Page 59 of The Magic of Vanaheim

For a moment, Talvi was stunned. This was new. And, of course, Talvi couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity. Stepping into Håkon’s space, Talvi brushed gently down Håkon’s side. To his delight, he found his husband trembling under his touch.

“Tell me if I’m reading this wrong,” Talvi whispered, leaning close until he was nuzzling Håkon’s ear. “And remember that you can stop me with a word whenever you like.”

Håkon’s breath hitched, and he readied his stance.

Concentrating, Talvi gathered the power around them until he could feel it thrumming at the tips of his fingers. He didn’t need to utter a word; theseiðrcoming to him naturally. It trapped Håkon where he stood, invisible ropes slinging around his body and pulling his hands behind his back.

Håkon’s eyes widened, and he started to struggle. Talvi could feel his muscles straining against theseiðr, but it was no use.

Unceremoniously, Talvi threw his captive husband over his shoulder.

“Talvinen!”

“Yes,dróttning?”

“Put me down!”

“Are you asking me to stop?”

“What? No! I’m just—I’m heavy. Put me down.”

Gods, Håkon was cute. Talvi patted his ass and adjusted his grip.

“Nah. Unless you ask me to stop, I’m going to demonstrate to you what mylittle seiðrcan do.”

Talvi carried him toward the forest’s edge, while Håkon grumbled adorably but didn’t protest further. He squirmed a little as he realized Talvi didn’t plan on putting him down anytime soon, but didn’t have a chance to break theseiðrkeeping him securely in place. After a moment, Håkon went boneless in his grip.

“Better,” Talvi hummed.

“Wait until we cross blades. Then you won’t be so smug anymore.”

“I can’t wait to test my skills against you. But until then—” Talvi’s hand went up to rest on the small of Håkon’s back. “—you’re at my mercy, littleJotunn.”

Håkon’s indignant spluttering accompanied them until they reached the small barn at the edge of the forest.

The midnight sun still painted the sky in soft blues, but the forest was shrouded in twilight. Talvi opened the barn’s weathered wooden door with a wave of his hand and stepped into the shadow of the old building. Inside, the smell of freshly cut hay tickled his nose.

“I love this place. I’ve always imagined it as the barn where Magnus took Erling to ravish him after the fight with the swamp witch. Fits, doesn’t it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Why not? He could’ve conjured up a little nest in the hay.” Putting Håkon back on his feet, Talvi turned him by his shoulders so he could watch theseiðrunfold. “Like this,” Talvi whispered into his husband’s ear as he whisked up a comfortable pile of blankets.

“Convenient,” Håkon said as if he was watchingvölurconjuring objects out of thin air daily. Then he stilled. “You! You could’ve easily procured a rope to escape the mound!” For a man still trapped by magic, he was quite feisty.

“Maybe,” Talvi conceded. “But this isn’t howseiðrworks.” He pushed Håkon forward until he could lay him down on the blankets.

“How does it work, then?”

Håkon allowed Talvi to place him on his back, although reluctantly. He was still bristling with anger. Talvi found it unfairly cute.

“Usually you need an invocation, maybe some tools.”

“Like a staff?”

Talvi chuckled. “That’s all Bergelmir and his kind worry about, where avalaputs her staff.”

Håkon blushed, anger forgotten for a moment. “I didn’t mean disrespect,” he said as if Talvi had been talking about him.