Morgan's Fate

understand.” She smiled sadly. “I just wanted to say hello.”

“Sigyn. Come here, now.”

Sigyn winced at the snap in Frigg’s voice. “Yes, Frigg.”

He let her by, knowing that her request was going to earn her quite the lecture from Frigg. He didn’t think the elder goddess would harm her or he would have tried to stop her.

No, Sigyn would only wish she were dead by the time Frigg was done with her.

“Gina. Sonia. Let’s go. These motherless sons of a Jotun whore have declared we aren’t welcome here.”

Gina and Sonia Grimm, aka Gna and Sjofn, were Frigg’s most dedicated handmaidens. They did anything Frigg asked of them without question. If Magnus went for Frigg, the two women would undoubtedly throw themselves in front of her to protect her, despite the fact that neither was a warrior. Magnus would easily destroy them if it came down to a fight.

Morgan held out his hand to stop Magnus from going for Frigg’s throat. “Enough, Frigg.”

She took a step back as Morgan tried to hide his shock. The rumble of thunder had been in his voice, officially declaring him the successor of his father. Magnus stepped up beside him, lightning crackling around him in a visible display that had him thankful it was the middle of the night.

Scratch that. Declaring both of us Dad’s successors.

Sif closed her eyes and swayed, pale as milk. Even her hair seemed less lustrous as she shook with silent sobs. “Oh, Thor.”

Magnus winced at the sound of his father’s name on Sif’s lips. Morgan hurt for his brother, but there was nothing he could do.

Not even the Gods could force someone to love you.

Morgan allowed the feeling that had overtaken him, the anger and the determination to remove Frigg from his sight, to linger. The thunder remained in his voice, echoing oddly with his words. “You will leave, and you will not return.”

Magnus flicked his hand toward the Aesir gathered in front of Jeanne Grimm’s home, and lightning struck at their feet. Morgan could feel the thunder rumbling through him, sounding from him in a quiet fury.

Skye stepped around the gathered Aesir and Vanir and into the house for all the world like a princess entering her castle, calmly and demurely. She took her place at his side, her hands clasped in front of her as he’d seen her do countless times over the centuries.

She’d made her allegiance known, and he saw that knowledge settle over Frigg like a dark cloak. Morgan wrapped his arm around her waist, making his own point more than clear.

Skuld was under his protection, and anyone who fucked with her would have to deal with him.

Frigg lifted her chin. “Baldur will come home to me. He will see the mistake he’s made in standing by Loki’s side when Ragnarrok begins.” Frigg was vibrating with anger, but at least she was backing away.

“Idiot.” Magnus was shaking his head. “Ragnarrok has already begun.” He stepped backward into the house.

“You’re the idiot. When Ragnarrok comes and Loki dies, who do you think Baldur will turn to?”

Morgan also stepped back into the house and exchanged a glance with his brother. “If that happens, he’ll turn to his family.” He smiled at Frigg. “That would be us.” And he closed Jeanne’s door quietly, having more respect for Thor’s second wife than he would ever have for his grandmother. “Damn. I hate that bitch.”

Morgan took a look at the boxes piled around Jeanne’s home and nodded. “Let’s get started. Thanks to Frigg, this is going to take a lot longer than I thought.”

Magnus groaned, but he opened a box, just the first of many.

Chapter Seven

“It has to be here somewhere.” Skye stood, her hands on her hips, and glared down at the unopened box.

“For all we know, we accidentally buried him with it.”

“Well. That would suck monkey balls.” She sneezed at the dust that rose from the box she’d just opened.

Magnus choked. “Monkey balls?”

She shrugged and turned back to the box, but Morgan could see her cheeks turn red. The way she seemed to switch between Skylar Kincade, American photographer, and Skuld, all-powerful Fate, was endearing as hell.

“That’s what you think. Dad could have stashed it somewhere in Valhalla and we’ll never see it again.” Morgan grimaced as Magnus pulled out yet another box. They’d been at this for hours and still hadn’t found a hint that Mjolnir was anywhere in the house.

“You think Frigg found it?”

Morgan sighed, taking the dusty box from Skye as she started sneezing again. “That woman is seriously fucked in the head. If she’d found it, she wouldn’t have been able to stop herself from gloating.”

“She was like that from the beginning.” Skye wiped her eyes and sniffled. “She was a bitch from day one. Always thought that because she was fucking Odin we owed her something. Vicious twat.”

Magnus was staring at her like she’d grown a second head. He turned to Morgan and grinned, waggling his eyebrows. “I like her. Can we keep her?”

Morgan rolled his eyes even as Skye laughed at his idiot brother. “Frigg won’t be coming back. Can we work now?” They’d make sure of it. Jeanne’s home, her sanctuary, the place she’d raised their brother and sisters, would remain in Jeanne’s hands for as long as she wanted it. Logan and Kir had immediately agreed with Morgan when he contacted them. The two were on their way to set up the wards that would keep any but Jeanne and her brood out of this house until Jeanne said otherwise.

They weren’t sure if they would tell Jeanne what her mother-in-law had done. She’d be far too angry to think rationally, and no one was willing to risk what would happen if Jeanne went up against Frigg. Jeanne was mortal. Frigg would tear her apart to get what she wanted without a qualm.

On the other hand, Jeanne Grimm could be one scary-ass lady when pissed. Morgan might bring popcorn to that fight.

Morgan opened his senses, looking for that point of strength that was Kir, and found it barely two blocks away. Whatever had delayed the other gods, they were here now. Jeanne’s home would soon be safe.

“You’re always such a ray of sunshine, Morgan.”

“It comes out of my ass on cloudy days.”

That set his twin off again. Morgan shook his head and got back to the task of looking for the Hammer of Thor. If Mjolnir were in the house, the two of them should be able to find it.

Unless Thor put it under some sort of ward, one that wouldn’t allow anyone to detect it. His father never had the magic of the Jotuns, but he’d had allies who would be willing to hide the hammer for him. Allies that might not want either side to have Thor’s mightiest weapon.

“Damn it. What did that bitch do with it?” Magnus tossed aside a box that held some of Thor’s clothes. It broke open, scattering jeans all over the place.

“Then he gave the hammer to Thor, and said that Thor might smite as hard as he desired, whatsoever might be before him, and the hammer would not fail; and if he threw it at anything, it would never miss, and never fly so far as not to return to his hand; and if be desired, he might keep it in his sark, it was so small; but indeed it was a flaw in the hammer that the fore-haft was somewhat short.” Skye hummed. “It’s possible it’s been shrunk down and that’s why we can’t find it.”

“Magnus.” He reached for his brother, wincing when Magnus danced out of reach. “I really don’t think she found it. Frigg would have gloated if she had, but instead she was just as frustrated as you are.”

Magnus sighed and ran his fingers through his bright red hair. “I know, I know. But…”

Morgan grabbed Magnus and wrapped his arms around his twin. “I miss him too.”