\u201cBastard,\u201d Thordin breathed, staring at the blood on his hands\u2014Sif\u2019s blood.\u00a0 I stood behind him, throat so tight that I couldn\u2019t breathe.\u00a0 She was limp in front of him, sprawled like a discarded doll on the marshy turf, face pale as death and clothes splashed with the same scarlet that soaked her lover\u2019s hands.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou bastard.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t look away.\u00a0 I just stared at her chest, watching for the barest hint of a rise, a fall, that she was still alive.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our enemy\u2019s laughter sent shivers dancing up and down my spine, set the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.\u00a0 My jaw tightened, teeth grinding.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFucking <\/i>bastard,\u201d Thordin said, his voice shaking as he said the word for a third time.\u00a0 He surged to his feet and launched himself at the white-clad figure, fingers hooked into claws.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I stood there, rooted to the spot.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t help, but I couldn\u2019t turn away no matter how much I wanted to.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The man in white just laughed\u2014right up until Thordin grappled him and carried him to the ground.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He oofed and just started laughing again.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I sucked in a sharp breath with a shudder.\u00a0 Thom looked down at me, blinking slightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n
My hand shook as I handed him my mug.\u00a0 \u201cWill you pour me another cup of tea?\u201d<\/p>\n
I tried to ignore the strange, concerned looks I was getting as I squeezed my eyes shut.\u00a0 The after-image of the too-beautiful man in white was burned into the back of my eyelids and I shuddered again.<\/p>\n
Thom\u2019s fingers brushed my face and I shook my head hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I whispered.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t ask me.\u00a0 Don\u2019t ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs she all right?\u201d\u00a0 Sif asked.<\/p>\n
I just looked at her.\u00a0 \u201cNo. I\u2019m not.\u00a0 I will be, though.\u00a0 I will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
These visions come for a reason\u2014so I can stop them from coming to be.\u00a0 That\u2019s what I\u2019ve got to believe.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That\u2019s my story and I\u2019m sticking to it.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cBastard,\u201d Thordin breathed, staring at the blood on his hands\u2014Sif\u2019s blood.\u00a0 I stood behind him, throat so tight that I couldn\u2019t breathe.\u00a0 She was limp in front of him, sprawled like a discarded doll on the marshy turf, face pale … Continue reading