Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,51

went over it, the guilt became worse. His stricken face was burned into her mind.

Ingrid narrowed her eyes. “I"m still shocked he actually let you go. Males with his level of power never give up members of their brood, certainly not female ones.”

“You told me he was exceptional.”

“He is that.” Ingrid paced across the small living room.

“I know you wonder if staying with him would have been better for you.”

Dagny sighed. “Get out of my head, Mother.” Her mother spoke in a gentler tone. “You want Ansvarr dead, and so do I. This is the best way to achieve that goal.” She slumped back in her seat. “Brand told me he would kill Ansvarr for what he did to me.”

“You can"t believe a word he says.”

“He never lied to me. I"m the one that lied.” She swallowed when her voice broke. “I lied to him about everything, and I hate myself for it.”

“He will stomp on your heart. I have occasion to know.” “So you"ve said.” She made a dismissive hand gesture.

Ingrid grumbled. “Girl, you are treading on my last nerve.”

Dagny lowered her head into her hands. “I want this to be over.”

“As soon as you"re sure we can take the next step.” She rubbed at her forehead with one hand, wishing the headache would go away. “I did exactly what you told me. I took his blood within a half-hour of the peak of the moon.” Ingrid scoffed. “You did more than that. I can"t believe 144

he allowed you to mark him. He could have killed you.” The reminder of their time together and how she"d treated him afterward made her stomach tense until she felt sick. “He wouldn"t hurt me, Mother. I"m certain of it.” A knock at the door interrupted their discussion. Dagny looked at her mother, wondering who it might be. Ingrid continued to appraise Dagny, unperturbed.

Ingrid"s voice rose. “Enter.”

The door swung in and Alice"s head peeked around the corner. Ingrid hissed. “Loki"s cock, what are you doing here?”

“I need to speak with Dagny, please,” Alice said in a voice that wavered a bit.

“Well, come in.” Ingrid gestured with one hand, encompassing the cluttered area against one wall where a stool stood. Alice crept into the room. She glanced around, eyes nervous. Her nose twitched. Dagny couldn"t blame her. The cabin air was overpowered with a mixture of putrid substances, as usual. Alice made her way to the stool. After she sat, she fidgeted nervously. “I"d like to speak with her alone.”

“Of course, I"ll leave my own home.” Ingrid laughed harshly and headed out the door.

Alice smoothed her hands over her knees. “I came here to tell you that Brand is going to kill himself.” Dagny shot to her feet. “What are you talking about?”

“Björn is coming to take vengeance for the death of his son, and Brand"s not going to put up a fight.” Dagny blinked, trying to understand what was happening. “He wouldn"t let himself be killed while you"re still linked to him.”

“I"m not in his brood any longer. Right after you left he gave me back to Erik.”

She sat back down heavily. “Fenrir forgive me.” Their plan had gone so terribly wrong, and it was all her fault.

Alice stood and crossed the small room. “Go talk to 145

him.”

Dagny looked down at her hands. The shame of what she"d done was all the more terrible with Alice staring at her so hopefully. “I rejected him. It"s done.” Alice knelt next to her and touched her arm. “I know you don"t want to go back to Ansvarr. Just tell Brand you made a mistake.”

Dagny rubbed her mouth with the back of one trembling hand. Whenever she thought of Brand, she could taste him, dark like the earth in the deep woods. “The only mistake I made was allowing him to become infatuated with me.” Alice withdrew her hand. “Merciful Sigyn, you set him up.” Feeling the tears gather, Dagny nodded absently. “Now you see why I can"t go talk to him. What would I say?”

“The truth. Don"t you owe him that?” For the first time since Dagny had met her, Alice"s voice had an angry edge.

“Why do I owe him anything? I never promised him I"d stay with him. I did this for all of us, Alice. He needs to take his place and change things.”

Alice stood abruptly and stared down with her jaw clenched. “That"s what this is about? You expect him to take charge of the Broods of Fenrir and undo centuries of