Nordic Fairies (Novella Series, #1) Read online

  “No.” He stepped back and rubbed his face with both hands. “It’s not okay. This is exactly what they want. I can’t believe I did that. I can’t control it. I...”

  “What who wants?” She interrupted.

  She knew the answer, but his confirmation made her shiver.

  “The Döckálfar.”

  Her face twisted and she took yet another step back. Taking pause she realized. “Oh my God, they got to you, didn’t they? That’s why...”

  He closed in on her. “No! No, it’s not like that.”

  She raised her hand to ward him off. Their past lives had given her more practice to resist him. It was up to her to save them.

  “Then, what?” She lowered her hand.

  He stepped back with a resigned look. Pulling one hand through his hair, he leaned against the back of the couch and slouched.

  “I’m not sure. That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  He nodded and glanced up. “I don’t blame you. But that’s not why I came. I came because I couldn’t stand the look on your face today. I couldn’t have you think I didn’t remember you.” He looked at her. “At the same time I couldn’t have them know it was you.”

  “Then why didn’t you just nod? That was all I needed. It’s not like I would have jumped you in the middle of that circus,” she snapped.

  Viggo smiled, amused. His reaction annoyed her further. She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “So you’re not going to tell me what’s going on?”

  His eyes darted over her crossed arms, and the smile lingered even though he tried to fight it. She recalled how he had always found her temperament attractive.

  Svala glanced at the door. Her friends would be back soon, and she needed to know before it was too late.

  “Vig, come on. Tell me.”

  Viggo’s smile faded. He bit down on his lower lip and looked past her.

  “Please.”

  He stayed in the same position for a while. She shifted her feet and waited.

  “I can’t tell you everything. Not only because I’m not allowed to, but because we’re not sure what’s going on yet.”

  Without thinking, she took a step closer. He looked up, and she stopped.

  “We suspect something’s not right,” he said.

  “We?”

  “Alva and I.”

  He didn’t elaborate.

  “What do you mean?”

  Her hands ached to reach out and touch him. He looked so tired, so much in need of her.

  “Haven’t you noticed things have been off the last century?”

  “Off?”

  “The rhythm. Our lives. Even the missions have been different. Things have happened that didn’t make sense.”

  “Well, things change. We know that better than anyone,” she said.

  He shook his head. “No, it’s something else. The Döckálfar are up to something, I know it.”

  She gasped, the thought running through her head so unimaginable she had trouble posing the question. “What are you saying? Are you spying on them?”

  He met her gaze, his calm eyes confirming her suspicion.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Without any time for afterthought, she walked up and pushed him on his chest so hard he almost fell back on the couch. “What are you thinking?”

  Viggo grabbed the back of the couch to keep from falling, and eased back up. “Calm down, honey.” He reached for her. “I know what I’m doing.”

  She shook her head and the tears surfaced without her consent. The thought of what he risked made her panic. She accepted his open arms.

  “Please, don’t do this. Don’t risk everything,” she whispered into his chest.

  “It’s not as bad as it sounds. They have no idea what I’m up to.” He stroked her hair. “I would never do anything to risk us, you know that. I’m trying to save us.”

  She wrapped her arms tighter around him and buried her face in the nape of his neck. They turned quiet for a while. She listened to his heart beat and breathed in the familiar scent of him.

  Then she had to ask. “Is this about her?”

  It took a while before he answered. “I think she’s connected to it somehow.”

  She leaned back. “You went to see her in the shop.”

  He nodded.

  “I did too.”

  He pushed away some hair that stuck to the tears in her face. “Did you see her daughter?”

  Svala nodded and smiled through her tears. “She was beautiful.” She touched his face. “She had your eyes.”

  His thumb smoothed over her cheek. They studied each other.

  “What can I do?” she asked.

  “Nothing. I don’t want you involved. That’s why I ignored you. If they find out who you are, they will do anything to see us fail. We won’t get any more chances, you know that.”

  “Well, I can’t sit and do nothing.”

  “You have to, at least until I know more about what is going on.”

  She sneered. “You’re not making it easy for me. Why did you have to go and become a movie star? You’re everywhere. I can’t escape you.”

