“Turned over a new leaf, have we?”
Westley stayed silent, raising the broomstick. The low chuckle reached him, seeping sickly into his senses.
“You’re pathetic and weak, lettinghercontrol you. I once thought as you did. Thought her practically descended from the gods, but she’s fallible and weak, as are you.”
“What do you want?”
“I couldn’t have planned this more perfectly, you know. And with you showing up here, it’s all the better.”
With the mortals’ feelings about magic and the Fae, it would be easy to convince them that Westley, the Prince of the Seas, Aegir himself, was to blame. He’d displayed his power yesterday.
“Why are you doing this?” Westley whispered in disbelief. North tugged on his arm, trying to get him to move, but he couldn’t even if he wanted to, rooted to the spot.
“Because your kind has ruined every good thing in my life, and I’m tired of running. I’m tired of taking orders I don’t agree with.”
Westley growled as the figure stepped forward, Latham emerging from the shadows.
EveryinchofSolveig’sbody ached.
Vali had been close to getting the better of her, and the weariness in her muscles insisted on a reset before her afternoon match with Steffen. The warm water of her bath floated over her breasts as a soft knock came at her door.
“It’s me,” came Vali’s voice.
Solveig sighed. She just wanted to relax and take a quick soak before lunch. He didn’t wait for her to answer before letting himself in.
“Hey!” Solveig exclaimed, bringing her knees to her chest.
Vali waved her off. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.” He winked and she rolled her eyes, keeping her knees where they were.
She felt oddly exposed. Though he’d done more than see her naked in the past, she didn’t want his eyes on her now.
“Turn around,” she ordered, and Vali grudgingly obliged.
“You know, when we’re married, I’m going to be seeing a lot more of you,” he teased.
“When? Someone is confident.”
“Very,” he said cheerfully. Then his posture tensed. “But in all seriousness, Sol, that’s why I came to talk to you.”
Solveig quickly washed, relishing the relief of scrubbing the crusted sweat from her skin.
“About us getting married?” she asked when he didn’t continue.
“About who you choose. You can’t choose Steffen,” Vali stated as the words began to pour out of him.
“I love my brother, but he cannot give you what I can. Bo and Henny were never interested in ruling Alfheim, so I only had to contend with Steffen growing up. He’s ruthless, and I’m concerned that the two of you in a marriage may end badly—with demolishing Yggdrasil, rather than saving it. I can balance you. He’s been very secretive for the last year and there’s been a noticeable change in him. A darkness.”
Something stirred inside of Solveig. “What kind of darkness?”
Vali ran his hands through his hair. “It’s difficult to explain because I didn’t notice it right away, almost like when the sun begins to set. I thought Steffen was beginning to mature, and I was relieved.
“I was even grateful that he seemed to be taking his role as an heir to Alfheim seriously. But living without his magic has hardened him. The darkness sometimes wins, and he becomes vengeful and merciless.”
Solveig listened with trepidation. She’d always trusted Vali—they’d been friends for centuries. But so had she and Laeknir. Her heart clenched when she thought of the old healer and his deception. Even after four hundred and twenty-six years, there were new heartaches for her to experience.
“Do you think he’s corrupted by whatever ailed the mortal girl?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
