Page 58 of The Magic of Vanaheim

“You fought brilliantly,” Talvinen said as he casually picked up the dead king’s head and placed it between the corpse’s legs.

“Thanks, but—what are you doing?”

“Making sure King Gorm doesn’t rise again.”

“By shoving his head between his balls?”

Talvinen shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t make the rules,dróttning.”

fifteen

Seiðr

?alvi

They slipped out of the burial chamber through the entrance Talvi had reopened, and he sealed the broken mound with a mutteredseiðras soon as they were standing on the grass outside again. Talvi’s heart was thrumming with excitement. Seeing Håkon fight made his blood sing.

“I love watching you fight.”

Håkon glared at him, and Talvi’s exuberant mood dimmed.

“What is it,dróttning?” Did he hurt Håkon’s feelings? Did Håkon feel let down because Talvi hadn’t intervened in the fight?

“What were you thinking, provoking a creature like that?” Håkon snarled. “Do you have any idea how dangerous adraugrcan be?”

Heart sinking, Talvi caught one of Håkon’s hands in his.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were having fun. But you know I’d never leave you to fend for yourself, right?”

“What?” Håkon’s anger was replaced by confusion. He was adorable in any case, seething with anger or with brows furrowed and lips slightly parted.

“I wouldn’t have left you at the mercy of thedraugr,” Talvi clarified.

“Oh, that. Yes, yes, I know that.”

“Then why are you mad at me?”

“Because—because you’re still young, and avala—you can’t just take on such a dangerous opponent! You should’ve gotten out of this trap when I told you!”

“You were worried about me.” Suddenly certain of it, Talvi didn’t even have to state it as a question.

“Yes! I mean, no—I—” Håkon faltered, a soft blush painting his features. “You’re infuriating!”

Talvi couldn’t help but smile. “You like it.”

Grumbling an unintelligible reply, Håkon refused to look at him.

“So you think I’m just a young boy, a helplessvala?”

“Well, what if I had left you down there? What if your littleseiðrhadn’t worked against adraugr?”

“My littleseiðr?” Talvi chuckled. Although their banter was playful, it irked him that Håkon still didn’t feel safe with him. He didn’t want his husband to think he had to protect him. No, Håkon should feel protected. Talvi wanted to be the place where his wonderful husband would let his guard down. The place Håkon could feel at ease. He would have to show him. “You still have no idea about the extent of my powers, do you?”

“Now don’t brag,” Håkon grumbled. “I know you’re not bad. I’ve seen worsevalain battle. And you’re a decent swordsman.”

“Decent, huh?”

“Yeah.” Håkon glanced at him, a small smile gracing his lips. He looked almost... flirtatious.