Chapter 24
“Introducing Their Majesties, Queen Koa Magnusdottir and Queen Aelfsi Roardottir of Asgard, and their daughter, Her Royal Highness, Princess Solveig Tordottir,” the announcer called, and the crowded ballroom hushed as the queens descended the stairs.
Koa was radiant in a gown spun from gold sunlight, tendrils of fabric trailing behind her like rays.
Aelfsi appeared like the moon in swaths of silver fabric billowing out around her. They walked arm in arm, cascading down the stairs. Westley’s gaze lingered on them for only a moment before landing on the figure that followed their wake.
Solveig stood alone in a midnight gown, so black it swallowed the light around her.
The high neck left her arms completely bare, the silky fabric draped across her body. Her dress wrapped around her torso, gathering at her hip, opening on one side as she began to descend, showcasing one long strong leg.
Her red hair was piled on top of her head in an intricate updo of curls and braids, exposing her neck. She was steady as she took step after step, the heeled sandals on her feet not deterring her in the slightest. She moved like a shadow, a goddess spun from his deepest desires.
Westley’s body flushed, his pants suddenly tight.
When she reached the bottom step, he was already there, not having made the conscious decision to move. She caught his eye immediately, a smug smile on her face. He had to break the tension before his magic changed from water to fire with desire and burned the palace to ash where they stood.
Princess? he asked with a quirk of his brow.
She turned away, sending an image of her middle finger into his mind. He chuckled.
“What’s so funny?” North whispered, assessing Solveig with keen interest as she greeted those who approached her.
“That’s her?” Easta hissed, a gleam entering her eyes.
“No way,” North said excitedly.
“She’s fucking gorgeous,” Easta said.
“Why didn’t you tell us!” North smacked his arm with so much force it actually hurt.
“Tell you what?” he asked, unable to take his eyes off Solveig as she made her way around the room. She turned, showing off her exposed back, finally giving him a full view of her tattoo.
A line of ancient runes he couldn’t read trailed down her spine from her neck all the way to where her dress dipped low. He wondered if it continued below the fabric.
He wanted to tear the eyes out of every male who was drinking her in.
“That the fierce general we’ve been chasing is literally a fucking goddess,” Easta whispered.
Westley barely heard his sisters with all his senses trained on Solveig, unable to focus on anything but her.
“Oooooh, you want her baaaaad,” North said, slapping him on the arm, snapping Westley’s attention back to his sisters.
“What?” he exclaimed.
“He does, look! His cheeks are all flushed,” Easta teased.
“You two are ridiculous,” he muttered, his eyes drifting back to Solveig of their own accord.
North’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. Before they could tease him any more, three figures approached, distracting his sisters from Solveig. Thank the goddesses.
In all her trips to Idavoll, Solveig had never met any of its heirs. A goal of her youth had been to build relationships with all the royal offspring—connections that would benefit her, should she ever need assistance.
But when it came to Idavoll, the four heirs were kept from her. Koa told her this was because Idavoll wanted no part in joining Asgard by marriage, so they kept their faelings away when she visited.
At first, she understood, but after a while, Solveig grew suspicious. Her mothers sent her away anytime Idavoll visited their city as well.
She enjoyed watching them interact from afar—could tell they were his sisters by the way they teased him, drawing exasperated looks only siblings can manage.
But when Noren led two more Fae over to greet them, Solveig’s spine straightened, all misgivings about the ball melting away, replaced by fear and loathing.
The male beside Noren was built similarly, all muscle and grace, though he had dark blond hair and a thick beard, contrasting Noren’s brown hair and clean-shaven face. Noren stood rigidly, while the other male laughed and casually slung his arms around Westley’s shoulders.
Thick.
The female with bone-straight hair and narrow eyes moved fluidly towards Westley, tucking herself under his other arm without hesitation. Their embrace was natural, like they’d done it a thousand times before, and Solveig’s shoulders rose with tension, her magic hissing.
Water.
Before she knew what she was doing, she excused herself from her conversation with the Svartalfheim chancellor and made her way over to the group of Fae. Westley caught her movement and immediately extricated himself from Water’s hold before shrugging off Thick’s arm.
He met her with a bow before she reached his group. The others traded glances behind him and Noren muttered something she couldn’t hear. Based on the lack of surprise, they already knew who she was.
“Princess,” Westley said as she straightened. His easy features tightened when he noticed her rigid posture.
Solveig inclined her head. “Prince.”
“Is that what I am to call you now?” he asked, his voice husky.
“Definitely not,” she replied sharply.
“I can’t call you General here, correct?” he asked under his breath so only she could hear.
“Yes. Though I’m not sure it matters now that your family knows,” she said. With all the dignitaries in the palace, she wasn’t sure how quickly word would get around. After everything that had happened, concealing her identity was the least of her priorities.
Someone coughed right behind Westley and he jumped a little in surprise. He turned to reveal one of his sisters, who, based on context alone, Solveig assumed was the first heir.
“Solveig, this is my eldest sister, North,” Westley said, begrudgingly introducing her. North bowed to her and Solveig bowed back.
“A pleasure to meet you. My brother has told me absolutely nothing about you,” North said with a smile.
“That’s probably a good thing, since he likely would’ve told you what an asshole I am,” Solveig replied, liking the Fae princess immediately.
“Well, we’re all assholes in this family, so that would mean he accepts you,” the other sister said, coming up beside North. “I’m Easta.” She extended a hand towards Solveig, who took it. Easta gave her a squeeze and a wink.
“You, I have heard about,” Solveig said to her, and Easta smiled wickedly.
“You have, have you?”
“Excuse me? You tell her about Easta but not me?” North whipped her head to chide Westley, who sighed, looking up to Valhalla for help.
“Don’t worry, he only said very unpleasant things,” Solveig reassured with a teasing smile, making North beam.
She was enjoying this exchange more than she would’ve thought until Noren and her other guards from the cave came to join their little group. Westley tensed as Solveig looked them up and down.
“Solveig, this is Viggo and Brenna,” he said, introducing her to Thick and Water.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Viggo said with a bow as Brenna curtsied.
Solveig did not return either gesture, though etiquette demanded she give them each a nod.
In ordinary circumstances, she’d damn the manners and greet them with the tips of her daggers.
However, they were in the presence of too many eyes.
Solveig had to pick and choose each step and each word carefully.
Her lack of deference was noted by the group.
“No need for such pleasantries,” Solveig said coldly. “You are too well acquainted with my screams for that.”
North’s and Easta’s heads bobbed between them, confusion written plainly on their faces. Viggo stiffened and Brenna took an involuntary step back when Solveig bared her teeth.
“What’s going on?” North asked, all casual pretence dropped, her voice ringing with authority.
“Do you truly not know?” Solveig raised her brows.
Noren shifted on his feet as the tension grew. She saw his hands twitch towards his weapons, the air charged with unease. A slow smile spread across her face as she dared him to reach for them, delighted she may have a reason to inflict harm after all.
“You all look like a fight’s about to break out, and we came to join the fun!”
A chipper voice came from behind her and Solveig immediately relaxed, a true smile replacing her scowl as she turned and walked into Vali’s open arms.