Truth's Heart (The Valkyrie's Passion Book 3): A Valkyrie/Shifter Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

pull me close. She smelled flowery. “I know it is hard. I know what you did seems unforgivable, but it was a mistake. The stories are replete with heroes who were tricked and made terrible mistakes. But the true test of their characters were how they reacted when they learned the truth.
    “You can wallow and hate yourself. It won't make you feel better. It won't bring Odin back. All it will do is poison you. You'll shrivel up and be old before you know it. You'll be like my sister-in-law.” Gerdie glanced at her husband as he rooted through the back of the wagon, shifting around objects. Occasionally, he lifted up one and shook his head. “Frigg poisoned herself with envy and jealousy. She's old and bitter now. Don't be like her. Live your life. You have something so precious and you will lose it.”
    “What?” I asked.
    “I know you are not that stupid.” She kissed my forehead. “You can be the strong daughter of Sigrid and Ragnar, or you can be weak and bitter. Lean on your wolf. He's strong. He'll help carry you until you recover. He'd do anything for you.”
    “I would,” Magnus whispered.
    “Do you know how rare that is? Don't squander it with bitterness and regret. Place the blame squarely where it belongs.”
    “Loki.” The word hissed out of my throat. I pictured his far-too handsome face and his perfectly tailored suit. My hand clenched. It should have been his chest the Sun's Tear had pierced. It should have been him gasping and dying on the ground.
    “That's right. Loki. He's the guilty party. You acted out of love and self-defense. That is why Odin forgave you. He understood that you were just as much a victim as he was. And he knew you would be strong. He knew you would be his Valkyrie and avenge him.”
    I looked up at Gerdie. I took a deep breath. She was right. I couldn't wallow. There was too much happening. Odin had cared for me. He had loved me. He had forgiven me. Why couldn't I do that to myself?
    It was hard. I wasn't sure the guilt would ever leave me, but I hated how I felt. I hated feeling ugly and despised. I didn't like the yawning gulf in my heart. Magnus still loved me. Freddy and Gerdie still cared for me.
    The world had not ended yet.
    “Thank you,” I whispered and hugged her tight.
    I savored the woman's embrace. It was so motherly. I dimly remembered my own mother hugging me like this when I was hurting. I was a tomboy. I loved climbing trees and romping through the woods outside our remote cabin, but that meant I scraped my knees or bumped my head all the time.
    And my mother was always waiting with her arms spread wide to soothe away my pain and encourage me to try again.
    “Aha,” exclaimed Freddy. “I found it.”

Chapter Four
    Raven
    Freddy brandished something round and golden, the bright sunlight reflecting off the shiny surface. I winced, raising up my hand to protect against the glare. He held it aloft, proud that he had found it amid the collected belongings in the back of the boar-drawn wagon.
    Freddy hopped down, his sundress billowing up his thick legs. He landed with a splash in a puddle and grimaced, muddy water staining the hem of his dress. The water trickled down his calves leaving behind dirty streaks.
    “What is this kettle?” asked Magnus as Freddy returned.
    “Eldhrimnir, a marvelous cook pot used to cook Saehrimnir for the gods' dinner,” smiled Gerdie. “And it's such wonderful craftsmanship. More than worth its weight thanks to the quality of the gold it was forged from. Not just simple gold, you see. There are dwarven magics worked into its construction. This should be more than adequate for the dwarves to fashion you a device to neutralize the Brisingamen.”
    “As long as their price is reasonable,” I muttered. I couldn't believe Frigg slept with four dwarves just to have a necklace. I knew girls like that at my college. I never understood how they could sleep with a couple of guys in the same night.
    Not me. I was a one woman kind of