Page 19

A full moon shone brightly above Saeborg, bathing the citadel and the fjord below in a soft, orange light. The crispness of autumn was already in the air, the forests turning vivid hues, but the balcony high above the town was cozily warmed by generous fire bowls. Harvest in Vanaheim was much more abundant than in previous years, and the Vanir knew who they had to thank for this blessing: Talvi’s powerful seier and his wonderful Jotunn husband.

Talvi lay stretched out on a bed of pillows, Hakon nestled snugly against his side. As he watched his husband doze, a wave of pride and affection washed over him. Just a few weeks ago, Hakon would’ve never allowed himself the closeness of Talvi’s body and the comfort of his affection, but after defeating the draugr in the burial mound and performing the fertility ritual together, something had changed between them. Even most volur disliked serving as a vessel in a carnal ritual as it was so taxing, but Hakon had endured it without complaint. Talvi was so proud of him.

“Are you watching me again?” Hakon slurred.

When they had walked through the decorated streets of Saeborg earlier, the Vanir had presented them with flowers, food, and cups of mead. Hakon had drunk plenty of it, and now his cheeks were flushed purple, and his limbs were heavy.

Talvi smoothed Hakon’s tousled hair gently. “Always,” he murmured into Hakon’s ear. “You’re so gorgeous. I just can’t help myself.”

Sighing happily, Hakon relaxed into his embrace even more.

“Did I tell you I persuaded Uncle Njord to enchant a mirror to show a moving image of you when I was a boy?”

“Now, you’re making fun of me,” Hakon complained.

With a wave of his hand, Talvi commanded the small chest containing his treasures to come flying to them from under his bed. Better to come clean about his hoarding tendencies now while Hakon was blissfully relaxed.

“What’s that?” Hakon chuckled.

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

“This one he made after the ting when I proposed to you.”

Watching the slightly blurred version of the last few seconds of his duel against his half-brother, Hakon’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 Hakon 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,” Hakon mumbled. It sounded a little breathless.

As Talvi studied Hakon’s face anxiously, he found something like awe written on his husband’s features. Hakon’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 Hakon. “But my taste in men—in one man in particular—has always been impeccable.”

“Flatterer,” Hakon 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.”

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

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

Hakon’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, Hakon went a little cross-eyed. He looked adorable.

“Your brother is alive too?”

Smiling, Talvi scattered kisses on Hakon’s face.

“Rune rides as an einherjar among the ?sir . 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 Hakon lay in his arms.

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

“He lives among the ?sir ?” 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?” Hakon 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 Hakon’s hair, Talvi tilted his face upward. He needed to make absolutely sure that Hakon was looking at him, that he believed him.

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

Hakon 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 the Vanir . He doesn’t share his plans with me, but I don’t think he has anything to do with the disappearance of your mothers,” Hakon babbled, as if he couldn’t stop once he’d started.

“Shhh, you don’t have to betray your kin by telling me all that,” said Talvi, overwhelmed by Hakon’s devotion.

“I should’ve done so earlier,” Hakon said. “You’re the kind of ruler I always wanted to pledge my loyalty to. I’ve wanted to do so since the night of our wedding—”

“Oh, Hakon—”

“But I didn’t dare to. I didn’t dare to defy Bergelmir. But I won’t be a coward anymore.”

“You’ve never been a coward, dróttning ,” Talvi said, pouring all his love into the words, willing Hakon to see what he saw. “You’re amazing. So beautiful and brave. You were willing to give your life to spare your sister a miserable marriage. You’re the best warrior in the Nine Worlds. And you’re going to make such a great king—”

“Stop!” Hakon choked. “Please. Don’t say such things if you don’t mean—”

Talvi kissed further protest from his lips.

“I mean it. Every. Single. Word.”

Silently, Hakon clung to Talvi, just breathing in his scent.

“You should rest now,” Talvi whispered. “It has been a long day, and the harvest celebrations are going to continue tomorrow.”

Watching Hakon drift into slumber was most satisfying. Talvi couldn’t wait to spoil his husband for the rest of his days. Reclined in his seat, he gazed up at the stars. He wanted to enjoy the calm atmosphere of the night a little longer before taking Hakon inside. Talking about his mothers and brother made Talvi miss his family with a renewed urgency. How he longed to introduce Hakon to them. Vellamo would surely want to chat with Hakon about everything from warfare to hunting, and Ahti would train with him and praise his fighting skills, while his brother would tease Talvi relentlessly about his infatuation with his husband. And Uncle Njord would watch over them all, a perpetual frown on his face, but secretly pleased to have them all together and safe.

Hakon was a warm, comforting presence at his side. The fates had favored Talvi indeed, and he would make sure that the rest of his family returned to Vanaheim as well. A small sound alerted him to a person approaching. Arngrim stepped out on the balcony, uncharacteristically not wearing armor but a loose-fitting green tunic instead. Small threads of gold were woven into his hair. He looked good, albeit tired.

“Enjoying the festivities after all?” Talvi asked.

Arngrim had worked tirelessly to ensure their safety, even as the city buzzed with guests and farmers from the surrounding hamlets. But their former carefree friendship was still strained. Arngrim had made sure to approach Hakon with more friendliness, but his resentment toward him seemed unchanged.

“Someone has to keep an eye at the Jotnar in case your husband’s father decides to attack us again.”

Talvi’s heart sank.

“We’ve been over this, Arngrim.”

Taking in the way Hakon was cuddled close to Talvi, fast asleep, Arngrim sighed deeply.

“Are you happy?” Arngrim asked, voice sad. “You’ve dreamed of him since you were a boy.”

“I’m blessed with a good marriage, a far better one than any prince could wish for. And once we have my family back, I’ll be the happiest man in the realm.”

“I see.” Arngrim sat down on the edge of the bedding. “I respect your decision.”

A surge of hope made Talvi smile. He’d waited weeks for Arngrim to finally overcome his pigheadedness, and once he finally accepted Hakon, everything was going to turn even better.

“I’ll talk to Hakon tomorrow,” Arngrim promised. “He should know there’s a place for him in Vanaheim if he’s not stupid enough to risk everything and betray us, right?”

“Right.”

Silence fell between them, but for the first time in weeks, it wasn’t charged with tension. Laughter and music still drifted up from the lower town now and then.

“The festivities are still in full swing. Don’t you want to go down and have some fun?”

Arngrim regarded him with a strange gaze, partly fond, partly sorrowful.

“Yes, I’ll do that. I’ll also make sure that no one ruins the night with a surprise attack.”

Fleetingly, Talvi touched Arngrim’s shoulder as his warrior got up.

“Thank you, my friend.”

Arngrim bowed, formal as he sometimes tended to be. “You’re welcome, my King. And I need you to know that I’ll do everything to keep you and the realm protected.”

Talvi sighed. “I know.”

He watched Arngrim return to the festivities with a mixture of hope and sorrow. How he wished Arngrim would truly accept Hakon at his side.