Sun's Tear (The Valkyrie's Passion Book 2): A Valkyrie/Shifter Romance by Renee Jordan Page A

humiliation. I wanted to claw out all their staring eyes. Especially Madge's. She was already walking up to me, fake, motherly concern in her smile.
    “See, Raven, I told you,” Madge smiled.
    I ground my teeth. “Yes, you did.”
    I stalked past her, heading for the doors. I had no idea what I should do. Should I go after the Sun's Tear on my own or wait on Magnus? I wanted to wait on Magnus. I wanted him to go with me. I wanted him to show me I was more important than his club.
    But the sun also needed to be healed. I shivered as I crashed through the bar's door and stepped outside onto the gravel covering the parking lot. The sun sank towards the horizon. It would be twilight in a few hours.
    The soft warmth of Sun's Tear shone on my skin from off beyond Maple Valley. I could find it on my own. How difficult could it be?
    I marched to the truck.
    “Hello, Raven,” a suave voice greeted.
    I froze and turned. Loki strolled up to me. He cut an impressive figure in his hand-tailored, Italian suit. The gray silk was cut to show off his strong physique. And the smile crossing his handsome face was full of confidence.
    I hated the way my body reacted. He was a gorgeous man, as strong and powerful as Magnus, but cultured and refined, not the rough diamond that was my biker Einherjer. Loki's green eyes seemed to strip me naked as he stopped before me.
    My nipples hardened. Why didn't I wear a bra? I wanted to cover myself, but I didn't want to show Loki he affected me.
    His smile grew broader as his eyes lingered on my breasts. He knew how he affected me.
    “Why are you here?” I demanded. I needed to remember that his smile was a lie. By his own admission, he was an honest liar. A hero and a villain. He was not a man to be trusted. That was the real difference between Loki and Magnus.
    They may both be gorgeous men that made my body burn with excitement, but there was only one of them I could trust with my heart.
    It was a shame he was too busy with his silly club to help me. I ground my teeth.
    “Has your wolf angered you?” Loki asked.
    “That is none of your business,” I snapped.
    His smile was so confident and cocky. I wanted to slap it off of him.
    Or kiss it away.
    “So, he angered you.” Loki shook his head. “Is his club more important than you? What a fool.”
    The words stung. I should be more important to Magnus than his club. He was more important to me than Odin, Baldur's killer, the Thief, and the Sun's Tear. I clenched my fist and kept my eyes steely on Loki.
    “Why are you here, Loki?” I repeated. “Are you here to help me?”
    “Didn't my help aide you last time?” Loki asked. “I even returned your little wolf's bike. It must have worked because here you stand, safe and sound in Midgard.”
    “Fine, you helped me,” I said. “This time. But, as you admitted, you're a liar, a trickster.”
    “A hero and a villain. I have been so many things. Lover, husband, cheater, comforter, killer, thief, liar, seer. I have told truths that made men weep and said lies that made men laugh. I flatter with truth's deception.”
    “See,” I said. “I do not understand you. Why do you keep saying those things? It won't make me trust you.”
    “I told you why.”
    Loki's teeth were so white. My face flushed as he took another step closer. “You think I want to solve you.”
    “Don't you?” He leaned even closer. His eyes were a deep emerald. I could just drown in them. “Why else is your heart thudding so hard. You want to trust me. You want to understand me. You want to know why I fluster you.”
    I did. What power did this man have over me? Could I trust him? Was he my enemy or my friend? He was right about Odin. Once again, Odin didn't tell me about the prophecy. The one-eyed god even admitted he had other servants, and yet it was me, his newest Valkyrie, he turned to for this task.
    “You look cold,” Loki said. “Odin's stolen some of your fire.”
    “What?” I frowned.
    “The spark that