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the pain a true warrior would embrace.
    “I will have the woman, and you will bring her to me. If you fail, prepare to suffer my wrath here in the middle land before you suffer the eternal torments of hell. Return to where she dwells, and this time, do not fail.”
    With a great roar, Odin disappeared into the mist. The noise still ringing in his ears, Rhori fell to the ground, his arms curled around his body as his face contorted in despair.
    Find the Valkyrie or be damned. Odin’s order had been clear.
    Taking a deep breath, Rhori rose. The lands of the ugly time awaited him.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    Mick clapped a hand on Creed’s shoulder as Wil moved toward the door.
    “Make sure she comes back to me in one piece,” he said in a tight voice.
    Creed shrugged. “If I can. I don’t plan to kill her, but I may have to.”
    “You bastard.”
    Mick’s fist flew toward Creed, who grabbed his wrist and twisted hard. At Mick’s moan, Creed increased the pressure until the sound turned into a prolonged gasp of pain.
    “Stay out of this. You don’t have the skills or the balls for what has to be done.”
    “Stop it, both of you.” Wil’s voice, soft and urgent, dragged their attention to him. “You must calm down right now. Look at her.”
    Chiana was awake and pacing the floor. She’d rolled up the sleeves of her tee and knotted the shirt beneath her breasts, revealing a flat and muscled stomach. Her pocketed pants were unsnapped to hang low on her hips, showing several inches of black satin and lace beneath them.
    “She do this often?” Creed asked.
    “Pull a strip tease?” Mick replied. “No. I’ve never seen her like this.”
    “If she’s not usually so provocative,” Wil mused aloud, “why now? To entice one of you into sex, the ultimate act of living, to ward off the threat of death? To confirm control of the one thing uniquely hers, her body, because something out there is after her, and she can’t stop it?”
    Creed sighed.
    “I love philosophy, Doc, but not now.” He glanced at Mick. “I’m only saying this once, so listen close. Consider me an authority. I’ve seen a lot of bad shit in a lot of weird places.
    “See that marking on her arm? It’s a claiming brand.”
    “Claimed?” Mick growled. “By who?”
    “Don’t know,” Creed lied. “But I think you and the doc there had better get gone before whoever put it there shows up.”
    Music blasted through the room.
    All three men whirled at Chiana’s shout of “Hey, boys!”
    She’d discovered a stereo beside the bunks and danced to the pounding beat of a heavy metal anthem. Her hands moved across her body as she swayed, her eyes closed. Creed closed his eyes, took a deep breath and tried to ignore the effect she was having on him as he moved toward her. He had to shut off the music and stop her before all hell broke loose.
    Despite his careful steps, Chiana sensed him. Her eyelids fluttered open at his approach. She leaned against him as he tried for the power button, beginning a bump-and-grind. When he jumped back, her eyes locked with his as her hands slid under the waist of her pants. She laughed as she kicked them off and waved her fingers toward him in a come-here gesture.
    He fought his body’s response. She was beautiful, sexy, and he was certain she could and would do everything she suggested in a husky voice. He was also absolutely certain she had no idea what she was doing.
    “Come on, baby, a little bit closer,” Chiana crooned, reaching for him. Reaching for the zipper of his pants and what it covered. Knowing what she wanted, her seductive voice teasing him, he was rock-hard. Forcing himself to ignore the driving desire she ignited, he grabbed her in a tight hold, her back against his chest, and yanked the stereo cord from the wall.
    Chiana kicked and screamed, transforming from siren to harridan, screaming vulgarities at the top of her lungs.
    “You want to screw me, you bastard, and you know