There was that name again. He’d said it when we were in the king’s hall. Why was he calling me that?
I banished those questions. This wasn’t the time. “You don’t have to thank me. I may not be a god or immortal, but I am strong enough to hold you up if you need me.”
Týr pulled me tighter into him. My body molded to his. Such a perfect fit but—I refocused my attention on the jewelry in my hair to keep me from going down that rabbit hole again. My mother gave me a number of metal beads to represent the gods, and I now had some I didn’t want anymore.
I tugged on Odinn’s bead. It would be the first to go.
Týr released me and watched. “What are you doing?”
“Odinn doesn’t deserve to have a bead.” I wouldn’t forgive him for what he did.
Týr reached out and wrapped his fingers around the metal bead. With startling strength, he snapped it with a quick twist. The pieces dropped to the ground.
I reached for Thor’s. It was clear he sided with Odinn, and I wouldn’t treat him with any kindness either. Týr helped me with that one as well, and then took a few more out. I didn’t mind his initiative. I didn’t want to associate with any god who was Týr’s enemy.
“That should do it,” he said. I didn’t count how many he destroyed. I didn’t care. I still had the important ones.
I blinked and stared up at him when he brushed the back of his hand against my cheek. I couldn’t look away, ensnared by those blue depths. From the bridge of my nose down, his thumb traced the sensitive scar marring my face. No one had ever touched me there, especially not so tenderly. Most tried to avoid looking at the ugly thing.
I opened my mouth to speak, and his gaze flicked down to my lips. Warmth spread over my face when thoughts of him kissing me flashed through my mind. What was I going to say to him again?
A loud crack and boom overhead. I shrieked and practically jumped into Týr’s arms. He threw his head back in raucous laughter.
“I think it might be best we head for true cover,” he said.
I nodded, trying to calm my racing heart. It was a miracle my magic hadn’t failed us yet, though I could sense there were some holes now.
I gasped when Týr lifted me into his arms. My pulse picked up, being so close to him like this. “What are you doing?”
He smirked. “No sense in us both running. Think you can protect us from the rain?”
I squinted at the angry sky. “I’m not sure.”
He lifted his cloak over my head to shield me. “Just in case.”
I leaned into him, his warmth and strength inviting and calming to my racing heart. “Just in case.”
Týr took off from under the cover of our tree, and I concentrated hard on keeping our protective magic barrier with us.
Chapter Nine
Astrid
Water splashed under Týr’s boots. The dark sky flashed with bolts of lightning, and thunder cracked and rolled right behind it. I gripped Týr tightly around the neck, surprised by the speed he could run while carrying me.
The magic above us cracked, letting more rain in. Weariness flickered across the back of my mind. This wasn’t easy to keep up, especially with us moving. I’d never done this before.
The house came into view, and not a moment too soon. My magic fizzled out, and the rain pelted down on us. I squealed and tucked us further under Týr’s cloak. Týr laughed, and we ducked under the awning of the house. His laughter was contagious, and we both fell into a fit. Dripping wet and chilled, we laughed without a care. The sky rumbled in protest of our amusement.
Týr set me down. I opened the door, calling out as I did. “I’m home! And we have a guest.”
I blinked and looked around. A fire roared in the pit, but otherwise no one was around.
“Mother? Leif?” I ventured a little farther in. “Frida?”
No one answered me—at least, no human. My kitten poked her head up from behind a chair and mewed. The poor thing had her fur all fluffed out, terrified of the raging storm outside.
I set my herb basket down and wrung out my skirts. “I wonder where everyone is. They started a fire.”
