Wicked Memories (CASTLE OF DARK DREAMS) by Nina Bangs

his mythology as well as any thousand-year-old vampire. But this seemed beyond belief. “A kelpie?”
    Grim nodded. “I met someone centuries ago who had one of the magical bridles that controls a kelpie’s shape-shifting power. Now
I
have it. I’m not using it on him, and I promised to give it to him to keep in return for a few favors. He’s a freshwater kind of guy, but he’ll do his thing in the Gulf for a limited time.”
    Thorn rocked back on his heels and just stared at the legendary fairy water horse. “And I suppose this man just gave you the bridle.”
    Grim’s smile turned savage. “I took it. Because I could. And because I wasn’t as civilized as I am now.”
    “That’s not saying much. I saw you in the wilderness. Grizzlies ran from you.”
    “As well they should.”
    Thorn continued pacing around the carousel. He stopped in front of two blue cats as big as ponies. He shook his head. “How?”
    “Ah, you recognize them.”
    “They’re hard to miss. As far as I know the only giant blue cats are the ones who pull the goddess Freya’s chariot. So once again, how?”
    “They’re witches in their human forms. I did them a few favors.” He shrugged. “Now they owe me a few.”
    Thorn raised one brow in a silent question.
    Grim’s grin widened. “Hey, while you were perfecting your imitation of an ordinary human guy, I wasn’t. I was busy forging relationships with the most powerful nonhumans I could find.” He speared Thorn with a hard gaze. “I don’t get you. You could go on TV and convince people to make you king of the universe. Why do things the hard way?”
    “I’ve tried the easy way. It didn’t work for me.” He’d never make Grim understand his need to actually work for what he got, the sense of accomplishment that had kept him from checking out centuries ago.
    Grim didn’t look impressed with his excuse. “Fine. Make it tough. Now that you’re here, let’s have a brief team meeting.”
    Thorn waited expectantly. He knew Grim’s power, but never got used to seeing him wield it.
    Grim turned to the carousel. He didn’t speak, chant, or do a damn thing that Thorn could see. But suddenly, three people stood in front of them—two women and a man. Thorn glanced at the carousel. The two giant blue cats were still there. He took the time to walk around the carousel. Yep, so was the black horse.
    Grim had crazy talent. Who could split one into two? The real horse and cats were held in stasis on the carousel. But at the same time there was a real version of them standing in front of him.
    Finally, he returned to the group. He waved at Grim. “Introduce us.” He smiled at the women. They didn’t smile back.
    Grim clapped him on the shoulder. “The lady with the long blond hair is Bygul, and the one with the curly black hair is Trjegul.” He smiled at the women. “This is Thorn.”
    The women ignored Grim.
    Bygul cast Thorn an impatient glance. “I have no idea why Grim told you we were here because we owed him favors. We’re here because—”
    Grim frowned. “I think that’s enough for now.”
    Trjegul’s smile was a sly curve of her lips. “You haven’t told him, have you?” She gazed at Grim from under long dark lashes. “I think any partnership should be based on truthfulness.” She widened her eyes. It didn’t make her look innocent. “Don’t you?”
    Thorn stared at Grim. “What’s she talking about?”
    Grim glared at the witch before turning to Thorn. “Okay, so they don’t owe me favors. They’re doing this because my grandfather is Fenrir, the oldest son of the god Loki. The Norse gods and goddesses take care of their own. That’s where I get my power to do the two-out-of-one thing.”
    Wow, some family tree. “Why wouldn’t you want me to know that?”
    “I don’t like to brag about family connections.” Grim glanced away. “I bet you feel the same way. I don’t hear you saying anything about your relations.”
    “That’s because I