Chapter 41
Solveig woke from a dreamless sleep, her body languid. The tumultuous emotions she’d allowed to overwhelm her last night had turned from a violent storm to a clear sky as the sun rose over the horizon. She quietly made her way out of the palace, towards the ocean shore of the Elven lands.
It was not the beaches of Asgard, but it would do. The sun graced the morning with its sleepy presence. It was going to be a stifling autumn day, a heat wave rolling through Alfheim. Early clouds of fog danced along the glass-like surface.
The peace she’d felt began to dissipate at the thought of her upcoming day and what she would have to do. Though her very being recoiled at the idea, last night couldn’t happen again. She’d been weak and depleted and had not thought through the consequences.
Her feelings for the prince swept over and around her, swirling to soak up the crackling magic in her heart. Solveig closed her eyes and inhaled as a flicker of an otherworldly presence fortified her soul.
It was different from the prince’s cool magic, coming from a place deep within her she had long since forgotten.
She snapped her eyes open to watch the fog as it gathered and rose to meet the warming sun. The day had begun.
Reluctantly, Solveig pulled herself to her feet and walked back to the palace.
Her leathers had been washed and were laid on the bed for her.
Going through the motions of getting dressed steadied her and allowed her to relish in her replenished magic.
She worked to break the last of the binds that blocked her full power.
She was close, she could feel it.
Vali’s challenge was first this morning, with Steffen waiting in the wings for his turn in the afternoon.
The theatre was even more packed than it had been the past three days. Everyone had come to see one of their princes claim the right to Solveig’s hand in marriage.
A bitter taste pooled in her mouth. She would offer her hand in marriage to someone today.
She tried not to think about the mind-blowing orgasm the prince had assisted her with last night.
Checking to make sure her mental walls were up so she didn’t disturb him, Solveig pushed all thoughts of him from her mind.
Though she trusted him to get out safely, she was still worried, her stomach filling with an unfamiliar fluttering. There was nothing she could do for him now anyway, except send more power.
Vali stepped onto the stage, waving his hand in the air as the crowd stood and roared for him. He gave them all a bow and their cheers raised an octave. He reached over to place a kiss on her cheek. Solveig fought the urge to cringe away.
“Ready for me?” he whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her neck, causing her fluttering stomach to roil with displeasure.
“I’m ready to beat you,” she tried to jest, but it sounded wrong, even to her own ears.
He pulled back and studied her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She shut him down. He let it drop but continued to stare, his brows pinching.
They assumed their fighting stances, waiting for the Alfheim delegate to give the signal.
Solveig put her next plan into action, lunging forward as soon as the duel began to place her hand on Vali’s chest. She sent power into him, loosening the bind on his magic. Vali’s eyes widened. She hadn’t freed enough to drain herself, but it still took its toll.
The fatigue washed over her as she braced herself on her knees.
A confused hush settled over the crowd. Vali held his hands out in front of him, examining them.
Elven magic was vastly different from Vanir magic.
Solveig could wield hers like a weapon, causing physical harm.
Elven controlled the spirit, the minds of beings.
There was a reason they could afford to be apathetic—their power was one of compulsion.
The strength of it depended wholly on the individual.
Even the least powerful Elven could influence another’s feelings, typically in a positive way, inciting joy or gratitude.
The strongest Elven could force another to their knees, could grip their mind and control their body.
They could influence people to fight, to make peace.
They could read minds and alter memories. Change allegiances, even.
Their abilities made them a force so deadly they’d been the first of the Trifold to fall in the War of Realms.
Giving Vali some of his power was a gamble. With her own magic not yet fully freed, she may not be able to block all his attempts to sway her mind. It was a calculated move, a card played to show her trust in him and in Alfheim. In turn, she hoped they would put their faith in her.
He leapt forward without warning. Solveig prepared to evade his advance, but instead, he embraced her, his astonishment evident in the way his arms tightened around her.
Wary of his intentions, she kept her mental barriers intact in case it was a ruse. But after a moment, a rush of his gratitude tried to find a way into her mind. She was glad for it but did not lower her guard.
Vali stepped away, wiping the tears from his eyes. He got back into position, beckoning her to fight him, a new spark of energy shining through in his demeanour. The crowd, likely confused at the interaction, whispered animatedly to each other.
Some of the whispers reached their ears.
“What was that?”
“Did he win?”
“Does she love him?”
“Does he love her?”
“What about Steffen?”
Solveig and Vali ignored the commentary and began their dance. Vali tested the limited freedom of his loosened magic, sending small mental bursts at Solveig. She levelled a wolf’s grin at him, teasing him as she blocked both his mental and physical blows.
Her own magic swelled, becoming vicious as she began to attack. She relished in the feel of a more equal fight, her burning lungs a testament to how much effort she was expending.
Vali grew more concentrated as he fended off her attacks. He managed to grip her neck with his hands as one of his mental assaults slipped through the cracks of her mind. She leaned into him and he seized the opportunity, spinning her around into a chokehold.
Solveig tried to repair the mental shield, but Vali worked his way in, widening the gap.
There was no attempt to alter her feelings, only to control her movements and make it an easier fight. He was returning the trust she’d shown him.
He reached into her mind and tried to slacken her body. It was difficult, but she managed to stay firm, struggling to get out of his hold. His attack continued and her mental barriers slipped. The drain on her magic was more than she had accounted for.
“While all this violence is fun,” Vali whispered playfully, “I would much rather spar without an audience, in the comfort of my bed.”
She laughed off his joke, slumping in his arms, allowing the sudden dead weight of her body to surprise him enough that she could throw him out of her head. And not a moment too soon.
A roar sounded in her mind, echoing loudly and reverberating off the walls of her mental shield. Her earlier headache intensified, pain prickling behind her eyes.
What the fuck is happening? the prince yelled.
Just a fight between friends. She tried to reassure him, though he seemed beyond reason. Vali chose that moment to attempt to re-enter her mind. The prince’s loud outburst shifted to a lethal quiet.
Who the fuck was in your head? he hissed.
Vali. Don’t worry, he means no harm.
She sent an image of what she’d done and he relaxed a little, though tension hovered in the background. Laying a soft hand on his mind, she shoved and sealed him out.
Her focus returned to Vali as she aimed to kick his legs out from under him, but she was unsuccessful. He dodged her fist to his face, a dagger appearing in his hand as he swung, wielding weapons and magic in tandem.
The prince’s cool magic slid through her body, fortifying her.
Let me know if you need any help. The words filtered into her mind as he faded away.
She was grateful for the extra support, her barriers now stronger than ever—unable to even feel Vali trying to get back in, though the concentration on his face told her otherwise.
A full smile pulled her face taut as she bared all her teeth.
She punched Vali, tackling him to the ground and knocking his dagger from his hold. He broke their fall as they landed on the hard wooden stage, the breath leaving him in one fell swoop.
Vali tried to wrestle her off but she held firm, managing to get his arm behind his back, twisting it into submission. She placed her dagger at his throat.
“Tap out, Vali,” she whispered.
He sighed in defeat and tapped the ground three times.