Page 47 of Valhalla is Full of Hunks
There’s only one bed.
Unsurprisingly, the sleeping situation on the yacht we’d chosen for our journey did not go over well with Surt. But when he tried to suggest—demand, really—that I sleep on a cot in some random cabin turned storage room, Jör started to Hulk out. And I didn’t mean that figuratively. My sweet little snake started showing concerning signs of his latent sea serpent, so he’d been banished to the water for a timeout.
This left me and Surt to glare across the saloon coffee table while Fen attempted to both drive the boat and keep the kids in the luxury leather back seat from murdering each other.
Typical family vacation dynamics.
“Fine,” Surt finally conceded, although his death stare was still firmly fixed on me.“Iwill sleep on the cot.”
“Orrr…” I sang, physically unable to leave this big grumpy man-monster alone. “You could just squeeze in with us. I saw the stateroom, and that bed is definitely big enough for you to safely ignore me aaallll night long.”
He scoffed as his gaze drifted out the window to the endless ocean surrounding us, his jaw ticking. “I suppose I’m also expected to simply ignore you fucking Jör and Fen at the same time?”
“Surtr!” Fen scolded.
Oooh, he just got full-named!
“That or join in.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “I mean, Idohave three holes…”
Emitting a snarl that was probably supposed to scare me, Surt stood and stalked from the cabin without another word.
A simple ‘no thanks’ would have been fine, dude.
“You are worse than Jörmungandr…” Fen muttered, although I could see the amused smile twitching his lips from where I sat.
Leaping off my seat, I strolled to join my biggest fan at the wheel. “Be real with me, Fen. What are the odds that I get the chance to grab Surt by the horns and go for a ride?”
Assuming I can get his horns to appear…
How did I know he has horns?
Fen threw back his head and laughed—revealing those sharp canines I couldn’t stop thinking about. “Mmm… I fear it may be awarmday in Helheim before Surt admits he’s also feeling drawn to you, but who knows!” he replied with a mischievous sparkle in his eye. “If he’s deprived of Jör long enough, he may sneak in to join us after all.”
It was my turn to smirk. Not only had Fen revealedhewas planning on bunking with Jör and me, but there was another slip in his statement that had me zeroing in like the shameless ho I was.
“Are you talking about Jöralsofeeling drawn to me?” I teased as I sidled closer. “Or is there someoneelsewho’s having trouble keeping his wolf paws to himself?”
He froze, looking more like a deer in the headlights than a wolf. “I… do not think pursuing me would be wise, Iola.”
Fen’s words felt like a punch to the gut, even though I didn’t understandwhyhis rejection would bother me so much. Jör was providing more than enough lovin’ to keep me satisfied, and Fen and I could still scene together with our shared pet. I also sternly reminded myself thatthiswas the guy who’d drugged and dragged me here against my will, although I wasn’t even that mad about it anymore.
Little Iola wants what she wants, red flags be damned.
And Fen isn’t outright telling me no…
I was convinced Fen wanted me as much as I wanted him, even though he was giving nothing away. He was cool as a cucumber, his gaze trained on the oh-so-treacherous—actually calm—waters straight ahead as he waited for me to wander off and go harass Surt some more.
I think I’ll stay right here, theeenks.
“Wanna teach me how to drive the boat?” I asked, going for a wide-eyed and innocent expression, even though I’d been handling boats of all sizes since I was old enough to work at my local marina back on Long Island.
Fen startled, as if he’d been lost in thought, before glancing at me. “Very well. As long as you don’t plan on abandoning us on some remote island for all eternity.”
His tone was casual, but I easily picked up on the genuine fear behind the words. If these men knew Vann, then they had presumably listened to him complain about the millennia he was trapped on a Greek island before Leia came along.
As if that salty squid didn’t love every second of it.
“I won’t abandonyouas long as you don’t abandon me.” I stuck out my hand to shake on it, but Fen simply frowned before pulling me into his lap.
