Chapter 30 - Rhyland #2
I capture her wandering hands, pinning them above her head. "Listen here, you beautiful little minx," I growl against her lips. "I'm not Erik. I don't do sexual frustration as a lifestyle choice."
"—Ahem—"
I jerk back from Dani like I've been electrocuted. A whole damn audience of Valkyries is staring at us, their expressions ranging from amused to murderous.
"Oh, don't let us interrupt," a blonde warrior drawls. "It's not like this is a sacred training ground or anything. Please, continue dry humping against our walls."
Fuck me. Nothing kills a hard-on faster than getting caught by a bunch of divine warrior women who could probably castrate me with their minds.
I grab Dani's hand, trying to salvage what's left of our dignity—not that I had much to begin with. She's fighting back a laugh, the little minx clearly enjoying my discomfort. We make our way back to the compound's center, where I spot Baldr's golden ass approaching with Heimdall and Bryn in tow.
"Rhyland." Heimdall's voice booms, his massive frame decked out in armor that makes my leather getup look like peasant rags. Golden bastard probably polishes that shit in his sleep.
I give him a curt nod because what else do you say to an all-seeing god who probably watched me almost bang my mate against a wall five minutes ago?
"Well then!" Baldr chirps like we're planning a fucking picnic, not a potentially lethal quest. "I'll take our friend here on Sleipnir—" He gestures to Heimdall. "—and you three can cozy up on Gullfax. As for our fierce Valkyrie..."
Bryn's smirk could cut glass as she straps her sword across her back with practiced ease.
The shield slides onto her forearm like it was forged to be there.
"Aye, while you lot play Pony Express, I'll take the warrior's path.
Meet you at Valhalla's Veil in three hours—if you can keep up.
" She throws a challenging look our way, every inch the Norse warrior princess with an attitude that could make Thor himself think twice.
Dani's eyes scan the courtyard, her brow furrowing. "Where's Erik?"
For fuck's sake. I can feel a headache building behind my eyes. Through the longhouse's open door, I spot my brother's silver head bent over what has to be his tenth horn of mead.
"I'll get him," I grunt, already stomping across the frozen ground.
The longhouse door slams against the wall as I storm inside, reeking of smoke and alcohol. Erik slouches over the table like it's the only thing keeping him upright. His silver hair's a mess, and Grave Warden lies forgotten beside him like a jilted lover.
I grab a fistful of his tunic, yanking him up with enough force to make the bench scrape against the floor. The sword goes into his hands whether he wants it or not. "Move your ass, brother. We've got a stone to find, and your pity party's over."
Erik sighs, but he straightens his clothes with those precise movements that scream, 'I'm totally fine' even when he's falling apart. He shoulders past me, his boots leaving heavy prints in the snow as he heads for the others.
Gullfax prances up, his golden coat catching the weak sunlight. I wrap my hands around Dani's waist, lifting her into the saddle like she weighs nothing. She settles in with a grunt that tells me she's still pissed, but at least she doesn't try to kick me in the face.
I swing into the saddle behind Dani, my thighs bracketing her hips as I settle against the warm leather. Her scent hits me hard, making my cock ache despite our earlier interruption.
Erik stumbles toward Gullfax like a drunk trying to catch a chicken, his usual lethal grace completely shot to shit.
My brother, ladies and gentlemen—feared vampire warrior, reduced to a stumbling mess because he can't handle his feelings. Fucking perfect.
His first attempt ends with him face-down in the snow. The second time, he manages to get his foot in the stirrup before sliding right back down. By the third spectacular failure, the whole fucking compound is howling with laughter.
Baldr's prissy ass is practically crying, doubled over and clutching his sides. Even Heimdall's cold-hard face cracks a smile.
Dani's body shakes against mine as she tries to hold in her giggles. "Shouldn't we..." she whispers, watching Erik wobble to his feet again, snow clinging to his silver hair.
"Erik!" I bark. "Either get your drunk ass on this horse or crawl to Valhalla's Veil. Your choice, brother."
He glares at me with unfocused eyes, looking about as threatening as a wet kitten. Finally, after what feels like a fucking eternity, he manages to haul himself into the saddle behind me, reeking of enough mead to stock a tavern.
Gullfax snorts and paws the ground the second Erik's ass hits the saddle, his coat rippling with barely contained energy. Bryn's already disappeared into the clouds above us, and this competitive bastard of a horse isn't about to let a Valkyrie show him up.
"Hold on!" I barely get the warning out before Gullfax launches us into the sky like we've been shot from a fucking cannon. The ground disappears beneath his hooves, clouds whipping past us at neck-breaking speed.
Dani's squeal of surprise turns into breathless laughter as she grips the reins. Behind me, Erik sways like a tree in a storm, and I clamp my arm around his wrist hard enough to leave bruises—because like hell am I explaining to Dani why her favorite brooding vampire fell off a flying horse.
"Holy shit," Erik slurs against my back, "when did you learn to control six horses at once?"
Fuck me. He's even more shitfaced than I thought.