Page 54 of Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings (Love X Magic #3)

Tove let out a loud meow as we arrived at the front steps of Sessrúmnir.

Carved out of pale, grey stone, two large felines guarded the wide-set entrance into Freyja’s Hall.

Kari’s lips parted as she took in their detail, and the soft pitter-pattering of my heart escalated into loud thumps against my ribs as I wondered if we were in above our heads.

Kari was powerful, yes. Kari brought flame to Helheim using Hel’s own seidr, yes.

And she’d been taught by a four-thousand-year-old wand-wed Asgardian, not to mention an all-knowing skald in the Cave of Whispers.

But even then, she hadn’t been practicing long, and we had no way of knowing what Freyja wanted from her.

The Goddess of Fertility and Love was kinder and less erratic than most of the gods, but a goddess she was all the same.

Kari had one chance at fulfilling Hel and Freyja’s deal by using her seidr to do Freyja’s bidding, and I had one chance at claiming a position in her sect.

If a single thing went wrong, Kari and I would be right back where we were before Odin had stripped me of my title—opposite ends of mortality.

If Alvion and Rayna had trouble in their inter-world relationship, what would become of us?

The sound of doors being swung open forced me to be present.

Once impressed by the feline statues, Kari now marveled at the art brought to life.

Bygul and Trjegul came strolling through the doors, their shiny coats gleaming a silvery blue.

Freyja’s chariot cats greeted us with slight head nods, then turned on their heels, their tails motioning us to follow them inside the home of their goddess.

“Ready?” I asked under my breath.

“I only practiced my speech five times,” Kari muttered, motioning to the cake with her chin. “Maybe Hel should’ve made me do it one more time, just to be safe.”

I chuckled and shook my head as we walked up the grand steps of Sessrúmnir. “You’ll be just fine. You’re my seeress, after all.”

Kari’s chest stilled despite the strenuous steps, and she flashed me a coy smile when she realized I’d called her mine. I’d never get over that smile. She made even the fruit cake in her hands seem bitter in comparison. Nothing matched her sweetness.

Rayna made it to the double doors before us. She made a “hurry up” motion with her hand, wearing her sternest face as she disappeared through them. I quickened my pace, a jar of honey in one hand, a slightly disheveled bouquet of snow blossoms in the other.

When Kari and I made it into the building, we wound through stunning halls covered in ornate tapestries and paintings.

A harp played in the distance, and it harmonized beautifully with the sound of trickling water coming from a sunny courtyard.

After being in Helheim, this place felt as far from the snowy realm as possible.

Everything, from the walls to the stone we walked upon, breathed life, and it was hard not to let my guard down.

Much like Hel designed her hall to provide comfort to her residents, Freyja designed hers for pure tranquility.

Bygul and Trjegul lead us into Freyja’s throne room, where the goddess sat upon a grand wooden chair carved with delicate patterns.

Freyja’s golden hair flowed over her fur-lined shoulders down to her waist. She wore a white dress with a delicate gold rope tied around her midsection.

She smiled as we entered her chambers, her eyes lighting up upon spotting the offerings in our hands.

Kari and I lowered to our knees, where we waited to be acknowledged.

Rayna spoke first, motioning to where we bowed to her goddess.

“As you requested…” she began with a voice that was confident but not commanding, “Kari Kettlesdotter and Rune Dragomir.” Once she announced our presence, Rayna stood to the side to give the goddess a full view of us.

“Ah, and what have you brought for me?” Freyja asked, her voice as smooth as the honey in my hands.

“We have brought you gifts from our time in Helheim, sent with us by the Goddess of Death. She offers not only these delicious offerings, but me as well, a mortal seeress. I come willingly and have sensed only peace surrounding my entrance into Fólkvangr. I hope you accept these offerings and look down upon us with your loving favor.”

A sweet chuckle filled the air. “Yes, yes, but what have you brought for me?”

Kari paused. She’d practiced the same lines over and over, yet we hadn’t planned much for what she’d say after her speech. I was tempted to chime in, but we were in Fólkvangr now, and if Kari wanted to stay, she was going to have to accomplish much harder tasks than answering simple questions.

Kari finally spoke, “We have brought you fruit cake, made from the finest berries.” She raised her hands into the air as she had practiced so many times.

Her chin was dipped, eyes pointing to the floor.

“And Rune offers the rare Helheim snow blossoms, as well as the sweet honey made from their nectar.”

“How lovely,” Freyja cooed. “I will be sure to thank Hel for her efforts. As for you both, you may rise. Your offerings have been accepted.”

Kari and I rose, and Rayna took the offerings out of our hands, delivering them to the foot of the goddess.

“Thank you, Goddess,” Kari and I echoed each other.

“Kari, I am pleased to hear you come willingly, as I have very little use for a seeress who has no desire to be here. I’m sure Hel has mentioned your purpose as a key element in a little bargain between us.

And, well, it is my term that the bargain will only be sealed upon your acceptance into my council.

That being said, before you can be accepted, you must perform a task for me. ”

“May I ask what kind of task?” Kari said.

“One all others have failed, including myself. I am the mother of seidr itself, yet mine seems to fail me when it comes to this endeavor. The thing I want most.” She laughed bitterly, her kind mask slipping for all but a second.

“My husband, Odr, is missing, you see, and he has been for quite some time. I have searched across the nine realms with no such luck, and all I want is to bring him home. If not for myself, then for our daughters.” Golden tears ran down her cheeks as she spoke, splashing upon her chest, solidifying and clinking on the stone floor as they free fell.

“If I succeed in finding your husband, I will join your wand-wed council and become your attendant?” Kari asked, making sure she specified if Freyja would make her an attendant or not.

That’s my brilliant girl.

Freyja hummed. “Yes, well, if you succeed when no one else has, you will surely be the best choice as my next attendant. Mortal lives are so short, so you would be quite useless to me if you remained one. My husband is the god of frenzy and inspiration, after all. This isn’t the first time he’s gone missing over the centuries, and it won’t be the last.”

Kari nodded slowly, and I wondered what was going on in that mind of hers. If I didn’t have to worry about my own immortality, I would have killed for the chance at freeing Kari of her mortal confines and being with her forever.

“But if you fail…” Freyja said, tapping her nails on her wooden throne, as if the thought of this outcome pained her.

“You will not join my council, and you will no longer be welcome in my halls. I hear you’ve already been barred from several others, and I suspect after long, your only option will be to go back to your mortal plane to die.

You have one week to give me what I desire, Kari—or you can refuse now and claim whatever afterlife is meant for you. ”