Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Tyr flexed his hand. “I thought everyone knew the story of how I lost my hand. I mean, it’s in all the mythology books and stuff.”

“But that is rarely the real story, isn’t it?”

Tyr’s gut clenched. “It is in this case. I betrayed Fenrir, who had been like a brother and son to me.”

“Why?”

“Because Odin wished it.”

She sipped her tea. “Are you bound to obey Odin no matter what?”

“Not anymore, but back then, yes.” Tyr’s gut clenched. The betrayal of Fenrir hit him more than all the people he’d killed in his lifetime. Of everything he’d done, that was the one that hurt him most.

“So, Fenrir tore your hand off.”

Tyr scratched his head. “It’s a bit more complicated than that, but yes. I betrayed him, and, in the end, I paid for it with my hand. I would gladly give more if it would earn his forgiveness.”

“He hasn’t forgiven you? But that was so long ago.”

Tyr flexed his fingers. “Some betrayals run so deep that no matter how much time passes, it will still be there in some way. I was closer to Fenrir than I was to even Vid and Herm back then. His parents abandoned him. The other gods shunned him. For a long time, it was him and I together. But when the head of the gods tells you to do something, you do it.”

“Would you still do it today?”

“Absolutely not. I would gladly take his place. If I could do it again, I would have protected him. Even if it meant my death.”

“Have you told him that?”

Her eyes were sincere and compassionate, nothing more. He’d never talked to anyone about what had happened with Fenrir before.

“I haven’t.”

She shrugged. “Maybe you should.”

His gut clenched. “What if it doesn’t change anything between us?”

“What if it does? Whether it does or doesn’t is on him. If you tell him how you feel, and that’s probably not easy for the God of War, but if you tell him and he doesn’t accept it, that’s on him. But wouldn’t it at least be better to know? Better to let the burden go after so long?”

Tyr stared at her. He couldn’t answer. Would it be better? What would it be like to finally be unburdened? Who would he be?

“Tell me something about yourself.”

She chuckled and sipped her tea. “Like what?”

“Anything. What did you like growing up?”

“Normal stuff. Music. Books. Art. TV.”

“What kind of books?”

“Anything. I read lots of webtoons online.”

“What are webtoons?”

“Cartoon stories online that people post daily or weekly. I devoured those.”

“What else?”

“Many websites have free stories you can read. Some are terrible, obviously, but some are amazing. I read romance, fantasy, young adult, basically anything I could find. You have no idea how long hours can be when you are stuck in a room with no one to talk to all day for years on end.” She looked at him strangely for a minute. “Or maybe you do. You’ve been alive long enough to witness the fall of Rome, the Renaissance, the Hindenburg, and every other major event in history.”

He turned his teacup around. “A lot of those things I only know about because of reading about them or watching movies. Valhalla is far removed from Midgard. And Midgard isn’t the only realm we were in charge of. I knew about the wars firsthand, but not much else. Honestly, I wish I’d paid more attention to some of those time periods. The Renaissance sounded so fun. And I would have loved to meet da Vinci, the Wright Brothers, Einstein, Tesla, and even Edison, though he stole most of Tesla’s work. They were all so world-changing. And the things they invented were amazing.”

Her mouth fell open.

“What?”

“You just… If you could meet people, those aren’t the ones I would have assumed you’d want to meet.”

“Who did you think I’d want to meet?”

“Napoleon. Julius Caesar. Xerxes. Genghis Khan. Great generals and warlords.”

“I knew all of them, of course. But they weren’t anyone I would want to hang out with. Believe it or not, not everything about me has to do with war. I am fascinated with how Midgardians invented things without divine intervention. Movies, television, and computers you can hold in your hand.”

Her cheek tinged a beautiful shade of rose. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply?—”

He held up his hand. “It’s okay. Most people expect that of me. And in a lot of ways, I have many things in common with those men, but that’s not who I want to be, it’s who I was born. I didn’t ask to be the God of War. I didn’t choose to be the God of War. I just am the God of War.”

