Page 70 of Valhalla is Full of Hunks
An imbalance I imposed.
I allowed myself to lean against Fen’s solid frame for support. “Why did he tellyou,then?” I asked, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. “You also demand he yield.”
Fen chuckled and gave me an affectionate squeeze. “I do… but mostly in the bedroom. And I never demand absolute submission. However,” he quickly added as I tensed, “our dynamic differs from yours, just as it differs from yours and mine. The three of us have been together so long, it’s become far too easy to fall into established roles, instead of questioning whether they still work for us.”
“And what if they don’t?” I scoffed, unsure where the conversation was going, but worried I already knew the answer to that question. “Are you suggesting Jör no longer wants me to own him? Or thatIshould kneel forhim?!”
In what realm would that happen?
The wolf laughed and released me, stepping back to better meet my gaze. “We both know Jör loves nothing more than kneeling for both of us… for allthreeof us now.” Before I could fixate on how our perfectly good dynamic had been ruined by the seer, he added, “And it’s not a bad thing that he suddenly found the courage to speak up to his immovable Daddy andvery stubborn Sir.Perhaps you could start by trying to understandwhatIola provides for him?”
Things we can’t, apparently.
I huffed as I turned off the boat and followed him out to the deck. “Why is her providing some magical benefit to our snake my concern at all?”
Fen roughly gripped my biceps, stopping me in my tracks before we got close enough for the others to overhear. “Because maybe she could provide it for you, too.”
Speechless for the second time in the past few minutes, I climbed down and walked with Fen to where Jör and Iola waited in front of the massive wooden gate leading to Helheim. It was an imposing structure—black and weathered and built to stop anyone from crossing its threshold in a direction they didn’t belong.
In theory, I agreed we should get what we needed and depart quickly, but I couldn’t help fantasizing about leading the forces of chaos to the gods' doorstep once again.
Especially with Laevateinn back in my grasp…
I had never met Hel face-to-face, but she’d aided us during Ragnarok by providing Loki with an army of the dead and the ship that carried me and my fellow fire giants into battle. Assuming she’d survived the catastrophic event, she would no doubt still be banished to this realm, as Odin had first decreed.
And therefore, possessing a bone to pick with the remaining gods…
My schemes were interrupted by the sound of Iola squealing in both delight and fear. Fen was balancing her on his shoulders while she strained to reach the protruding branches we’d need to craft the weapon. She was a few inches too short, which led everyone to turn to me expectantly.
I’m still needed for something, apparently.
With my beast greedily urging me onward, I allowed Iola to clamber onto my shoulders before wrapping my hands around her tiny ankles to steady her. Gritting my teeth, I swallowed down my visceral reaction to her skin touching mine before the others spotted it. Butshenoticed, and peered down at me with a question in her eyes.
It’s never going to happen, seer.
“Focus on the task at hand,” I growled, needing this sorceress to be looking at anything other than me. “It’s your destiny to retrieve a newdamage twigfor me, so that’s what you—” I trailed off as I recalled a comment made by the sea-talker yesterday, before he disappeared into the waves.
“Because of the company the three of you are keeping, I can only assume you’re looking for the fastest route into Helheim.”
IntoHelheim.
I’d also caught more of the conversation before I made my presence known, and Hazun had seemed determined to not only figure outwhoIola was, butwhat.
Perhaps she’s my ticket to an audience with Hel…
A smirk curled my lip as Iola snatched a handful of branches with a triumphant sound and tossed them down to Jör and Fen. I waited until the two men were occupied with stacking our bounty before abruptly shifting on my feet, so Iola had to scrabble against the gate for purchase.
“Careful, you big oaf!” she yelled. “I’d rather not end up in the realm of the dead.”
“Oh, calm down, seer,” I teased, adjusting my weight so her shoulder landed against the wooden doors with a painful thud. “Only those with a purpose here can open the gates.”
Let’s see what you’re made of.
What you’ve been hiding from us.
As if on cue, the doors swung inward with a creaking sound that echoed off the icy cliffs surrounding us. I caught Iola before she fell to the frozen ground, but she pushed away from me and ran for Fen—as if not understanding it washertouch that had opened the gates.
Interesting…
