AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So, three of you are Norse gods, one of you is a Valkyrie,” I said, repeating my thoughts out loud a bit, hoping it’d solidify what they’d told me. “And Astrid is—”
“Just me,” she mumbled. “I’m just me.”
My brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “I’m dealing with a memory thing.”
“What are you remembering?” Aya asked.
“Stupid shit,” Astrid grumbled. “Like stupid things I don’t need to remember, ever.”
Kirby snorted. “I remember those. Hopefully, they’re few and far between, like mine were.”
“And fucking Leif.” Astrid jerked her head up to look at Aya. “Gods, he got annoying, didn’t he? All four of Frida’s pregnancies, he was a damned worrier to the millionth degree. How did I not kill him?”
Aya laughed. “Because you loved him. You have no idea how much he prayed to me during all those. Though, believe it or not, it wasn’t as much as your father when your mother went through all three of hers. She had no idea of how much of a worrier he remained.”
Astrid massaged her temples. “That explains it.”
My brow lifted. “Who is Leif?”
“Her brother in her first life,” Aya said, her tone so matter-of-fact it was a little off-putting.
I ran my fingers through my hair. “Okay, so Astrid lived during the Viking age at some point. And she came from a family of sorcerers…”
“Just the women up to that point,” Astrid corrected. She then squinted. “But I think… there was one time a son inherited the magic. My memories are still patchy around that.”
Aya nodded. “That’s correct, actually. One of Leif’s descendants was born a twin. Both he and his sister, Randi, inherited the magic.”
“Randi…” I murmured. “You used that name when posing as Pete’sesposa.”
“Yes. That was Astrid’s mother’s name. It became a namesake after her death. Even in recent generations, there are a few surviving from that family line that have carried on the tradition. I thought it’d help her remember her past if I used it.”
“And Astrid lived… how long?”
Astrid shrugged. “That’s still blank for me, unfortunately.”
“A few centuries,” Tyr supplied. “She became immortal around twenty-five.”
“A Valkyrie,” Fen said.
Tyr shook his head. “She was never a true Valkyrie. The rumors claiming I made her into one were just that.”
“The wingless Valkyrie…” Astrid murmured.
“What triggers someone to become immortal?” I asked.
I couldn’t believe I was entertaining all this. But as crazy as this all was, I believed every word so far. And I’d be lying if some of this wasn’t fascinating as well.
“It’s different for each individual,” Fen said. “Some are born immortal, others have the potential to become immortal, and it comes down to whether they unlock that potential.”
Astrid shook her head and sat up straighter. It seemed this memory stuff was finally subsiding. “I think I know how I did.”
All eyes fell on her.
“It’s a vague memory, one that’s not fully there, but is. It was after I’d recovered from… something, and…” She squinted as she processed the partial memory. “I drew Tyr’s blood on accident when making a promise.”
Tyr ran his hand through his hair. “Shit, you’re right. We’d made an eternity vow at that moment. I hadn’t thought we’d turned it into a blood oath. That would explain everything.”
