Thinking about it gave Solveig a headache.
Sten’s reminder was like a punch to her stomach. She didn’t have the capacity to process what it would mean if Laeknir’s betrayal was only the first. That alone had shaken her foundation.
Westley put his hand on her back as the vision slowly faded away. Laeknir caught Astrid as she slumped from the exertion.
I will not betray our bond again. I will not betray you, he vowed.
A thought crossed through her mind. What if she was one of the betrayers? Could she be the one to betray her mate? Her mothers? Yggdrasil?
Stupid fucking vague prophecy.
Solveig knelt in front of Astrid, wishing she could help her in some way. “Thank you.”
Astrid took Solveig’s hands in hers, and it was like being held by a current of wind. No matter how solid they looked, Laeknir and Astrid were spirits. They had no bodies like the dead who made it to Valhalla.
The cold sensation of Astrid’s touch chilled her bones.
“Remember who you are, Solveig Tordottir,” Astrid whispered. Solveig thought she saw the mortal’s eyes pale just a fraction. “When the darkness comes, remember whoyouare.”
“Thank you,” Solveig said again, unsure of her meaning.
“He had his reasons,” Astrid whispered only to her.
“He did it for you,” Solveig replied.
Astrid shook her head lightly. “Not just for me.”
“Then for what?”
“That is not my story to tell. Now, you must not linger here any longer.”
Solveig nodded and got to her feet. Westley opened the door of the cottage and they walked out, immediately heading in the direction the vision had shown them.
Laeknir followed them out and cleared his throat. Westley turned to him, but Solveig kept her back to him.
“May Tyr guide your sword,” Laeknir said quietly.
Still, Solveig did not face him.
“And may Thor bring us home safely,” she whispered back.
Valipaddedthroughthehalls of the palace, his heart full and his cock hardening again as he thought of his wife, his queen, asleep in his bed.
She was insatiable—dying of thirst—and he was more than willing to quench it for her. How many days had they stayed in bed after the ceremony? They’d lost count. If she was insatiable, then he was ravenous.
His steps quickened as he made his way to the kitchens in search of food for his queen, desperate to serve her every need.
He opened the door and crept inside, pulling up short when he caught sight of Henny and Bo picking apart the leftover food from the dinner North and Vali had decided to skip. Again. His brothers’ smiles turned wicked as they took in his dishevelled appearance.
“You owe me fifty gold marks,” Henny said to Bo, who just rolled his eyes and smacked his brother’s hand away.
Vali raised a brow and Henny’s smile deepened.
“I knew she’d be a wild one. All the prim ones are.”
“Not like this,” Vali responded instinctively. But the animal part inside him growled. Maybe that growl didn’t quite stay inside. He wouldn’t share even a moment of his time with his queen.
“Now we’re even,” Bo said with a smile, turning to Vali to answer his question before he could ask. “I bet that you’d become an unbearable feral asshole until you had your fill. You certainly haven’t yet, have you?”