She reached across the table and squeezed his metal hand. “I’m so sorry, Tyr. I can’t imagine what that must be like.”

Again, only compassion and understanding shone in her eyes. Not pity. It made his heart squeeze. She was so beautiful. So amazing. So… perfect.

“So, what about you? Tell me something about you.”

“Like what?”

She thought for a minute. “Do you like movies?”

He chuckled. “I love movies. Why do you think I put the theater in the basement? I have over five thousand movies.”

“Wow. That’s so cool.”

He shrugged. “I have to admit it is a guilty pleasure I indulge in at least once a week or when I have time off. I have even gone up to some of those movie premier things in Hollywood.”

Her eyes widened. “Like walking the red carpet and seeing movie stars and stuff?”

“I have clients who owe me favors. They get me into the movies first. I don’t do the whole dress-up and take-my-picture thing, though. Photographs can be… tricky for immortals. Especially with the internet. Take one photo, and it lasts forever. Especially at a place like a movie premier.”

She nodded. “Tell me your favorite movie.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her and smiled. “Pass. Different question.”

“What? Why?”

Because it’s embarrassing .

“Now I must know. And don’t lie. Tell me your favorite. I promise not to laugh.”

No. He couldn’t. No way. She would laugh despite what she said. And yet…

“Tangled.”

Her eyebrows drew together, and her lips quirked up. “Tangled. As in, the Disney movie about Rapunzel?”

“Yeah, it may sound stupid, but that movie deserved a lot more credit than it got. A girl fighting for her freedom and following her dreams no matter what stood in her way? She was sweet and cute but fierce and loyal. She helped people and loved despite what she’d been through. She reminds me a lot of you.”

Shit! Had he just said that?

Celeste’s eyes rounded, and she pushed her lips together.

“I like most of Walt Disney’s movies. Especially the older ones Walt did himself,” he said, trying to break the tension. “They make it seem like anything is possible and that love always wins in the end.”

She peeked up at him through her thick, dark lashes. “They do. I think that’s why I had such a hard time with them when I was little. They gave me such a sense of hope. Hope I never thought would be fulfilled in my lifetime.”

He squeezed her hand hard. “But you’re out now. You can follow your dreams. Do what you want to do. You don’t have to go back to that.”

She nodded.

“What would you do? If you could do anything, what would it be?”

She shrugged. “Books were my escape and my lifeline. I think if I was going to do anything, it would be to write books so I could maybe help others do the same. Or make my own comic books or something. Maybe I’ll write one about you. Tyr, God of War by day, Disneyphile by night.”

They both laughed, and her gaze traveled to where their hands joined.

“Can I… feel it? Not your glove, but your actual hand?”

Tyr looked at her. No one had ever wanted to see his hand before except to critique it or ask a thousand questions. But something about her made him believe she wouldn’t be the same as the others.

Tyr slid the leather glove off and held his hand out for her to inspect.

She hesitated for a moment and then slid her fingers over the top of his.

“Can you feel that?”

A tingle danced through Tyr’s body at her soft touch, and his pants tightened around his burgeoning arousal.

He coughed and adjusted in his seat. “Uh… yeah.”

“But it’s made fully of metal?”

He nodded. A warmth spread through him, comforting him and making him relax.

“That’s amazing.” She lifted his hand and turned it over, touching his palm with soft light strokes. “Does it have the same sensation as your flesh hand?”

“Not exactly, but it’s close.”

She took his other hand and placed it palm up on the table. She traced her fingers over both palms, and Tyr’s pants tightened further.

“What’s the difference in the sensation?”

“I… uh…” Tyr swallowed hard as his body grew warmer, a peaceful sensation flooding him. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

She stared at him for a moment. “Can… Can I try something?”

“What?”

“I want you to open your mind up so I can feel what you feel.”

“You can do that?”

