Page 7 of Odin

Slipping them on, I put the towel back in place and video-called Katalina. I'd run out of time if I didn't figure this out, and she was the best person to call. She answered on the first ring, which was unusual.

“What are you doing home?” I asked her. “You never answer this quickly.”

“I am stuck here with no guards.” She scrunched up her nose and squinted her eyes.

“What did you do?” Kat loved to push boundaries, and there were plenty of times she'd stuck her middle finger up to our world. However, our families practiced old world traditions, and it often backfired harshly on her.

“Nothing.” I searched her face, but I was pretty sure she was telling me the truth. “My father needs every available hand right now. Anything non-essential doesn’t get guards, so here I am.” She shrugged like it was no big deal, but I knew different. Kat often had to escape the confines of her father's . Most of the time, it was the only way to diffuse a situation.

“If you need to get away, you can come visit me. You would only need guards to get here,” I offered. I would respect Odin and tell him if Kat was coming, but I wouldn't lock my door to her. The only problem I could see was if the Greeks were ever at war with the Deviants. In which case, I still wouldn't lock my door to her. We were not our fathers.

“I might take you up on that. For now, it’s okay, but you know there’s going to be an argument. I’ll have to escape, and I can’t use Toula as my cover anymore. Ilya will find out, and I don’t want to cause issues between them.”

“You wouldn’t. You’re sisters.”

“I know, but I don’t want that for Toula. What’s going on with you?” She'd effectively ended the conversation.

“I need your help,” I confided in her through the iPad. “So, Odin called. He said to dress casually as we’re heading out."

Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. Clapping her hands, she looked and sounded as if she was a baby seal at the zoo. Suddenly, she stopped moving, and her eyes widened as her mouth fell open. “You’ve got red on underneath the towel," she said, makingboom chica bow wownoises.

"I don’t know what casual is, so I called you," I said, trying to distract her enough that she'd rein in her comments.

“A nice shirt and jeans, or you can do a short skirt. Depends on how frisky you want to get.” She winked at me through the screen.

“You’re incorrigible.” Getting frisky had crossed my mind, but she didn't need to know that.

“Nope, just living vicariously through you.” I watched as she placed her iPad on her dresser and started dancing around her bedroom.

“It’s only been a week. I don’t know him.” Sighing, I tried to think of a way to change the subject. If this conversation progressed, I'd have to analyze my developing feelings for Odin, and I wasn't ready.

“You don’t have to know him toknowhim.” She stopped dancing and grabbed the iPad. Sitting on her bed, she propped herself against her pillows and adjusted the camera angle, laughing the whole time.

“You’re bad. I don’t know why I even bother asking.”

"I love you. You love me," she sang.

"Come on, I need your fashion sense.” I wasn't as exasperated with her as my tone sounded.

Katalina instantly sobered up. Sitting forward on her bed, she rattled off instructions. “Wear your favorite jeans with the green blouse. You know the one? With the little beige flowers on it. It’s thick enough that it won’t show the red bra. Although, that’s a thoughtful touch, Rena. If he catches it, you’re in for a wild ride.”

I looked down at my towel, telling Kat my biggest fear. “What if he doesn’t like me?” Katalina was the only person I'd ever felt comfortable being vulnerable with.

“You’re kidding, right? It’s new, so you may not see it, but there’s something there. Rena, I promise you. There’s something, but it will just take time. Now, get dressed, and I’ll stay right here.”

I sat the iPad down on my dresser and walked back to the closet, pulling the requested outfit from the rack. Dressing, I looked in the mirror, trying to see what Kat saw.

"Looking good," she called through her tablet. We continued to talk about nothing as I put the finishing touches together. Ididn't have to tell her I needed her strength. She knew and kept the conversation running about nothing.

“Hello, handsome,” she said.

I frowned at her and then spun towards the bedroom door. Odin was leaning against the door frame. “Hello, Katalina,” he said to her, but his eyes were only on me. He hadn't moved from the door, but his gaze locked onto mine, closing the distance between us. It felt too personal, as if reaching out to touch him would reveal everything about my soul. It was too intense and overwhelmed me, and I quickly spun back to Kat. “Let’s do something soon so that you can get out," I told her.

“Okay, I’ll figure something out and get back to you. Now, lovebirds don’t have too much fun. I am not ready to be the favorite godmother, auntie, extraordinaire.” She laughed hysterically, falling back on her pillows.

“Bye, Kat,” I told her as I hit theend callbutton.

I drank him in as I turned in his direction. His eyes had never left me. “You ready?” he asked me. I nodded in response. I was incapable of stringing together any coherent thoughts, let alone articulating words in his presence. Some days were worse than others, but this was a common theme.

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