You might be willing to kill Jordan’s child solely because of who the father is. And you were ready to hurt me just because you don’t approve of my boyfriend. Are you still so far under Grimm’s thumb that you can’t see what you’re doing to us?”

Fred was shaking his head, his expression horrified. “I would never hurt you,” he whispered, his voice so tortured Jeff almost relented. Fred reached out, but Fenris got between them again. Fred’s arm dropped. “Jeff. Please. I love you.

You have to know that.”

Jeff took a deep breath. “Will you go speak to Jordan and Jamie, without laying hands on them?”

“Yes, of course.”

His large, strong father looked…depressed. Defeated.

“What about Magnus and Morgan?”

Fred stared at him. “You’re my children. All of you.” His face turned to Fenris and he swallowed. Some of the aggression he’d shown to Fen was still there, but the tone had changed. “Do you love my son?”

Jeff’s whole body froze. Fenris had said “mine” more than once, but those words had never passed his lips.

“Very much. I will protect my mate even from you.”

Fenris’s deep, growly voice washed over Jeff and he damn near passed out in relief. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about Fen, but damn. Knowing Fen loved him, even if it was just the beginning of their relationship, made him feel ten times better about…everything.

Fred nodded. He stared for a moment at Jeff. Whatever he saw there put a small smile on his face, and he wondered what Fred saw. He still didn’t look happy but he held out his hand to Fenris. “Welcome to the family.”

Fen took Fred’s hand carefully. “I don’t trust you. But you’re Jeff’s family.

For him, I’ll try not to kill you on sight.”

Jeff rolled his eyes. “He’s so damn diplomatic. We should get him a job at the U.N. Or training Girl Scouts.”

His father just shook his head. “You look good, son.” He reached out and ran his hand through Jeff’s hair, the gesture so familiar it brought tears to his eyes.

His father had always greeted him by ruffling his hair. Jeff hadn’t realized how much he missed that touch until he felt it again. “Has your hair grown?”

Jeff put his hand to the nape of his neck, startled to feel the curls gliding over the backs of his fingers. “What the hell?” He went to the first mirror he could think of, the one in the bathroom, and stared at his head in disbelief.

His curls brushed his shoulders. He knew exactly who to blame for that too.

“Fen! Get your ass in here now!”

The low growl of his own voice startled him. So did the glossy, reddish fur sprouting on his arms.

“Oh, fuck me…”

Grimm smiled. The wards were down. One of the stupid fuckers had dropped the wards, and now here he was, strolling into Loki’s home base as neat as you please.

“I’m in.” He hefted the box of flowers higher in his arms and pressed the button for the elevator. “Hold your position. I’ll be out momentarily with the furball.”

Soon it would all be over and no one would be able to stop him. Not Tyr, not Baldur and sure as hell not Fenrisùlfr. He whistled a merry tune as the elevator rose, nodding politely to everyone who entered. It wouldn’t do to have them see something he didn’t want them to. Using his inner sight, he nearly laughed with glee.

Every single ward was blown. The place glowed with shattered magical threads. Grimm would have no problem getting Fenris out of the building.

Nothing could stop him from destroying the wolf.

Soon the elevator stopped on the floor where he knew Loki and Baldur lived.

The epicenter of the explosion was not far down the corridor. He had no idea what had caused it, and couldn’t care less.

A low growl sounded off to his left. A huge wolf pelted out the front door of one of the condos as if the hounds of Hel were after him. It had gleaming red fur and wicked sharp teeth. It skidded to a halt and snarled at the sight of him.

Grimm smiled and dropped the flowers, exposing the dart gun. “Gotcha.”

Fen helped a dazed Thor—no, Fred—back to his feet. Jeff had knocked the god on his ass when he’d raced from their home. Why he’d left the condo Fen wasn’t sure, but it couldn’t be good.

“What the hell?” Fred shook his head. “What just happened here?”

Fen snarled. “His transformation is complete. He’s mine now.” His mate was truly glorious, his wolf form fine and sleek. But he was out of the safety of their home, alone even if he was only a few feet away. Fen started to move past Thor, but the god was quicker. He shoved Fen back several feet on his way to his son.

“He’s a giant wolf running around a million-dollar-condo complex in the heart of the city, you moron!” Fred took off through the front door after his errant son. “Jeff!”

