“These are not cheap,” my mother said.
“I will replace it,” Týr vowed. “And gift her a few more in the likely event it happens again.”
I choked, and Freyja finally laughed. My mother did, too, while holding up his clothes a little higher. “Come get these so you can go punch a god, or whatever it is you plan to do in such a hurry.”
Týr climbed out of the bed and walked toward her with all the confidence of a god. My mother didn’t flinch at his nakedness, not that I expected a confident and comfortable woman like her to. I got a nice view of Týr’s backside, and Freyja winked at me.
Týr dressed and then returned to my side. My mother made an impressed face to me with his back now turned, making Freyja smirk. Týr bent over and planted a kiss on my forehead. He murmured against my skin. “I’ll return in four days to speak to him. If you don’t want this, I expect you to speak up. But I will also give you time to think it over.”
Heat prickled my cheeks, and my heart thumped slow but hard in my chest. Týr pulled away, and pivoted toward Freyja. His armor manifested; Freyja placed her hand on Týr’s shoulder and they disappeared.
My mother tossed my ruined dress aside to be disposed of later and came over to me. “Let’s get you cleaned up. I’ve already got a bath drawn.”
I nodded and followed her through the house, out to the covered stone bath outside. The storm still raged, but it was safe under here. I stepped into the steaming water, piped in from a nearby hot spring. I hissed when the warm water soaked sore and sensitive areas but soon relished the soothing warmth.
My mother helped me with my hair. “How do you feel, Sunshine?”
“Pleased,” I murmured, lulled by the bath.
My mother hummed. “Good. I’d be concerned if he couldn’t perform well enough.”
I ran a hand through my damp hair. “When will father be home from his hunting trip?”
“I expect the next few days.” She leaned forward. “Any particular reason why?”
I chewed my lower lip and played with a lock of hair. My pulse picked up as reality settled in. “Týr will talk to him in a few days. My answer is… yes.”
The largest smile I’d ever seen on my mother spread over her face. “For a god, he sure likes to take his time. But I’m also not surprised.”
I blinked. What did she mean by that?
“Do you know why I suggested your name to your father to consider?”
I cocked my head. “Because you hoped I would be beautiful?”
My mother smiled. “I didn’t hope, I knew. During your birth, I had a vision. I knew then that you would be beloved by the gods in more ways than a mortal could ever dream imaginable.”
She took a comb to my hair. “Your father will be pleased he’ll be able to watch your path with the gods with so much pride.”
The way she worded that didn’t sit well with me. “You will be too, right?”
“I’m always proud of you.”
That was a dodge. Why was she dodging my question?
“You’ll be such a beautiful bride.”
I scrubbed my arm. “You’ll help me through all this, right?”
Her tending to my hair paused for a split moment, and she didn’t answer me. I turned to face her, and the bittersweet look on her face hit me like a raging berserker.
“Mother…” I took a steadying breath. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She kissed me on the head. “I will always protect you, no matter the cost, and I’ll never regret a thing. Always remember that.”
My skin prickled, and everything she’d said over the last few months swarmed the back of my mind. Something bad was going to happen, and I needed to protect her.
Chapter Ten
