Page 94 of Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings
Love.
“Well, I’ve never been one to fight against love. Rune Dragomir, I expect you to report when your transformation is complete. In the meantime…” she said, looking between the two of us. “Well, I’m sure you’ll have plenty to do.” The Goddess of Love and Fertility smiled at us in a way that told me we were going to be just fine in Fólkvangr.
Before Freyja could turn to leave, I said, “Freyja, what did you bargain for me with?”
She let out a long sigh, her silver eyes closing for a moment before she laid her hand upon her chest, drawing my attention to the massive, amber-colored jewels inlaid within her necklace.
“This is called the Brisingaman necklace, and Hel has wanted it for many centuries because of its protective forces and beauty enhancements. She was called a monster upon birth, after all, and she hoped—still hopes—that the jewels can provide her with the advantage she has never once had. It will be quite interesting to see what comes of the underworld once she finally has the Brisingaman in her possession.”
“And you’re truly going to give it to her?”
“I always honor a bargain. I not only had my husband returned to me, but I now have you. Truth be told, I’ll be happy to rid myself of something that has caused me so much grief. One does not go about obtaining an object such as this without paying the ultimate price. I create beauty; I no longer need to wear someone else's creation upon my chest. The stones never did much for me anyway,” Freyja said airily. “I will have you deliver it to Hel for me. I hear your family resides there, and you may like to see them again, let them know you’re alright.”
“I would love nothing more,” I said quickly, my words tumbling out in a jumble.
She chuckled softly. “You know, Kari, Hel has been after this necklace for a very long time. The reason she accepted your ancestor’s offering is because she knew her seidr would one daytake root in one of Norfrid’s descendants, and it would blossom into something of value.”
“And valuable things can be bartered for,” Rune pointed out with a cluck of her tongue.
Freyja nodded. “Indeed. Bartered for a lost husband and the seeress powerful enough to find him.”
“Is that why she truly took control of my eyes? So she could watch me and my ancestors to see which of us would get her what she wanted most?” I asked, the thought alone making me sick.
“It is. Even if Rune hadn’t taken you, Hel eventually would have. You were not meant for the mortal world. There was no escaping this fate,” Freyja said. “Though, I will admit, almost all outcomes I foresaw once arriving in Valhalla, you fought against. Maybe you and Rune, here together, was something you earned, something you fought for against all odds. I do hope you continue fighting, councilor.”
Freyja turned on her heel, and with that, she was gone. I was left in the broken, disheveled chamber where I had finally earned my truth. Rune turned to me, and I her. There were so many things I would have to sit with, live with, and understand with the knowledge that had been bestowed upon me, but all I wanted now was her.
I was done fighting, done pretending, and done holding back for the sake of waiting for the right time, whatever that meant. There was no right time; there was simply now, and I was going to savor it. I was going to savorher.
I cast a shroud of darkness in the open doorway of the chamber of truth. I hoped it would keep any curious souls from entering, but here, I could tell no lies. I knew company would do little to deter me from getting what I wanted.
Rune moved toward me like a wolf to her prey. She wrapped me in her arms, and I could feel the way every gap in herborrowed leathers had filled out. Her biceps strained against the material. Each time she’d been mine, she was mortal. Now, I had Rune the valkyrie, and nine realms, she was everything.
Rune took my face in her hands and dipped her head to meet mine. She peppered me with sweet kisses, and as I returned them, they slowly grew longer, deeper. She lifted me and placed my ass upon the marble altar, pulling back enough so I could see her wicked grin.
Across from me, a great mirror was secured to the stone wall, and I wasn’t sure how it’d survived the blown out door. I watched myself in it, watched the way Rune moved in on me. She cupped my cheeks in one hand and held my face so I was forced to continue admiring our reflection.
“I want you to watch as you come undone for me. Can you do that, seeress?” she asked, her voice deep and sultry. I swallowed hard and nodded. This pulled a chuckle from a deep place in her chest, and the vibrations against my side had me burning in places she now owned.
While I once wasn't able to stand the sight of my own reflection, I now couldn’t pull my gaze from the sight of us, together. She knelt, placing her torn knees onto the stone floor. I wanted to protest, tell her to stand, that she didn’t need to be in pain for my pleasure, but she quieted me by squeezing my cheeks.
I swallowed my protests as she let go of my face so she could slowly slide the length of my dress up my legs. She dipped between my thighs, trailing kisses from the inside of my knee upward. I used my arms to prop myself up as I felt my spine begin to weaken.
A gasp escaped my lips when she reached the most sensitive part of me, and I wondered what I’d done to deserve her on her knees. As I threw my head back and closed my eyes, she stopped what she was doing. Her hot mouth lifted from my tender skin,and I whimpered and pleaded to the ceiling, as if that would change my fate.
“Open your eyes,” Rune growled into me. I moved my hips in response, up and down over her warm, wet mouth, and I watched myself as I did. “There you go. See how good you are for me?”
I moaned at her words and continued to do so as her lips grazed mine, torturously slow. She finally gave me what I wanted, what I needed, and followed it up with one finger, then two. She slid them in and out of me, eventually moving her head out the way so I could watch her in the dim light of the room. A warm, orange glow flickered across her face as she watched herself work, and fuck, did she look good.
“You’ve never been as sexy as you were today, bleeding fire in front of the gods like that, showing them what you can do,” Rune said, her heady voice filled with desire as she continued to pump in and out of me. She used her thumb to make small circles over my bundle of nerves, and I panted when her eyes locked onto mine in the mirror. “Tell me how powerful you are, seeress. I want to hear it from your lips.”
I laughed, but I didn’t dare throw my head back like I wanted. I couldn’t let her stop, not again. I’d do anything she wanted if it meant she’d keep going. The glowing orbs all caught fire, and the flames danced to the tune of her thrusts.
“I’m powerful.” I meant it to come out strong, but it came out more like a plea. Rune slipped a third finger into me, and I screamed out, “I’m fucking powerful!” as I tightened around her. Rune moved her mouth back onto me as a reward, using her tongue and lips to ruin me for all others. When I finished for her, my arms collapsed, and my back hit the cool stone beneath me. The flames died out all at once, leaving us with very little light once again.
“What have you done to me?” I said, my voice hoarse and raspy. My heart was pounding, and I needed water, but no part of me wanted to leave this chamber. It felt like we had carved out a piece of the world just for us, and I never wanted to say goodbye to it. She hopped up onto the altar, placing my head in her lap.
I curled into her, loving the way her body felt on mine.