Fen followed. Something about Fred’s tone was off. Thor sounded terrified.

An explosion rocked the building, knocking Fen back several steps. He dropped to the floor, stunned. When his senses cleared Fen changed to his other self, his clothing going wherever it went when Fen changed, the fur and teeth and paws as natural to him as his two-footed frame had been. He streaked into the corridor to find Fred Grimm on his knees, clutching his chest. The smell of blood was thick in the air. Fred’s hand scrambled for Fen’s fur, grabbing a painful hold. The God of Thunder pulled Fen’s face around to his. “My father’s got Jeff.” He panted, his face a mask of pain. “The serpent…wasn’t your brother.” Fred Grimm lay down slowly, his face pale, blood streaking his lips.

“I’m sorry.”

The serpent? Fen blinked, stunned. His brother, Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, was supposed to be the one to kill Thor. The prophecy said so. But here Thor lay, his life’s blood on the carpet.

Fen set up an urgent howl and prayed one of his mate’s siblings heard his plea. Doors thudded open as Fred Grimm’s family rushed into the hallway.

“What the hell happened? Where’s Jeff?” Travis ran into the hallway and stopped dead at the sight of Fenris sitting next to Fred. “Oh shit.”

“What the fuck?” Jordan, her scent one of horror, fell to her knees.

“Oh my God! Dad? Dad! ” Jamie fell at her father’s feet, her hand over her mouth, eyes glittering with tears.

“Holy shit.” Val, the Avenger, stared at his brother, stunned expression quickly turning to anger. “Who did this?”

Fen barked. They had to do something. His mate would be devastated if Thor died.

“Hold on, Fred. We’ll get you help.” Travis knelt down by Thor, whipping off his shirt and pressing it against the gaping wound in Thor’s chest.

Something strange was going on, something that shouldn’t be. He whined and licked at the dying god. How could this be happening?

“S-sorry.” Fred coughed and sprayed blood all over Fen. Fen shuddered.

“He got Jeff,” Thor wheezed. His hand flailed out and another one took it.

One that glowed brightly. Travis clung to his old friend with his only hand.

“Grimm has my son.”

Travis nodded grimly. “We’ll get him back. Rest. We’ll save him, I swear.”

Fred coughed again. Fred couldn’t survive his wounds. His breath whistled, and Fen knew his lungs had been punctured.

“Fen.”

Fenris turned to find Jamie, tears streaming down her face, holding open the elevator doors.

“Change back. We have to go get my brother and kill that son of a bitch.”

“Ja-Jamie!” Fred’s eyes were wild as he tried to push himself up, protect his daughter as he hadn’t been able to before.

She sobbed, but she didn’t move. “I love you, Dad.”

Fred shuddered. “Love you. Baby girl.”

His breathing was labored. He didn’t have long.

“An ambulance is on its way. Hold on, Dad.” Jordan was pressing something against Fred’s chest, sobbing as the blood poured through the cloth.

Fred smiled and placed his hand over her stomach. Fen heard her sharp intake of breath. “Love. You. So sorry.” He sighed, the sound rattling and loud.

“Jör…not…serpent…”

His bloodstained hand fell away from Jordan’s stomach.

“No. No. Don’t you do this to me, you stubborn son of a bitch.” Jordan smacked Fred’s cheeks. “C’mon, Dad. I still have to tell you how much I hate your ass.” Tears streaked down her cheeks. “Dad?”

Fen turned away from her grief and tore into the elevator. He would mourn with his mate later, after he’d rescued him.

“Daddy?”

The elevator doors closed with a soft snick.

Jeff took a deep breath and instantly smelled something cold and nasty. He wrinkled his nose and wondered when the hell he’d fallen head first into a fish barrel.

“Ah. You’re awake, Fenris.”

Jeff froze. Fuck. He knew that voice, even if he wished he didn’t. He opened his mouth to respond but all that came out was a low growl.

Uh-oh.

“Are you sure that’s Fenrisùlfr? He looks a little…red to me.”

Jeff snorted and sneezed. Hell. He was in serious trouble if Grimm’s girl Friday was here too.

“How should I know? He was covered in his own filth for so long I can’t remember what color his fur used to be. But how many giant wolves are roaming around the greater Philadelphia area?”

