Page 51 of Agnarr's Jarlin

“But seriously, you’re happy? Are you ready to take this on? As one of the few people you’ve let in, I am asking.”

“I am deliriously happy with Agnarr. Heck, if he weren’t working on the future of the tribe with Astrid right now, I’d have him bending me over the edge of his bed,” I said, smirking as the image came to mind.

“I know you have some surprises in store for him at your new home,” Billie dropped casually.

I gasped in mock indignation, “Osif’s been letting you in on my secrets!”

“Of course he has,” she chuckled, “he knows I won’t tell a soul.”

“And that is why I am trusting the two of you to take on the housing for the women,” I said emphatically.

“Well, there is one more thing I would like to take on, if you are interested,” Billie said, looking almost nervous.

“Oooh, what secrets do you have up your sleeve?” I asked, teasingly.

“Well if it wasmeand I was the first human female to accept a mate bondandabout to become jarlin, I’d want a wedding,” she said.

I stopped in my tracks, arm still looped in Billie’s.

“Like a wedding, wedding?” I asked.

“Why not? Are you any less than married? If anything, you’re more than married.”

“Well—yes, but they don’t seem to do weddings here.”

“Didn’t you do a whole bunch of weird ceremonial shit in a pool in acave?” she pressed.

“Yes, yes, I did do that.”

“So, would a standard human wedding be so much to ask?” she quipped.

I laughed ruefully.

“If you are worried about teaching a bunch of orkin to do the YMCA, you can skip that part,” she teased.

I snorted at the idea of trying to do the YMCA with the members of Fýrifírar. I wouldn’t even do that if I were marrying a human. But I did let my mind drift. I’d imagined getting married one day. White gown, veil, the whole shebang. Mating with Agnarr had changed everything. Yet the idea of him and I exchanging vows in front of Fýrifírar was definitely something that made my heart rate go up. Astrid would officiate, of course. I would have all the women involved as bridesmaids, or greeters. Little Odin could be the ring bearer. I smiled, thinking how happy he would be to be charged with such an important role.

Billie brought me back from my thoughts by nudging me in the ribs, “See? You want a wedding,” she said. “And so will many of the other women, if they take on mates. I think you should set the tone.”

I sighed, “Yes, a traditional wedding would be something I would be interested in. But with all Agnarr has on his plate already, it is too much to ask.”

“Why don’t you let me handle that?” she asked, grinning at me.

“Handle what?”

“Let me walk Agnarr through an American wedding and see what he thinks,” she said, grinning at me.

Oh boy, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to handthisoff to Billie. What if Agnarr was completely overwhelmed by the idea? What if it was too weird for him?

Seeing the hesitancy in my eyes, Billie squeezed my hand.

“Will you let me talk to Agnarr?” she asked.

“About the wedding?”

“Of course! If it is what human women expect, I should be the one to bring it to the table. They shouldn’t give up a tradition they love just because they are here,” she said sincerely.

I rolled it around in my head for a moment. I trusted Billie completely, and she was right. Many of the human women would want weddings. I would be the one to set the standard.

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