She nodded. “I have only done it once. The first time I kissed a guy, I tried it. That was a disaster. But as long as you don’t think about another woman while I do it, I can handle it.”

Tyr stared at her for a long moment. The thought of her kissing someone else had him ready to punch something, but the feeling faded as her beautiful, almond-shaped blue eyes stared at him earnestly, sparkling with interest. Her cheeks had flushed a brilliant rosy shade, and the natural hue of her lips had deepened as well.

It was a strange and foreign concept, but the idea intrigued him. “All right.”

He opened his mind, and hers touched his. He couldn’t describe the sensation except to say that he no longer felt alone. Like the sensation of someone watching you, but you couldn’t see anyone. Not in a creepy way, though. More in a comfortable way.

Her hands pressed down on his, and she swirled circles into his palms. Slowly, a smile spread across her face.

“It is different. Almost like… TV static fuzzing out the sensation in your metal hand. Or like tinnitus where you have a buzzing in your ear and can hear quite as clearly.”

Tyr’s chest squeezed. “Exactly,” he whispered. He’d never been able to describe it before, and yet, she had. How had she done that?

She smiled as she continued to touch him and experience his reaction. Her plump lips curved upward, forcing up the corners of her eyes as well. She was amazing.

When he’d first seen her at the speed dating event, he’d known she was pretty. But he’d never imagined she’d be that gorgeous. Perfection. Perfection made flesh; she put all goddesses to shame.

Tyr blinked and realized her fingers had stopped moving. They stared at each other, and he caught the hitch in her breathing.

She’d heard his thoughts.

Tyr locked down his mind, and she drew her hands away.

“I… I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I didn’t mean to. It’s just…”

Embarrassment flooded Tyr. He was such an idiot. How did he let that happen?

She sipped her tea. “You are super lucky to have Vid and Herm and so much family around, even the ones you don’t like so much.”

“Haven’t you ever met your extended family?” Tyr took her lead and changed the subject.

“I never met my dad’s family. He never talked about them. My mother’s family… Well, they kind of disowned her, I guess. I met her mother once. I guess met is a strong word. I saw her once. She came to talk to my mother. My mother told me to stay in the house, but I was so excited to meet my grandma that I peeked out the door. That day, my mother locked me in the playroom and put wards all over the walls. I want to think she did it because she loved me… I’m she did it for herself.”

“Why did your mother invite your grandmother to visit if she didn’t want her there?”

Celeste shook her head. “I think it was an accident. Angels can send out a signal when they are in distress. It’s like a beacon for other angels. I think my mother did it because she was high. I don’t think she meant to.”

“Did your grandmother ever come back?”

“I’m pretty sure my mother did something to the house, so she couldn’t be traced. Kind of like she did something to it to keep my dad out.”

Tyr wanted to comfort her, but he didn’t know what to do.

“We Norse gods all get together once a month for a family dinner. You can join me next time if you want. Uh… if you’re still here, I mean.”

“I’d like that.” She gazed at the waterfall. “Do you think Vali would mind if I put my feet in the water?”

“Not at all.”

Celeste smiled and stood from the table. She slipped off her little shoes with the bows on them and walked barefoot to the edge of the small pond.

She sat down on the mossy bank and rolled up her pants before dipping her toes in. Her audible sigh struck Tyr right in the heart. He congratulated himself on bringing her to Vali’s. He’d been sure it was perfect for her, and he was glad he’d been right.

She lay back on the bank and stretched her arms over her head.

Tyr watched the rise and fall of her chest. She deserved a place like Vali’s after everything she’d been through in her life. She deserved someone like Vali. Not the God of War who couldn’t even control his emotions.

But even as he thought it, his rage bubbled to the surface.

“Are you going to join me or stare at me?” She turned her face toward the sky.

Tyr’s cheeks flamed. Damn. Why couldn’t he take his eyes off her?

For the first time, a thought stirred inside him, sending a flush over his skin. No. It couldn’t be… She couldn’t be… Could she?

“Well?” she called.

