Page 58 of Valhalla is Full of Hunks
As usual.
Tears blurred my vision, turning the fields of stupid heather into one big purple smear of self-loathing. Before long, I was sniffling, and Jör cut short my march of shame by forcing me to stop and face him.
“Blódughadda,”he soothed, carefully arranging my tangled hair over my shoulder. “This isn’t your fault. While Fen enjoys pleasing others, he wouldn’t do anything he didn’t want to, I promise. This situation”—he waved a hand vaguely—“was already messy before you came along, but I’m thankful you did. I hope your presence forces Fen to rethink our plan, like I’ve been trying to make him do for…centuries.”
I allowed him to draw me into a hug, resting my cheek against the rune on his chest. As much as IwishedI could change the threads of fate, it was a daunting task—especially when the others involved were content to let it ride. And even though Jör had apparently been questioning their path forcenturies,in the end, I knew he would go with the majority.
Which won’t be me.
Swiping a hand over my weirdly leaking eyeballs, I straightened and plastered on a smile I didn’t feel. “It’s fine. I hope you three can reach a compromise… although, I bet Surt won’t be happy with anythi—”
Jör sharply shook his head, cutting me off while looking at something over my shoulder. I turned to find Surt cresting the hill and realized this difference in opinionwassomething Jör had only discussed with Fen.
Nothing like a little miscommunication to make things interesting.
The last thing I wanted was to causemoredrama, so I nodded at Jör to show him I understood. Then I blew out a slow breath and braced myself for more commentary from Surt.
The big guy pointed toward a far off cluster of trees I could barely see. “Gjöll will be just beyond that thicket. But before we go, I would like to say…” His normally hard gaze softened the tiniest bit as it swept over me to land on Jör, and I foolishly believed he was about to apologize. “If Fen is tethered to the boulder again, there won’t be anything we can do.”
Jör released a shaky breath and murmured, “I understand,” even as my brain took a moment to catch up.
Wait.
“Hold up,” I snapped. “So we’re just going toleavehim here? You made it sound like he was tied to the rock for thousands of years the first time. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let him rot for…forever!”
Surt sighed, but I noticed the bite was gone from his tone. “It won’t be forever. It will simply be until Ragnarok happens again. Which is what we want, anyway.”
WHAT?!!!
“Ex-fucking-scuse me?!”I shrieked, causing both monsters to step away from me warily. “Are you telling me you’retryingto bring about another end of days, just so you can sit at some dusty old table with a bunch of dead gods?”
Because he existed to try me, Surt dared to lookconfusedagain. “How else are we expected to accomplish it?” Then he muttered, almost to himself, “Fen said he would ensure you had all the information needed to help us…”
I wonder if stabbing him will help?
It would help me…
All at once, I realized just how many red flags I’d been ignoring during this entire adventure. And while most people wouldn’t assume the end of the world would be necessary for these three fools to enter Valhalla—not without insider knowledge—Iknewhow most monsters operated.
With minimum logic and maximum bloodshed.
“Welp,” I snapped, more irritated at myself than anyone. “That trickster son of Loki told me whathethought I needed to know, which definitely didnotinclude ending the world. I should let him rot for that alone, but he’s way too hot to be chained to a rock for eternity. So let’s go rescue our boy, and then I am going to have a strong word with each one of you.”
“Yes, Master,” Jör obediently replied, falling into step as I briskly stomped toward the thicket.
Surt followed, muttering something under his breath—which struck me as unwise—but it was better for all of us if I kept moving. I was so angry, I could barely see straight, but deep down, all I cared about was making sure Fen was okay.
I’m such a fool.
If these idiots thought I was just going to sit back and let them jump-start Ragnarok for the second time, theyreallydidn’t know me at all.
I would help them find Valhalla, all right, if only so I’d never have to see their stupid, sexy faces ever again. Then I would get on the first plane back to Greece—back to my monotonous life—because if this entiremisadventure had taught me anything, it was that our fate was laid out for a reason.
And it’s foolish to wish for anything more.
21
FENRIR
