Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,6

a rare gesture in their world, implying a degree of subservience one didn"t just give away, certainly not to one as low-ranked as she. “He"s in Denver?” She didn"t need to specify who he was. In fact, she didn"t think she could actually say his name without stuttering, though so much time had passed. The soothing motion of Brand"s hand stilled and he frowned. “I don"t know for sure it"s him. A woman was killed by one of us last night and a red wolf was reported nearby about a week ago.”

Alice swallowed. In her opinion, that was pretty solid evidence. Still, she had doubts. If Arn was in the city, wouldn"t he have come for her? “I haven"t felt him,” she said with more confidence than she felt.

“That"s good.” Brand showed her a tight smile, the kind he used when trying to hide his teeth so he wouldn"t frighten her. He put her on her feet in an effortless motion. “The wolf might have been Bera for all I know.”

“I appreciate that you don"t want to scare me, but I"d rather know he might be out there.” She trailed off at the end, but managed to finish before her voice failed her entirely.

Brand pulled her into a hug before she could protest.

The reflexive terror in response to his nearness clenched her stomach, and she struggled against succumbing to it.

After a mercifully short embrace, he backed away, then reached to hold her face between his palms. “I won"t let him hurt you.”

Since he"d found her, broken and bleeding by the side of a road, he"d never let anything harm her. So why did she find it so hard to believe him? Alice nodded into his large, warm hands and tried to smile. “I know.”

17

18

Chapter 2

The heavy door of Erik"s home swung open in front of Brand. Bera stood in the entryway, a redheaded statuesque beauty straight out of Norse myth. A smile played across her face. From her, that expression was more dangerous than a glare.

She inclined her head exactly as much as required, the barest inch. She stood high in the ranks among their kind, almost even with Erik. “Welcome, Brandúlfr, son of Geirúlfr.” She gestured with her arm, welcoming him into her home.

Brand hesitated, shaking his head. “I shouldn"t come in.

He"ll smell me, and he didn"t know I was coming here.”

“That"s what I"m hoping for.” Her lips curled into a deeper, mischievous smile. “I will not speak to you across my threshold. Some of us still keep to the tenets of hospitality.” Brand grumbled. He couldn"t decline to enter without causing offense, which would put him in the prickly situation of having to apologize. He moved past Bera through the marble-tiled foyer and into the elegant drawing room. He sat awkwardly on the overstuffed couch and waited for her to bring him a drink, trying not to seem as irritated as he was. She 19

offered him a glass of whiskey, bending in a deep and precise curtsey. She took a seat opposite him, crossing her long, shapely legs at the knee. “I don"t suppose you"re here to make a pass at me? Erik could use a good fight. He"s been in a foul mood for weeks.” Brand almost choked on his first sip of whiskey, swallowing past the sudden blockage in his throat with effort.

“The last time Erik and I fought, I almost killed him.” She bared sharp teeth in a menacing grin. “That"s as may be, but he wasn"t fighting for me, then.”

“True enough.” He put down the glass and leaned back into the couch. “I don"t know why you"re bringing this up. You wouldn"t accept me if I did.”

She answered him in Norse, her tone rough with scorn.

“ Do not presume to know my mind, son of the Spear .” Her anger roared around him, but his defenses remained in place.

After a pause, she continued in English, “I am as much the moon"s daughter as I am my father"s.” Brand repressed the urge to shiver and seized the opportunity given by her silent glare to change the subject.

“Have you been running around Denver in wolf form?” One red eyebrow arched in inquiry. “Why would you ask me that?”

“A woman was killed by one of us in the city last night.

During the investigation someone reported seeing a red wolf in the surrounding area.”

Bera pursed her lips. “You"re not seriously implying I killed her?”

“No, I"m here because I want to know if one of your brothers might be