Tyr told himself to stay put, stay in the chair until she was ready to go, then take her and keep her safe until the danger had passed. When that time came, he should bring her back to Vali and let him take care of her. She deserved someone like Vali. She needed someone like Vali—someone gentle, patient, and soothing.

What could the God of War offer a woman who’d already been through a life of hell?

“Do I need to come and get you?” She flipped on her belly and looked at him, finally.

He should leave. He should really leave.

Instead, he gave in and joined her on the bank of the pond.

“Take off those huge boots and let your feet breathe.”

Tyr pulled his knees into his chest. “I’m fine right here.”

She giggled. “Come on, Tyr. Relax for once.” She rolled to her knees and scooted in front of him. She tried to pry his folded hands from his knees, but he didn’t budge.

Instead of giving in, she threw him a wry smile and yanked on one of his bootlaces.

“Hey.” Tyr unfolded his hands and went to retie his laces but she grabbed a lace on his other boot and pulled it as well.

“Celeste.”

“What?” she asked innocently.

“I don’t want to put my feet in the water.” Tyr tied his boot and moved on to the second, but as soon as he did, she pulled the laces on the first one again.

“Celeste.”

“Tyr.” She tried to keep her face serious, but a smile quirked the corners of her mouth.

She looked so damn kissable that he wanted nothing more than to lay her on the moss and make love to her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. She landed with her body pressed against his, and her eyes widened.

Without thinking, he moved his face inches from hers. She stared at him, her eyes full of desire. Her gaze traveled to his lips. His body and mind collided as every inch of him wanted to kiss her sweet lips. To taste her. To bury himself inside her. Her floral scent swirled around him, making him dizzy and his body hard for her again. Close. So damn close.

He brushed a hair from her eye and looped it around her ear. Then he traced his fingers down her throat and gripped the base of her neck. It took everything he had to hold back. He wanted to kiss her. Needed to kiss her. Needed to feel her lips on his.

“If I’m Rapunzel, then you’re my Flynn Rider,” she whispered.

No way did she just say that to him!

She was so close her warm breath tickled his face, and he tasted the tea she’d drunk.

Tea. The tea!

Tyr pressed his lips together and let go of her neck.

“Did you finish your tea?” he asked huskily.

Her eyebrows drew together, and she blinked several times as if waking from a dream. “Yeah. Didn’t you?”

Tyr released her wrist, and she sat back on her heels, confusion playing over her features. Freaking Vali.

“Nah. Tea has never been my thing.” Which was why Vali had most likely made it extra strong.

Damn, self-proclaimed Love Guru. What the hell was he playing at? And what the hell had he put in the damn tea? As soon as he had a minute, he’d tell his cousin exactly how he felt about being tricked with magical herbs. Maybe with a black eye, possibly two, to get his point across

Tyr scooted back a few inches and went back to tying his laces.

Celeste’s eyes clouded, and her playful smile vanished.

She picked at the moss and then looked up at the sky again. “None of this is your thing, is it?”

“Not particularly.”

She nodded but didn’t catch his eye. “Then why did you bring me here?”

“Because you needed it.”

She stayed silent for a minute before saying, “Is peacefulness hard for you?”

He stopped tying his boots.

“I only ask because you are the God of War. So, I would assume this kind of place might be… something you weren’t used to.”

He double-knotted his laces. “That’s one way of putting it.”

“Is that why you aren’t in Valhalla?”

“Give me a battlefield, blood, and fighting any day. Even after thousands of years, I could go into battle tomorrow and not think twice about what I needed to do. But places like this…” He gestured around. “I don’t know what to do with myself. It’s foreign to me.”

“I’m sorry, Tyr. I should have realized…”Compassion shone through her eyes, but not pity.

He opened his mouth to say something but stopped. Usually, he would have told her she was right. Peace made him as uneasy as arguing, or violence did to most people. But he hadn’t once felt an ounce of unease with her. With her, he wanted to go anywhere and do anything as long as she was with him. Hel, he’d lay in bed surrounded by puppies and butterflies, and he’d be utterly content.

