“Nothing. I'm great. We're about to catch the woman who's been screwing with my life and trying to kill me. I'm fabulous.”
“It's Verin,” Odin concluded.
I sighed. “I have five husbands and a fiancé.”
Odin shrugged. “Your life changed drastically when the RS was cast upon you. Those changes affected you deeply. You have learned to share your heart and your life with more than one person and that's not an easy thing to do.”
“Don't I know it,” I muttered.
“You've been successful, Elaria,” Odin admonished me. “You were happy until all of this happened. All of you were. So, why aren't you happy now?”
“Because I'm selfish?”
“Or because, in spite of everything that opposed it, you two fell in love.” He took my hand. “Love cannot be measured. It's not finite, though it can be killed. You can choose to push away these feelings and deny them. I promise you that one day, they'll hurt less. Or you can finally accept that the spell that was meant as a curse has become a blessing and freed you from the limitation that most of us live by.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I'm trying to say that this pouty, pathetic person sitting beside me is not you.” Odin squeezed my hand supportively. “The Elaria I know doesn't whine and sit around waiting for someone else to fix her problems.Sheis the fixer, she even made a career of it.”
“Okay, I get it.” I let go of his hand to lift mine in surrender. “You can stop talking about me in the third person now.”
“No, you don't get it,” Odin said sternly. “Do you love him? I mean the kind of intense, unwavering, undeniable love that never goes away.”
“Yes.”
“Does he feel the same?”
“I believe so.”
“Then what's the problem?”
“He thinks that his kingdom won't accept me and he'll—”
“Elaria,what's the problem?”
I blinked.
“What would you do for the men you love?” He tried another question.
“Anything,” I said immediately.
“Exactly.” He grinned and winked his one eye at me. “So,what's the problem?”
“You're telling me to fight for him.”
“This isn't a Pat Benatar song, El. Love is not a battlefield. Love is what keeps you strongonthe battlefield.”
“I can't believe you know that song.” I blinked. “Or that you referenced it.”
“Elaria, pay attention; I'm giving you some good advice here.” He rolled his eye.
“Sorry,” I said contritely. “Please continue.”
“Do whatever it takes to get him back.Anythingit takes. But only if you truly love him.”
“I do.” I started to smile.
“Then stop pouting among the petunias.”
