Thor pulled her in tight to his side. "Sorry, this is the only way to Dad's personal rooms."
Elle nodded and kept her eyes on the floor as they reached a door and Thor knocked. After a moment, the door opened, and an imposing man stood in the doorway.
He glared at them. "Thor."
"Fenrir."
The tall man with eyes the color of glowing coals stepped aside and let them in. Elle had never met Fenrir, but she recognized him from the legends. Son of Loki, Fenrir was a werewolf more feral than humane. And he looked exactly like he'd been portrayed.
The room they walked into threw Elle for a moment. She’d expected another room decorated like the club on the other side of the front door, but it in no way resembled Valhalla’s Throne.
The space opened up like a private house tucked behind the world. Exposed timber beams ran the length of the ceiling, their light grain polished to a muted honey sheen. The cream-colored walls held various abstract paintings. The floors were a creamy stone, and a thick white rug anchored the center of the room with a huge glass coffee table filled with water where two beautiful koi fish swam back and forth. The air tasted different as well, no cigarette haze, no spilled mead. Just the mineral coolness of stone walls, fresh water, and the rich, fatty scent of roasting meat that made her stomach growl.
As Fenrir closed the door, even the music of the club shut out as if it didn’t exist. An ample leather sectional hosted half a dozen people. Large soft-looking pillows in golds and silvers adorned every few feet of the couch, along with a shimmery plush blanket.
Val and Loki sat at a sleek metal bar on the left side of the room, and Frigg stood behind serving drinks.
Behind the sectional, a wall of French doors stood open, leading into what appeared to be a yard of some kind. Odin tended to a deep fire pit, cooking meat and drinking from a mug while talking to two men. It was strange because they weren’t outside, yet looking at where Odin cooked, she would have sworn it was a backyard on Midgard. Lush grass, flowering shrubs, and even several blossoming trees rustled in a slight breeze. Two ravens circled above Odin’s head, swooping at the meat every once in a while. And two large wolves lounged on the grass, tails swishing as they watched the invaders of their territory.
Every inch of the space was different from what she’d expected from the Norse god Odin.
"Elle." Frigg moved toward them with a broad smile on her face. Her light pink tunic dress swished around her as she moved toward them. She hugged Elle and then Thor. "I'm glad you two came."
"Thank you for having me," Elle said.
Frigg smiled at her and squeezed her arm. "Would you like a drink?"
"Sparkling water, please," said Elle.
"Ale," said Thor.
Frigg nodded and headed back to the bar.
"Is this where your dad lives?" asked Elle.
"Most of us live where we work. Makes it easier." Thor studied her for a minute and then chuckled. “Not what you expected?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
“Yeah, we were all surprised by the change.”
One of the men out with Odin walked inside.
"Thor!" He jogged over and hugged Thor.
"Hey Meili, this is Elle. Elle, this is my brother Meili."
Meili shook Elle's hand with a firm grip. "It's nice to meet you, Elle. I don't think I've met any of Thor's friends since-"
Thor coughed. "Yes, well, until Elle, I haven't had anyone I wanted to meet you lot."
Meili snorted.
"I smell metal and melancholy; it must mean Thor has arrived." The second man entered behind Meili.
Thor smiled, and the two hugged. The man's eyes were the palest shade of blue, almost white.
"Elle, this is my brother Hödr."
