Chapter 20

Aiden

Camille explained the case.

“You’re probably not in any significant danger from investigating the cold cases.” Aiden couldn’t be certain, but Camille almost sounded disappointed about that. “But one can never predict what some of these zealots will do. Since they may be, uh, uncooperative, we feel you should have more security than usual.”

“After that group tried to set me on fire, I don’t really have a problem with enhanced security,” he told her. “Add as many people as you want.”

Camille shook her head. “I’m sure Supersoldiar Karjalainen will be more than sufficient by herself.”

“What?” asked Aiden and Nora in unison.

“Didn’t Captin Gan explain the nature of this mission?” asked Camille, sounding legitimately puzzled.

“No,” said Nora, visibly trying to bury her shock again. “He simply told me to accompany you here.”

“For which we are very grateful, my dear.” Francis smiled at her as if she were a favorite granddaughter. “And now you’ll be Dr. Perez's bodyguard as he travels and completes this assignment.”

“A bodyguard,” said Nora flatly. “I’m going to be a bodyguard.”

Boring work for a Valkyrie, said Magnus. If you want her in bed again, piss off someone dangerous so that she has something interesting to do.

“It may also be useful to have a Nordic around,” added Francis. “It might get you a friendly reception if you go to the land grants. You know how they are—no offense.”

“None taken,” Nora murmured. She still looked stunned, and it seemed legitimate to Aiden, reducing the odds that she was here to kill him. “Do you know how long I’ll be assigned to him?”

Camille looked irritated that this meeting was still going on, now that the essentials were covered. “We need this solved in a little less than four weeks.”

“And what happens if I don’t solve it in four weeks?” Aiden asked quietly.

She fixed him with a cold gaze. “Well. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, won’t we?”

Aiden attempted a smile, but all he could think was that said bridge would probably be on fire, with him stuck in the middle and alligators circling below.

Nora's obvious disappointment at this turn of events irritated Aiden. She certainly hadn’t seemed that miserable around him in bed. “I’m sure it won’t be that unbearable, Supersodliar. I’m really not that bad once you get underneath everything.”

Her eyes looked more blue than green in this lighting, and he saw a flash of anger in them. It reminded him of the passion he’d seen earlier. I wish she wasn’t so hot, he thought wistfully.

You have to help her, said Magnus. She has gods swarming around her and no way to stop them.

No, Aiden said. Don’t bring up gods anymore. This isn’t the time. Not when we’re on the verge of getting my life back.

It’s always the time, said Magnus. Besides, what do you think you’re going to be dealing with when you return?

Nora said nothing to Aiden's comment and directed her attention to the others as she stood up. “Do you need anything else from me tonight?”

“No, no,” said Francis, stifling a yawn. “You’ve done more than enough, my dear. Get some sleep. We’re leaving early.” He paused and laughed. “Ah, you don’t sleep, do you? Well then, do whatever you want. You’re young. Maybe you can find some dashing, exotic party.”

Nora didn’t even blink. “I’ll just stay in my room, sir. There’s no one worth my time in this place.”

She turned with military precision, but her air was all Nordic, displaying an attitude that refused to acknowledge those people—or rather, the one person—she considered beneath her. As Aiden watched her go, he barely heard Francis dismissing him as well and telling him to go fetch his “provincial girl.”

A haughty, lethal bodyguard. An assignment involving shadowy phantoms. This homecoming was starting to accrue a hefty price tag.

You still want to pay it? asked Horatio.

Absolutely.

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