I fell, but I never hit the ground.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Vervain?” Odin asked in concern.
I felt a little dizzy, but it was probably just pregnancy hormones wrecking havoc on me again. I opened my eyes and looked up into his concerned face.
“I'm fine,” I said as I stroked his cheek; my thumb brushing the edge of his leather eye patch.
“Is it the baby?” Odin asked as he laid his hand over the slight bulge of my belly.
“Maybe,” I said. “I just felt a little dizzy.”
“I did as well for a second.” Odin frowned. “How odd.”
“Perhaps you're feeling sympathy dizziness,” I teased him.
“I wouldn't be surprised if I were.” Odin leaned down to kiss my stomach. “I'm so excited to meet you, little one.”
Odin and I already had two sons—one who I'd born, and one who I'd adopted—but Vidar and Vali were from my past life with Odin. It's a long story, but Odin and I had met when I was a French witch named Sabine. We had an amazing life together, but I'd refused to eat an Apple of Immortality and become a goddess. I had believed that life went in cycles and death was part of that cycle. When my circle had reached its end, I died, but Odin asked an angel to put my soul into the Viking Well of Souls: Hvergelmir. Years later, when I had yet to emerge, Odin gave his left eye in exchange for the spells he needed to take my soul out of the Well and put it inside an unborn child.
It took Odin years longer to find me after that, and he might not have if it hadn't been for the Goddess Nyx. She saw me on Earth, sensed something strange about me, and told Odin. As soon as Odin saw me, he recognized my soul. He approached me carefully; knowing that I'd have no memory of him at first. But I was a witch, and I was familiar with magic. I sensed Odin's power from the start, and when my memories started surfacing, I accepted them. It didn't take long for me to fall back into love with Odin. We were married within three months, and now, we were expecting our first child in this life.
I couldn't be happier; I had a magical man who loved me so much that he sacrificed his eye to be with me. I had also eaten an apple to become immortal, and I was about to become a mother. I lived in a silver mansion called Valaskjalf with my husband, his wolves, his ravens, our two sons from the past, and my cat, Nick. My days consisted of making magic and love with my husband, wandering through Asgard, sailing in Viking longboats, and feasting with my family. Vikings knew how to live.
So, why did I feel restless?
I stroked Odin's hair as he laid his head in my lap; his arms around my waist and his cheek against our growing child. I was seated in my favorite chair before the hearth in the great hall; a cup of spiced cider beside me, and Munin, the raven, perched on the back of my chair. Nick napped on a rug before the fire; content now that the wolves were outside hunting. They tolerated each other, but Nick was still wary of them. Who could blame him? Odin's wolves were massive... and wolves.
Then Hugin flew in and landed on the mantle. He eyed me with one, glassy, black eye as if he knew what I was thinking. Being the Raven of Thought, he very well might. Munin, the Raven of Memory, cawed abruptly; startling Odin, Nick, and me. He flew up into the rafters and started cawing more steadily. Odin stood and stared up at the bird with a frown as Nick hissed and took shelter beneath my legs.
“Munin!” Odin shouted. “What's wrong with you? If there's something you need to tell me, then show it to me.”
Odin lifted his arm, and the bird came to a landing on Odin's wrist. Odin closed his eye so that he could focus on whatever images the bird was giving him. His scowl deepened until Munin squawked stridently and both he and Hugin flew away; this time out the open door of the hall.
“What did he show you?” I asked urgently; there was a tightness forming in my chest.
“Nothing that makes any sense,” Odin murmured. “There must be something wrong with him; his magic is off.”
Before I could press Odin for more information, his son, Thor, strode into the hall. Thor came over to us with determined steps; giving me one of his usual, lingering glances. I knew that Thor had a little crush on me, but I was hoping it would wear off once my pregnancy progressed.
“Thor, what's amiss?” Odin asked.
Nick came out of hiding and went to rub against Thor's legs; he had always loved Thor. Even in his obvious agitation, Thor took the time to crouch down and pet the cat. It made me smile and wonder what would have been between us, had there been no Odin. But Odin and I had beaten death together; no one could compete with that.
Nope; not one at all. There are six others.
“What was that?” I asked Odin.
“I asked Thor what was wrong.” Odin transferred his curious look to me.
“No; I thought you said something else.” I shook my head. “Never mind.”
That wasn't him, it was me, Vervain. I'm Alaric, the Consciousness of the Void. Do you remember me at all?
I ignored the voice as Odin and Thor both stared at me strangely. First the dizzy spell, then Munin, and now, I was hearing voices. This wasn't good. Every witch knew that once you started hearing voices, your sanity was on the outs. Shit; maybe it was the baby messing with