Dammit, if he didn’t leave ASAP, he’d kiss her. Tea or no tea. Sy or no Sy. There was only so much a guy could take before he cracked. And her saying that he was her Flynn Rider…

Tyr’s phone beeped, and he pulled it from his pocket and read the message.

“Crap. I gotta go.”

“Oh.” Disappointment laced her voice.

“I forgot. I have plans. Dang it. I think I have enough time to get you back to the estate before I need to head out.”

“Where are you going?”

He licked his lips. It was dumb. He should cancel. But he’d promised. And in that moment, he really, really freaking needed to do and think of something other than how much he wanted Celeste.

“I’m going to a concert.”

“Like a rock concert?”

“Yeah… uh… My favorite band is playing tonight. I don’t get to see them often, but I try to at least twice a year. I have a standing date to go.”

She frowned. “A date?” Was that a hint of jealousy in her voice?

“It’s a friend. We always go together. That’s all.”

“A female friend?”

She was jealous. Something about that made Tyr happy.

“No. A guy friend. I don’t have any female friends.”

“Oh.” A slight smile replaced the frown.

“What?”

She shrugged. “You don’t seem the concert type.”

“I’m not. But you’d have to see these guys to understand. They aren’t a regular band.”

“What are they like?”

How did he explain? “If Metallica, Europe, and Scorpion had a baby with a Viking shield maiden.”

She scrunched up her face. “So heavy metal Vikings?”

“Exactly.”

She broke into a broad smile. “Disney movies and heavy metal. You are a conundrum, Lord Tyr. A total, absolute conundrum. Which is why I find you fascinating. What are they called?”

He blinked several times. How did she do that? How did she keep mixing him up into knots and making him lose his train of thought? He never lost his train of thought.

“Who?” he asked.

“The band you are going to.”

“Brothers of Metal.”

She nodded. “A fitting name. Too bad you don’t have another ticket. I would have loved to see them.”

“You would?” He couldn’t keep the incredulity out of his tone.

She chuckled. “They sound awesome.”

“They wrote a song about me,” Tyr blurted. Why had he said that? He sounded like an arrogant prick.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Seriously?”

“Well, they wrote an entire album called Prophecy of Ragnarok. There’s a song about Loki and one about Freya, too. Loki’s kids got an entirely different album, so I’m not special. Even so, I’m partial to the one they wrote about me.”

“Have you met them before?”

He nodded. “Many times.”

“Do they know your true identity?”

“I don’t think they believed me when I told them.”

“Did you, like… show them?”

“Show them what?”

“Your powers or something. Your pocketknife sword thing.”

Tyr chuckled. “We weren’t in a place for me to show them super strength, super speed, or battle rage.”

She nodded. “You could have shown them your hand.”

Tyr put his glove back on. “If some guy showed up at your concert, told you he loved your song about the war god Tyr, told you his name was Tyr, and flashed you his missing hand, would you believe him or call the cops?”

“Fair point.” She picked at the grass again. “I would love to hear them sometime.”

“I wish I could take you, but… it’s on Midgard. And your father wanted you to stay down here for your own safety.”

She slipped her flats back on. “I’ve never been to a concert before.”

“What?”

“Dad was always gone, and Mother hates music for some reason. Not that she would have ever let me out of the house.”

Tyr’s gut clenched. Damn, if her disappointment wasn’t as beautiful as her happiness. The only difference was this time, he wanted to do whatever it took to make her smile again.

“Do you want to go?” The words tumbled from his mouth before he could stop them.

Her entire face lit up. “Yes.”

Idiot. Why had he asked that? First, he told her about his Disney movie fetish, and now he was asking her to a concert for his favorite band. Next, he’d be taking her to a family meal and introducing her to everyone.

“Do you have another ticket?”

Well, he couldn’t back out now. “I’ll call the band and tell them I have a guest coming.”