Rina Southerland, his Uncle Val’s mother and Grimm’s mistress, sighed.

“I’m just saying.”

“Hmm.” Footsteps sounded. Jeff opened his eyes and found himself snout to toe with Grimm’s boot. “Do you see this?”

Jeff eyed the thin, barely there rope in Grimm’s hands. He recognized it. He growled and struggled to sit up.

“Ah-ah. No you don’t.” Grimm snapped his fingers and Gleipnir wrapped itself around Jeff’s limbs, immobilizing him instantly. “I see you do remember it.”

Jeff rolled his eyes and yanked. Hell. It should be a piece of cake to get out of this once Grimm left the room.

“This time, I think hurting you won’t be enough.” Grimm smiled down at him. “No. I think this time we need to kill you.”

Jeff growled and tried to relax. Fen would come. Fen would save him.

Grimm’s rump was about to become roast for the beast.

“Rina?”

Rina stepped forward. In her hand she held a silver knife.

“Would you like a fur coat?”

Rina’s eyes gleamed with twisted pleasure.

Jeff shuddered. Guess I’m going to find out if that myth is true after all. Because if the silver didn’t kill him right away, he’d be dead by the time they were done skinning him.

He knew which death he preferred. He closed his eyes and thought of the man he’d left behind. Find me, Fen.

I need you.

“C’mon. We don’t have much time.” Jamie shoved his ass in her car and took off like a bat out of hell. “He’ll kill Jeff thinking he’s you.” She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. “I want him dead, Fen!” She was shrieking, her voice, powered unconsciously by her magic, rattling the windows of the car.

“So do I.” Fen held on for dear life as Jamie raced through the nighttime streets of downtown. “Do you know where he took Jeff?”

She nodded and touched her earring. “Jeff hasn’t taken this off yet. I’m able to use it to track him.” She sniffed. “Where the fuck are Kir and Logan?”

“They went to get Magnus and Morgan. They believe Skye is actually Skuld, the Norn who reads the future.”

“The one who gave Odin the prophecy of Ragnarrok?” She turned sharply down a narrow street, her brows lowered in concentration.

“Yes.” Fen sniffed. There was the faintest whiff of his mate on the evening breeze. “There.” He pointed toward a narrow, red brick building with a black door.

Jamie nodded and parked the car at the first spot she came to, which was over a block away. “Act natural.”

Fen switched to his wolf form.

“Not that natural.”

Fen growled but shifted back. He sniffed, his head whipping around as the sweet scent of his mate filled his nostrils. “That way.”

Jamie led him to the building, but unless they wanted to go in through the front door there was no way they’d be getting in. “There’s got to be an alleyway somewhere around here.” She tapped her teeth with her nail and looked up and down the street. “There!” She took off and Fen followed, wondering where his mate’s sister was leading him.

Wherever it was, it was away from the slowly growing scent of blood.

“I killed Thor tonight because of you.”

Jeff whimpered. The knife sliding through his skin was sharp agony, distracting him from the stupid shit Grimm was spouting. Rina had a wicked touch with that fucking blade, drawing the pain out in ways he hadn’t thought possible.

“He was stupid, but he was loyal. Unlike your father, who’s been a thorn in my side since the beginning.”

Wait. Did he say Thor was dead? But that meant… That would mean…

The knife slid between the pads of his paw and Jeff nearly screamed. It was the last of his paws to be sliced. Each time was a fresh hell.

“Loki has a lot to answer for.” Grimm knelt down and stared into Jeff’s eyes.

“I wonder how he’ll feel finding his son’s furless body at his doorstep. You think he’ll cry?”

Jeff snapped at Grimm. His teeth snagged on Grimm’s chin, drawing blood.

Grimm pulled back. His expression was hard to read, but Jeff recognized the scent of fear. He’d smelled it on husbands who’d cheated on their wives and been found out. It filled the air around men and women who’d stolen or lied or cheated and been confronted by Jeff. Now his grandfather reeked of it.

“Rina?” Grimm wiped the blood from his chin. All emotion drained from his face. “Give me the knife.”

Fen bolted down the alleyway. He could hear the agonized howls of a wolf and knew his mate was suffering. He’d long since shed his human skin, running far ahead of his mate’s sister. She could take care of herself. He had to get to Jeff before it was too late.

