I gestured to the new god to come into Astrid’s life. “Astrid, this—”
“Baldr.” She nodded. “Mother made sure we could recognize any of the gods should we be graced with their presence.”
Baldr grinned, his pale eyes sparkling, and spoke with a deep voice. “It’s nice to meet Týr’s weakness finally.”
Astrid laughed, releasing the tension in her shoulders from meeting yet another god, and I glared at him. It wasn’t like he was entirely wrong. This woman would be the death of me at this rate. But he didn’t have to say it out loud.
“Has Freyja set up our sparring location?” I asked.
Fenrir nodded. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t ready.”
I held my hand out to Astrid. “This means I can teleport us there.”
She tilted her head. “How does that work for you?”
“Unlike Freyja and her brother, I can’t teleport us anywhere I wish. I have to go somewhere with a battle aura. However, with Freyja, she can create us a special sparring area that gives off that aura. Since it takes a while to prepare, it’s easier for her to do that and for me to bring us to her.”
“Wow…” she said, her voice filled with awe. “I’d love to be able to do that. Not even Mother can.”
I smiled. “Maybe Freyja will teach you.”
Astrid smiled back, but I could see she doubted the possibility. I suspected she was experiencing some struggle around having so much contact with us gods. It wasn’t uncommon for us to be in the presence of mortals, but her type of inclusion was fairly unique. And it’s how I wanted it. If she was going to be mine, she would live what mortal life she had like no other mortal could dream of.
Astrid took my hand, and I pulled her into me. The way her body molded into mine, it was difficult to not think about changing plans and send Fenrir and Baldr away so I could undress her right here.
Fenrir sauntered up to me and inhaled deeply. He chuckled. “Want us to leave? Or maybe you’re good to put on a show. Perhaps an interactive one for me and Baldr?”
Baldr laughed and slapped his hand on my shoulder. I jammed my elbow into Fenrir’s side, at the same time using the contact to transport us to the battle aura I sensed that was distinctly Freyja’s magic.
In a blink, we were no longer at the forest edge, but in a forest clearing far from Astrid’s home. Freyja, a woman with pale hair knotted past her shoulders, lounged near the far edge of the clearing. She had a strong, honed body, showing the warrior she was, even in this relaxed state. With her were two cats.
She smiled. “About time you arrived. Hello, Astrid. I’m glad you could join us.”
Astrid stared at the woman, clearly awestruck. The reaction surprised me, given she didn’t have it with Fenrir or Baldr.
Baldr nudged Astrid with his elbow, spurring her to speak out a hasty hello.
Freyja’s blue eyes sparkled, and she patted the ground next to her. “Come, sit with me. I don’t bite.” She winked. “Too hard, at least.”
Astrid laughed, the tension rolling off her. As much as I didn’t want to, I released her from my grip and the brave woman who had my soul sauntered over to the goddess.
I went to stretching to loosen myself up, while listening in on Freyja giving Astrid fair warning how brutal Fenrir, Baldr, and I could be.
“I can’t repair missing limbs, so they better not expect that miracle,” Astrid muttered while affectionately petting one of the cats.
Freyja laughed. “Hear that, you three? She’s got conditions.”
“Finicky little she-wolf,” Fenrir said.
Astrid stuck her tongue out at him in response. Freyja laughed more. Creation, I loved this brazen side of her. Once comfortable, she fit right in amongst gods.
Fenrir stretched his large body once and then positioned himself some paces away for us to square off. Baldr stood off to the side. We tried for one-on-one fights, but as war gods, we tended to get excited and jump in, creating a free-for-all.
“Stakes this time?” I prompted Fenrir, still not done with my stretching. I knew better to warm up for these.
Fenrir’s eyes flicked to Astrid. “Her.”
I sneered, and Astrid scoffed. “Like hel I am.”
