Page 18 of Valhalla is Full of Hunks
And do I really want to get in the middle of that?
Figuratively speaking.
Before I could take a hard look at my—admittedly gray—morals, Fen spoke up. “He’s not yourmate,Surt. You’re just being an ass.”
OoooOOoooo…
Surt huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, he strolled to where Jör was leaning against the island and yanked the other man tightly against him before lowering his mouth to worry the faux mate mark with his teeth.
Jör moaned like the whore he was, dropping his head back against the larger man’s chest. “Please, Surt. I want toplaywith her…”
“She’s not here to play with,” Surt gruffly replied, although I caught a flicker of affection in his eyes before he buried it. “She’s a means to an end—”
“Who has very specific gifts you need to achieve your goals,” I curtly interrupted. “And as with any workplace environment, morale is improved when juicy perks are available.”
All three men stared at me with mixed reactions. Jör looked hopeful, Fen was obviously attempting to stifle a smile, and Surt appeared almost lost for words.
Almost.
“You… believe you’re entitled toemployee benefits?”he scoffed, looking me over as if just now realizing he’d underestimated me.
They always do.
“Yuuuup!” I grinned. “If you expect my best work, you’ll want to keep me happy. And he”—I pointed my fork at Jör—“is what I want.”
Fen flinched for some reason, but then turned his attention to the guy whothoughthe was in charge. “What’s the harm, Surt? At the very least, it will keep Jör busy while you and I focus on… strategy.”
Oh, yes… for their mysterious plan.
Well, guess what, assholes?
I’ve got plans too.
“Mmm… yeah, good idea.” I nodded solemnly. “It will also stop me from astral projecting back to Greece to tell Herculeia and her monsters exactly who kidnapped me.”
Surt roughly shoved Jör behind him—as if worried I might immediately spirit away with a slutty sea snake in tow, never to be heard from again. He had nothing to worry about, since—even when I astral projected—my earthly form stayed where I left it.
Not that I’m gonna share that piece of intel, either.
I knew it was a gamble to show my cards, but the more powerful these men thought I was, the better chance I had of earning their respect.
Along with a healthy dose of fear.
Unsurprisingly, Fen reacted more rationally. “You can… do that?” he asked, cocking his head and looking me over with interest.
“I sure can!” I crowed before popping another Swedish meatball—because, godsdamn, they were good—in my mouth. Then I made them wait until I’d chewed, swallowed, and washed it down before continuing. “And I was planning on doing just that, but then I met sweet little Jör here, and my priorities changed. Plus, I have a soft spot for sad boi man-monsters like you. I’ve helped one pack shed their curse. What’s the harm in helping another?”
Fen cleared his throat and glanced away, but Surt looked thoughtful.
Almost there.
“Of course, I’ll also be needing some basics, like toiletries and clothes.” I added three more meatballs to my plate. “Since all my luggage is back at my hotel—”
“I brought your luggage to the island!” Jör piped in, leaping from behind Surt’s massive frame to grin wildly. “That was my job.”
“Good job,” I warmly replied. I was already thinking of the toys I packed, even as I vaguely wondered what had become of my phone and laptop. “And I have just the thing to reward you…”
“Surt! Sir…” Jör tilted his head to gaze up at the giant man with a pleading expression. “Please, let me play—”