No matter what else happened in that house, Grimm was a walking dead man.

Fen burst through the back door and followed the scent of his mate’s blood.

There in the living room was Grimm and a frost Jotun, huddled over a blood-coated wolf.

Fen snapped. He threw himself at Odin, snapping and snarling and tearing into skin, reveling in the blood that flowed down his chin and throat. He ripped into Odin with a ferocity the man before him couldn’t respond to fast enough.

Pain slashed into his side. Fen turned and bit, earning a startled cry from the frost Jotun.

When he turned back Odin was gone. In the blink of an eye the man he hated most in the world was no longer beneath his paws. He howled his rage. He could still smell him, hear his pained, fearful breaths, but he couldn’t see him.

Fen turned to the blonde female dashing through the front door. She was no longer a threat. Once Odin was destroyed the female could be hunted at his leisure.

“Jeff!” Jamie raced forward. “Oh my God. What did they do to you?”

Fen couldn’t turn back now. He had to stop Odin, had to kill him. Had to hand him his Ragnarrok before he could hurt Fen’s mate, his pack, any more than he already had. It was up to Fen to stop him.

Prophecy demanded it. Just as prophecy demanded his death afterward. Fen would face that when the time came, knowing he’d protected those he loved with his life.

Ah. There. He could scent the foul stench of Grimm and knew where the other man had hidden himself. Fen snarled and broke through the door.

He fell back with a whimper. Inside that room…inside that room was carnage. An entire family, from the gram to the smallest child, had been torn apart in a frenzy of blood and gore. Innocent, blank eyes stared up at him covered in the film and stench of death.

Behind him he heard Jamie’s heaving breaths as she emptied her stomach beside her bound brother.

Fen backed away from the room. Grimm wasn’t here. He was long gone.

This was part of the vision Skye had told them about.

This was a trap.

Fen quickly changed to his human form. “We need to get out of here now.”

Jamie puked some more.

He squatted by Jeff. Gods above, the damage that had been done to his mate was worse than he thought. Great flaps of skin had been flayed from his sides and his legs. Blood poured from the wounds. Jeff panted, the whites of his eyes showing. Fen had to get Jeff out of there before his mate suffered any further. He had to find out why Jeff’s wounds weren’t healing. He eyed Gleipnir. “Elskede.

How do I free you?”

Jeff, his entire body trembling violently, brought his bloody paws together and stared at Fen. His beautiful eyes were full of pain…and trust.

“Chinese finger trap.” Jamie heaved some more. “I need to call Travis.”

Fen remembered what Jeff had shown him two months ago in the helicopter.

Fen grabbed hold of Gleipnir and, instead of pulling, pushed gently. The rope fell away from his mate’s paws. Jeff was free. “Change, elskede. We need to get out of here.”

Jeff whimpered. A strange sound started to fill the air, one Fen had never heard before. It was loud, the sound rising and falling like the screech of an angry dragon.

Jamie staggered to her feet, still looking the worse for wear. “Fuck. The cops are coming. Jeff, get un-furry, you stupid bastard.”

Fen could see Jeff struggling to find his human self, but the pain was overriding everything else. “We carry him.” Fen pulled Jeff onto his shoulders and winced at his mate’s canine scream. The moan that was torn from his mate’s throat brought tears to his eyes. “Can you get us to your car unseen?”

Jamie nodded. “I think so. Travis is on his way, so if we have to we leave my car behind and get in his.”

“Easy, kjaere.” Fen raced out of the house, his mate draped across his shoulders. “We’ll have you home soon.” With luck his father and Kir would be there and could help him figure out why Jeff wasn’t healing. Had he been wrong?

Was his mate still mortal?

Jeff tried to bite back his cries. Already he could hear the police moving around inside the house. He knew they’d find where Grimm and Rina had attempted to fillet him. From what little he’d seen they’d also find that poor family Grimm had slaughtered.

How had Grimm disappeared like that? Fen had him in his jaws, ripping into him and tearing him apart. One second he was bleeding from bites, the next he’d disappeared and not even Fen could find him.

Wasn’t Fen supposed to kill Odin? Or did some other piece of prophecy need to be fulfilled first?

“Jamie!”

Jeff opened eyes he didn’t even remember closing to find his sister in her lover’s embrace. Travis looked tormented, just as he had when Jamie had been in that hospital bed months ago. He closed his eyes again and waited.

