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Vidar poured himself a glass thinking it’s more intimate to share the same drink. Because of his height and massive size, when he leaned toward her, he was close enough to kiss. “There are many things you keep hidden well. That’s one of them.” He sat back. “What would you like for dinner?”

“Tuscan bean soup pureed. Thin slices of roast turkey. I like it dry, almost overdone. Peppered green beans. And lots of mocha almond ice cream for dessert. With chocolate syrup on top if you have it,” she added.

She thought it was a joke because she hadn’t seen any indication of the support staff he’d require to maintain a residence like this in such stark wilderness.

The window cleaning and wood cutting alone…

Unless it was all being accomplished with magic.

And the energy output for that would be off the charts.

Unless deities could accomplish such things without personal depletion.

She was about to say something like, “But I’ll be happy with whatever you have,” when she felt a little shift of energy in the room.

A small porcelain tureen, embellished with blue Celtic knot patterns sat in front of her with a steaming portion of Tuscan bean soup.

Visually it appeared to be pureed precisely the way she liked.

It had been easy to forget that Vidar was a demigod because of the way he catered to Ilmr’s needs and hung on her every word and gesture. She’d never once felt his superiority. Until now.

“You just, ah, conjured this up?” she asked.

She saw his confidence slip. A odd thing for someone of his stature. “I did, but I can make it myself if you prefer. Or bring in a chef?”

“Oh no! Of course not. I just find it amazing because, you know, I could do it, but if I did, that would have to suffice as my accomplishment for the evening.”

It was Vidar’s turn to cock his head. “You mean you can create what you want, but then you’d be out of juice?”

Ilmr laughed. “Out of juice,” she repeated. “Well put. That’s exactly right.” She glanced at the soup. “And no. Please do dinner as you would for any guest and I’ll try to not appear too awestruck.”

“Awestruck? I kind of like the sound of that. I was going for amazed.” He smiled.

“Why go for amazed when you can be awesome? Aren’t you eating?” she asked.

“I can. Yes. What should I have?”

Ilmr sat back thinking that’s the last question she might’ve expected he’d ask. “You want me to decide what you’ll have for dinner?”

He nodded. “Let’s make it a game.”

“Alright. Last night you seemed to like nuts and citrus fruits.”

Vidar was beyond delighted that she’d paid attention to what he ate. “And?” He wondered if she remembered anything else.

“And. You ate an entire roast chicken. Not a small one either.”

He laughed like a Viking. “You should get a prize. Right. Right. And right.”

“But that doesn’t mean those are your favorite things. It means that’s what was available on my table. I don’t know what you’d eat if you could choose from anything.”

“That’s what makes it a game.” The way his ice eyes sparkled made her vulnerable to anything he named. “Guess.”

She took another sip of wine. “Hmmm. This is good.”

“Are you stalling?”

With a shake of her head, she grinned. “First, French onion soup. Then Flounder Milanese with au gratin potatoes, garnished with Brussels sprouts and slices of sweet tangerines.” It was a wild guess, but she supposed that was the point.

When Vidar parted his lips to answer, she waved her hand.

“No. Wait. Before you tell me if I’m right, tell me if you’re a picky eater or if you like almost everything. ”

“I wouldn’t claim to be a picky eater, but… well. Maybe I am a picky eater.” He ducked his head and smiled in the most endearing and paradoxical way. Paradoxical because who knew demigods could appear shy? “Anyway. Your menu sounds delicious, and I will gobble up every bite I conjure.”

She heard the silent “but” that followed. “Except?”

“Without the Brussels sprouts.”

When Ilmr pulled her focus away from Vidar’s gaze she saw that there was a heavy ramekin of French onion soup sitting at his place. Both soups were steaming, beckoning hungry diners.

She picked up the heavy silver spoon provided and said, “One thing you can say for humans. They’re better at cooking than we are.

” She tasted her soup and almost swooned.

“Oh, my gods. This is divine. I could eat it every day. And I totally take back what I just said about humans and cooking. They don’t call you gods for nothing. Right?”

“Are you asking me to be around every day to conjure soup for you?” Vidar asked casually as he was playing with the cheese strings topping his soup.

Her eyes flew open, fearing he’d taken that as too forward, too serious, too soon. “Oh. Ah. No. I meant only that the soup is wonderful.”

