Chapter 14 #2
“It means you and Elle are safe. So relax and enjoy tonight.”
Relief flooded Val. She wanted to believe Loki, but still wasn’t convinced. She’d had one fallen angel lie to her that week. What was to say the others wouldn’t lie as well? She would have to question Loki more about it later; now wasn’t the time.
The space opened up like a private house tucked behind the world.
Exposed timber beams ran the length of the ceiling, their light grain polished to a muted honey sheen.
The cream-colored walls held various abstract paintings.
The floors were a creamy stone, and a thick white rug anchored the center of the room with a huge glass coffee table filled with water where two beautiful koi fish swam back and forth.
As Fenrir closed the door, the sounds of the club shut out, cocooning them in their own little world. An ample leather sectional hosted half a dozen people. Large soft-looking pillows in golds and silvers adorned every few feet of the couch, along with a shimmery plush blanket.
Behind the sectional, a wall of French doors stood open, leading to a yard.
Odin tended to a deep fire pit, cooking meat and drinking from a mug while talking to two men.
Lush grass, flowering shrubs, and even several blossoming trees rustled in a slight breeze.
Two ravens circled above Odin’s head, swooping at the meat.
And two large wolves lounged on the grass, tails swishing as they watched the invaders of their territory.
"Val," Frigg called from a metal bar in the corner. She waved and walked over.
“Hello, Lady Frigg,” said Val.
Frigg chuckled. “Just Frigg, and I’m so glad the shoes fit. I was pretty sure they would. They go perfectly with that dress, too.”
Loki looked down. “Did I not get you shoes?”
Val shook her head. “I figured sneakers or boots weren’t the best match. Somehow Frigg knew too, so she sent me these.”
Frigg waved her off. “It was nothing, dear. I’m glad you came.” She produced two drinks and set them on the counter. “You too, Loki. It’s been too long since the whole family was together.”
Loki nodded. “Agreed. And I commend you for getting Fenrir to come. Only Hel is missing, but then she rarely joins us.”
Frigg nodded. “She’s always invited, but she’s also quite busy.”
Val and Loki sat at the bar, and there was a knock on the door. Fenrir opened the door for Thor and Elle, and Val stiffened and scanned the room for danger as she always did.
Frigg patted Val’s hand and headed out from behind the bar.
Loki sipped his drink. “You’re perfectly safe here.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Are you?”
He shrugged.
“Exactly.” Frigg hugged and welcomed Elle and Thor, and then turned to her drink. She sniffed the liquid. “What is this?”
Loki smiled and winked at Val. “Mana of the gods.”
She eyed him skeptically and sipped it. Her taste buds exploded. Every favorite flavor she’d ever tasted rolled across her tongue and blended together.
She swallowed hard and stared at the glass. “What the hel was that?”
“Like I said, mana of the gods. What did it taste like?”
“What do you mean? You tasted it.”
“It tastes different for everyone.” He sipped his glass again.
Val picked up his glass and sniffed it, and then sniffed her own. They smelled the same.
“Mine tastes like chocolate dripped over strawberries with a hint of cinnamon toast at the end,” said Loki.
“Mine is butterscotch-covered ice cream with notes of Irish crème, nutmeg, and peanut butter cookies, I guess. There are other flavors as well, but too many to catch them all.”
Loki nodded and sipped his again. “And over the years, the taste will change depending on your favorites as well.”
Val stared at her glass and then took another sip. It was the coolest thing she’d ever ingested.
"Thor!" The man who’d been talking to Odin hugged Thor.
He hugged Elle, and then Hodr walked over to greet her as well.
“Does Hodr blame you for what happened with Baldur?”
Loki shrugged. “If he does, he’s not let on. Hodr’s… different. He’s not like the others. He takes everything in stride, and he doesn’t hold on to the past. He’s honestly the only sane one of us.”
Val laughed. She’d never met Hodr before. He’d been killed by Váli before she’d been born, but she’d heard the stories. It amazed her that with all the gods had gone through, they were still relatively civil to one another.
“So who is that?” she pointed to the man who had hugged Elle.
“Meili, Thor’s brother.” Loki pointed to the couch. “That’s Váli. And next to him with the longer blond hair is Vidarr. You know Tyr and Hermódr.”
She nodded. She’d fought alongside both of them in battle before.
Tyr, the god of war, Hermódr, his best friend and messenger of the gods, and Vidarr, god of vengeance- also known for being the god of silence as well.
Where Tyr and Vid were the strongest beings Val had ever seen in battle, Herm was the fastest by far.
Faster than even Alamax. For a moment, she wondered if Herm fought Alamax, if either one would actually get a hit in, or if they’d just fly around each other until they both exhausted themselves.
"Chow's ready," Odin called.
Loki finished his drink and led Val out to the atrium.
The giant room with a tall ceiling that went straight up into what looked like the actual sky, but it could have been an exceedingly intricate painting.
White fabric and glowing light bulbs had been strung from beam to beam, creating an intimate, romantic effect.
In the center of the room stood an enormous rustic wood table.
Odin carried a massive platter of meat to the table and set it in the middle. When he looked up at her, she saw that only one small bruise remained from their encounter.
He smiled at her. “Valkyrie. Welcome. Thank you for joining us.”
His words were a punch to the gut. What was she supposed to say? He’d smiled at her, welcomed her, and not called her daughter.
“Thank you for inviting me.” The words fell from her lips mechanically, and she couldn’t believe she’d said them.
Odin bowed and then walked back to the fire pit.
“Wow,” Loki whispered. “That showed amazing restraint. I had no idea you could do that.”
She glared at him, and he snickered.
She sat in the seat in front of her and watched Odin as the others took their seats.
After a moment of chatting with Hermódr, Loki took his seat next to her and slipped his hand between her thighs, making her body heat.
Thor pulled out a seat for Elle next to Val, and Val brushed Loki's hand away. He growled and put his hand right back in the same place.
So irritating.