“Shit. Is that Jeff?”

He felt Fen move, knew the wolf was climbing into Travis’s car. Fen placed him on the back seat, careful of his wounds, the werewolf’s hands never leaving him. He was surrounded by the scent of loved ones.

It didn’t dull the pain, but it made it more bearable.

“Why isn’t he healing?” The concern in Fen’s voice was sobering. Jeff struggled to turn human, but the pain overrode everything else. He was stuck in this form, at least for now.

The car moved, taking them away from the death and carnage. How they’d avoided the police Jeff had no idea, but he was pretty sure he’d left a trail of blood right to the street. He figured his twin had used her woo-woo powers to hide them from detection.

Travis was driving like an insane man. “I don’t know.”

The car turned and Jeff moaned again. He was shuddering from the pain, freezing cold. It was possible he was going into shock from blood loss.

“And I can’t take him to a veterinarian. He looks nothing like a real wolf.”

Travis idled at a red light, his fingers drumming impatiently on the steering wheel.

“Not to mention my grandfather could get to him there.” He heard Jamie’s worried sigh. “Are the wards back up?”

“Jordan’s working on it. We’re also trying to figure out a way to get word to Logan and Kir about what just happened. I don’t think they realized Grimm would make his move the second the wards snapped.” Travis muttered something vile. “He had to have been waiting right outside the building to get to us that quickly. They’d only been down for a few minutes when he showed up.”

“He may already be at Yggdrasil. My father is used to moving swiftly. This is the first time he’s had so many people to protect.”

“And his main priorities are Kir and Jordan.” Travis pulled to a stop. Since no one began climbing out of the vehicle Jeff assumed they were at another red light, but he just couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes and make sure.

Fen stroked Jeff’s head and Jeff tried to relax. Whatever was going on, his mate would help him.

“Jeff?”

Jeff barely managed to open his eyes. Something about his sister’s voice was off.

“Grimm killed Dad.”

Jeff shivered. He knew. He closed his eyes and carefully wiggled until his nose rested on Fen’s thigh. It was all he could force himself to do, but he needed the comfort. The scent of his mate surrounded him but couldn’t drive away the reality that his big, strong father was dead. The man who’d tossed him in the air, who’d baked him the worst cookies he’d ever tasted, the father who’d cried when Jeff broke his arm, was dead.

“What are we going to tell Mom?”

Jeff whined. Jeanne Grimm, despite her anger, had adored her husband. She was going to lose it when she found out he’d been murdered.

If he knew his mother, she was going to go after Oliver Grimm with a sawed-off if they didn’t figure out a way to stop her.

“We’re almost there.” The now familiar bump as they drove into their building’s parking area jarred him, made him whimper. “We’ll take Fen and Jeff up to their condo, then go and fetch Jeanne. Sweetheart? Your dad’s in Logan’s place. Jordan’s called Toni to let her know what’s going on. She might be there when we get back.”

Good. The homicide detective would help them with…with…

God, he couldn’t even think about it. His father was dead, killed by his grandfather. It was beyond fucked up.

“How will we get Jeff up the elevator without anyone noticing?”

Travis pulled into his assigned spot with a sigh. “Magic.” Jeff opened his eyes to see Travis glowing with a strange light. He wavered before Jeff’s eyes and…disappeared. Jeff was lifted from Fen’s arms and couldn’t hold back his cry of pain and loss. “You two go on ahead. Pretend nothing’s wrong. I’ll need you to punch the elevator buttons for me.”

“Holy shit, Trav. Since when can you do that?” Jamie headed for the elevator, Fen on her heels.

“Since forever, but it’s extremely tiring. I have to literally bend light all around me while making sure people don’t see any warping, distortion or blank spots. Do you have any idea how heavy light really is? On top of that, I’m doing it for someone else. I can’t do it for more than two, and if your brother was any bigger I wouldn’t be able to do it at all.”

“Oh.” They got on the elevator, Jamie wincing as the Muzak version of

“Welcome to the Jungle” began to play. “I hate this music. Who picked this puke anyway?” She sniffed, not fooling anyone. Jamie was on the verge of collapse.

Before the elevator made it to their floor Jeff lost his battle with consciousness.