Chapter 44

Katla

“Katla,” the voice came on the wind. “Katla, rise and claim your throne.”

“Who’s there?” I called back.

“We are waiting, Katla, waiting for you to call upon us,” it replied back.

“But who are you?”

“We are you, you are us, we are one.”

I looked around, I was standing on a frozen field, no, not standing, hovering. A wild wind whipped around me, and shimmering white fabric swirled around my frame. A warmth radiated from me and my pale skin was marked with luminescent tattoos in an ancient language.

“Unite them before it is too late,” the voice commanded.

“Unite who? What do you want from me?”

“Go North. Your true home waits,” the voice said.

“But the Night Flame. We have to find it.”

“Go North,” it was an order and the voice of expected me to submit.

“The Night Flame—“

“Cannot be controlled until you know who you are. Go North.” Then, the voice was gone and sunlight flooded through the windows of Silver Tower, rousing me from the dream that felt very real.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Damien walked into the room wearing his grey joggers with his chiseled frame on display. Wetness started to creep between my legs.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“Afternoon, actually,” he said, “You’ve been asleep since we got in the car. Did you know you talk in your sleep?”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” I mused, “It’s been a weird couple days with equally vivid dreams.”

“Want some coffee?” Damien was already holding out a cup and walking it to me. He gave it to me, then trotted to the other side of the bed. He flopped next to me, sloshing the coffee, and propped up on his side, looking at me grinning. “Do you know how magnificent you are?” He asked, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear.

“But I lost it. It’s gone,” I said, looking into the brown swirling liquid. “I was so stupid.”

“Katla, it’s not gone forever, and it is safe. Whoever wants it wouldn’t suspect Brian, and Peter wouldn’t have given it to someone he didn’t trust.” Damien had a way of comforting me that I didn’t understand. “Mate,” Aurelia reminded me.

“But—“

“Enough beating yourself up. Let’s get some food in you,” he said.

“Actually, I’ve got another idea,” I looked at him hungrily, but not for food.

“Oh?” he grinned as I put the coffee on the table next to the bed and turned back to him, and playfully shoved him back then straddled his hips.

I pulled the sweater from yesterday up over my head, then got a whiff of my underarm. “Oof. On second thought, I think a shower is in order,” I looked at him sheepishly.

“Your wish is my command,” he grinned. I climbed off his hips and we started walking to the shower. I was imagining how good the steam would feel on my achy, tired limbs. Just as we were at the steps leading to the basin, Damien froze.

I looked at him, and after a moment of silence, he said, “I’m going to let you do this one, Lyulf and Rolf have a lead on Peter’s killer, and I need to call Alpha Erik.”

“My guess is it leads back to Viti,” I said darkly.

Damien gave a nod, and said, “I’m sure he’s tied into it somehow, but Katla, I don’t want you to worry about him right now. You will claim your place, and I will be by your side.”

“You can’t promise that,” I said, eyes suddenly burning with tears. “I told my dad that he would be by my side right before…”

“Whatever the Goddess wills is what will be,” he told me, “And Katla, he is with you. He was with you last night, remember?” I nodded and brushed the tears off my cheeks.

“I’m going to follow up on the lead,” he said, hugging me, “You relax and get clean. I’ll tell you more when you’re done.” I nodded and walked numbly into the shower. Somehow, the waterfall didn’t feel as good as I thought it would a few minutes earlier.