  “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my first choice, believe me. I needed the access.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Is this your assignment? Becoming a movie star?”

  No one told them about the nature of their assignments. Most times they didn’t understand what it was about until it was over; sometimes they never knew what they had accomplished. This time he had to have clearance from somewhere to go public like this.

  “Not really.”

  “What do you mean not really?”

  “I can’t say.”

  “Why?”

  He squirmed. “I can’t tell you.”

  “What do you mean? You don’t trust me?”

  “No.” He shook his head, as if it was ridiculous to suggest such a thing. “It’s not that, it’s...”

  She waited. He squirmed.

  “It’s because of Trym.”

  She eased back, brows raised. “What?”

  “We don’t know if we can trust him.”

  “Bullshit!” She took a step back. “It’s Trym. Of course you can trust him. What are you saying? That he’s with them?”

  He looked at her, calm but worried. “Not him, but someone he loves.”

  She shook her head. “Trym would never. He had the chance once and he didn’t take it. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I hope I’m wrong. I really do, but until I know, it would be wise if you didn’t mention this to him.”

  She was about to object when someone fumbled with the card key outside the door, swearing loud when the door wouldn’t open. Svala grabbed Viggo’s arm and dragged him across the room towards Trym’s bedroom.

  “You have to hide. I’ll get them into the other room, and you can sneak out.”

  Once Viggo was inside the room he reached out for her. “Promise me you won’t tell him.”

  Her eyes flickered from Viggo to the door.

  “Promise,” he insisted.

  The light above the lock turned green, the door clicked.

  “I promise,” she whispered.

  He pulled her into a kiss. She clung to him and his tongue grazed against hers right before she broke and pushed him back into the room, closing the door behind her.

  Jen and Megan walked into the room laughing. Svala wiped her face with the back of her hand and turned to lean her back against the door.

  Jen’s smile faded when she saw her. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  The other two girls turned silent and looked at Svala with concern.

  Svala forced a smile. “Nothing. It’s nothing. I just.... What did you buy?”

  Sarah studied Svala with concern. “Sweetie, you don’t look well. Maybe you should lie down. Come.” She reached for Svala with one hand and motioned with the other toward the couch.

  Svala took a step
from the door, reluctant to walk away from Viggo. “You know, I’d rather lie down on my bed. Could you guys help me get there? Come to think of it, I am feeling a bit dizzy.”

  ***

  On the plane back to Washington, Trym nudged her side. The flight attendant stood in the aisle, asking if they wanted anything to drink. Svala shook her head and returned to the window.

  “Are you okay?” Trym leaned after her.

  The flight attendant turned to the next row. Svala nodded but evaded his gaze.

  “We’ll find another way,” Trym assured. “We’ll figure it out. I promise.”

  She couldn't’ shake Viggo’s suspicion. The more she thought about it, the more sense it made. Something was off, and she put so much faith in Trym to let her know how things were she never thought to question how things had been lately.

  It never occurred to her Trym would betray them. If anything, he had been more reliable since his lover went over to the Döckálfar. He refused to follow, despite the sweet deal he had been offered. She wasn’t sure she would make the same decision if Viggo decided to switch sides.

  Svala closed her eyes and tried to rid herself of the thoughts that kept surfacing. Trym had always been there for her, and he loved her. He would never betray them. She trusted him. This was crazy.

  But she couldn’t ignore what had happened earlier that day.

  Back at the hotel, when Trym came back and learned Svala was ill, he went to her and put his comforting arms around her. Hugging her tight, he asked how she was feeling. She assured him she was fine, and buried her face in the nape of his neck. After one deep inhale she froze.

  His shirt oozed of incense. He’d gone to see her too.

  Author’s note

  You read the first novella in the series Nordic Fairies. I hope you enjoyed the read. If you want to know what happens next to Viggo and Svala, please follow the instructions below.

  For automatic updates on Nordic Fairies and other works, please click the like button on my Facebook Page. Information on releases will be updated directly to your Facebook account. If you want information on current available parts of the series, please go directly My Stories Page.

  Best Regards,

  Saga Berg

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7