The Runes Universe: Imperfect Souls (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  I fired. I never miss.

  Chapter 14

  I stopped the Valkyrie from taking the soul. “He’s headed toward Corpse Strand.”

  The Valkyrie nodded. “I’m no longer needed here then.” He rushed around the field, etching forgetful runes on everyone, with Maxie and Evie helping, and then disappeared through a portal after bowing to me.

  Itzel and Kyra reaped Tate’s soul and returned to Hel.

  Maxie and Evie followed me back to my house and to Reeve’s side.

  Reeve’s face looked so peaceful sleeping on my bed. Her wounds healed quickly.

  “Given that you ordered both Grimnirs and a Valkyrie around, and your healing runes worked awfully quickly, you’re no ordinary Immortal, are you?” Maxie asked.

  “I’m not.” I wiped away the hair from Reeve’s forehead.

  “Who are you?” Evie asked.

  “Vali, youngest son of Odin and the god of vengeance.” We stared in silence for a moment.

  “Is there anything more we can do?” Maxie asked.

  “She’s going to need time to heal once she wakes,” I said.

  They nodded and disappeared through a portal.

  I cried for the first time in my entire life. I laid my head down on the bed and let the tears flow for Reeve. How would I tell her?

  “Hey.” She stroked my hair. “Why are you crying?”

  My eyes met her soft hazel ones. I crawled into bed with her and cradled her in my arms.

  At that moment, her tears started flowing and she grabbed her stomach. She remembered. “It wasn’t a nightmare, was it?” She managed to get the words out through her sobs.

  “It wasn’t.” I kissed the top of her head.

  She cried more. “The baby’s gone.”

  For the next few hours, she cried, and with each tear, I wanted to kill Tate all over again. I got her some water and tissues and held her.

  The tears stopped, and we lay together for another hour in silence.

  She breathed deeply and tried to talk, but the words didn’t come.

  Soon after, she fell asleep.

  My artavus laid on the nightstand next to me. All I needed to do was etch her one more time with healing runes and she’d never be in danger of dying again. But I couldn’t make that decision for her. She’d need to be the one to allow it to happen.

  If she chose not to become an Immortal, I’d live the rest of her days right here in Midgard by her side. For her, I’d make any sacrifice necessary.

  ***

  I opened my eyes to see Reeve watching me. She sat on the bed.

  “Why am I not injured? He punched me, threw me down the stairs, and repeatedly kicked me in the stomach.” She held her stomach. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m not hurt. I don’t understand.”

  “I healed you.” I sat up and faced her.

  “Not you.” She shook her head. “Don’t you lie to me.”

  I grabbed her hands. “I’d never lie to you, Reeve. Never.”

  “How?” Her eyes narrowed. It pained me to have her look at me that way.

  “Magic,” I said.

  “Magic?” She pulled away from me and crossed her arms. “You healed me with magic?”

  “An old magic. I’ve used it on you before,” I said. “The last time you were in the hospital.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” She bit her lip.

  “Let me show you.” I held my hand out to her. “Do you trust me?”

  She studied my face and peered into my eyes. “I trust you.” She gave me her hand, and I led her off the bed.

  I grabbed my artavus. “If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?”

  “A deserted island beach where we wouldn’t have to deal with any people.” She pursed her lips.

  I opened a portal to the very place she’d asked for. She couldn’t see it, so I swept her up in my arms and walked through the portal onto white sand with water lapping at my feet.

  Her feet hit the sand, and she bent down to run her fingers through it. “It’s real.”

  She surveyed the surroundings. Palm trees floated on a soft breeze. Waves beat against the shoreline. Two green parrots flew by and landed in the trees nearby.

  “It’s real. We’re in the Atlantic, a long way from Kayville,” I said.

  “I’m dreaming or dead,” she whispered on the wind.

  “You’ll never be dead if I can help it,” I said.

  She whipped around and gazed into my eyes. “Tell me everything.”

  We sat in the shade of a tall royal palm, and I explained everything. I told her who I was, about Odin and Asgard. I told her about Immortals, Valkyries, and Grimnirs. I explained Hel and what happened to the souls of the dead. I even touched on Ragnarok and the reason for the constant training of the armies of Hel and Asgard. I didn’t touch on the other realms and the interesting shifters, elves, giants, and dwarfs. I’d save that for another day.

  She listened and rocked back and forth, holding her knees to her chest.

  I finished. The sun set in the distance, appearing to be swallowed by the water.

  “You want me to become Immortal?” She studied me.

  “I do. I want you by my side always,” I said.

  “Why?” she asked.

  “I care for you more than I can express with words,” I said. “More than my own existence.”

  “Do you love me?” she asked.

  “I do.” I plucked her from her spot in the sand and brought her onto my lap. “I love you, Reeve.”

  “I love you, too.” She blushed. “That’s a first for me. I’ve never loved anyone before.”

  “Me, too.” I smiled and kissed her on our deserted island paradise.

  We were two imperfect souls, who, together, became perfect.

  The End

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  About the Author

  USA Today bestselling authorMiranda Hardy writes literature to keep the voices in her head appeased. When she’s not in her fantasy world, she’s canoeing in alligator infested waters, or rescuing homeless animals. She goes to coffee shops to do most of her writing while drinking tea. Unable to reveal too much, she has the most boring superpower ever (hint: you have to be a close relative for it to work). She resides in south Florida with her two wonderful children, and too many animals to mention.

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