Page 831 of One More Kiss

Anders

“How do you see me?”One question broke my heart. Yes, we didn’t know her well. Not fully. Not yet.

But we would.

I knew it deep down.

“Our Mom told us stories of how she met our Dad. It was as if lightning pierced her heart, sent straight from Thor himself,” Rhys recanted the story, using his voice acting skills he honed from years in the theater.

“In a small village in Norway, Mama went on a trip of a lifetime. Still heartbroken from a horrible divorce at just twenty three, she wanted to reignite her zest for life.”

Though I’d heard the tale a thousand times from Mom and Dad, the way Rhys told it made it like the first time every time.

“Deep in the fjords and overlooking some of the most stunning views of the country, Mom sat and marveled at the splendor of the Northern Lights.” Rhys was in his element. Providing dramatic inflection and hand gestures.

“Ancient legends said the Northern Lights are the Bifrost, opening the gateway to Asgard and beyond Midgard.”

Jenika hung on Rhys’ every word, her blue eyes sparkling. The worry lines faded away and excitement played out over his expressive face.

“A breeze whipped up and swirled around her as she looked out over the cliff to the water below.” Rhys swept his hands through the air, the story flowing from him in practiced ease. He told the story even better than our father did.

“Mother stepped forward, too transfixed from the lights and the magic flowing around her to realize how close she was to the edge.”

“Oh no!” Jenika exclaimed and a hand lifted to cover her mouth.

Rhys gave her a wry grin and a wink. “Fear not, just before she tumbled forward, two strong hands grasped each of her wrists and pulled her back to safety.”

Here is where the story usually differed from reality. Most people didn’t know that we actually had two fathers, our parents part of a triad or menage relationship. They did their best to shield us from the world of haters, and Papa was always presented as Uncle Bjorn.

Until he died when we were sixteen from being hit by a drunk driver. The pain was still too raw, even over a decade later. Mom and Dad never really got over it, but had learned to live with their grief over the loss.

“Two brothers had been traveling along the coast, admiring the lights and answering the call of their souls to be at that exact spot.”

Jenika blinked up at him, and I saw the exact moment the realization dawned on her. “Twins?”

I nodded and took one of her hands in mine. “Yes, twins. Two halves of the same soul, destined to find their soul bonded mate that night by rescuing her from death on the rocks below.”

“From that day on, our parents, all three of them, were inseparable.” Rhys grabbed Jenika’s other hand and squeezed it lightly. “I think Anders and I always knew we would be the same. Twins with one soul, destined for one mate. It’s the way of our people.”

“Norwegians?” Jenika asked, cocking her head to the side. There was some hint of understanding in her eyes, but I don’t think she fully realized what we were implying yet. That’s okay. We’d have time to grow and bond together.

Rhys laughed and shook his head. “Vikings. Well, our dads are descended from them. Dozens of generations living in a remote village in Norway. Passing down the traditions of old and some from our own culture. That, and Dad and Papa always said there was magic in our blood.”

Her brow furrowed as she took a deep breath. “So you have two dads and they’re from a crazy small place in Norway with legends about twins having the same soul and only one mate?”

We both nodded, knowing there would be another question coming.

“And what does this have to do with me? Unless you were just telling me an elaborate story to calm me down after my vertigo spell.” A note of hurt crept into her words and I bristled.

“We have a very specific intention in telling you,” I began, trying to gather my thoughts together. “And the only thing a vertigo spell has to do with it, is the timing of it.”

Her gaze dropped to the floor as she nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m feeling much better now, you don’t need to hold my hands.” She briefly glanced from our joined hands to the one she had twined with Rhys. “Either of you.”

Despite her words, she didn’t make a move to try and get her hands away from ours. Quite the opposite, she squeezed my fingers and her thumb moved over my flesh in the lightest of caresses.

“You can let us go anytime, sweeting.” Rhys smiled at her, a bit of his playful tone returning with the words.

“Now they both have pet names for me,” Jenika muttered under her breath, not thinking we would hear her.

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