Free Immortals (Runes book 2) by Ednah Walters Page A

train you and Raine if you’d like,” Lavania added.
    “No thanks.” He disappeared behind the fridge door as he searched for something to eat.
    “Don’t mind him,” I said apologetically. “Once he processes everything, he’ll have plenty of questions and won’t mind joining us.”
    Lavania looked skeptical. “I hope so.” She glanced toward Eirik, who stepped away from the fridge with a bowl of leftovers from last night. He opened the lid and grinned. As we watched, he opened a drawer, retrieved a spoon, and scooped cold chili. Yuck.
    “This really is his second home,” Lavania said softly.
    “Yes, it is.” It was surreal watching him, the son of a Norse god eating cold chili in my kitchen. Then I noticed Lavania in front of the mirror waiting for the portal to form. I wanted to tell her to use the door. Mom thought nothing of using portals, but Dad could get spooked by people appearing or disappearing suddenly. Mrs. Rutledge from across the street also had more time on her hands than any of the housewives in the cul-de-sac. She liked nothing better than to watch people and gossip. She’d notice if someone was at our house one second and the next at Torin’s without crossing our yards.
    Lavania waved and disappeared through the portal. I waited until the mirror was whole again before joining Eirik.
    “So, do I bow in humility,” I bowed, “curtsey out of respect,” I curtsied, “or grovel every time I see you?” I grabbed his hand and rained kisses on his knuckles.
    “Shut up.” He yanked his hand from mine, but he was smiling.
    “You really should warm that.” I pointed at the chili.
    He stopped eating and glanced at me. “This, uh, wasn’t your dinner, was it?”
    “No.” I plopped on a stool, leaned against the counter, and watched him shovel spoonful after spoonful of the mixture into his mouth. “So the Norns were right.”
    “About?” he asked between scoops.
    “Your life is in danger from this, uh, dark shadow.”
    He shrugged. “Whatever.”
    “Don’t say that. Maybe you should listen to them, Eirik. Keep an eye out for this thing after you.”
    He laughed. “I’m not going to look over my shoulder because of something those three crones said. If the shadow, or whatever it is, wants a piece of me, let it come.”
    That meant I’d have to do the watching and the worrying. “Do you really know who your mother is?”
    He nodded. “Yep. I have Sari Seville. She might be standoffish and strict, but she has moments when she does something very, uh… What’s the word?”
    “Mom-ish?”
    He grinned. “Yeah, Mom-ish. Do you remember J.P and Kyle?”
    “Fourth grade bullies. I hated them. I wonder what happened to them.”
    “They probably ended up in juvee. They ganged up on me one summer. The next day, they both apologized and never bothered me again. Apparently, Mom paid their families a visit. Either she runed them or she put the fear of Hel in them. When you were in the hospital after the accident, she sat with your mother and got all of us drinks and sandwiches while we kept vigil. I’m talking about everyone who went to Torin’s party and came to the hospital with us.” He pointed his spoon at me. “That deserves the Mom-of-the-Year award.”
    “Yes, it does.”
    “And ‘mom number two’ is your mother. Hope you don’t mind sharing.”
    I grinned. “I don’t.”
    “Good.” He licked the spoon and got up to put the empty bowl in the sink. “She fills in for mine most of the time, so I’m good mom-wise.” He turned on the water and soaked the bowl.
    He was so sweet. I gave my mother credit for that. His parents often traveled, leaving him with nannies when he was little and housekeepers when he became a teenager. My parents practically raised him.
    He turned, leaned against the sink, and crossed his arms and legs. “So, why were you and the Valkyrie discussing me?”
    He made it sound like Valkyrie was something vile. I guessed he was still ticked off at