Page 69 of Valhalla is Full of Hunks
“We must be stealthy in our approach.” Fen appeared beside me at the helm with arms crossed—radiating unease at the sight of his sister’s domain. “In and out before she notices we’re there.”
I scoffed, unable to resist throwing a barb. “Is that how it went when you and the little witch defiled my bed together?”
Fen threw his head back and laughed, sparking my annoyance. “Well, I’d like to think I lasted longer than that, but probably not.” His expression turned sly as he leaned in—simultaneously invading my space and ensuring I caught her lingering scent. “Just youwaituntil you’re inside her, Surt. Then you’ll understand.”
Fuck off.
“That won’t be happening,” I gritted out, even as my cock thickened at the thought. “We have a mission to complete, and this random girl bewitching us into her bed wasnota part of the plan.”
As usual, Fen didn’t match my anger, although I saw his jaw tick as I insultedhis mate.“You claim you want to change our fate,” he quietly replied. “Yet you aren’t open to considering more than one possibility—”
I spun on him as white-hot fury raced through my veins. “Are you suggesting we abandon Valhalla?! All because Jör’s cunt isn’t enough for you—”
“She’s ourmate,Surt,” Jör interrupted from somewhere behind us. “And this new connection changes nothing about our existing relationships.”
I turned to face the man responsible for my bothering with personal relationships at all, incensed that his reassurances soothed something inside me. This triad we’d formed centuries ago had become more important to me than I’d ever admit, so yes, I’d not taken kindly to Iola’s infiltration. But the beauty of our plan—the plan I thought we wereallon board with—was that we would continue to be together in the afterlife.
Do they not want that anymore?
“Yes, plaything,” I snarled. “You’ve been quite vocal about your misguided affections. Just remember, Iola has donenothingto deserve Valhalla, so she will be left behind when we go.”
“What if I don’t want to go?” Jör replied, respectful but firm.
Fen tensed beside me, but I was already pointing an accusatory finger at the World Serpent with righteous anger scorching through my veins. “Are you seriously considering remaining here on Midgard forever, simply because you found a half-mortal who wants to fuck amonster?”
The instant the words left my mouth, I regretted them, and the acute pain that flashed across Jör’s perfect face made me wish I’d never learned to speak in the first place.
But what’s done is done.
And it needed to be said.
Jör turned and walked out to the deck without another word, and it was only then that I noticed Iola standing at the top of the stairs leading below. The look on her face told me she’d heard everything, but I maintained challenging eye contact—assuming she’d do nothing but glare and follow my plaything outside.
Where she can continue to turn him against me.
Instead, she approached, aggravatingly unafraid. Once she was close enough for that intoxicating scent of hers to enrage me further, her judgmental expression softened. “He’s not a monster, Surt. None of you are.”
I could only gape as she spun and exited the helm station, unsure how I felt about her unexpected words.
What did she mean by that?
Despite Fen’s eyes upon me, I staunchly refocused on steering the yacht close enough to the rocky shore so Iola could climb down to help tie us off.
Maybe I could leave her here…
I’m sure Hel needs a handmaiden.
“Iola isn’t the only reason Jör is reconsidering Valhalla,” Fen finally spoke. “He’s been feeling this way for quite some time—”
“Is that so?” I snapped, irrationally angry that Jör’s confession was apparently no surprise to the wolf. “Why only tell me thisnow?”
Why keep it from me?
Fen sighed and slung an arm around my back before nestling close. Only he would be brave enough to touch me in this state, but I also understood that his beast was desperate to soothe me in the only way he knew how.
And I don’t completely hate it…
“Old friend,” he murmured, rubbing his cheek over my shoulder—leaving his scent on me. “You know you can get a bit… combative, and our sweet serpent is not a fan of quarrels. And don’t forget, there is a power imbalance between you and him…”
