A bitter taste pooled in her mouth. She would offer her hand in marriage to someone today. She tried not to think about the mind-blowing orgasm the prince had assisted her with last night. Checking to make sure her mental walls were up so she didn’t disturb him, Solveig pushed all thoughts of him from her mind.
Though she trusted him to get out safely, she was still worried, her stomach filling with an unfamiliar fluttering. There was nothing she could do for him now anyway, except send more power.
Vali stepped onto the stage, waving his hand in the air as the crowd stood and roared for him. He gave them all a bow and their cheers raised an octave. He reached over to place a kiss on her cheek. Solveig fought the urge to cringe away.
“Ready for me?” he whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her neck, causing her fluttering stomach to roil with displeasure.
“I’m ready to beat you,” she tried to jest, but it sounded wrong, even to her own ears.
He pulled back and studied her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shut him down. He let it drop but continued to stare, his brows pinching.
They assumed their fighting stances, waiting for the Alfheim delegate to give the signal.
Solveig put her next plan into action, lunging forward as soon as the duel began to place her hand on Vali’s chest. She sent power into him, loosening the bind on his magic. Vali’s eyes widened. She hadn’t freed enough to drain herself, but it still took its toll.
The fatigue washed over her as she braced herself on her knees.
A confused hush settled over the crowd. Vali held his hands out in front of him, examining them.
Elven magic was vastly different from Vanir magic. Solveig could wield hers like a weapon, causing physical harm. Elven controlled the spirit, the minds of beings. There was a reason they could afford to be apathetic—their power was one of compulsion. The strength of it depended wholly on the individual.
Even the least powerful Elven could influence another’s feelings, typically in a positive way, inciting joy or gratitude. The strongest Elven could force another to their knees, could grip their mind and control their body. They could influence people to fight, to make peace. They could read minds and alter memories. Change allegiances, even.
Their abilities made them a force so deadly they’d been the first of the Trifold to fall in the War of Realms.
Giving Vali some of his power was a gamble. With her own magic not yet fully freed, she may not be able to block all his attempts to sway her mind. It was a calculated move, a card played to show her trust in him and in Alfheim. In turn, she hoped they would put their faith in her.
He leapt forward without warning. Solveig prepared to evade his advance, but instead, he embraced her, his astonishment evident in the way his arms tightened around her.
Wary of his intentions, she kept her mental barriers intact in case it was a ruse. But after a moment, a rush of his gratitude tried to find a way into her mind. She was glad for it but did not lower her guard.
Vali stepped away, wiping the tears from his eyes. He got back into position, beckoning her to fight him, a new spark of energy shining through in his demeanour. The crowd, likely confused at the interaction, whispered animatedly to each other.
Some of the whispers reached their ears.
“What was that?”
“Did he win?”
“Does she love him?”
“Does he love her?”
“What about Steffen?”
Solveig and Vali ignored the commentary and began their dance. Vali tested the limited freedom of his loosened magic, sending small mental bursts at Solveig. She levelled a wolf’s grin at him, teasing him as she blocked both his mental and physical blows.
Her own magic swelled, becoming vicious as she began to attack. She relished in the feel of a more equal fight, her burning lungs a testament to how much effort she was expending.
Vali grew more concentrated as he fended off her attacks. He managed to grip her neck with his hands as one of his mental assaults slipped through the cracks of her mind. She leaned into him and he seized the opportunity, spinning her around into a chokehold.
Solveig tried to repair the mental shield, but Vali worked his way in, widening the gap.
There was no attempt to alter her feelings, only to control her movements and make it an easier fight. He was returning the trust she’d shown him.
He reached into her mind and tried to slacken her body. It was difficult, but she managed to stay firm, struggling to get out of his hold. His attack continued and her mental barriers slipped. The drain on her magic was more than she had accounted for.
