Page 49 of Valhalla is Full of Hunks
When Fen simply hummed in agreement, I dug my nails into Surt’s arm and gave the idiot a good shake. “What do we do? Is he going to eat us? He’s so fucking big, ohmygawd,HE’S GONNA EAT US!”
I yelped as monster Jör made a strange trilling sound, but once the others started chuckling, I realized the scaly bastard waslaughingat me.
You just earned yourself a dry spell, mister!
Oh, who am I kidding—I want that dragon dick…
Now that the nonexistent danger had passed, I looked closer at my sweet not-so-little nope rope. To my relief, the same iridescent green coloring that adorned his monster peen was now covering his entire body, and his Ferris wheel-sized eyes were his familiar aquamarine.
He’s still in there.
“So he can… understand us?” I hesitantly asked, flinching as Jör lowered his head so his snout—and concerningly sharp teeth—were level with me.
“Of course,” Fen huffed indignantly. “We’re still completely sentient, even in monster form. Although, I can’t help but wonder…” He reached out to—bravely… or stupidly—run his hand over a glistening scale. “What allowed him to access this miniature version of his true form?”
MINIATURE VERSION?!!!
“Perhaps there was something in the water?” Surt mused, but I was still processing what Fen had said. “A ley line or a thermal vent leading to another realm—”
“Surtr!” Fen full-named him again, but it wasn’t from annoyance this time. The wolf was staring at the man behind me in awe. “Your horns!”
I spun to face Surt, gasping to find a pair of long horns curving out from his forehead. They resembled black rock, shot through with veins of molten lava, and something about their unusual appearance—combined with the enormous sea serpentwho was currently sniffing me like a dog—was making my intuition buzz beneath my skin.
Where have I seen this before?
“This is… something’s wrong…” I muttered, suddenly dizzy.
I need to get away from…
Them?
My sea legs decided now was the time to fail me as I released Surt and clumsily stumbled away from him. Jör reared back, which then knocked the boat and caused me to lose my footing. Tripping over nothing, I hit the railing hard and tumbled overboard—inhaling saltwater as I broke the surface with a silent scream and fell into the fathomless depths.
The last thing I remember before everything went black was a hungry-looking sea serpent diving in after me.
18
JÖRMUNGANDR
Ifrightened Iola.
What if she never wants to be around me again?
How will we ever make babies together?!
I moaned in despair as I sank further into the stateroom’s Jacuzzi tub. I didn’t knowhowI’d accessed my true form in the water today, but once I felt that long forgottenrightnesshumming through my veins, I couldn’t stop from frolicking in excitement.
So what if I accidentally nudged the boat a little?
When Iola appeared on the deck, my beast had immediately settled. Even in that form, I knew she was my mate, and would do anything to protect her.
But it’smeshe needs protection from.
When she tumbled overboard, I didn’t have time to think. I simply shifted back to human form and dove beneath the waves to rescue her—feeling that familiar jolt of recognition as soon as I had her in my arms again. But then Surt snatched Iola away as soon as I set her on the deck, while Fen came running with towels to warm her. Seeing as I was no longer needed—and the cause of her distress—I shut myself in the bathroom, filled the tub, and had been anxiously hiding here ever since.
Valhalla may be the best option, after all.
A knock on the door had me surfacing, and I rapidly blinked the water out of my eyes to see Fen enter with a bedraggled-looking Iola.
