could hear us. Chances were Eirik had sneaked out to see Cora or Raine, the two women he loved in Kayville, Oregon. I’d like to pretend that didn’t hurt, but it did. He’d even brought Trudy chocolate and art stuff, and pretended they’d come from me. Talk about bold-faced lies.
“I told you before. I wasn’t supposed to remember this place.”
“Oh please. It hasn’t stopped you from hanging out with Eirik.”
How many more lies had he told? “What’s wrong with him? Is he sick? Hurt? Why are they throwing him a ball?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Litr opened the door before we reached it, saw me, and grinned. He rushed forward, took my hand, and kissed my knuckles. My cheeks warmed. The Dwarf could say a lot without speaking. I was happy to see him, too, but I didn’t get a chance to say so, because Baldur appeared behind him.
The God of Light, Peace, and Forgiveness looked exactly the same—same radiance, ageless skin, blond hair, and amber eyes. Every time I looked at him, I pictured Eirik centuries from now, except I wouldn’t be around to see it. He’d be hanging out with Raine and his buddies while I’d be resting in one of the halls. Dead. Forgotten.
Yikes, where did that come from? I’d accepted the fact that Eirik and I were from different worlds months ago. He was a god and had responsibilities a mile long while I was concerned with normal things like finishing high school and where to go to college.
“Celestia.” Baldur closed the gap between us and pulled me into his arms. “You poor child. You are frozen.”
Warmth radiated from him and chased away the chill that had crawled under my skin. The God of Light must manipulate light to generate heat. And he was a hugger. Grams had been the hugger in the family while Dad was the press-a-kiss-on-the-forehead or squeeze-a-shoulder type of guy. I savored the hug even though my mind warned me not to be too greedy. I was hugging a god, after all.
“Thank you,” I said and stepped back.
Amber eyes searched mine. “No, dýrr mín. Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
Like Echo had given me a choice. “It’s okay.”
“Trudy, leave us.” She hesitated, but Baldur added, “I’ll send her to you as soon as we are done.”
Done with what? I wondered again, watching her leave. I felt like a lamb being primed for the slaughter. I wanted to call back Trudy, but there were more important things than my fears and insecurities.
“What’s wrong with Eirik?” I asked as soon as the portal closed.
“Patience, dýrr mín. ”
He led me past the living room to a paneled, cozy room I’d never visited before. It had shelves of leather-bound books, scrolls, and what looked like an hourglass on a vintage table. Instead of the gold and white theme, bright crystals, and three-dimensional murals like in the living/dining room, this room was darker with gorgeous paneling and burgundy curtains. The yellow crystals gave it a cozy, intimate ambience. On the walls were framed maps of the nine realms instead of murals. A wide lounge chair, obviously for lovers, was by the fireplace, where flames flickered and warmed the room. Somehow I knew this was the goddess and Baldur’s private room.
“Sit, please.” Baldur waved me to a stuffed armchair, and I sunk into it. It was comfortable. I could fall asleep in this chair in minutes. He took a similar one across the round table and smiled.
“Now, tell me. How have you been?”
“Good,” I said, speaking slowly.
“Then what’s wrong? Did you and Eirik have a fight?”
“No.” I’d have to see him to have a fight.
Baldur leaned closer. “He used to visit you quite often, but then he stopped. Since then, he and his mother have been knocking heads. So be truthful with me.”
This time, anger shot through me. I didn’t know what bugged me more. That everyone assumed Eirik had left the realm to see me when he hadn’t or that he’d left and never come to see me.
“No, we haven’t
“I told you before. I wasn’t supposed to remember this place.”
“Oh please. It hasn’t stopped you from hanging out with Eirik.”
How many more lies had he told? “What’s wrong with him? Is he sick? Hurt? Why are they throwing him a ball?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Litr opened the door before we reached it, saw me, and grinned. He rushed forward, took my hand, and kissed my knuckles. My cheeks warmed. The Dwarf could say a lot without speaking. I was happy to see him, too, but I didn’t get a chance to say so, because Baldur appeared behind him.
The God of Light, Peace, and Forgiveness looked exactly the same—same radiance, ageless skin, blond hair, and amber eyes. Every time I looked at him, I pictured Eirik centuries from now, except I wouldn’t be around to see it. He’d be hanging out with Raine and his buddies while I’d be resting in one of the halls. Dead. Forgotten.
Yikes, where did that come from? I’d accepted the fact that Eirik and I were from different worlds months ago. He was a god and had responsibilities a mile long while I was concerned with normal things like finishing high school and where to go to college.
“Celestia.” Baldur closed the gap between us and pulled me into his arms. “You poor child. You are frozen.”
Warmth radiated from him and chased away the chill that had crawled under my skin. The God of Light must manipulate light to generate heat. And he was a hugger. Grams had been the hugger in the family while Dad was the press-a-kiss-on-the-forehead or squeeze-a-shoulder type of guy. I savored the hug even though my mind warned me not to be too greedy. I was hugging a god, after all.
“Thank you,” I said and stepped back.
Amber eyes searched mine. “No, dýrr mín. Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
Like Echo had given me a choice. “It’s okay.”
“Trudy, leave us.” She hesitated, but Baldur added, “I’ll send her to you as soon as we are done.”
Done with what? I wondered again, watching her leave. I felt like a lamb being primed for the slaughter. I wanted to call back Trudy, but there were more important things than my fears and insecurities.
“What’s wrong with Eirik?” I asked as soon as the portal closed.
“Patience, dýrr mín. ”
He led me past the living room to a paneled, cozy room I’d never visited before. It had shelves of leather-bound books, scrolls, and what looked like an hourglass on a vintage table. Instead of the gold and white theme, bright crystals, and three-dimensional murals like in the living/dining room, this room was darker with gorgeous paneling and burgundy curtains. The yellow crystals gave it a cozy, intimate ambience. On the walls were framed maps of the nine realms instead of murals. A wide lounge chair, obviously for lovers, was by the fireplace, where flames flickered and warmed the room. Somehow I knew this was the goddess and Baldur’s private room.
“Sit, please.” Baldur waved me to a stuffed armchair, and I sunk into it. It was comfortable. I could fall asleep in this chair in minutes. He took a similar one across the round table and smiled.
“Now, tell me. How have you been?”
“Good,” I said, speaking slowly.
“Then what’s wrong? Did you and Eirik have a fight?”
“No.” I’d have to see him to have a fight.
Baldur leaned closer. “He used to visit you quite often, but then he stopped. Since then, he and his mother have been knocking heads. So be truthful with me.”
This time, anger shot through me. I didn’t know what bugged me more. That everyone assumed Eirik had left the realm to see me when he hadn’t or that he’d left and never come to see me.
“No, we haven’t
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