Page 68 of The Magic of Vanaheim

“Fine. Have it your way,” Talvinen grumbled. “But you have to promise you’ll tell me if it gets too much. These rituals can be overwhelming.”

“Deal.”

Njord had watched their exchange with an amused expression on his bearded face. And it didn’t escape Håkon that he’d still failed to remove his hand from his thrall’s neck, where it was resting reassuringly. Odinsson’s features were serene now, almost as if he was finally sleeping peacefully.

“Why don’t you make sure your thrall doesn’t succumb to his injuries and leave it to Håkon and me to deal with Svanhild?” Talvinen asked, seemingly of the same mind as Håkon.

“Thank you,” Njord said, a determined air about him. “Both of you.”

eighteen

The Ritual

?åkon

When this entire ordeal was over, he owed Talvinen an apology. His husband had been right—this ritual wasn’t a joke, and Svanhild was a bitch.

Sitting across from him in the sweltering darkness of the sweating hut, the seeress grinned at Håkon. Her beauty was of the stomach-turning kind, a viper coiled to strike, lacking anything gentle or inviting. Fair hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders, framing sharply cut features and intelligent eyes that sparkled in the firelight.

She watched him sweat for an indiscernible period until Håkon thought he might pass out from the heat.

“What a devoted little bride you are.” Svanhild’s voice dripped with false sweetness. “You’re pretty enough. But aJotunnwarrior playing consort to aVanrprince—who would’ve expected this?”

Håkon refused to take the bait. Steam rose in thick curls from the heated stones in the center of the room, and the stifling heat inside the hut made it hard to speak, anyway.

“You’re not fooling anyone, you know.” Svanhild smiled, a cruel curve to her lips. “No matter how doe-eyed you look at Talvinen, no matter how dutifully you kneel beside him, you’ll always be just a bastard, the son of a thrall.”

Håkon’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing. He refused to give her the satisfaction.

“Does Talvinen whisper sweet lies to you at night?” she continued, her voice a mocking sing-song. “Does he tell you that you’re his equal? That you’re more than a dancing bear to amuse the court? A convenient way to annoy Bergelmir?”

Hands curled into fists, Håkon took a slow breath, allowing the heat of the stones to seep deeper into his body. He focused on Talvinen’s words, spoken softly in the darkness of the barn the previous night.I love you, Håkon Bloodaxe. I love you so much. I need you to know that I will always protect you.Whatever strange twist of fate had led him to Talvinen, it was undeniable that his husband adored him, had so ever since he’d been a boy allowed at theþing.

“Why don’t you spit your venom elsewhere?” Håkon growled when he couldn’t listen to her rambling anymore. “I have a ritual to prepare for.”

Svanhild’s smile froze. She looked as if she had tasted something bitter.

“Don’t you mind being fucked by him like a woman? I hear theJötnarfind it unmanly to spread their legs for another man.”

“I hear theVanirdon’t care,” Håkon shot back, wrestling down the familiar shame. “As a matter of fact, I was told multiple times that the concept of a bastard is considered foreign in these lands. In my husband’s eyes, I’m the heir to the Frostland Throne.”

Svanhild’s answering laughter was shrill. Håkon considered it a win.

“So confident. But the gods see all, Håkon. And they do not favor those born of lies.”

“Is thetrollkonabothering you?” Talvinen was suddenly behind him.

Håkon hadn’t even heard him enter, and it took all his willpower not to flinch.

“Nah. Her blithering is considered a friendly chat in Jotunheim,” he said, but still leaned into Talvinen’s cool body, sighing in relief.

Svanhild’s eyes widened as she watched Talvinen’s hands run over Håkon’s bare chest, following the lines of his tattoos. Had she hoped Talvinen would be harmed in the ritual?

“Surprised?” Talvinen asked, wrapping Håkon in his arms completely.

“That you can touch his tattoos? Don’t be silly. It’s a minor feat.”

“If you say so. Anyway, you can leave. We don’t need you here.”