“I see . . .” Kera lift her gaze and saw that Aditi had moved around behind Freyja. Eyes intense, she gave a single nod and Kera said to the god, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Good. And your reward will be answers, Crow. Answers you desperately need.” Freyja held her arm out, and Kera watched as something flew across the land and into her open hand.

She held it out for Kera. “Take it.”

Kera studied the rune-covered hammer. The head wasn’t nearly as big as the Giant Killer’s weapon, but power radiated from the runes burned into the head and handle.

Reaching out, Kera grasped it. It was heavy but it felt right in her hands.

“Where do I start looking for your necklace?”

“That coven of witches you let live—”

“How did you know about—”

“—start there.” The god turned away from Kera.

“How do I get the necklace back to you?”

She gave a little sniff. “Just find it, Crow.”

The woman’s feathered cape exploded into an array of falcons and hawks—and she was gone.

“That was Freyja,” Aditi explained.

“So she said.”

“She’s leader of the Valkyries. Goddess of love and beauty and jewelry.”

“Goddess of love? And jewelry? Her?”

“Odin tricked her to take the position of war god. She’s never forgiven him for that, but she can’t deny she’s very good at it.”

“She’s given you a mighty weapon,” the First Crow pointed out. “She must think you’ll need it if she’s given it to you and not one of her own Valkyries.”

“Well . . . that’s a disturbing thought.” Kera dropped the head of the weapon to the ground and leaned against the handle like a cane. “What does she really want from me?”

Aditi gave a small smile. “The gods can visit and talk to those they deem worthy on the mortal plane, but they cannot physically interfere.”

“So?”

“So she needs you to do it for her.”

“Why not her Valkyries?”

“That’s not something she’d ever ask them to do. But the Crows . . . it is what we do.”

“But you cannot do anything until you get back home. So for now,” the First Crow said, using her foot to scrape away the runes Kera had drawn in the dirt, “let us drink and sing to welcome our new sister to our ranks!”

The Crows and Ravens cheered and proceeded to pass out more wooden casks of ale, but Kera immediately noticed that Vig was not cheering.

She turned to him and softly asked, “This is bad, isn’t it?”

“Few things worry Freyja, but she was worried. That’s bad for us.”

“Is there anythinggood for us at this point?”

“Yes.” Vig pulled Kera close and kissed her forehead. “You are.”

Chloe had her feet up on her desk, her gaze locked on the ceiling. “Aren’t you blowing this out of proportion?”

“I know what I saw, Clo.”

“You saw . . . straw.”

“In a hospital room.”

“Yeah . . . and?”

“The old wives’ tale says that straw in a bedroom may mean the Mara were there.”

“Tessa—”

“But it wasn’t just the straw. It was him. The way he was reacting. Something had him.”

“Maybe. I don’t doubt that. But, Tessa, seriously . . . the Mara? I can’t remember the last time they’ve been seen.”

“They’re not supposed to be seen. They’re the Mara.”

The Mardröm or, as the Clans called them, the Mara, were what nightmares came from. At one time Mara was thought to be one witch who rode at night, searching for victims to drain. But the Clans knew that the Mara were made up of many female demons. And they’d sit on the chests of their victims, press their hands to their heads, and make them physically experience their worst dreams. Even more appalling, the Mara didn’t discriminate. They’d do the same thing to children, babies, even animals. And the more panic and fear and desperation that they aroused in their victims, the more powerful they became.

The younger Mara could be handled by the Clans, but the older ones, the Elder Mara . . . they were unbelievably dangerous. And very feared.

Chloe, who loved to dispute everything, had suddenly stopped talking. And she was staring off at the wall.

“What is it?” Tessa asked.

“I’ve been having dreams lately. And the dreams, they’ve been draining me. I’ve been so exhausted.” She rubbed her temples, wincing as if they were sore. “I don’t know. What do you suggest?”

“Bring in Holde’s Maids to protect the house. Hopefully that’ll keep the Mara out.”

“Why do you think they came here?”

“We’re easy. All of us have been killed, most of us violently. All they have to do is make us go through that experience again and again. It must be like elixir for them. Don’t worry, Clo. I’ll take care of it.”

“Anyone seen Kera yet?”

“No. Give her time. She’ll be back. I’m sure she’s off at some hotel, boffing her Viking’s brains out. Not that I blame her.”

The two old friends laughed and Chloe said, “Do me a favor. Get this place protected, let’s track down that asshole with Skuld’s bracelet, wipe him from the planet, and then we deal with the Mara.”