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So, she kept talking…

“After nearly two hours of haggling with Huldra, a Woodland Spirit who had the only Gallica rose seeds left in all the world, I made him a deal.I gave him a very small vial of fertile soil from my Realm.I brought it from the Frigga’s gardens in the grounds of the castle on Asgard.Over the years it mixed with the ash and melted ice of Helheim to become the most fertile soil in the universe.”

“Wow,” Hopper breathed.“I bet he was excited.”

“Oh, yes, he was,” Hel nodded.“So much so that I had to give him strict instructions.I told him that if he misused it anyway or told anyone he had it, everything he had ever grown or attempted to nourish would turn to ash.I was shocked that he agreed, but so very thankful when he gave me thirteen seeds and one incredible seedling.”

“I like it,” Hopper nodded, his smile growing and the glow of his gorgeous eyes getting brighter.Moving closer but stopping before they touched, he added, “Smart and shrewd, as well as beautiful beyond compare.You truly are amazing, Hel.”

Instantly tongue-tied and unable to keep eye contact, her cheeks–both of them, even the one on the dead side–were so hot she was sweating, not perspiring or glistening like a lady.She.Was.Sweating.Hel turned to the side, exhaled sharply and continued her story like the last five seconds hadn’t happened.

“So, yeah, ummm, I rushed back to Helheim like my feet were on fire.On the way here, I thought about ideas and designs–exactly how I wanted my garden to look.Once I arrived, it took less than twelve hours to get everything just right.”Dropping her chin and looking shyly to the side, she admitted, “I Magicked it into existence…” Snapping her head upright and turning to face Hopper, she smiled as brightly as she ever had.“…and that was the last time Enchantment of any kind was used in what I call my ‘happy place’.”

“I hope someday we can call it ‘our happy place’.”His voice was low and rumbly and touched places in Hel she hadn’t know existed.

“He’s waiting for you to give me a sign, Helly, my girl,”Carys encouraged.“You can talk about gardening any day of the week and twice on Sunday.It’s time to claim your Mate.”

“But…”

“But nothing.”The Dragoness’s tone went from soft to demanding.“You don’t have to do the dance of the seven veils or swing on a stripper pole.Just go to him, show him you’re interested, and let nature take its course.”

Hel knew she was right, but… And just like that she was back to talking about her garden.

“From then on, I babied, nurtured, protected, and did everything I could to keep each and every shrub alive without a drop of Enchantment of any kind.”Opening her arms wide, she pushed up on her toes and did a single spin.Stopping when she was once again facing her Mate, her heart skipped a beat at the look of hunger in his eyes.So shook, it took her three tries, and she stuttered when she said, “Th-the l-last time I-I checked, it’s over a square acre of nothing but the pink, red, maroon, purple, white, and crimson blooms.”

Taking a step toward her, Hopper asked, “Including the ones in the house?”

“Oh, ummm, well… Yes, I only pick the ones that will die if they are left on the vines any longer.”She stopped.Had she waited too long?Had he already lost interest?Should she…?

“You should take a deep breath and know that I will never ask you to do anything you’re not ready to do.”Another step closer, and he continued, “Can I tell you a secret?”

Nodding, she just barely squeaked out, “Mhm.”

Another step and he was close enough that she could see the flecks of silver on the sea of cobalt blue that were his eyes.The heat of his body bathed the front of her armor, making her realize she was still dressed for battle.

But she couldn’t move.Didn’t want to move.Didn’t want to be anywhere but exactly where she was.

“Well…” Hopper cleared his throat.“I am no more experienced in the matters of love than I think you are.”

“But you’re…”

“I’m Hope, not Love or Lust,” he chuckled.“And I have hoped for you for a very long time, my spectacular Mate.I have only ever wanted to be with you.So, I waited.”Taking the final step that brought him to her, the man made for her by the Universe took her hands in his, knelt down on one knee and with the most open and honest expression she’d ever witnessed, solemnly asked, “Will you, Hel Odinson Lokidottir, Norse goddess of Helheim and Queen of the Dead, be my wife, my Mate, myeverything, forever and ever amen?”

Unable to breathe.Unable to think.Unable to do anything, Hel was so glad she shared her soul with Carys when the Dragoness Queen zapped her Pure, White, Dragon Magic and snapped,“Say something, my girl.Get to it!There’s no time like NOW!”

Dropping to her knees, giggling like a schoolgirl when Hopper’s eyes opened wide and he gasped, “Oh, dear, I didn’t mean for you to get down on the ground, too,” Hel smiled, “I would follow you anywhere.”

As he took her left hand in his, Hel’s insecurities threatened to rear their ugly head, but in an unprecedented and very welcome move, she tamped them down and moved them aside.Looking into her Mate’s magnetic gaze, her eyes snapped to her hand when he slid an absolutely perfect, Royal Asscher cut red diamond set in a simple platinum setting surrounded with pink diamond onto her ring finger.

Then he whispered, “This ring was given to me by my Aunt, Mother Nature.She said I was to place it on my Mate’s finger so she would know she always has my heart.”Placing a tiny kiss on her knuckle, he added, “And you always have and always will.I love you, Hel.”

“And I love you, Hopper, so very much.”

Melting when his lips met hers, all of her fear, apprehensions, and nerves simply disappeared with every passing second.Hopper was gentle and kind, and with his mind completely opened to hers, he let her see that he was taking all his cues from her.There would be no rushing and there were no expectations.Hopper really and truly loved her for who and what she was, and that meant the world to Hel.

So much so, that she needed to tell him right then and there.

Reluctantly pulling away from her Mate, Hel once again giggled like a schoolgirl when Hopper groaned at the loss then pushed out his bottom lip and pouted.Needing to reassure him, and herself, she quickly explained, “I need you to know that… that I…”