“I'm just tired and a little cold,” I whispered as I glanced back at Kirill.
Kirill nodded and smiled at me gently; he knew the name as well as I did. Trevor; it was written on my heart beside Kirill. A pair of golden-brown eyes filled my mind suddenly, and I shivered with the rush of love that came with them. Honey-Eyes; Trevor had eyes the color of warm honey.
“Let's get you a drink,” Thor said as he ushered me down the hallway.
“Invite your friend over too,” I called back to Ull. “I'd like to meet him.”
“You got it, Mom,” Ull said.
Once again, Ull affected me with a single word; Mom. Why was it so heartbreaking for me? I kept seeing him as a child, but I knew that I had never been around Ull as a baby; not even when I was Sabine.
Let that one go, sweetheart, Alaric said gently. Trust me on this.
Chapter Fifteen
“Now, darling,” Thor said as he settled me on his lap, “tell me everything.”
Sometimes, I loved being on Thor's lap, and at other times, it felt a bit patronizing. This was one of the latter. I scooted away from Thor and settled onto the couch beside him. This did not sit well with Thor, and yes; I intended that pun too.
“Now, you're pulling away from me?” Thor growled. “What's going on, Vervain?”
“I'm sorry; I didn't mean to pull away,” I said. “With your tone, it just felt a little like I was on Santa's knee.”
“My father is the Santa archetype; not me.” Thor smirked as he relaxed. “But seriously, darling; I'm getting worried.”
You should be, Alaric said.
Another private moment here! I snapped.
Oh, fine, he huffed.
“There's nothing to worry about.” I went back onto Thor's lap, but this time, I straddled him. I felt more like a woman that way; more in control. “You know that something strange is happening, but it doesn't have to change us, does it?”
I comforted Thor automatically; something inside me wanting him to have this time to be blissfully ignorant. If I really had to give Thor up and go back to a different me, I intended to give him as much love as I could while I could.
“No; never,” Thor vowed as he drew my face down for a kiss.
I leaned into Thor and his kiss; enjoying the taste and feel of my husband. I remembered our weddings so vividly. We'd had a traditional, human ceremony for my family in Hawaii. Thor had won a tux and pulled his hair back into a gleaming ponytail. I had walked down the aisle in a Vera Wang gown; a classic style in lace and silk. We had cake and danced and drank at a ritzy hotel in Honolulu for our reception. It had been perfect.
But then came the traditional Viking ceremony. Quick fact; the term “honeymoon” comes from the Vikings. We had to drink bride-ale at our feast; presented to me by Thor in this gorgeous chalice he called a loving cup. The ale was actually mead—a honey-based wine—and there was enough of this particular batch made so that Thor and I could drink it for an entire month; our honeymoon.
We were separated the night before, just as with modern tradition, but while I was steaming away my “maiden status” in a Jacuzzi, Thor had to rob a grave. I'm not even kidding. Odin stuck a ceremonial sword in some old grave on Earth, and Thor had to go and fetch it; something about entering death as a boy and emerging a man. I was given a sword as well; to exchange with Thor during the ceremony.
My dress had been a simple, white sheath, but Odin lent me a wedding crown to wear that elevated my ensemble. Viking brides put more effort into their hair and its adornment than anything else on their wedding day. The wedding crown had been beautiful; gleaming silver leaves entwined around diamonds the size of quarters.
“The crown,” I whispered.
“What was that, darling?” Thor asked.
“Uh... I was just remembering our wedding day and that beautiful crown Odin let me borrow.”
“Sabine's crown,” Thor said; confirming my suspicions. “I was a little surprised that Dad let it out of his possession, even for a day.”
“Me too,” I murmured. Then I inhaled deeply to clear my head and focused back on him. “And you were so handsome in that red tunic; your hair flowing loose around your shoulders.”
“You outshone me,” Thor said softly as he took my hand. “As always. Seeing you walk to me with that sword in your hands was one of the best moments of my life.”
“Vikings.” I shook my head. “Exchanging swords to seal a marriage.”
“And rings,” he said chidingly.
“Offered on the hilts of those swords,” I pointed out.
“And then I claimed my bride and carried her into Valhalla,” he declared grandly.
“Where you promptly stuck your new sword in the ceiling,” I added.
“Well, I couldn't use the one I'd given you; that will belong to our son someday.”
“I know,” I whispered fondly. “Someday. And damn, if you didn't drive that sword in all the way to the hilt. It's a good thing there wasn't anyone in the room above you.”
“I had to.” Thor paused to kiss me. “The depth of the strike symbolized how enduring our relationship would be.”
“Then we should last forever,” I said gently.
“I intend for us to.” Thor took my face in his hands and kissed me.
It was sweet and romantic, but I suddenly felt uneasy. I pressed closer and started undressing him.
“Vervain,” Thor whispered as he pulled back. “There is something wrong.”
“A lot has happened today.” I stroked his cheek tenderly. “I took the lion magic in order to save the
