Entrapment (Thor's Dragon Rider #3) - Katrina Cope Page 0,15

he was granted some final news.”

When he doesn’t continue, I coax him by saying, “And?” while rolling my hand as an indicator to hurry the story up.

Ratatoskr chuckles briefly into his paw again, eventually pulling it away and standing straight. “And he heard that you released Loki.” The rodent's words were sharp and precise, and his mischief-filled eyes never leave me as he waits for my reaction.

A gush of air expels from my lungs, and my shoulders cave. Shame sends my gaze to the ground. “I didn't…” I stammer. “I didn't technically release him. In truth, he escaped from under my guard.” I hate myself for looking at him, almost pleading for understanding, as if I could get that from this rodent.

Ratatoskr clucks his tongue. “Oh. Don't worry. Odin's been told that. But…” He shrugs. “It didn't make any difference.” The smirk on his face wipes away my fleeting plea for understanding. “You should've seen how deep red his face turned. It could've matched my fur, if not that lava out there.” He tosses his head backward. “And the steam coming out of his ears! Phew! I could've sworn he was a dragon.” The rodent drags out his words, his tone mocking and emphasizing the severity of the actions.

I cringe, dread running down my spine, and grit my teeth. “And what was his message?” I want to cover my ears and not listen although that would achieve nothing. I have to hear what Odin had to say. I can’t do anything to change my actions. I can only face the music and get it over with. Maybe he’ll help Elan and me to get out of Muspelheim if I listen.

Ratatoskr stands straight, clasping his claws behind his back and puffing out his chest. “Your message from Odin is…” He sucks in a breath and clears his throat. “You are the most useless Valkyrie he has ever seen. He should have left you and your kind as slaves. He wished he didn’t allow you into his mind and heart, giving you access to change the way he deals with your kind. The Valkyries without wings are an abomination and shouldn’t be rewarded by serving him and reaping warriors for Valhalla.”

“What?” My jaw drops as I gape, analyzing whether this was an insult or the truth. I have to agree with Ratatoskr’s earlier statement. It’s too close to the truth and how things used to be to think this is just an insulting message carried by Ratatoskr to get my attention.

Ratatoskr holds up a paw, his back remaining rigidly straight. “Don't yell at me. Remember—”

“You're just the messenger,” I finish in a cynical tone.

He drops his paw, and amusement dances through his beady black eyes. “Yes. You're finally learning.” He adds in a condescending tone, “Bravo.”

Clenching my jaw, I ask, “Is that it?”

“No. There's more. That was just a small insult.”

“A small insult?”

“Yes. I could think of more to add, but that wouldn't be Odin's words.”

I can almost feel steam coming out of my ears. “Then get on with it!” I snap.

“Because of your serious mishap of letting Loki free and not catching him again even though you spent over a day with him—”

I interrupt, flailing my arms out to the sides. “That's not fair. He was in the form of Sobek, Elan’s brother.”

Ratatoskr raises a claw at me and shakes it. “I'm not finished. And I am not the judge and jury. I'm just passing on a message.”

I roll my eyes and let impatience seep through my voice. “Then stop wasting time!”

“With pleasure.” Ratatoskr puffs out his chest as though preparing for a long speech. “He said that because you let Loki out and didn't recapture him when you spent a full day with him”—he holds up a claw at me again as a warning not to interrupt—"that he now forbids you from entering Asgard. From this moment on, you are hereby banished until you have retrieved the deceitful Loki and have him secured within the mighty Odin’s grasp.” He lifts his chin and looks down at me. “There. I finally passed on the message.”

I hate that I can’t hide the hurt on my face from this conniving rodent. “What about all the good things I’ve done?” My bottom lip quivers. “I’ve done so much good for Asgard. I’m going to rectify this situation, at least eventually. But I can’t do it if I’m stuck here. I don’t understand. How am I ever going to get out if he isn’t sending