Free Heroes (Eirik Book 2) by Ednah Walters

enough. I needed more.
    “Say something,” I said.
    “You complain that I talk too much.”
    Not when her breath warmed my skin like that. That I liked.
    “I love the sound of your voice, not the things you say. Big difference. So yap away.”
    “So you can hear me without really listening to me?”
    “I knew you’d understand.”
    She laughed silently. Suddenly, I was aware of her chest pressed against mine. My heartbeat spiked, and the need to kiss her shot up with it. I wanted to touch her, but her jacket was in the way. I looked down and noticed it had ridden up and left a thin layer of skin bare. My hand found her skin despite the high-wasted jeans and her top. I stroked it.
    She grabbed my hand and moved it, squeezing it hard, but not before I heard the tiny catch in her breath and felt the shiver. I loved it when she reacted to my touch. Sure, it often happened while she was asleep, but it was nice to know she couldn’t control it while awake too.
    “Don’t push it, mister,” she warned, but her voice lacked heat.
    “So what’s this about you attending the ball with me?”
    “Your mother expects to use me as bait. Obviously, she hasn’t changed.”
    She lifted her head so she could look at me. It was something I’d noticed she liked to do. She couldn’t just converse while facing any direction. She had to stare into my eyes. Not that I was complaining. I liked those baby blues locked with mine. Besides, it was endearing.
    “She’s still moving people like chess pieces and expecting them to stay put until she moves them again. Thank goodness your father is the voice of reason. He asked me to talk to you instead.”
    Now, she was talking faster, her voice slightly unsteady. I liked to think it was our closeness throwing her off, but I could never tell with her.
    “He’s really worried about the tension between you and your mom. And before you say you don’t care about making her happy, watch for the nose, Pinocchio. You do.” She started to wiggle, and my arms tightened.
    “Where are you going?”
    “Enough hugging.”
    “You’re really not going to kiss me? Not even on my cheek?” She scowled. “At least admit you missed me.” Her expression became mutinous. Stubborn girl. I let her go, and she sat up.
    “Are you ready now?”
    “No.” All the shuffling around had messed her hair. I pushed the lock from her face, my hand lingering on her skin. She didn’t dislodge my hand. “I’d missed this. Talking to you. Your crooked smile.”
    “I don’t have a crooked smile.”
    “Do too. It’s sexy.” She rolled her eyes. “That too,” I added. “You’re the only girl I know who looks cute rolling her eyes.”
    She laughed. “You’re so weird. Did you find her?”
    I rolled a lock of her hair between my fingers. “Find who?”
    “Your sister, silly. Who did you think I meant?”
    My grandmother. I didn’t want to think about her.
    “Did you know that it took Rhys and Nara nearly seventeen years to exhaust their leads? And that is despite the fact that they can siphon memories.”
    “Siphon memories? What’s that?”
    “Tap into scrambled memories and find relevant information. They had to work even harder to sift through Immortals’ memory banks because the Norns were involved. In the last few months, I’ve learned how Rhys and Nara infiltrated most of the private clubs, business, and mentoring program for the younger Immortals left behind when their Immortal parents died, or when some idiot Valkyrie or Grimnir turned one.”
    She frowned. “So what are you saying? You need more than sixteen years to find your sister?”
    Direct and to the point, that was Celestia. I’d missed that. “I hope not. I wanted to do it weeks ago, but I’ll settle for a week. Her birthday is coming up.”
    “Why do you think your sister is on Earth with the Immortals?”
    “The Norns hid me there, so chances are they did the same with her.”
    Celestia frowned. “The Norns took her from