Chapter Five
Týr
Squirrels chattered in the trees above, and a twig snapped under my boot. The crisp air carried the scent of the forest and promise of colder days and nights to come. A raven called overhead. I strained my senses to find the bird and then moved on. It wasn’t one of Odinn’s ravens. I didn’t need to deal with his spies right now.
The trees thinned, and soon I walked the familiar road leading to Astrid. My pace increased, that deep part of me desperate to see her. It’d been some time since I could visit. I had been doing well, coming by daily or every few days, but I hadn’t seen her in a month. I hoped she wouldn’t be too mad. She never seemed to show any anger or disappointment, but Astrid was also good at masking how she felt.
Getting her to talk about anything that bothered her was difficult. It was like she didn’t want to burden me with anything, or that she thought her problems didn’t matter to me.
Frustration burned in my chest. I didn’t want her thinking that. She mattered. As much as I knew this mortal shouldn’t, and that I should have left her to live her short life with other mortals, I couldn’t let her go. She mattered to me. Her smile, her laugh, her brazen personality mixed with a gentle kindness not even a god like me deserved.
I glanced down at the variety of violet-colored flowers I carried for her. I hoped this would be enough. I couldn’t romance her with poetry like she deserved. The last time I attempted to create a poem, Freyja fell over laughing at me. Literally fell over. I couldn’t embarrass Astrid like that.
I caught sight of her, and my heart skipped. Those gorgeous flaming locks drifted in the breeze, as if calling me to tangle my fingers in them. They draped along her slender neck, taunting me to wrap a hand around her and pull her close. I’d be able to tip her head up and lean into those tempting lips of hers.
I closed my eyes and sucked in a deep breath. I was hard as a damned rock.
Fenrir’s taunting words echoed in my mind. He thought I moved too slow; that I should take and claim her as mine. But he didn’t understand. She was a woman worth taking one’s time with—to woo and romance her until our souls mingled and bound, and all we could see and want was each other.
My feet halted when I realized she wasn’t alone. A man with braided golden hair and a groomed short beard spoke with her. His posture was animated, and as I strained to listen, I wished I hadn’t. He recited poetry. A good poem at that.
Astrid smiled at him, but I couldn’t tell if she was being polite or sincerely enjoying it.
When the man finished, he gazed at her expectantly. Astrid’s smile shifted a little, something subtle, but one I could read as her being polite.
“That was lovely,” she managed.
The man let out a long breath. “But…”
Astrid grimaced. “Some advice? If you’re going to recite poetry to every unmarried maiden in Runavík, maybe try to use a different poem each time?”
I made a face. That was a desperate man.
Astrid’s attention on the man waned just enough for her to notice me. She jerked her attention in my direction and a big, beaming smile overtook her. “Týr!”
She rushed over to me, without even a second glance at the man. He frowned, but otherwise didn’t try to pursue. At least he was smart enough to know a desperate man like him could never compete.
Astrid wrapped her arms around mine and pressed her full body against me, gazing up with those soul-snaring eyes. Creation… My cock strained against my trousers even harder.
“I’m so happy to see you,” she said.
I smiled. “Me too. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”
She shook her head. “I’m sure you had more important things to do.”
I frowned. I did not like how she saw that. I presented the flowers to her. “It was only important because it meant you were safe.”
Astrid’s eyes widened, and the most adorable gasp came from her lips. “Týr… these are beautiful.”
She took the bundle and smelled them. “I don’t recognize half of these flowers. Where did you find these?”
I smirked. “I know someone.”
A perk of being a god. Knowing a god or immortal with flora affinities wasn’t that difficult.
“Thank you. I love them.” Her eyes lit up even brighter. “Oh, you’ll never guess what happened!”
I tilted my head. This had to be good.
