Page 52 of The Magic of Vanaheim

“Maybe. Their true names aren’t remembered. The mounds date back eons, their inhabitants’ sagas lost to time. There are legends, though, saying the Ynglingar lie there, King Erling and his forefathers.”

Taking a deep breath, Håkon made up his mind. He’d thought about this ever since the morning he woke from his shameful dream, and his husband took care of his needs and desires without so much as batting an eye. They hadn’t talked about it afterward, but it seemed Talvinen hadn’t minded and merelyrespected Håkon’s decision to keep quiet about the whole affair. At some point, Håkon would have to test how far Talvinen’s self-proclaimed adoration of him went. Why not start right now? “I’d like to see them,” Håkon said, voice slightly strained with nerves. Gods, he wasn’t cut out for these games. “What do you think about leaving the warriors to rest at the farm? We could spend some time on our own.”

It wasn’t until he uttered the words that the outrageousness of his demand fully settled in. Too much. Too soon. He should’ve judged more wisely.

“Sure. I like the idea.”

“Huh?”

“I never got the chance to court you properly. I should make up for this shortcoming.” Talvinen winked at him.

Hewinked.

Struck speechless, Håkon felt dizzy, his gut churning with nerves as if he was about to ride into battle. He mirrored Talvinen’s smile as he tried to compose himself.

I don’t need to be courted, he wanted to say, but he swallowed the words down.

“Do theVanirconsider time spent together as courting?” he asked instead, suddenly frantically curious.

“Yeah, riding out together, sharing a meal outdoors, or spending a sunny afternoon in the warm hay of a barn like Erling and Magnus did.”

Håkon frowned. What kind of story would place the legendary king of old into a barn with the monstrous dragon that killed him? What was Talvinen talking about?

“You…consider fighting a dragon to the death a romantic gesture?” Håkon asked, only half joking. On the surface, theVanirdidn’t seem too different from theJötnar, but who was Håkon to judge? Some of theVanrsorcerers were said to command dragons after all, others—like Talvinen’s infamousuncle—were known for even riding such beasts. Maybe word of their weirdest traditions only hadn’t reached Håkon so far?

Talvinen laughed.

“Sorry!” he gasped when he noticed Håkon’s sour look. “I’d forgotten that their story is told differently in the halls of Jotunheim.”

“Differently?”

“It’s about a warrior fighting a monster, right?”

“Sure. Every child knows the tale.”

“In Vanaheim, it’s a story of forbidden love.”

“Forbidden love? Of adragon?”

Hearing Håkon’s incredulous tone, Talvinen laughed even harder.“Magnus was a dragon, yes. But also a sorcerer. Can you imagine the power of a man who was able to shed his skin and take flight as a beast of fire? A volcano’s living, breathing personification?”

Håkon shuddered. The idea was as terrifying as it was fascinating. Drawing strength from an animal to wield in battle wasn’t an unknown feat to theJötnar, even shedding your skin and becoming one with the spirit of a wolf, bear, or wild boar. Berserkers did it, as did theulfhednar, the wolf men. But a dragon-sorcerer?

“Just typical of youVanirto make the dragon the hero of the story,” Håkon grumbled, although the idea secretly amused him. “Does your dragon marry Queen Signy then?”

Eyes sparkling with mischief, Talvinen steered his horse closer to Håkon’s.

“Not Queen Signy. Remember, he’s a depravedvala. In our version of the tale, he snatches Erling from the stake to keep as his own.”

Warmth spread through Håkon’s body, pooling treacherously in his groin. He could get the appeal of the tale. Erling, the fabledwarrior king of old, taken by this insanely powerful dragon-sorcerer as his lover.

Håkon’s mind was flooded by unbidden images of a blond warrior held down by avala. The dark-haired man on top looked suspiciously like Talvinen, and Håkon suddenly craved to know what it would feel like, Talvinen keeping him in place with his body andseiðr, his cock moving inside Håkon.Hel, Talvinen’s fingers alone had felt so good. What would his cock feel like?

“Are you with me,dróttning?”

“Huh?” Feeling his face heat, Håkon snapped out of his depraved fantasy. Close to Talvinen, he just couldn’t keep the filthy thoughts at bay.

“A tempting idea, right? If I’d been in Magnus’ place, I would’ve snatched the prince too. At least if he’d been just a fraction like you.”