Franz started to laugh and then covered his mouth as if embarrassed. “Goodness, no, Your Majesty. I’d need to be at least a couple of hundred years old to have met her, or even Queen Helle for that matter. She never returned to Reykjavík once she left for the Americas, and that was before my birth.”
“I’m sorry, that was probably a silly thought. I really know very little about my family, and what I might have known once upon a time, well… Those memories have been lost. That’s why I’m so anxious to find something my mother might have left to me.”
His cheeks reddened and he inclined his head with a slight click of his heels together. “Not silly at all, Your Majesty. We’re all so very excited to have our queen in residence again that I completely forgot the loss and grief you must be dealing with. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
He looked so distraught I couldn’t help but reach out to lightly squeeze his hand. “Not at all. I’m extremely touched you cared so much for my family, even when you never even knew them.”
“It’s been the greatest honor of my life to see an Ironheart queen ascend the throne once more, Your Majesty.”
It still astounded me that his entire family had been dedicated to this house and my family. Despite only being human, without even a queen in residence, generations of his family had lived here. Waiting. Hoping another Ironheart queen might return to power.
“If you’d like the suites to remain unlocked at all times, I will do so at once.”
“That’s not necessary. I was merely curious. Your grandmother established such routines for a reason.”
He led us to the opposite wing and again unlocked the door. “This is Queen Hrefna’s suite. Would you like to explore on your own, Your Majesty, or would you like a formal tour?”
“We’ll explore on our own. Thank you, Franz.”
He took my hand and bowed low once more. “We live to serve House Ironheart, Your Majesty. Just inside the door, you’ll find a phone that will connect you to my personal phone. Please don’t hesitate to call any time of the day or night. Good night, Your Majesty.”
“Good night.”
As he headed back to the stairs, I reached for the doorknob, but Heimdallr’s hand was already there.
“Please allow me to search the rooms to ensure Loki hasn’t left anything unpleasant for you.”
My eyes widened but I nodded and dropped my hand. “I wouldn’t have thought of such a thing, especially since the suite’s been locked.”
“Exactly,” he said grimly. “We’ll probably want at least one of your Blood standing guard here at all times, both inside and outside the suite, just to be safe.”
“Agreed,” Dörr said. “I’ve already asked Lokken and Svar to take the first watch inside, while Gunnarr and Myrk patrol outside the house.”
“Very good,” Heimdallr replied. “Mixing wings and non-wings together during the nighttime hours is a good strategy. I’ll be back shortly, Your Majesty.”
“Helayna,” I said firmly.
His lips quirked and he inclined his head. “Helayna, my queen.” Then he slipped through the darkened doorway.
I leaned against Dörr and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Are you okay with him as Blood?”
Still in his dark alfar form, his chuckle sounded like boulders tumbling down a mountainside. “My opinion matters not, my queen. I’m okay with anyone you Call as Blood, whether god or not. Though I would have to draw the line at Loki.”
I shuddered. “Ugh, same. It’s even strange to think about him and Heimdallr being brothers, though they’re both so old?—”
:I heard that,:Heimdallr growled. Though the sparkling rainbows in his bond gave away his amusement.
Dörr lightly brushed his knuckles across my cheek. “You chose well, my queen. Not that I’m surprised in the slightest. He’s quick with his sword, as amiable as Lokken, and most importantly of all, he allowed you to feed as long as you wanted. Even when it weakened him despite his stature as guardian god of the rainbow bridge and Ásgarðr itself. Though I’m glad you restored him to strength before we arrived to find Loki waiting on your front steps.”
“I’m amiable too,” Svar said as he and Lokken joined us. Though his vicious scowl made me laugh. “The only one who’s not amiable?—”
:Don’t even say it,:Myrk growled in our bonds. Without any accompanying rainbows.
“Is Gunnarr when someone interrupts his dessert,” Svar continued.
:Very true,:Gunnarr replied cheerfully.:Though I can take cake with me on guard duty.:
The door popped open and Heimdallr stepped back, welcoming us to come inside the suite. “It’s very interesting that Loki appeared at this house, is it not? Almost as if he’s been waiting for you to make an appearance here.”
