Thor turned to find a Helmarked named Deena ogling him.
"Thanks," he said. "I'm set."
She looked Elle up and down. "I'm always up for a threesome."
Thor's hand tightened on Elle's at the thought of someone else touching her- even a woman.
He ushered Elle into the club. "We’re good."
"What's a threesome?" Elle asked as they stepped inside.
Thor coughed. "Uh..."
But Elle stopped listening almost as soon as he spoke. The scent of smoke and wood filled Elle's nostrils, bringing back memories of Muspelheim, and for a moment, she froze. The scents and sounds reminded her of her father's great hall.
All around her, men and other beings played games like darts or cards. Women in small, poofy skirts and little more than a bra delivered drinks and food. They wore copious amounts of makeup and bright lipstick, and each one had feathers in her hair that matched her outfit. The women smiled and laughed with the men, touching them, rubbing their shoulders, ruffling their hair. The women were of every shape, size, and color. Several of the women sported heavy leathery wings folded on their backs. A couple more had long pointy tails poking out underneath their skirts. More than half of the women had horns in various sizes and colors. But strangely enough, the most interesting women in the place were the ones who appeared completely mortal. Like the patrons of the Raven Weaver. The ones she would never have been able to tell were anything more than human.
"Are you alright?" Thor asked.
Elle swallowed hard and nodded. The whole thing screamed of a male aesthetic. Deep leather chairs. Dark smoky wood. Rustic red brick walls. Metal ceilings with beams exposed. Dim lighting made everything more mysterious and sensual.
"Thor!"
Elle turned, and a mountainous man lumbered over and pulled Thor into a bear hug.
Thor patted the man on the back. "Come on, Baldur. It's only been a couple weeks since we've seen each other. It’s not a lifetime."
“I can’t help it. It’s just nice to see you, brother.” Baldur set Thor back on his feet and turned to Elle. "And who is this?"
Thor took her hand. "Elle, this is Baldur, my brother."
"A pleasure to meet you, Elle." Baldur held out his tree-stump-sized arms for a hug, but Thor set his hand on Baldur's chest.
"No."
Baldur's light eyes sparkled as a smile twisted up the corners of his mouth. "Are you serious?"
Thor's eyes flashed, and Baldur backed up a step.
Wow. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he would fight his brothers for her.
"All right. All right. No need to get all powered up." Baldur chuckled and held out his hand to her. "Nice to meet you, Elle."
Elle shook his massive calloused hand. "And you, Baldur."
Baldur was a bushy mountain man. Dark hair shaved on the sides and braided on top and down his back. Tattoos covered most of his exposed skin, and he sported a scruffy beard, which made him feel like a giant bear. Even so, she had to admit he was extremely handsome.
"Everyone is already in the house. Even Loki brought a female. A feisty one. I like her. I think he might have finally met his match.”
Elle smiled, knowing exactly how feisty Val was. But then her smile fell… were Val and Loki… together? But Val hated Loki. Or did she? They hadn't talked much since the meeting at Frigg's, and when they had, it had only been about Thor. So, was it possible that Val and Loki...
Thor led Elle through the bar to a red velvet curtain, beyond which lay another room. Inside the second room, a stage stood at the end, and half a dozen girls dressed in frilly skirts, corsets, and tall black hats danced, sang, and shook their bodies at the men cheering from their plush seats. Thor pulled her through the theater to another room. The new room again featured a stage with dancing girls, but they wore only skirts and hats. Elle turned from them as Thor led her to yet another room.
"How many rooms does this place have?"
"Dozens," Thor answered.
In the next room, the girls wore only hats.
