Solveig struggled and broke free of his water. He reacted a second too late before she slammed her elbow into his jaw. The metallic taste of his blood made him smile.
Before they could continue, Steffen stepped between them. He must have had a death wish.
This male who was to marry his mate, who would get to touch her and love her and be with her.
Westley attacked—tried to, anyway. He was held back by two strong bodies he vaguely recognized as Noren and Viggo.
Solveigsoughttogetaround Steffen, but two pairs of hands gripped her before she could strike. Conalle and Gerrie pulled Solveig back, turning her to face her mothers.
“You will regret it eventually, Solveig, if you hurt him,” Koa said sternly.
She couldn’t respond. Her magic whirled, rage and desire throbbing in her veins. A dormant part of her awoke with a vengeance, the darkness inside her preening at the intensity of her need.
There was a sliver of logic left that allowed them to pull her out of the room. The sounds of snarling and of Westley fighting off Noren and Viggo followed them. A loud crack and a curse had her mouth pulling into a smile. Her mate was as vicious as she was.
Her mothers led her down a long wooden corridor, the walls made of impacted moss and tree trunks that twisted and grew to support the structure. It was a beautiful thing to behold to be sure, but Solveig had always hated this palace.
She’d bet the trees were rotten.
Eventually they arrived in a wing of the palace Solveig had never seen before. They passed many offshoot hallways that led to different earthlycoloured doors. The queens stopped at a pair of tall, black oak doors and let themselves inside.
It was apparent, upon entering, that these were Westley’s chambers.
His scent was everywhere—sea and salt, his presence lingering in the air, calling out to her. She should have recognized the signs. The fact that the Prince of Idavoll was her mate was so blaringly obvious, how had she’d been so foolish to not see?
Her body calmed, only buzzing now with a low energy. Her anger changed its course and she whirled on her mothers.
Aelfsi put her hands up. “Solveig, you have to understand—”
“How do you expect me to understand when you orchestrated this vast ploy to get us here?”
“That’s the thing, we had to in order to get you here.”
“Explain. Now,” Solveig ordered through gritted teeth.
To her surprise, her mothers seated themselves on Westley’s sofa and gestured for her to join them. As she sat in a large comfy leather armchair, his essence curled around her, sinking into her soul.
“We have to start with the prophecy,” Aelfsi explained.
“You know some of it but not all, and it was not the only one,” Koa added.
Solveig clamped her mouth shut, tempering her emotions so she could try to listen objectively. She was through with being one step behind and needed information to proceed.
“Our mother knew you were to be special after your conception. I was well past the age of maturity at the time and was already starting to hone my skills as a Seer.” Koa’s eyes drifted to the past as she began her tale.
“When Mother conceived you, she asked me to look into your future. I was one of the only Seers in Asgard who could actively seek outprophecies and not just act as a conduit for them. I was happy to oblige, unaware at the time of your father’s identity.
“Mother was tight-lipped about him, understandably so since she was married to my father. I sympathized with her plight, knowing how cruel he was.
“I laid a hand on her belly and sensed your small spirit, though you were but an idea, still barely formed. The power of your soul washed over me, dragging me down so deep, I was drowning. It was the first time I had ever Seen a vision and not a prophecy.
“I Saw you standing amongst the gods, gold encircling your entire body as you wielded a weapon so great, so forceful that you could break the world in two if you wished. Your light was blinding. I could see no details until a shadow snaked around your limbs, shackling you.
“The shadow forced you to your knees and you used the weapon against the world. We were all turned to dust. I was forced out of the vision by your power and was left blind for a week, both in my Sight and physical eyes.”
Solveig stared at her sister, shock emanating from her. Koa’s visions had never been wrong. “What were the shadows?” she asked quietly, a flicker in her soul paying rapt attention.
“To this day I do not know. But I do know that the first vision has changed through the years. With time, with who you have become, you no longer bring the end of the world.” Koa’s voice softened and Solveig felt a modicum of relief.