“Just call the band.” She laughed and then stopped. “Oh my gosh, you are serious!”

“Any band would be cool with getting a new fan. But honestly, these guys are super chill and super cool. It won’t be a problem.”

She looked down. “Should I change into something else?”

He took in her tight t-shirt, jeans, and arm sling. “Nope, you’re perfect the way you are.”

She jumped to her feet. "Let’s get moving.” She tapped him on the head and ran for the exit. “Goose!” she yelled over her shoulder.

Goose? What in the world did that mean?

Tyr shook his head and made a mental note to find out what exactly Vali had put into the pink tea.

Tyr kept his hand on Celeste’s back and shielded her still-healing arm from the crowd as they moved toward their section of the arena. She shook her head and, a moment later, stumbled and grabbed her head with her free hand.

Tyr picked her up and whisked her to the side wall, out of the way of the throng. He caged her against the cement with his body, trying to block out everyone else from view.

“Breathe,” Tyr said. “Focus on me and breathe.”

Her wide gaze connected with his like a terrified doe. Tyr slowed his breathing and took her hand in his. She focused on him, her eyes round and fearful. She blinked back tears as he breathed in and out slowly. He placed her palm on his chest, and eventually, she matched his tempo. He rubbed a tender circle into the palm of her hand with his thumb, and after several minutes, she gave a small smile.

“I’m sorry. I was so excited to come I didn’t prepare myself for all the people. Usually, I’m able to block them out, but in the week I’ve been with you, I guess I’ve kind of gotten used to the quiet of the estate, so I’ve let my shield slip more and more.”

Tyr shook his head. “If peace and quiet is what you need, this is not the place. We should go.” He pressed her against him and scanned for the nearest exit.

She squeezed his hand. “No. I want to stay. I’m all right now. I have my barriers in place.”

He looked at her, unsure. Part of him wanted her to stay and experience the show, while the other wanted to get her right back where she belonged—in his room.

She pulled on him. “Please, Tyr. I want to stay.”

When she looked at him with those beautiful eyes, he’d give her whatever she wanted.

He leaned in and kissed the top of her head without thinking. “All right, Fylgja. You win.” He stopped breathing. Fylgja? Had he called her Fylgja?

He was in trouble. So. Much. Trouble.

Celeste held his hand the entire way to their section. When they reached their row, an immense man with a scruffy beard and heavy leather jacket sat waiting, almost taking up two whole seats with his mountainous frame.

Tyr gave a small wave, and the man stood, throwing Tyr a lopsided grin due to the long, deep scar which ran down the left side of his face from when his mother had thrown him as a baby.

“Who is this?”

Tyr shook Hephaestus’ hand. “This is a… uh…friend. Her name is Celeste. She wanted to join us. Celeste, this is Hephaestus.”

Recognition hit Celeste, and she smiled. “The Hephaestus who made your hand?”

Tyr nodded.

“Wow. I am so honored.” Celeste shook Hephaestus’ hand. “Your work is unbelievable.”

Tyr fought the urge to rip her hand out of his friend’s grip.

Hephaestus blushed and rubbed his neck. “Uh… thank you. That’s very kind.”

“No, seriously. I don’t know how you did it, but it’s unbelievable. The fact that he has feeling in it and that the sensations are so near to what actual nerves register is nothing short of magic.”

Hephaestus chuckled. “It would be better if the giant baby would come over and let me make a new one for him. I’ve made a lot of advances since that relic.”

Tyr punched Hephaestus in the shoulder.

Phes smirked. “Awwww. Don’t get all butt hurt. You know I love you more than my asshole brother, Ares, any day. And that isn’t just because he stole the girl I married.”

Tyr felt for Hephaestus. Even after all these centuries, old hatreds died hard. Really hard.

For the first half of the show, Celeste sat mesmerized by the music, and then her mood changed when the band sang Gods of War. She jumped up and danced to the beat. Tyr couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her letting go. Hephaestus jumped next to her, and together, they were like two teenagers at a rave. Tyr laughed.

