Eye of the Beholder

desk for the last fifty years but he was still a warrior god. Travis knew he wouldn’t be able to hold the other man off for long. He needed a distraction so that he could try and force Grimm to face what he’d done. The blackness in the Old Man’s soul was nearly the only color left. Even a hundred years ago his soul hadn’t been this dark.

What the hell else had Grimm been up to?

He began maneuvering backwards. If he could get Grimm positioned just right Kir would be able to finish him off. It was a slim hope, considering how the bastard had survived Val’s attack, but it was the only one he had at the moment. He had to keep Grimm busy until Jeff and Val could get Jamie safely out of the building.

They were in the corridor outside Grimm’s chamber. He could hear Val, Jamie and Jeff inside. The fact that the two men had gone after Grimm alone was nearly enough to earn them his wrath. The fact that they’d distracted him long enough for Jamie to begin healing had stayed his hand.

“Tyr.”

He shuddered as Jamie’s sweet voice flowed over him. She stepped up behind Grimm, the shining truth of her soul a gentle balm to his sight. “Jamie.”

Grimm whirled, intent on capturing Jamie. Travis reached for them, knowing he’d be too late, and that some wounds not even Logan could heal from.

Jamie flung out a hand and Grimm went sailing down the hall to land at Detective Mancinelli’s feet.

Travis turned to follow him, knowing he couldn’t leave Grimm near an innocent.

But he was too late. Grimm stood, faster than expected, and was on Mancinelli before she could blink.

He had an arm wrapped around her waist, his hand roughly cupping her chin. The blade of a knife rested against her throat. “One move and she’s dead.”

Travis saw the fluctuations in Mancinelli’s soul, saw the terror and disbelief flashing as Grimm morphed once more into her partner.

“Hey, Mancinelli. Miss me?”

“Fucker.” The detective held her own in the face of the seemingly impossible.

Grimm licked her cheek. “Not yet, sweetheart. But soon.”

Nik stood stock still and watched, his face inscrutable. But Travis saw the other god’s soul and knew he was torn. Something held him back from helping the detective, but Travis couldn’t tell what it was.

Logan and Kir were sneaking up on Grimm from behind, trapping him in the corridor. It was only a matter of time before it was all over. If they could just get the woman away from the mad god they’d be able to attack.

“Piece of cake,” Jamie muttered next to him. She was limping, favoring her right side. He couldn’t see her face, but he knew she hurt.

She held out her hand, palm up. The knife in Grimm’s hand wobbled as he fought the pull.

“Stop it, you stupid bitch.”

The knife snapped back, slicing into Detective Mancinelli’s throat. Jamie screamed as the blade bit into the woman’s neck. With an aggravated hiss Grimm dropped the detective. “We’re not done yet.”

With a pop of displaced air he was gone. Just like that.

Travis looked frantically but could find no sign of Grimm’s soul. The man was well and truly gone.

“Fuck! How the hell does he keep doing that?”

“Amen,” Jamie breathed, leaning up against him wearily. He looked down at her, not surprised to find she was crying. “Oh god. I think I killed her.”

Immediately Travis dampened his light, his eyes returning to normal as he took in the condition of his woman. She was wounded, but she was healing before his eyes. “You didn’t kill her. Grimm did.”

“C’mon, c’mon.” Travis turned to find Logan crouched over Mancinelli. Her blood was rapidly soaking the floor beneath her. Nik was standing over him, his fists clenched at his sides, his silver eyes glued to the woman rapidly bleeding out under Logan’s hands. “Work, damn it. Work.”

Travis ran over to find Logan holding his palm over the wound in the detective’s throat. Her wide eyes stared up at him as she struggled for breath.

And then she stopped struggling.

Logan sat back with a weary sigh. “Where’s Grimm?”

“And he just disappeared?” Jordan was fiddling with her earring again. Never a good sign in her older sister. Jordan was still pissed as hell at being left behind, but she’d set that aside once she heard what Grimm had done.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.” Travis was stroking his hand up and down Jamie’s arm. He hadn’t let go of her since she’d leaned against him in the hallway at Grimm and Sons, sobbing over having killed a woman.

She was still freaked out over what had happened. Everything was going to be just a little bit different now. She had no idea how those changes would affect her family.

“It’s time for me to go.” Nik stood, his expression tight. “There are other things that require my attention.”

Travis nodded while Uncle Val shook the other man’s hand. “Thanks, Nik.”

Nik smiled that cold, cynical smile of his. “Not a problem.” He walked over to Detective Mancinelli and cupped her chin in his hand. “Stay out of trouble.”

“Excuse me?” The detective’s hair was still damp from the shower they’d convinced her to take. She was bundled up in Jordan’s robe, her clothes currently in the wash. Jamie wasn’t sure if all of the blood would come out.

“You’re playing in the big leagues now, little girl.” The smile left his face, his expression becoming intent. “Stay out of trouble.”

She gave him the finger.

Amusement crossed his face before he stood up. “Right.” He shook his head. “I’ll make sure to keep my eye on you then.”

Jamie choked. The last person in the world she wanted watching her was Heimdall. He was…creepy.

“Just what every girl wants. Their very own supernatural stalker.” Mancinelli was rubbing at her throat again, but she didn’t seem to realize it. Not even a scar remained. Like Jamie, she’d gotten Logan’s ability to heal. What that meant for the detective Jamie didn’t know, but from the way Nik had watched her the entire time she’d been with them she bet they hadn’t seen the last of her.

Nik sighed. “Tyr. Make sure she doesn’t get her ass killed.”

Mancinelli’s brows rose. “Again, you mean?”

Nik returned her look. “You didn’t die. And have you ever heard of the words thank you?”

Everyone ignored the detective’s growl.

Travis’s hand drifted down to Jamie’s ass. “Where are you off to?”

Nik tsk’d. “Sorry, need to know.”

“I don’t need to know?”

Nik grinned. “You’re not the leader of the Vanir anymore, remember?”

“Are you going to give Kir your allegiance?” The sudden tension in Travis’s shoulders worried her.

Nik waved on his way out the front door. “It’s been nice talking to you all.” He sent Mancinelli one last warning look before walking out, closing the door gently behind him.

As soon as the door clicked shut the detective was on her feet. “Will someone please explain to me what the hell is going on? Why am I not dead? Who are you people?”

Travis tugged on Jamie. She was more than willing to go along with him. “I think that’s our cue to go.

We’ve been over this before.”

Logan groaned. “Oh no, Lefty. You’re not leaving me alone to explain this one.”

“Sorry, hothead. I have to make sure all of Jamie’s new bruises are gone.” Travis grabbed her hand and began dragging her behind him.

Logan snorted, but he didn’t try to stop them as they headed for the front door. “I’m sure you do.”

Jordan took a deep breath. “Okay. It all started when Kir and Logan walked into my office…”