Chapter 10 #2
Harvey held out a long, muscled arm, motioning to the end of the bridge where a carriage—a carriage—waited for them. “Ladies, Heimdall awaits.”
Well, it’s now or never, Dominique. Time to meet the family.
* * *
What had Marty said about not projecting? Hah!
The entire carriage ride—led by four beautiful white horses and a male driver dressed in long, flowing robes—Dom fought not to project.
As they galloped down cobblestone streets, past businesses and an open marketplace, all while she marveled at how it felt as though she’d been transported back in time, she tried not to project.
She really tried not to project as they passed crowds of people staring at her, women dressed similarly to the carriage driver, in vibrant tunics with beautiful gold and silver trim, their hair braided in lush twists and rolls, just as MC had described.
But it was hard to ignore the curious, sometimes suspicious stares she garnered. Yet, all Harvey had to do was wave to the villagers of Asgard, and he was greeted with happy smiles and cheers.
Harvey leaned into her, his strong scent swirling in her nose, when he took her hand and said, “They’re just curious about you, Dom. That’s all. Don’t take it to heart. They’re good people, and they’re going to love you.”
“I knew I should have changed before we left Nina’s,” she muttered. She felt ridiculous in jeans and a flannel shirt when everyone was dressed in fine silks and beautiful shawls.
“You’re beautiful as-is,” Harvey said, making her cheeks blush hot.
“I concur,” MC agreed, from his position in her lap. “Besides, there will be garments waiting for you upon arrival to your quarters.”
Dom held him up with a frown and a raised eyebrow. “My quarters?”
“Of course you’ll have quarters, Dominique,” he scoffed. “You’re a powerful part of this community, if not the most powerful. That is to be acknowledged and honored.”
They could honor her by letting her fade into the woodwork. Sitting back in the plush carriage, Dom eyed MC. “Could we keep this lowkey, pal? As it stands, people are looking at me like I have an extra eyeball. Please, don’t make a fuss.”
Harvey chuckled. “That’s not the Asgardian way, Dom. Everything is a cause for celebration here. You’ll come to love it. I promise.”
When they pulled up to the castle in all its glowing glory, Dom took a deep breath, gulping in the clean air as she prepared to greet a new batch of people, waiting for her on the wide steps.
Harvey squeezed her hand, shooting her a smile. “They’re going to love you. I promise.”
Love-schmove.
As Dom stepped out of the carriage, she heard whispers from the crowd. “She’s so tiny!” and “She isn’t much bigger than Mjolnir. How can she possibly be fated to keep us all from Ragnarok?” And finally, “How could Thor let this happen to us all?”
First, she wasn’t at all tiny except for maybe in height—or in comparison to these Asgardian women, who were all tall. She was at least ten pounds overweight, if she listened to her physician, who said she should give up carbs.
Give up French fries and her sourdough starter? Not even if the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse tried to take it from her themselves.
Second, if she was big enough to catch MC, she was big enough to find a way to stop the end of the world.
And third, Thor wasn’t here, was he? He was probably off letting his man parts do the talking while she was left holding the bag. So their devotion to Thor and Thor himself could all bite her.
Nina came up behind her, driving a finger between her shoulder blades. “Fuck these bitches. You hear me? Stand up straight and walk tall—or as tall as someone short as fuck like you can. You were chosen by the gods these people damn well worship, and don’t you forget it,” she whispered fiercely.
You know, that was something she’d wondered about, but still hadn’t asked. Who were these invisible gods, anyway? Why hadn’t they said anything since MC’s declaration that he belonged to her?
Annoyed that she was letting mindless gossip affect her, Dom immediately squared her shoulders and tightened her grip on MC as she began to climb the steps to this enormous castle, while people all around her bowed along the way.
So awkward.
When she reached the top step and got a peek inside the castle’s entryway, with its tall pillars, lush potted plants and muted colors, she almost fainted. But Marty and Wanda were right behind her, flanking her on either side until they stood before a man with sharp eyes and a long beard.
With hands clasped together under the arms of his long robes, he bowed before her, ratcheting up her discomfort. “Dominique,” he declared in a booming voice full of gravel that echoed around the gigantic space. “Welcome to Asgard!”
Dom gulped, holding out a hand to the old man, giving him her best confident smile. “Pleasure to meet you.”
When he took her hand, a strange vibration shimmied along her arm. Dom didn’t know what to call it—an awakening, perhaps? If she wasn’t acutely aware of her surroundings before this moment, she was now. She felt every fiber of Asgard and its people to the depths of her soul.
Harvey was the first to step up and pull the man into a hug. “Alf, good to see you again!”
Alf clapped him on the back with a gnarled hand and a wide grin full of missing teeth. “And you as well, Harvey. It’s been some time now, hasn’t it?”
Harvey winked a luscious eye. “But it feels like we never parted, eh, old friend?”
Alf snickered then cleared his throat, motioning to Dom as he turned his back and began to walk into the open area of the castle. “Come now, Dominique. We have much to accomplish before Heimdall arrives.”
Her eyes flew to Harvey in panic while people began to scatter in every direction, but he simply smiled with clear confidence. “You’re in good hands with Alf. He runs everything here at the castle from stem to stern. He’ll take good care of you. I promise.”
“And we’ll all be with you. Fear not, baby warrior. We have your back,” Wanda chirped with a smile, pulling her toward Alf, who wended his way down a maze of arched halls, the textured walls painted in a soft, white-washed beige in the style she’d seen done in so many villas in Greece.
As she left the security of Harvey’s side, her heart began a rapid thump in her chest. As they passed water fountains with floating lily pads and statues of men she didn’t recognize, as they skirted the glossy floors and whisked through the tropical plants while a warm breeze blew, she forced herself to breathe.
But the panic rising in her throat at the thought this greeting was all because they thought she could save the world?
That pressure was enough to choke a horse.