He had always loved music, but very little of it had spoken to his soul throughout his life the way Brothers of Metal did. From the first time he’d stumbled upon it, it had just resonated with him somewhere deep. And seeing it do the same thing for Celeste was almost better than the music itself. Almost. He liked that he was able to do that for her. That he was able to help her forget what she’d been through and enjoy herself. Even if it was only for one day.

Herm and Vid had tried to placate him by coming once, but their reactions had been nothing like Celeste’s. And those guys liked everything having to do with themselves.

He chuckled, remembering Herm trying to headbang to the music, hitting his head on the cement and knocking himself out. Idiot.

As if she’d heard him laugh, Celeste turned to him, hair wet with perspiration and cheeks flushed. He imagined what she looked like after sex and wished more than anything to see her like that in his bed. Happy. Pink and sated. Sweat slicking her body.

She held her hand out for him to join her, but Tyr shook his head. Dancing was one thing he could not do. She stuck out her bottom lip and tugged on Hephaestus. She whispered something in his ear, and Phes glanced at Tyr and shook his head. He said something to her, and she laughed. Tyr kicked Phes in the leg, and Phes grabbed his thigh.

“Charley horse! Not cool, man!” Hephaestus rubbed his leg and punched Tyr in the thigh.

Celeste dropped into the seat next to Tyr, grabbed his beer, and chugged it. She set the cup down in the holder and made a face.

“That’s horrible.” She rubbed her neck and massaged her arm.

He quirked an eyebrow. “Are you old enough to drink?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m the daughter of a demon and an angel. Is there an age limit for beings like us?”

Fair enough.

“Would you like me to get you a different kind of beer?”

She shook her head. “Not if all beer tastes like that.”

“Have you never had alcohol before?”

She shook her head and wiped her tongue with her t-shirt.

For a split second, Tyr wished he was the one licking the taste out of her mouth.

He clenched his fists. He had to stop. He was supposed to be keeping her safe. Nothing more.

Hephaestus laughed. “Let her try some honeyed mead from Frigg’s place. That’s probably more her style.”

Tyr stood.

“Where are you going?” Celeste pushed the hair from her face.

“To get you something else to drink.”

“Like what?”

My tongue. Tyr wanted to punch himself in the face. Repeatedly. “I’ll find something. Do not move from this spot. Got it?”

“And miss one of their songs? I’d rather piss myself.”

Hephaestus smiled at Tyr. “I like her. I like her a lot.”

His friends kept saying that.

“Don’t let her go anywhere,” he said to Hephaestus.

“Yes, Dad.”

Tyr shot Phes a glare. Phes raised an eyebrow and then nodded. His eyes flashed with the realization that Tyr felt more for Celeste than just a mere friend.

Celeste jumped up, dancing again before Tyr had made it to the end of the row. His gut twisted as he climbed the steps, fighting every instinct to drag her along with him.

Tyr walked down the row and up the aisle. He looked back at her, and she smiled and waved. He nodded and continued upward. Her smile fell as her heart pounded in her chest. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could pretend she hadn’t heard what he’d said about her at Vali’s place and what he’d wanted to do to her moments before. Thinking about her in his bed. Wanting to lick the beer from her mouth.

She was damn proud of herself for not tackling him right there. She had tried to push down her growing feelings for him, but she was reaching her breaking point. His strong jaw. His piercing eyes. The rough, calloused hands that had traversed her body too many times in as many days. All of him shouted to her of protection, strength, and raw sex appeal. Her body tingled at the thought of his cool metal hand caressing her flesh. Tempting. Touching. Teasing.

Celeste shook her head. No. She needed to stop. He was… a god. Immortal. Ancient. He’d probably been with hundreds of more experienced women than her. Women who knew how to treat a man like him. How to please a man like him… The idea soured her stomach.

“Don’t worry,” said Hephaestus. “He likes you, too.”

