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Aya was out getting last-minute touches set up in the event field with her magic, and she told me all I had to do was get ready at this ungodly hour of the morning. Except, beyond my clothes, which were fairly straightforward to put on, I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do about hair and makeup. I knew this was a test for me and memories, but damn, was it frustrating.
Unsure what to do with my hair once I finished brushing it, I let it be for now and worked on dressing.Maybe putting on the clothes will jump-start something.
Around the time I was sure my dress was on right, someone knocked on my door, and then Tyr’s voice drifted in. “Astrid?”
He poked his head in before I got the chance to answer. I gasped and brushed one of my legs behind the other. “Wait, my ankles are showing!”
He laughed. “How indecent.”
I stuck my tongue out. “Maybe that’ll teach you to wait to be called into a lady’s room instead of walking in immediately.”
Tyr paused and made an apologetic face while rubbing the back of his neck. “Ah, yeah, sorry about that. Old habit. I’ll be sure not to do that again.”
I nodded. He’d done this a few times this week. Nothing compromising, and he was always sincere in his apology. I could understand where he came from now that I had so many memories. Hardly any were of the two of us and the life we had, but a part of me accepted I’d been his wife once, and being around me would trick him into leaning on past behaviors if he wasn’t diligent.
I cocked my head when I realized there was something different about him, beyond him wearing time-period-appropriate attire that matched my memories. “Your hair is long.”
He ran his hand through the long chestnut strands. “Aya’s idea. She thought it might help. We’re pretending it’s a wig.”
“You seem uncomfortable.”
He shrugged. “It’s been a long time since I first chopped most of my hair off. And feeling her magic buzz around my head is strange.”
I gazed at him, an urge hitting me. “Mind if I do something?”
He blinked and then grinned. “You can do whatever you want to me, Valkyrie.”
I rolled my eyes, fighting back a wave of heat that smile created in me, and then motioned for him to sit on my bed. When he did, I let my body run on instinct, taking strands of his hair between my fingers and braiding them.
This felt so normal. My past said it was. Memories flickered in, filling in that gap of why. Simple and sweet moments, where he let me play with his hair all the time, for whatever reason I wanted.
Tyr held up a small wooden box while I worked. “I brought these for you. I thought you might want to use some with your outfit again.”
Pausing my work, I took the box and flicked open the lid. Inside was a stunning selection of jewelry. Familiarity rushed over me as I fingered through the contents, as did another sensation. It reminded me of my magic, but also… different.
I stopped when I found some metal beads. More memories flitted through my mind. “I had you break some of these. After… after Odin killed Kirby.”
He smiled. “That’s right.”
“It was raining that day… no, it was a storm. I’d been out in it because Leif and I got into a bit of a fight.” I squinted, thinking hard, then frowned. “That’s all I have of that day.”
Tyr hummed thoughtfully and leaned closer. His gaze on me was intense, and my heart thumped hard against my ribcage. “I’d be willing to incur Aya’s wrath, making you late if you’d like a reminder.”
His powerful scent wrapped around me, along with his large presence. My pulse picked up, and I swallowed and my body reacted to an idea of a reminder it wanted.Sex. Sex happened in this missing memory.
Flashes of a timber home warmed by a fire, fighting over a tunic, me straddling his lap, the feeling of a dress ripping—I tore my gaze away and focused on my box’s contents. I… wasn’t ready for such intense reminders.
Tyr chuckled, as if he could see the memories that came back to me. The heat flooding my face was most definitely an obvious blush.
I found more beads and rings I had liked, my favorite pair of earrings, and—I pulled out a simple but beautiful necklace with beads and a center pendant carved with a swirling pattern dedicated to Freya. “You bought this for me. In the market.”
I made a face. “After the king tried to make me marry him.”
Tyr laughed. “And you tried to fight me the whole way with every purchase I made.”
My lips twisted. “I’m not much better now, either. Just ask my dad and Diego.”
Tyr snorted. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
