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Odin’s lips lift in a small smile.
He says, “Because of the boy, we were able to figure out who he was working with. Things got interesting when I got a call from Claudius Irons.”
I shiver. “The woman in charge of the trafficking ring said he wanted to buy me.”
“He did, but only because I told him to.”
“And now you owe him.”
“I do, but I’d do it again a million times over to save you.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you save me?”
Odin reaches into his jacket, pulling out a folded document. “As soon as I sent you away, I knew I had fucked up. When I found out you were gone, my world came crashing down.”
He unfolds the document, turning it so I can see.
My breath hitches. “Divorce papers?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He takes my hands into his own. “Because I love you, Anna Aakre, and I plan to make you my wife.”
My eyes water. “You love me?”
“I do.”
I shake my head. “This will never work. Grandmama won’t let this happen.”
“Elsa won’t be in the picture much longer.”
His words settle over me.
“Odin, you can’t do this. I’m not worth it.”
“You are, baby girl, and I refuse to live my life without you by my side. Not as some secret, but as my partner and my wife.”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Me too.” He sighs. “You asked why I married Selma. I’ve suspected for a while that Elsa had ulterior motives when she stepped down, leaving the city to Jafar, Van der Zee, and myself, and I was right. People began reaching out, saying Elsa was asking them to stand with her, which meant she was planning to stand against us.”
I think back to all the phone calls Grandmama made when we were inAngrboða.
I say, “We didn’t go toAngrboðato hide. We went so she could form an army.”
“Yes. I knew I needed to get her back in New York, so that’s when one of my brothers suggested marrying Selma. We counted on the fact that Elsa would be too full of herself to think that we might be onto her and proposed the marriage as a business arrangement.” He shakes his head and smiles. “I planned for everything, but never expected you. At first, I wondered if you were being told to text me, but then it became clear that you really thought you were texting with Hans.”
I say, “You mentioned the moment you noticed me. Was that true?”
“It was.”
“It’s funny. I remember Hans that night, but I also remember you.”