Celeste turned. “What? No… I wasn’t… I mean…”

Hephaestus hugged her with one arm. “Yes, you were. It’s written all over your face. Believe me. I’ve seen it before. Never aimed at me, but at my brother, Ares, all the time.”

Celeste’s cheeks heated.

“It’s not my place to say, but I’m going to anyway. I’ve never seen Tyr look at a woman the way he looks at you. The way he watches you. However, I also know him enough to know that if anyone is going to make a move, it will have to be you.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. It’s just how he is. But if you make a move and he reciprocates, you need to be prepared for him to want you for himself and no one else. I’ve known him for a long time. And I’ve never seen him notice a woman more than once. But you… You’re his one. I feel it.”

Celeste turned and looked up the aisle for Tyr, but she couldn’t see him.

She tried to remember the word Tyr had called her earlier. Fyg… Flug… “Do you know what Fyga means?”

“ Fyga? Sorry. Why?”

She shook her head.

The song Yggdrasil started with one of the singers talking about the legend of the tree. As the melody thrummed through her, she couldn’t help but think of Tyr and wonder what his strong lips would feel like on hers. She sat for a moment and let down her mental shield, reaching for the band, feeling what they did as they played the music. It was beautiful.

Celeste swayed in her seat and closed her eyes, taking the music in and letting it fill her.

Suddenly, a shockwave rushed through her, jolting her in her seat. She scanned the arena, trying to spot where it came from, but there were too many people.

Her heart pounded. She’d never felt anything like it before, but she was sure of one thing: someone needed help. But she had no idea who or where.

“I didn’t know what you’d want, so I got a few different things.”

She jerked her head up. Tyr held three kinds of soda, a bottle of water, and two different juices.

He sat, dropping several of the bottles onto the floor. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

She reached out again to see who had sent the distress call, but nothing happened.

“I… I’m not sure. One minute, I was feeling the music, and the next, there was this… pulse that ripped through me.”

“What do you mean, pulse? ” Tyr’s voice became urgent.

“Pain. Someone in terrible pain. Calling for help.”

“Do you know who?”

She scanned the arena again. “There are too many people. I can’t tell what it is or where it came from. It may not even be someone not here. They could be anywhere.”

“We should go.”

“No.” She grabbed his arm. “I… I want to finish the show.”

Tyr stared at her, conflicted.

Her throat clenched until she almost couldn’t get out her next words. “You still haven’t heard from my dad, have you?”

Tyr shook his head.

Her gut twisted. Where was he? Why hadn’t he contacted her? She wanted to reach for him. Call him. But if he knew Tyr had brought her back to Earth… She didn’t want to get Tyr in trouble for doing something nice for her.

“We can go.”

“No. I’m sure it’s nothing. It happens sometimes,” she lied.

“That happens sometimes?”

In truth, she’d never had anything like that happen before. The only person she’d ever had real psychic contact with besides her dad was Tyr. “Well… no, not specifically, but I don’t understand all my powers because no one has taught me much. For all I know, it could have been the equivalent of a prank call or a wrong number. Or the person might be halfway across the world. I have no idea and no way of figuring it out.”

“Still. We should get back. It’s been a long day.”

“But they haven’t played the song about you yet,” she pleaded.

“The lady said she was fine,” said Hephaestus. “Just relax, Brother. Finish the show. Even if something bad is out there, nothing is gonna happen to her with both you and me here.” He opened his leather jacket, and tiny magical weapons lined the inside. Any one of which she was sure would be deadly in Hephaestus’ hand. But none more so than a small, bronze hammer.

Tyr nodded. “Okay.” He picked up his dropped items and held out his bounty to her.

Celeste picked a soda and chugged half the bottle before burping and touching Tyr’s arm.

“Thank you,” she said. “For bringing me and for staying.”

Tyr stared at where she touched his skin. She slid her hand away. And chugged the rest of her soda.

Hephaestus was wrong. Tyr obviously did not want her to make a move.