Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More by Laura Howard, Kim Richardson, Ednah Walters, T. G. Ayer, Nancy Straight, Karen Lynch, Eva Pohler, Melissa Haag, S. T. Bende, Mary Ting, Christine Pope, C. Gockel, DelSheree Gladden, Becca Mills

into a hug once he’d crossed the quad. “What a nice surprise.”
    “Hi.” I tried not to throw myself at him in a desperate attempt to relive the best moment of my life. All the time in the world, all the time in the world. “Ull, this is my roommate Emma.”
    “We had a class together last year. You probably don’t remember me–” Emma babbled.
    “Emma. How nice to see you again. You study math, correct?”
    “Yes. Yes, I do.” Emma flipped her hair and stared adoringly. At least I wasn’t the only one who forgot their sense around Ull.
    “Emma, may I steal your flatmate for a few minutes?”
    “Of course.” she giggled again. “See you at home, K.”
    “See you.” I waved. I turned to Ull. “Fancy seeing you here.”
    “My class just let out.” Ull jutted his chin towards the humanities building. “But I did not think you had classes on Mondays.”
    “I don’t. Archaeology study group.”
    “How was that?”
    “Fun. I’ve never taken anything like it, so some of the material is a little over my head. But I’m enjoying it. Professor Copp is a great teacher.”
    “I’ve heard good things about her. I think Gunnar took one of her classes.”
    “Gunnar?” I sipped my tea. Great name.
    “My best friend.”
    “Ah. How’d you guys meet?” I wanted to know everything about Ull.
    “We met in primary school. My mom had just married Thor and I was the new kid. Gunnar was the first to be nice to me.”
    “Your stepdad’s named Thor? Like God of Thunder Thor? Who names their kid that?” I shook my head.
    “Uh, right.” Ull became very interested in his shoe. “Crazy parents, you know.”
    Immediately I felt dumb. Thor had nothing on Ull in the tough name department. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. That’s probably a really popular name where you’re from.”
    “Yes, very popular,” Ull spoke quickly. “There are lots of men named Thor, does not mean they have any relation to the Thor. They are just normal men. Not gods at all.”
    “O-kay.” That was a weird reaction. Either something was up or he really did have an early morning. I shifted my tea to my other hand. “So how long did you say you’ve known Gunnar?”
    “About eight hundred years.”
    “Excuse me?” I paused mid sip.
    “You know,” Ull tugged at his sweater. “I mean it feels like eight hundred years. Because we live together, and we get on each other’s nerves and all.”
    What was going on? “Are you feeling all right?”
    “Yes. Feeling fine. Just tired – you kept me out late.” Ull treated me to a rakish grin, and I forgot all about this strange conversation. The only thing I could think about was the way his lips curved up in a smile. And what I wanted those lips to be doing right now.
    “I think you could use a cup of coffee. My treat,” I offered.
    “Thank you Kristia, but I have to meet a professor in five minutes.” Ull checked his watch. “May I call you this evening?”
    “Any time.” I hoped I didn’t sound too desperate.
    “Excellent.” He bent to kiss my cheek. My knees buckled and he caught me. “We can make plans for this weekend.”
    “I can’t wait.” I watched his denim-clad backside make its way across the quad, and I hugged myself. The weekend couldn’t come fast enough.

Chapter 6
    T he evening came and went , and I didn’t hear from Ull. He didn’t show up to Mythology on Tuesday either. At first I was worried. I tried calling him, but his voicemail was turned off – and I didn’t have his home number. I didn’t know where he lived, so I couldn’t stop by to make sure he was okay. Not that I would have; he didn’t need to know how obsessed I’d become.
    But a few days passed, and I started to think Ull might not be sick at all – what if he was avoiding me? He knew how to reach me if he wanted to see me again. And my phone was silent. Ugh, I was so naïve. Ull told me what I wanted to hear to get what he wanted. He’d been a jerk for a whole week, and when