Jenna sighed. “Yeah, I pretty much suspected that would be the case.”
Titus frowned. “I don’t like you being in harm’s way.”
“I’m in harm’s way now,” she said. “What’s to stop him from materializing right here in the middle of Howler’s?”
Titus looked around like that was a possibility he hadn’t considered. “You think he would?”
Ingvar’s dark brows bent. “A wraith has one singular focus. To regain the life they believe was stolen from them. Nothing else matters. A public place isn’t going to deter him. Neither is killing anyone who gets in his way.” She leaned in. “And as he grows stronger, as he’s already doing, according to Jenna, he will get even harder to stop.”
Titus shook his head. “But he’ll eventually become solid enough to kill, right? So he won’t be impossible to stop then.”
Ingvar lowered her head slightly. “I’ve seen a berserker kill fifteen men with a blade through his shoulder and an eye swollen shut from the blow of a mace. I saw another doused in burning oil, then shrug off his blistering skin and fight on as if nothing had happened. These are not ordinary men. They are supernatural warriors. Imagine a being like that wandering the streets of your town in search of Jenna.”
Titus grimaced, but Jenna spoke before he could respond. “No, we have to find him soon, while I can still subdue him. The time to do this is now. But…”
Ingvar looked at her. “But what?”
Jenna didn’t want to hurt her friend’s feelings, but this was a conversation that needed to be had. “You came here for rest and relaxation. You told me that much. Now you’re in the middle of this, and I’m asking you to use your skills to help me. How taxing is that going to be for you? Because, to be honest, you look like you could use the rest.”
Ingvar’s smile was gentle. “I could, it’s true. This last year of studies has been exceptionally hard. Far more trying than I would have imagined. But I would rather die than sit idly by while you fight this battle alone.” She reached out and took Jenna’s hand. “We’ve always fought side by side. Why should this time be any different?”
Jenna squeezed her hand. “When this is over, you’re coming to stay with me at my house. For as long as you want.”
Something flickered in Ingvar’s eyes, a brief moment of unreadable emotion. Then she smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
Titus cleared his throat softly. “What do you need us to do?”
Ingvar looked at him. “Nothing. That is, your help is not needed for this, wolf.”
His eyes narrowed. “I want to help. Besides, Jenna and I can’t be more than a hundred feet apart, so if I’m going to be there, you might as well put me to use.”
Jenna smiled. “He’s right. We might as well include him.”
Ingvar seemed unconvinced. “Jenna told me Leif seems afraid of you, that you’ve scared him off twice now while in your animal form. I believe that’s because he was a wolf warrior. It’s very possible he thinks you’ve come to chase him from the mortal realm.”
“A wolf warrior?” Titus asked.
Jenna nodded. “Most berserkers recognize the bear as their sacred animal, but there were others who chose the boar or the wolf. Leif’s alignment as a wolf warrior would absolutely explain why he fears you. To him, you’re the symbol of loyalty, stout-heartedness, devotion to the cause. Everything he should be, but also everything he turned his back on to follow the path of personal glory.”
Titus nodded. “Okay, I understand that. How about if I don’t shift?”
Ingvar sipped her water. “I suppose that would be all right. Also, you’d need to stay as far away as you can. We can’t risk scaring him off. Once he knows what we’re doing, we won’t get a second chance.”
Titus frowned, clearly unhappy with that option. “Fine.”
He didn’t sound fine with it to Jenna, but she let it go. He’d be there, that was going to have to be enough. She smiled at Ingvar, trying to cut through the tension a little. “I can get Tessa to be there too. Can’t hurt to have another valkyrie when we’re dealing with a wraith.”
“No.” Ingvar shook her head, causing her feather earrings to tremble. “Leif wants you and you alone. Even I’m going to stay hidden until things are set in place. I don’t think you understand what a fine line we’re walking here. If we scare him off, he’ll be wise to our plan. He’ll only end up biding his time until he’s strong enough to take your sword without much effort.”
Jenna let out a frustrated sigh. “So it’s just going to be me against him? I don’t like those odds.”
Titus growled softly. “Neither do I.”
Ingvar glared at both of them, anger flashing in her eyes. “You think I do? You have to trust me. Trust the runes I will cast for your protection. I haven’t spent years in study, trading my health for knowledge, to let my friend be hurt.”
This time, Jenna took Ingvar’s hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply I think you aren’t capable or that I don’t trust you. I just know how powerful a wraith can be. Facing one alone is not going to be a picnic.”
Ingvar’s anger turned to sincerity. “But you won’t be alone. I’m going to pour everything I have into the runes I cast for you. This is how we’ve always done it. A valkyrie and a seer.”
Jenna nodded. “I know. But this is the first time a wraith has wanted to kill me.”
Ingvar bent her head slightly. “Odin’s protection will be with you.”
Titus made a little growl. “I’d rather she
