"I'll handle whoever it is." I tell her, grabbing a fur and heading for the door.
She snorts, already reaching for one of the blankets. "This is a we style relationship."
“We selfishly don’t want anyone looking at our very satisfied mate,” I argue back.
The blush that creeps up her neck pleases me greatly, but the determination in her gaze doesn’t waver.
“Am I in danger?”
“No,” I say.
“Then I’m coming too,” she says, wrapping a blanket around her body.
I grin and nod. “Out we go then,” I grab a fur and wrap it around my waist before stepping outside first and holding the door for Astrid.
The rider crests the hill just as we position ourselves in front of the cabin. I relax slightly when I recognize the Valkyrie armor glinting in the early light, though I maintain my guard. Just because they're from Odingard doesn't mean the news is good.
"Prince Fenrir!" The young Valkyrie calls as she approaches, her horse's breath steaming in the cold air. She reins in, looking relieved at the sight of us. "My apologies for the intrusion, Your Highness."
“If they sent you all the way up the mountain it must be important,” I say.
Astrid stiffens beside me. "Wait—Prince? Actual prince." she whispers, turning to stare at me with narrowed eyes. “Are you a norse god too?”
"I’ll explain later," I murmur back.
"You're a prince!" Astrid presses, her voice low but insistent. "Were you planning to mention that at some point?"
"It wasn’t relevant," I reply under my breath.
She makes a small choking sound. "Not relevant? Your Highness?"
"It's just a title," I say, though we both know it's more than that.
The set of her jaw tells me this conversation is far from over, but she falls silent as I address the Valkyrie.
"Why were you sent to us?"
"The All-Mother sent me with urgent news. Queen Nimue of the Sirens has arrived at the palace of Odingard seeking you. There are... rumors off world spreading that your mate died."
Someone is speaking when they shouldn’t be…
Beside me, Astrid stiffens. I lean my shoulder into her, hoping to relieve some of the tension.
"Queen Nimue." I say the same slowly. "When did she arrive?"
My grandmother's message crystallizes in my mind. She's telling me what Nimue knows, what she's heard. Rumors. Not facts.
Clever.
Knowledge is power in the royal courts. And right now, we have more of it than the Siren Queen. Nimue came rushing to Asgard because she heard Astrid died.
“Has my grandmother told her anything about Astrid?”
“I don’t know, your Highness. I’m sorry.”
My mind races. The siren who carried Astrid to Odingard would’ve been the only one besides Cormac who knew how close to death Astrid had been. The information had to have come from her.
"You may go," I wave the Valkyrie off. “Thank you. We’ll get back to my grandmother before you do.”
