"What the hell happened here?" I ask, pulling Dani closer as we approach. My chest still aches where that wooden stake pierced me, a reminder of how fucking useless I was while my mate fought like a goddess incarnate. The memory of her fighting through Skadi's mind games, bleeding but unbowed, sends me equal waves of pride and shame.
Dani shifts against my side, probably sensing my brooding. She'd already told me to shut my mouth about the stake incident, right before accepting my blood with that fierce little growl of hers. Even with the Atherite stone working its magic, I wasn't taking chances with her healing.
Erik's silver eyes flick up, exhaustion etched in every line of his face. "Frost giant," he grunts, like that explains the goddamn apocalyptic scene around us.
Dani bolts to Bryn's side, her hands reaching for her sister. "Are you okay?"
Bryn's lips curl into a smirk, though her eyes soften at her sister's concern. "Sister, it takes more than some overgrown ice cube to put me down. Though I wouldn't mind finding a nice warm mead hall right about now."
A familiar whinny cuts through the tension. Gullfax emerges from the treeline, trotting toward us like he's ready to leave this frozen shitshow behind.
Smart fucking horse.
Erik scans us for damage. "I see you both made it out intact. The essence?"
"Oh, you mean this?" Dani pulls out the jar where Skadi's essence swirls like an angry blue storm. "Yeah, turns out when you piss off the savior, she might just stuff your magical essence in a mason jar." Her eyes sparkle with that sass I fucking live for.
Erik's lips twitch into that rare smirk. "Never doubted it, Little Huntress."
My patience with this frozen hellhole is wearing thin. "So what's the plan?" I scan the devastation around us. "And where the hell is Baldr?" That golden-haired bastard better not have bailed when we still need his divine ass for the next part of this clusterfuck.
Bryn stands, but her expression could freeze Hell. "That skítkarl probably ran crying to his father's halls the moment that frost giant showed its ugly face." She spits on the ground. "I say we head back to Valor's Watch. Let the precious prince find his balls and come to us."
Erik's jaw clenches, his silver eyes hardening into chips of ice. He stares at the fire like it's a personal insult, every line of his body radiating barely-contained fury. His fingers twitch toward his sword, and I swear I can hear his teeth grinding from here.
Fucking typical. Baldr probably said two words before Erik was ready to introduce him to the business end of his blade. That pompous golden prick has a talent for pissing people off just by existing.
"Are you sure about Valor's Watch?" Dani's eyes narrow with that look I know too damn well. The one that says she's done playing games. "Shouldn't we take this shit straight to Odin? Find out what crawled up Baldr's ass and sent him running?"
My mate's got a point. Valor's Watch is nothing but ghosts and bitter memories for Bryn now. Watching her walk those halls again, seeing the shadows of what could have been? Fuck that noise.
Erik locks his gaze with mine, that silent communication we've perfected over centuries passing between us. His slight nod says he's thinking the same thing. "Agreed. Ásgard it is."
The tension in Bryn's shoulders eases just a fraction—barely noticeable unless you're looking for it.
Yeah, definitely the right call.
The scent of lilacs and winter's frost fills our chambers as steam curls from the bath. Dani's clothes hit the floor, and my mouth waters at the sight of all that golden skin finally going to be free of ice and blood. My battle-worn leathers join her pile as we sink into the heated water.
The journey here was its own special kind of bullshit. Gullfax damn near started a war when Dani suggested he couldn't carry all four of us. My battle horse stomped his hoof and tossed his head at her like they were having a full-on argument—stubborn bastard. The portal was faster anyway, even if it did piss off our favorite golden stallion.
Dani slides between my thighs like she was made to fit there, her curves molding against my hard planes. My cock swells as she wiggles that perfect ass, teasing me without mercy.
The old man's summons won't come until evening, giving us time to wash away the remnants of our ice chamber adventure. My fingers trace the places where Dani's wounds have already healed, remembering how close that frozen bitch came to taking her from me. The memory makes my beast snarl even now, clean and safe in Odin's halls.
My lips brush her neck, tasting the lingering tension in her muscles. "What did she make you see?"
Dani's body trembles against mine, barely noticeable, but I feel every quiver. "My parents. John..." Her voice catches, and her fingers dig into my thighs beneath the water. "Adrian."
That name hits like a fucking blade to the gut. My brother's death—his betrayal—still burns like acid in my veins—the loss tears at me even while rage at his deception claws at my insides.
"They felt so real," she whispers, raw and vulnerable. "Every wound, every accusation. The way Mom's blood looked against the ice..." Her voice breaks, and my arms tighten instinctively around her.
"Look at me," I say softly, turning her face toward mine. Those glittering gold flecks in her eyes shine with unshed tears, and something in my chest fucking shatters. "You're the strongest person I've ever known, and I've lived for centuries. You faced your demons head-on and told them to go fuck themselves. You didn't just survive—you conquered." My thumb traces her cheekbone as emotion threatens to choke me. "Every day you remind me what it means to truly live, not just exist. You're my light in an endlessnight, my anchor in the storm. And watching you rise from those ashes like a fucking phoenix in battle? Baby, you make me believe in miracles."
Those beautiful eyes lock onto mine, a single tear trailing down her cheek. "Smooth talker," she whispers, but her voice catches. Her fingers trace the ancient ink on my forearms, following the paths she's memorized countless times. "You know, for a grumpy vampire who growls more than he talks, you sure know how to make a girl feel special."
She lets out a watery laugh that makes my chest tight. "But you're wrong about one thing." Her head tips back, those eyes find mine, blazing. "I'm not the only strong one here. You think I don't see how you carry the weight of everyone's safety on those ridiculously broad shoulders? How you'd sacrifice everything to protect those you love?" A fierce light enters her eyes, the same one I saw when she faced down Skadi. "You're the other half of my soul, Rhyland. My protector, my home. And yeah, maybe you're a brooding pain in my ass sometimes—" her lips quirk into that smile that drives me wild "—but you'remybrooding pain in the ass. My miracle. My everything."
