“So, you're going to keep her here to stabilize it? For how long, Agwusi?” Ty crossed his arms. “You can't leave her here forever.”
“No, of course not. God would not be pleased with that. I just need her until we can get the cloak.”
“The cloak?” I asked.
Agwusi looked at me and pursed her lips. “I suppose I can tell you since I've got you secured. I've been trying out different relics to replace the mirror. Freya's cloak is my next option.”
“What cloak?”
Agwusi chuckled. “Freya has a cloak of falcon feathers that transforms her into a falcon.”
“Transformation,” I whispered.
“Yes.” She grinned at me and then said to Ty, “Make our guest as comfortable as possible while I'm gone, won't you, sweetheart? I won't be long.”
“Agwusi!” Ty followed her out of the room. “We still need to talk about this!”
The sound of their arguing faded.
I looked around the room. Besides the machine and me, it was empty. It was also large. The golden behemoth of metal, glass, and relics gleamed in the center of the room, over twenty feet away from me. I glanced up. A haze of light covered the ceiling, telling me I was in the God Realm. Not that it mattered, but any information could be helpful.
The other gold item in the room pooled in my lap and spilled onto the floor. The last time someone chained me with Gleipnir, a flower had taught me how to use my authority over Aflheim to control its residents—most importantly Freyr, whom I commanded to unchain me. That flower was Blossom, and I had taken her to Fairy to live with us in Castle Aithinne. But I didn't need a flower or authority over a realm when I had Ty.
He came back into the room with a wincing expression. “Hey, V. I'm so sorry about this. I tried, but she wouldn't budge.Honestly, if you're stabilizing the machine, it's good to have you here.”
“Yeah, I get it.” I tried to move into another position, but Gleipnir was too heavy.
“Here, let me.” Ty grabbed the gold chain and lifted it so I could move my arm to my lap.
“Thanks.” I watched him sit down on the floor next to me. “Ty, what are you doing? Are you here because you love her or because you think you can stop her?”
Ty sighed and thumped his head against the wall. “Both, I guess.” He turned his head to look at me. “Am I an idiot?”
“No.” I nudged my shoulder into his. “You're brave.”
“I don't know about that.”
“She's insane, Ty. Agwusi stared into the Aether for too long. You know she could turn on you, but you're still here. That's bravery.”
Ty snorted. “It's like bedding a snake.” He winced. “Sorry. I didn't mean . . .”
I chuckled. “Viper would laugh. Honestly, bedding him would be dangerous for anyone else. I'm the only one immune to his venom, and he likes to bite.” I snapped my teeth at him.
“Yeah, that was too much sharing, V.”
I laughed harder. “You deserved it.”
“I guess.” He shook his head. “I don't know what to do.”
“Well, you could start by letting me out of these chains.”
“Wish I could. She has the key.” Ty snorted. “She doesn't trust me that much.”
I nodded. “I figured. Then maybe take me to Nidavellir.”
“You want me to take you to the Dwarves? Why?”
I looked pointedly from him to the lock on Gleipnir.
