Page 49 of The Fanged One

She gripped his thigh and took him all the way to the root again. Fenris came with a low, broken sound, his body shaking like a leaf in her small hands while she swallowed him down and stroked him through it. The pleasure went on and on, wave after wave, until he was scraped hollow and shivering. She finally let him go and pressed a kiss to the scar on his hip.

She let out a yelp of surprise as he hauled her up off the rug and into his arms.

"I take it that was acceptable," she said into his chest with a soft laugh.

"Give me a century. I'll find the words for what that was," he replied.

They worked their way under the covers in a slow tangle, her head finding the hollow of his shoulder, her palm flat over the slowing thunder of his heart. He pressed his mouth to her hair, breathing her in.

Ours, his wolf said, drowsy and certain.

Outside, the gray was warming toward morning. In a few hours, there would be packing, arguing, and the dark paths through Yggdrasil.

If Hel's trials were anything like the story described, peaceful moments would become rare and precious. Fenris kissed the top of Linnea's head and stayed awake, just to hold onto this one a little longer while it lasted.

24

The wards of Alfheimstod parted for them like a curtain of warm rain, and Linnea walked out of dreary Oslo into a clear Finnmark winter day. Linnea drew in a deep breath of clean air, relieved to be out of the city's smog. Tor closed the portal behind them with the small crystal in his hand, and the sudden lack of traffic noise left Linnea's ears ringing.

"Thank the gods for portals so I don't have to deal with Tor's driving," Von declared, shattering the silence completely. He had a pack shaped like one of the really large traveling backpacks that were the bane of European airport staff in the summer, but it was made of soft black leather with brass buckles and elaborate knot patterns tooled into it. Layla had taken one look at it and asked if Kathmandu had done a collaboration with The Lord of the Rings and why she hadn't been told about it.

Linnea had half-expected Von to turn up with a man bag and a smile, so it was a shock to see him in sturdy hiking boots and jeans, a cold-weather coat, and zero eyeliner. He looked like he was about to start work on the fjord for the day, and the change kept drawing her up short.

Above the frozen lake, Alruna's log house looked picturesque and welcoming with smoke rising from the chimney in a steady ribbon.

The Queen of the Light Elves stood on her deck in a thick woolen tunic dress, silver-gray braid over one shoulder, and waving like they were just family turning up late for lunch.

"There you are." Alruna came down the steps and folded Linnea into her arms, surrounding her in the scent of lavender and woodsmoke. She pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Running off after wolf gods and leaving dramatic notes. You took ten years off my life."

"I'm sorry, Aunty," Linnea said, her eyes sliding to Fenris. "It was kind of an emergency."

"You're forgiven, I suppose, but if you do it again, there will be trouble." Alruna let her go and turned to the mountain of a man standing quietly at the edge of the group.

Fenris looked cautiously around him at the house, the lake, the trees, and finally Alruna.

Alruna crossed the snow to him and took his scarred hand in both of hers without hesitation or fear.

"Welcome, Fenris Lokisson," she said, her steady amber eyes looking up at the Great Wolf. "Be welcome in my house and on my lands."

Fenris bowed, deep and formal, the courtly manners of a god trained in respect at an early age.

"The honor is mine, Queen Alruna. You're a queen in your own right, and you are my uncle's mate, and I'm glad to know you on both counts." His voice dropped, rough at the edges. "Vili was kind to me when few were. Whatever hurt lies between you, I hope time mends it."

Alruna's eyes went bright, and she rose up on her toes and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you," she said simply. She gave his hand a brisk pat, and the queen became the aunty again between one breath and the next.

"Okay, out of the way. I need to kiss the queen." Von pushed past Fenris and picked Alruna up off the ground. "I'm so happy, Runa! I'm going to see Hel!"

"Put me down, you goblin." Alruna laughed brightly and kissed Von's cheek. "I'm glad to see that you are excited about your adventures."

"And I want to hear about yours. To Asgard. With Havi. Huh? Huh? What's happening there?" Von teased her and got away with it when no one else would.

"Gods, Von, shut up," Layla growled.

"What? You're just jealous I'm going to get the gossip, and you aren't." Von set Alruna back down and looped his arm around hers. "It's okay, Runa. You can just whisper it to me."

"You really are incorrigible." Alruna looked back at Fenris. "Now, when did you last eat? Don't answer. I can see it. You're coming with me for a snack, but there's hot stew and fresh bread already cooking for dinner. I want to hear about your father from someone who actually likes him."