Which honestly?
It was possible she’d calmed my mate’s nerves before I had arrived and she deserved my thanks.
“I like them,” Amrin said quietly once the Draugr and Serena wandered back toward the glowing festival grounds hand in hand.
Warmth spread slowly through my chest.
“I am glad.”
Because I wanted this.
Not merely the claiming.
Not merely the bond.
All of it.
Friends.
Family.
Shared nights beneath the impossible skies of Asgarheim.
A life.
The realization still startled me.
The Draugr slung one massive wing around Serena protectively as they disappeared into the crowds.
She immediately leaned into him, clutching her absurd stuffed avocado triumphantly against her chest while he stared down at it with enduring confusion.
Amrin smiled softly at the sight.
“I thought his name was Raven?”
“Yes,” I explained as we began walking slowly through the edge of the festival grounds. “Draugr is more of a title.”
Her brows furrowed curiously.
“A scary title?”
I barked out a laugh.
“Extremely.”
“Oh.”
“He is the last living Draugr of his bloodline,” I continued carefully. “A revenant prince from our realm.”
Amrin blinked up at me.
“So, he’s like undead Viking royalty?”
I stared at her.
Then laughed hard enough several nearby students turned to look.
Gods.
