There wasn’t one Crow or Raven who hadn’t had a Trial of some sort. The Viking gods loved a good test of spirit and strength. But this one seemed particularly brutal. Even for Skuld.
“I’ve gotta warn her.”
“No!” Didi took a firm grip on his arm. “If you tell her…just trust me on this. She has to do this on her own. Especially now. Especially ‘cause he wounded her.”
“But…”
“Yager, if you love her, and I know you do, then you’ll back off. Don’t fuck with Skuld on this.”
He’d never seen Didi worried about much, if anything. And he’d definitely never seen her pleading before, and that’s exactly what he saw in her eyes even if her words were commands.
He had no idea what Skuld said to Didi, but it was enough to convince her it was safer not telling Neecy the truth.
“Okay. I’ll keep my mouth shut for now.”
Didi let out a deep breath. “Thank you. But trust me, Yager. I won’t let Neece face this completely alone. We just have to play this a little differently.”
Hearing that, Yager eased up a bit. “Okay. Good.”
“Excuse me.”
Yager and Didi looked up at Connie.
“What’s up?”
“We’re ordering pizza for dinner. Does that work for you two?”
“Yeah. That’s fine,” Yager said as Didi nodded her consent.
“Great. Um…and I was wondering, since everyone is getting a little antsy, if I could set up my equipment and…”
“Connie,” Didi warned.
“What?”
“They wanna throw a party,” Didi explained. “Which, if I were you, Yager, I’d say no to.”
“I don’t mind.” Connie was right. Everyone was getting a little antsy. Actually, they were getting a lot antsy. A little house party might safely blow off some steam.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Sure. My closest neighbors are about six miles away and I’ve never had a party here.”
“Yes!” Connie turned and headed back to the kitchen, where the Crows and Ravens had taken to congregating on a regular basis.
Didi followed after her, but not before adding, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
The one thing he knew about Crows, they wouldn’t be inviting any rowdy outsiders to his house. Crows only allowed other Crows and friends of Crows to their parties because they didn’t really “party” unless their wings could come out.
Pushing it out of his mind, Yager went in search of Neecy. He needed to see her, to know she was okay. He would do as Didi promised and not tell her anything about Skuld’s plans for her, but he still needed to see her.
Of course, he didn’t expect to find her in tears, hysterically laughing, with Mike Molinski draped over her lap, his ass in the air. Thankfully the little bastard wasn’t naked.
“All I’m asking for, Professor, is a little demonstration.”
A grinning Tye was the first to notice Yager. Clearing his throat, he reached over and slapped Mike in the head.
“What?”
He motioned to Yager and Mike’s head whipped around. “Oh, uh…hi, Bro.”
Shaking his head and scowling, Yager turned and walked away.
Neecy followed Yager into his bedroom. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m being ridiculous? You have Michael Molinski on your lap with his ass in your face, but I’m being ridiculous.”
“Don’t be mad at him.”
“Oh, so now you’re protecting him?” Yager’s grey eyes glared at her from across the room.
“Don’t bark at me! He was just trying to make me feel better.”
“Feel better about what?”
“Forget it.” Neecy headed toward the door, but Yager was already standing in front of it. He’d even closed it. She didn’t hear it close. Christ, how does the man do that !
“Feel better about what, Neecy?”
“I don’t wanna have this conversation now. Move.”
“Talk to me now. Or stand here forever. I don’t give a shit. But you’re not leaving until you tell me what’s up.”
Letting out a short scream of frustration, Neecy moved away from the door. She eyed the window and, realizing that was no longer an option of escape, turned all her rage and fear on Wilhelm Yager.
She spun around. “You wanna know what’s wrong?” He didn’t move as she advanced on him. “This! ” She pointed at her tied down arm. “This is bullshit! ”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Everything that meant anything to me is gone! And we both know it! ” She hated yelling, but she couldn’t help herself. She’d lost it. Panic turning to full-‐on rage in a heartbeat.
“Neecy…”
“I’m not a warrior! I’m not a Crow! I’m a fuckin’ invalid!” And the next words were out of her mouth before she could think about stopping them. “Why didn’t you just leave me? Why didn’t you just…just…”
“What?” he yelled back. “Let you die?”
That’s exactly what she was about to stupidly say and the thought tore through her like a blade. Christ, how pathetic was she? Letting something like this make her feel inferior. Weak. Vulnerable.
And that’s when she burst into tears. Yet she didn’t even have to reach for Yager…he was already there. His big arms wrapping around her, holding her close to his warm body. She wrapped her free arm around his waist and held him tight as the tears and fears from the past five days flowed out of her in one horrible torrent.
He should have seen this coming. Should have known she’d be feeling this way…he sure as hell would have.
Sitting himself on the floor, he pulled Neecy onto his lap and let her cry. The physical pain Neecy could always deal with. She was definitely a girl who could take a punch to the face or a knife to the stomach. But for some unknown reason, she felt like the Gathering somehow defined her. Somehow made her worthy of everything she had. But all Skuld did was give her a second chance. It was up to Neecy to actually take that chance. She did, too. And made herself into the woman he’d fallen madly in love with.
After ten minutes, the tears turned to sniffles, but it took another ten for her to finally pull back from him…as he knew she would.
Wiping her eyes, she tried to pull out of his lap, but Yager wouldn’t let her go.
“Sorry about that, Yager. Um…” She shook her head. “I have no excuse for that little display.”
“Ax in the back can do that to a person.”
She chuckled at that. “Yeah. I guess.”
Again she tried to pull out of his lap, and again Yager pulled her back.
Smiling shyly, “You know, you can let me go now, Yager.”
“I don’t want to. I like you here on my lap. Although, all that wiggling is giving me a hard on.” He ran his hand down her cheek. “Who the fuck am I kidding?
I’ve had a hard-‐on for you for the past five days.”
Using the sleeve of his Giants sweatshirt, Neecy wiped the remainder of her tears. “You sweet talker you.”
“You’re lucky I’m able to speak at all.”
“What? You think it’s been easy on me?”
“Girls have it easy.”
“You must be high.” She held her free hand up. “I’m startin’ to get carpal tunnel.”
Yager buried his face in her neck. “I so didn’t need that visual.”
“What about me? Every time you went into the shower…” She growled.
“Yowza.”
His arms tightened around her waist. “Don’t, Lawrence.”
“Come on, Yager. You’re killing me here. Besides, I need comfort…I’ve been crying.” For emphasis, she sniffled. Twice.