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“You’d better.”
Fyrcat held her wand tight in one hand and clutched Jovi’s tight in the other. Her eyes burned with determination.
“All of you touch a piece of our bare skin and hold on tight. This won’t be a smooth ride.”
I had just enough time to lay a hand on the soft fall of Jovi’s hair before the light flashed through the tunnel once more.
The world went white. And then we were gone.
***
Jovi
“What can you tell us about Freya? What do you know about her?” I asked Ogun.
His chest swelled with pride. His stride lengthened. We were heading up a steep incline toward Freya’s home. We’d taken a short break when we emerged in a snowy field. Fyrcat had collapsed into a section of wilting crops and only Skarde’s quick reflexes kept her from planting face-first in a drift. He’d slung her over one shoulder and was carrying her as we walked, staying uncharacteristically silent. He was almost as intent on the conversation as I was.
“I know something about Freya no one else knows, outside of her and Odin, of course.”
Skarde’s eyes were dark with intrigue.
“Odin seduced Freya.” The dwarf gestured with his hands as he spoke. “He pleaded with her to meet him outside of Asgard and she agreed to find him in Midgard so that they could share one magical evening together.”
“Everyone knows this,” Skarde grumbled, deflating.
But Ogun continued, unaffected by the bigger man’s attitude, “What they don’t know is that Freya possessed the body of one of her magical daughters. The witch was more than happy to allow the goddess into her body for the night if it meant Freya would be safe from Frigg’s prying eyes.”
Well, that was all kinds of strange. And a little gross. I couldn’t imagine giving up my body to let Freya boink the leader of the Aesir. Then again, I hadn’t grown up in a cult.
“Everyone assumed Freya and Odin had their affair openly,” Torsten said. “And Odin? Did he disguise himself, as well?”
“Odin created a physical form, but he did not hide behind a human face, no,” Ogun said. “He saw no shame in his infidelity. And he met with Freya more than once. Eventually, Frigg became aware of what was going on and threatened to kill the witch if Freya did not put an end to her affair with Odin. But what they did not know was that the witch Freya had possessed had become pregnant.”
I sucked in a harsh breath and grabbed Torsten’s hand. This was it. This had to be the truth that everyone was trying to hide from me.
“It wasn’t uncommon for the gods to breed with humans,” Ogun said casually. “But for an Aesir to impregnate a witch? That was unheard of.”
“What happened to the witch?” Skarde asked. He seemed more interested in the story now.
“She was killed. But not before she gave birth.” The dwarf reached into his bag and pulled out an old leather book with runes scratched into the surface. “The witch begged Freya to save the child. Imagine how surprised I was when a baby showed up in Uncle B’s forge in Muspelheim!” Ogun flipped open to a drawing of a beautiful woman. “The child grew up strong and healthy despite having been raised by a dwarf. Her name was Eir! And she was the most beautiful, selfless shieldmaiden to have ever lived.”
That name…
That name meant something to Skarde and Torsten, that much I could tell. Their awkward posture and sideways glances were far less subtle than they thought. But I hadn’t expected to feel a tremor of recognition when Ogun spoke the shieldmaiden’s name. The drawing of the woman’s features was beautifully done. It captured the emotion in her eyes and I felt as if she was staring back at me through the paper.
Chapter Fourteen
Jovi
Skarde took the book and brushed his fingers over the image as the expression on his face grew solemn.
Hadn’t Torsten mentioned that Skarde was trying to find his mate? Was Eir the woman who had claimed the Viking’s heart? Whoever Eir truly was, it was obvious that she’d changed many lives and endured severe hardship before she went missing. Our little party was silent for a moment. Then Skarde hefted Fyrcat into Torsten’s arms.
“What are you doing?” Torsten demanded.
“Taking a walk. I need to think.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Torsten said.