He caught her gaze, locked her eyes to his, and held the connection hypnotically so that she couldn’t look away no matter how hard she tried. “I’d be happy to be available to make soup anytime you want it.”

Her lashes fluttered of their own volition, not in the manner of flirtation, but in a prelude to fainting. Seeing this, he instantly released her and raised a stem of pure glacier water to her lips. She drank and felt more in control instantly.

Something about the way Ilmr stood abruptly brought both wolves – who’d been happily curled up together in front of the fire - to their feet, alert and ready for whatever had triggered such an event. Wild animals don’t like rapid movement.

“I’m going,” she said.

Vidar stood slowly so as not to cause further alarm. He looked worried. “You’re free to go of course, but please, first tell me what just happened. Was it something I’ve done? Or something I haven’t done?”

“I don’t like feeling like I’m…”

“What?”

“The subject of a compelling spell.”

“Oh.” Vidar looked away. He knew what she was talking about. He took a deep breath, feeling afraid to have lost her before learning how it felt to be completely lost in each other. “Please stay and forgive me. I didn’t know the effect... I promise to not stare into your eyes for too long again.”

“Is that what made me feel lightheaded?”

“I think so.”

“I didn’t like it. And I won’t stand for it! I’m a queen! Not a puppet!”

During the time he’d hung around Ilmr’s court, he’d heard she could have a temper, but he’d never seen it.

He had to admit that it was thrilling to see sparks flying from her eyes.

High color rushed to her face and her fingertips crackled with a desire to send a current speeding through him.

The idea of being harmed by Ilmr was laughable, but he could never let her know that if they were to be a successful pairing.

Interspecies relationships were tricky. He’d known this from the beginning and now had seen firsthand that he needed to tread lightly, be more mindful of her reactions and, more to the point, her limitations.

It was, however, going to be hard to stay away from the pull of seeing her angry. He already wanted a replay.

“Of course not. It wasn’t deliberate. I’ve never had a relationship with a fae before. I promise to be more careful.” She looked around and sniffed. She didn’t want to leave, but she wouldn’t allow herself to be manipulated either. “Come back. Let’s begin again.”

“Well. If you’re vowing not to do that thing…”

“I am.” He smiled, took her hand and led her to the table.

“Solemnly.”

“Yes. I’m vowing solemnly.”

She sighed. “I hope you’re better at keeping your vows than most people I know.”

He chuckled. “You’re saying that fae are not renowned for trustworthiness?”

“Does your experience differ?”

Vidar shook his head slightly. “I can’t say that it does.”

“Of course I’m an exception.”

With a roguish grin and eyes that glittered with the intensity of sun on ice, he said, “Of course.”

As beautiful as he was, Ilmr would be hard pressed to think of a priority that could rank higher than her desire to see that grin again. She smiled as she sat and turned her attention toward the banquet that had just appeared according to her precise order. It was as photogenic as a magazine cover.

She shoved the soup away not because it had lost its appeal, but because she was anticipating that the rest of the meal would be just as extraordinary.

After a few minutes, the mood was restored and Ilmr had once again relaxed.

Vidar made no effort to hide the fact that he was enjoying hosting immensely. When she made yummy sounds, in response to a bite made up of a half-forkful of roast turkey and a half-forkful of au gratin potatoes.

“I like that you’re easy to please, but I also wonder why you don’t simply conjure any sort of delicacy you want.”

With an embarrassed laugh, she said, “Well. Even fae queens can be provincial if they don’t leave home often.”

A look of confusion brought a tiny scowl to Vidar’s forehead. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I can conjure something imagined or something experienced. When it comes to food, I can’t imagine how something might taste. It’s like a magical handicap. I must experience it to recreate it.”

Understanding smoothed his features. “Ah! So, after this you’ll be able to conjure these dishes exactly as I made them.”

“Exactly as you made them,” she nodded as she repeated the words just before taking another bite big enough to qualify as questionable manners.

That was followed by more yummy sounds. She swallowed and laughed suddenly.

“I was wondering why you hum when you eat. Now I know. When food tastes sooooo good, it can’t be helped. ”

He turned a look of appreciation her way. “But I was humming while eating at your palace, Your Highness.”

“Well, that’s true. It must’ve been a good day in the kitchen. I’ll be relying on them less in the future. Because I can recreate this !” After the briefest of pauses, she added. “Vidar! I hope you’ll show me more wonderful things to eat!”

“At your service. More than happy to share with you.”