Page 18 of Meet Odin

“If he doesn’t fall in love with you, he’s a fool.”

“I love you, Kat,” I told her.

“I love you, too. Now, are you ready?” I nodded. She nodded, and then she slipped out the door.

A few minutes passed by when the door opened again. I figured it was my mother or father. Hell, even my grandfather, but I didn’t think he’d come find me. I had accepted my marriage without a fight, so there hadn’t been any need to convince me.

I turned towards the door to greet whomever it was, but it was the last person I wanted to see.

Silently, I held my ground. I didn't shift, nor did I look away from him. No hint of fear would show on my face. This was my wedding day, and he was taking a risk being here. My family could knock on the door at any minute, or Kat could return.

He’d bought a new suit for the occasion, and although it fit him like a glove, all I could see was the snake underneath.

“Don’t forget, Serena. You belong to me,” he sneered in my face.

“No, I never did. You took what I wasn’t willing to give.”

“How do you think your new husband will like knowing you're used goods?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“You bet your sweet ass it does. I’ll go make your husband’s acquaintance. Tell him how tight you were. He’ll have to take my sloppy seconds.” He walked towards the door, but before he went through it, he turned around and looked at me. “Don’t forget. You better have something for me."

Once he was gone, I let out the breath that I had been holding. Was I ready for this?

***

Myfatherwalkedmedown the aisle and presented me to the man I was marrying. As I walked towards him, I took stock of his appearance. He wore the tuxedo like a second skin, but I noticed that he kept pulling at the bow tie around his neck. It drew my attention to his long fingers.

Odin was a blonde with longer hair on the top that was tied at the back of his head. The sides were shaved, but he had a full blonde beard. When I found the courage to look him in the eye, I wasn’t sure what to think. His blue eyes were only focused on me.

My father placed my hand in his, and I turned to face Odin. He gave me a soft smile, and I returned it with one of my own. There were no words exchanged.

The ceremony was a blur, and at the end, this was my husband.

When the priest pronounced us man and wife, he kissed me softly.

***

Idon’tknowhowI made it through the reception. I smiled. I spoke to the correct people at the correct time. By all accounts, I was a happy bride. Inside, I was full of nervous energy. At one point in the evening, I was standing next to Kat, when my husband joined us. He took the glass of water out of my hand and placed it on a nearby table. Holding out his hand to me, he told me to come. I didn’t have a choice. I wouldn’t slight him in front of all these people. He was a De Angelis Deviant, and I was a mafia principessa. We each had our roles to play.

“Don’t step on her toes. That shit hurts like a bitch,” Kat told him. I couldn’t help chuckling because it was such a Kat thing to say. I quickly realized that it might have sounded disrespectful to my new husband. They didn't know each other, and Kat did push many buttons. I turned to look at his face.

“I may not have had dance lessons, but her toes are safe.” He knew it had been a joke and had accepted it as nothing more. In that moment, he earned a little bit of my gratitude. Kat would always be in my life.

“Come,” he told me again and led me out to the dance floor.

He pulled me close so that we were dancing cheek-to-cheek. I assumed it was so that he could whisper in my ear without an audience. I turned a little to say something, and that’s when it hit me.

The citrus scent.

I had assumed it was the flowers or some decoration for the wedding. It wasn’t. It was his natural scent. I was close enough to realize that.

It was also the scent that had invaded my bedroom the last six months.

Was my husband really just a doctor? Had he broken into my room each night? How had he not been caught for six months? Did he know that I needed protection, or had he just keep a vigilant watch over me? I would save my questions for later. Now wasn’t the time.

We continued to dance as I curled my body closer to him. I laid my head on his shoulder. Turning towards me, he kissed my forehead and whispered, “Don’t worry, Serena. I’ll protect you.”

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