Page 81 of The Magic of Vanaheim

Perhonen put a calming hand on Gudrun’s shoulder. “I fear Gudrun is right.” She sat down on the edge of the bed and took Håkon’s hands. With a whispered word she healed the chafing around his wrists before putting a hand on his brow, eyes glazing over for a second.

Turning his focus back to Håkon, Talvi tried to block out the implications of Perhonen’s words. Maybe this was a misunderstanding.

“He’ll get well again. WhateverseiðrSvanhild used, Håkon withstood it,” Perhonen finally said. “He just needs some rest.”

Gudrun exhaled with relief. “Thank you for bringing him back.”

“Always.”

Overcome by tiredness, Talvi yawned. Håkon had finally stopped trembling and was breathing deeply. And to make him rest a little easier still, Talvi put a hand on his chest and let hisseiðrconnect them; surrounding and protecting Håkon. Isbanicrawled to the foot of the bed to settle there like an overgrown hunting dog.

“Freyja’s tits,” Gudrun breathed as she watched the bear getting comfortable at their feet. “First the two of you are gone for months, and now you come back in the middle of a snowstorm with a white bear following you like a puppy.”

“Isbani showed us the way back,” Talvi said fondly, feeling himself starting to drift.

He only vaguely sensed Perhonen pulling Gudrun away by her sleeve as he nuzzled closer to Håkon. They were back home. Arngrim’s mess could be sorted out in the morning.

twenty-two

The Halls of Helheim

?åkon

The other side smelled of Talvi and fresh snow. It felt soft, too, and comfortable. Håkon sighed.

“Talvi?” he mumbled, realizing happily that his cheek was pressed against Talvi’s chest, his hair tickling Håkon’s nose. The gods had been kind enough to allow Håkon into the halls of the heroes who died in battle, even if it was only as Talvi’s thrall.

When he looked up, Talvi was already awake, his green eyes alive and sparkling. Håkon would’ve never expected the afterlife to be like this; vibrant andreal.

“Hey,” Talvi whispered, his smile all soft. “You’re awake. How do you—?”

Twisting in Talvinen’s arms, Håkon shut him up with a kiss. To his delight he found that Talvi’s chest was bare, the skin whereIsbanihad dealt the fatal stab soft and unmarred. Håkon traced reverently over the flawless expanse of his lover’s chest. Crawling up into Talvi’s lap, Håkon distantly noticed that their room looked like Talvinen’s chambers in Saeborg. But it felt onlyright that Talvi would reside in the chambers of a king, even in the Halls of the Dead.

“I thought I’d lost you,” Håkon mumbled, suddenly on the verge of tears. He kissed Talvi tenderly to distract himself from the ache in his chest.

“You won’t get rid of me so easily.” Talvi laughed and pulled him closer, wrapping his arms around Håkon’s waist.

His voice, his touch—it was really him, not some kind of cruel dream. An ugly sob tore itself from Håkon’s chest. He couldn’t stop touching Talvi, reassuring himself that they were really here.Together.Even in the embrace of death.

“I need to feel you. Talvi. Please.”

Gently, Talvi ran his hands over Håkon’s back and kissed him again, touching him softly all over his face and kissing the tip of his nose, along his neck and his chest.

“I’m right here,” Talvi promised.

“Not enough.” Håkon didn’t care how pathetic he sounded. “Fuck me,” he demanded. “Now.”

“Norns, Håkon,” Talvi breathed, pupils blown wide. “I’d love nothing more than that, but are you really up for it? Aren’t you still cold or sore? Do you feel dizzy?”

“You’re one to talk,” Håkon groused, placing his hand where the gaping wound had opened Talvi’s chest. “Areyouwell?”

The corners of his lips curving into a smirk, Talvi flipped them around. He laid Håkon on his back carefully, and Håkon enjoyed being handled as if he were something precious.

“I’ve never been better,” Talvi assured him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Håkon saw a white dog jumping up from the foot of the bed; a huge beast, a wolfhound maybe? With a deep growl, the dog slipped out of the bedchamber. Its large body reminded Håkon of something, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“You want your husband to pleasure you,dróttning?” Talvi asked.