“Yes, and no.”

“Explain it.” Jeff’s voice was hard.

Travis tilted his head, frowning.

Jamie pulled back slightly, surprised when Travis’s hand tightened in her hair. She eased back into his hold and his fingers relaxed. “What did you mean when you said yes and no?”

“The Ragnarrok you’ve heard of is part fiction, part fact. This is the prophecy most people know:

“High blows Heimdallr, the horn is aloft.

Odin communes with Mimir’s head.

Trembles Yggdrasill’s towering Ash.

The old tree wails when the Ettin is loosed.

“What of the Aesir? What of the Elf-folk?

All Jötunheim echoes, the Aesir are at council.

The dwarves are groaning before their stone doors, Wise in rock-walls; wit ye yet, or what?

“Hrymr sails from the east, the sea floods onward.

The monstrous Beast twists in mighty wrath.

The Snake beats the waves, the Eagle is screaming.

The gold-neb tears corpses, Naglfar is loosed.

“From the east sails the keel; come now Múspell’s folk

Over the sea-waves, and Loki steereth.

There are the warlocks all with the Wolf, With them is the brother of Býleistr faring.

“Surtr fares from southward with switch-eating flame.

On his sword shimmers the sun of the war-gods.

The rocks are falling, and fiends are reeling, Heroes tread Hel-way, heaven is cloven.

“Then to the Goddess a second grief cometh, When Odin fares to fight with the Wolf, And Beli’s slayer, the bright god, with Surtr.

There must fall Frigg’s beloved.

“Odin’s son goeth to strife with the Wolf, Vídarr, speeding to meet the slaughter-beast.

The sword in his hand to the heart he thrusteth

Of the fiend’s offspring; avenged is his Father.

“Now goeth Hlödyn’s glorious son

Not in flight from the Serpent, of fear unheeding.

All the earth's offspring must empty the homesteads, When furiously smiteth Midgard’s defender.

“The sun shall be darkened, earth sinks in the sea,—

Glide from the heaven the glittering stars.

Smoke-reek rages and reddening fire:

The high heat licks against heaven itself.”

“Or so says the Poetic Edda. I’m not certain how much is fact, and how much fiction. What I do know is, Odin was terrified enough to have Fenris and Loki chained, Hel banished, Jörmungandr tossed into the sea, and Baldur killed. None of the living Vanir or Aesir know the truth of the prophecy, as it was Odin who delivered it to us.”

“Wait a minute.” Jeff stepped up next to Travis, his gaze locked on the man’s face. “Wouldn’t killing Baldur be like one of those self-fulfilling prophecies? If one of the signs of Ragnarrok is Baldur’s death, what does killing him accomplish other than to start the whole thing?”

“Baldur and Hodr are meant to rule, with Baldur ascendant, over the remaining Aesir. If Baldur is to rule, that means that Odin is dead. All of the gods loved Baldur, much more so than Odin. So he came up with a plan whereby Baldur would die. How he planned on keeping him from returning, I do not know. It is possible part of the true prophecy was Baldur’s death, but with a different ending.”

“So you think he was motivated by fear and jealousy?”

“I believe so. He might have thought he could stop Ragnarrok and maintain his place.”

“Wait.” Jeff shook his head quickly, like he was shaking something off. “Weren’t you there when Loki supposedly killed Baldur? I mean, you’re the God of Justice, right? If everything you’re telling us is true, then isn’t that the ultimate injustice?”

Travis winced, regret lining his face. “He’d sent me away on what turned out to be a fool’s errand. I’d been sent to speak with Njord, to see if he’d join us in some silly celebration I don’t even remember now.

Of course he chose not to attend, and everything was over and done with by the time I got back. I…” Travis bit his lip. “I wanted to speak to Loki, to find out why he’d done what he’d done, but Odin convinced me not to.”

“You mean he plied you with apple wine and whispered sweet nothings in your ear.” Logan huffed out a breath. “Thanks for the thought, though.”

Travis ignored him.

Jamie felt a tug on her arm. She turned to find Jordan by her side, a worried frown on her face. “Ask him what the true prophecy is.”

“Why?”

“Because if this whole thing is true, Logan dies.”

“Why would Logan die?”

“Because he’s Loki.”

Her head whipped up to stare at Travis. “What?”

Jeff snorted out a laugh. “This keeps getting better and better. Who are Magnus and Morgan?”

Their brothers looked at Jeff in horror.

“Magni and Modi, the sons of Thor and the Jotun Járnsaxa, meant to carry Mjölnir after their father dies at Ragnarrok.”

“So they knew all of this, all along?” Jeff was glaring at them.

“Yes and no. Odin used the power of the apples of Idunn to blanket their minds, as he did with all of the Aesir and their living children.”

“Can you tone it down, glowbug? You’re giving me a headache.” Jeff rubbed his eyes wearily.

“Yes.” Travis’s glow dimmed even further, his features once more clear. “Better?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Jamie was still reeling, but she had to know. “I thought the apples granted immortality?”

“No. I believe Kir and Logan were the first to deduce that they did not, as they were cut off from the source of the apples.”

“Actually, I knew first.” Val stood. “Before you ask, I’m Vali, the slayer of Hodr and the son of Odin and the Jotun Rindr.”

Jamie sighed and rubbed her eyes. “I’m getting a headache.”

Travis’s eyes immediately cleared, the gorgeous blue returning, his glow dying away completely.

“You need to lie down. This is a lot to absorb in a small amount of time, and you’re still recuperating.” His voice had lost most of the echo, going back to the same old Travis she thought she’d known.

He bent to pick her up, but she stepped away from him. She ignored his fierce frown at her withdrawal. “No. We need to finish this. I need to know why.”

“Why what, sweetheart?”

She ignored the endearment and focused on the facts. “Why did my grandfather torture me? Who are Logan and Kir? Loki and Baldur, right? And why wasn’t I told any of this?”

“Jordan didn’t know either, not until Logan and Kir revealed themselves to her in her office.”

“Why?”

“They needed help proving that Grimm had been lying to the Aesir and Vanir for centuries, and they wanted Jordan to be the one providing it.”

“Because she’s a good detective?”

“Because she’s the daughter of Frey, the step-granddaughter of Grimm and has the reputation of a woman of honor.” Kir stood, tugging on a chain around his neck. He pulled and twisted, and suddenly a six foot spear, complete with glowing tip, rested in his hand. Suddenly he seemed much, much more than the easy-going man she’d known. He radiated a confidence and power that called to her on a level she’d never felt before. If this Kir asked her to jump off a bridge she’d seriously consider it. “Gungnir, the Godspear, the prize Odin covets above all others. Now that I possess it, I am ruler of the Aesir and Vanir.”

“Then where are the other gods? Man, I can’t believe I’m asking that.” Jamie collapsed suddenly, her bad leg giving out on her.