I swallow my bite of cheese and turn to face him, grabbing his hand and clutching it to me.
“Freya told me. How do you feel?” I ask him.
He glances at her before looking back at me. “I’m nae sure how I feel right now.”
Stroking the top of his hand, I give him a sad smile. “That’s normal. I felt the same.”
He grimaces at the reminder of his betrayal before shaking his head. “I guess that explains the strength.”
My mouth drops open. Leave it to Lachlan to be so cavalier when he has learned something this important about himself.
“That’s all?”
He shrugs, his dark brown hair grazing the tops of his shoulders. “It does nae change much. My parents are still gone, and I was raised by a man who loved me as his own. I just ha’ new family now too, I guess.”
Lilah slides a plate in front of him and he smiles and nods at her. “Thanks, Lilah.”
At the other end of the table, Freya gives out orders.
“Harald, I need you to head back to Vanaheim and grab some books on the other realms and the signs of war. Master Anders should know which ones.”
Harald grumbles something under his breath, but stalks off anyway.
Her eyes follow him before falling onto me. “Tomorrow we’ll have a sailing, and then the actual work begins.”
After a relatively quiet and awkward meal, we file out of the dining hall. The fire blazes in the hearth of the kitchen as we pass its door. The heat seeps into my tired limbs.
Gran’s sailing is tomorrow. She’s gone and now all that’s left is to honor her. The thought leaves me breathless.
“Will you be staying here or returning to your own realm?” I ask Freya, hoping she’ll stay here and help. I could use her guidance.
She pauses, thinking through my question. “Would you like us to stay?”
I nod quickly, my eyes watering.
“Odr and I will stay here then. I’ll need to discuss those options with Harald and Piominko.”
“Thank you,” I whisper. “Evander?” I turn to find him. His copper hair gleams in the fireplace’s glow as he passes. A small smile curls his lips and there’s a steady warmth in his gaze as he approaches.
“Can you find two available rooms for Freya and Odr, please?” I gesture to them.
“We’ll only need one room. Thank you,” Freya adds. Evander nods and strides off in the direction of the residential wing. A blush creeps up my neck at having not guessed correctly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to assume.” I murmur to her. We begin walking down the hall again.
Freya smiles and the corners of her eyes crinkle the same as Lachlan’s do. “Not to worry, dear. I’m just surprised you didn’t notice the mating bond.”
My head cocks to the side as my gaze roves over her and then to Odr as he walks closely behind her. “I wouldn’t know what it looks like. We haven’t had any here.”
Freya raises her left hand and a nearly invisible gold thread with delicate runes wraps around her ring finger. I glance again at Odr busy in conversation with Lachlan now, but sure enough, an identical gold thread with runes marks his finger as well.
“With no magic here, it’s not a surprise there aren’t any new matings.” A smile blooms on her face as she watches me closely. “Do you have questions?”
We enter the throne room, the emptiness of it still a surprise to me, and begin heading towards the residential wing.
My mind chugs, as if coming back to life after a long slumber, and I sigh. “I’m sure I do, but it’s hard to think right now.”
She giggles. The sound washes over me like a breath of fresh air. “Ask whenever you’re ready.”
