Surtr raised his hand to strike her, but Elle raised hers as well, allowing her magic to flow over her hands and arms for the first time in front of anyone but Val.
"Go ahead," she dared him. "Try to strike me, and I will show you what I've inherited from both my mother and you."
Surtr froze. "Your mother's magic."
Elle didn't respond.
"But you can't use it. You've never been taught."
"Do you want to find out?" she challenged.
His flames flared. "Are you threatening me, girl?"
The magic within Elle surged, swelling with every heartbeat like a vibrant storm gathering strength inside her. It unfurled like the petals of a blossom, spreading its warmth and light to every corner of her until her hand shimmered with a soft radiance. The air around her buzzed, and her skin tingled.
"No. I am warning you,” she said. “I will no longer take the abuse you have meted out on me my entire life. I will not be my mother and die under the weight of your hatred. I may be the daughter of Surtr, but I am also the daughter of Aelle, Priestess of Asgard."
"How dare you-"
"How dare I? How dare you?" Her magic spiked as her temper flared. Interesting. “How dare you try to sell me off like a prize goat? I won’t be bullied by you anymore. I will marry whom I choose and when I choose, and you have no say in it.”
“I’ll kill you, you little bitch,” Surtr roared.
Thunder suddenly rolled over the castle so loud the windows rattled, and several pieces of décor crashed to the ground.
Surtr's hand dropped, and Thadren, as well as most of the audience, turned as the giant stone doors to the great hall burst inward, the stone exploding across the floor, dust flying inward like a swarm of bugs.
In ran two enormous goats pulling a golden chariot the size of a small dragon. The goats ran straight for Elle. Thadren backed up as Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr slammed into the head table, throwing it backward and tipping over the three thrones. Surtr managed to jump out of the way before being bowled over as well.
Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr reached Elle, their sizes that of juvenile elephants. They raised up on their back legs and bleated so loudly that several tables of giants backed away from them. They dropped back down, and both nudged at Elle with their noses. Shock mixed with joy as she pet their noses and kissed them. The goats formed a barricade in front of Elle like two furry protective mountains between her and her father.
"Get me my sword!" Surtr bellowed. "We'll have goat meat for a week."
"No!" Elle ducked under her protectors and aimed her hands at her father, ready to attack.
"I wouldn't if I were you." Thor stepped out of the chariot in full Asgardian armor, pointing Mjölnir at him. Mjölnir had morphed into its true form, so massive that Thor's hands barely closed around the hilt.
“Thor Odinson, finally, you’ve come, so I can finish what I started.”
He was there. He'd come for her. Or… had he? Maybe he hadn’t come to rescue her. Maybe he’d come to kill her father and leave her to rot with Thadren.
Thor's lightning gaze turned from Surtr to Elle. Thunder cracked across the sky, and lightning struck the floor on either side of him.
Elle swallowed hard as his lightning-streaked eyes sought her out. His face remained unreadable as he stalked toward her like a fierce predator.
He stopped at her side, and it took everything inside Elle to keep from throwing her arms around him.
Tanngrisnir stamped his feet and bumped Thor. Thor growled and shoved him away.
“Stop it,” Thor grumbled.
Elle’s heart raced, and her magic flared, ready to defend her if necessary.
Thor looked over her, taking in her dress and then looking into her eyes again. Finally, he touched her cheek. "Are you hurt?"
Elle shook her head, unable to form words. Thor was there. He was there… for her. Tears flooded her eyes, and her throat choked closed.
"Unhand Thadren’s bride," Surtr bellowed. "I won against you once, Odinson, I can do it again. Only this time I'll make sure you won't come back."
