Page 73 of The Magic of Vanaheim

“What’s that?” Håkon chuckled.

Opening the lid of the chest, Talvi selected a small silver mirror and offered it to his husband.

“This one he made after theþingwhen I proposed to you.”

Watching the slightly blurred version of the last few seconds of his duel against his half-brother, Håkon’s eyes widened.

“This can’t be.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” Talvi hastened to say. The last thing he wanted was to upset Håkon now that his husband was finally starting to feel at ease with him. “But I just couldn’t wait a full year until I was allowed to see you again.”

“You must’ve been a peculiar child,” Håkon mumbled. It sounded a little breathless.

As Talvi studied Håkon’s face anxiously, he found something like awe written on his husband’s features. Håkon’s fingers ran gently over the mirror frame, and Talvi began to hope that he hadn’t spooked his husband for good.

“I grew into a peculiar man,” Talvi said, savoring the laughter he had elicited from Håkon. “But my taste in men—in one man in particular—has always been impeccable.”

“Flatterer,” Håkon grumbled. “Skald.” But he was laughing and nuzzling Talvi’s neck. “Whatever you saw in me back then, I’m glad you did.”

“Always,” Talvi promised. “I’d always choose you.”

Håkon uttered a soft, wounded sound, almost a sob, and snuggled closer to him. Soothingly, Talvi rubbed Håkon’s back as he gazed up at the stars. A comfortable silence stretched between them, and Håkon’s breathing evened out. Talvi thought he’d fallen asleep.

“Now you’re stuck with me and your family is gone,” Håkon whispered.

Håkon’s care, his worry for him, filled Talvi’s heart with joy. But his insecurity wouldn’t do.

“Uncle Njord and my brother are going to find my mothers. And as soon as they’re all back home, I’ll enjoy spending all my time worshiping you.”

Blinking up at him, Håkon went a little cross-eyed. He looked adorable.

“Your brother is alive too?”

Smiling, Talvi scattered kisses on Håkon’s face.

“Rune rides as aneinherjaramong theÆsir. Odin’s brood won’t be a threat to Vanaheim forever.”

Arngrim would be furious if he learned Talvi had shared this secret with his husband, but he couldn’t bring himself to care, seeing how Håkon lay in his arms.

Looking up at him with wide eyes, Håkon seemed to search his face for signs of insincerity.

“He lives among theÆsir?” he asked, hesitant.

“While Uncle has searched for our mothers and I’ve made sure that the realm and the throne are safe, Rune gained Frey’s trust. The fool considers him one of his sworn warriors.”

“Why would you tell me that?” Håkon asked, a helpless, almost desperate edge to his voice.

“Because you’re my husband, and I’m in love with you.”

“But… but—I’m the enemy.”

Grabbing a handful of Håkon’s hair, Talvi tilted his face upward. He needed to make absolutely sure that Håkon was looking at him, that hebelievedhim.

“No,” Talvi said with conviction. “You’re not. You’remine,dróttning, if you wish to be.”

Håkon went very still, eyes glazing over.

“Bergelmir has no idea what’s going on in Vanaheim or in the other realms. He hasn’t bothered to send spies for years. We knew the Queens were absent, but not why. And he had no clue who ruled theVanir. He doesn’t share his plans with me, but I don’t think he has anything to do with the disappearance of your mothers,” Håkon babbled, as if he couldn’t stop once he’d started.