Page 93 of Valhalla is Full of Hunks
Ain’t that the truth!
Aside from offering to send them an email, I hadn’t thought about my bosses much since sending them the cloudberry intel and kicking off my two-week vacation with an ill-fatedkaffidate. A meeting between us would need to happen once I returned to Greece, because there was no way I wasn’t immediately moving to Stockholm to bang hot monsters all day.
Okay, and maybe be in love, too…
Assuming the gods don’t smite my rampaging boyfriends before I can tell them how I feel.
I gritted my teeth, wishing I understoodhowI’d teleported to this island in the first place, so I could get us all to the World Tree faster. Regardless, it still only took about ten minutes for Ladon to cross the island, shoot past a shooketh Norwegian Heihei, and land at the base of the apparently reconstructed rainbow bridge.
LGBTQ+ fever dream, here we come!
I didn’t have time to admire my surroundings, as two extremely large and incredibly pissed off monsters were advancing on what I could only assume was Asgard at the far end. Blessedly, no gods had appeared to confront them yet, but that also could have been because the wall surrounding the city was even bigger than my guys.
The better to ignore anything that doesn’t concern them.
Typical god behavior.
“You and Jörmungandr must continue on your own,” Ladon instructed, as he used his tail to deposit both of us on the shimmering path. “I refuse to endanger my honey bee by flying any closer.”
Leia preened while Timyn complained about “missing all the action,” but I was fine leaving the others behind. This wasmymess to clean up, and the only one I needed by my side was Jör.
“Ready to collect our mates?”I asked as we jogged across the colorful span to catch up with the two lovable Berserkers.
The snake grimaced. “I-I will try my best, Iola, but Fen and Surt haven’t exactly… listened to me in the past.”
There’s a new sheriff in town, beibe.
All his concerns did was make me more determined. “Oh, we’llmakethem listen, Jör. No more of this grumpy dictator and his enabling second-in-command business. From now on, our quad is ateamthat discusses things, like big decisions and… feelings…”
Deep breaths, Iola.
Staunchly ignoring my deeply ingrained instinct to flee from the threat of emotions, I continued to march toward my mates. For being so large, they weren’t covering much ground, but once we got closer, I realized thepullbetween us was slowing them down—that they were fighting for every step they took toward their supposed fate.
Good.
Because your destiny is with me.
“Hey, assholes!” I shouted, assuming the insult would get their attention, but also knowing I was about to play my ace. “I spoke to theNorns,and none of you are getting into Valhalla.”
So what if it was a little—okay, big—white lie? If these single-minded idiots were still caught up on theshouldsof their ageless existence, then I was going to introduce them to the possibilities.
And I don’t see anyone here to stop me.
As expected, the oversized wolf and horned fire giant immediately stopped their death march to turn and face us—radiatingrighteous anger. If it had been anyone else, I would have pissed myself, but I knew I had nothing to fear.
Because they’re mine.
“More deception, little witch?” Surt sneered. “Our paths have been destined from the moment we were created. What makes you think anythingyousay will change that?”
I was torn. Yes, I wastechnicallylying about where my intel was coming from, but I knew in my bones these three were my mates, and I no longer wanted to pretend otherwise.
So tell themthat,dummy.
“I don’t want to lose you, okay?!” I shouted back, crossing my arms and trying to look as imposing as possible while facing down two behemoths. “And neither does Jör. I don’t give a flying fuck you interpreted some bullshit prophecies a certain way, or that you decided I was playing you without giving me a chance to defend myself. You belonghere,withme.The four of us are destined to be together—not in some vague afterlife but in the real world—and I don’t need the Fates to tell me it’s true. I just know.”
So there.
As expected, Fen folded first. My wolf shifted back to his human form before gazing up at Surt imploringly. “Perhaps we should rethink our plan, old friend.” When the giant simply grunted noncommittally, Fen added, “Because I… I believe that as well.”
