Page 100 of Soul of Fire

Probably, Idunn agreed.Especially if he suggests such silliness.

I am excited,Baldur declared. He had been incredibly invested in the floral arrangements.Human customs are strangely fascinating.

I suppose it won’t beallbad,Idunn huffed, nuzzling up next to him in my mind.

We won’t lose him again,I soothed, trying to ease some of her anxiety.

You will not,Baldur agreed.Now that I know the scent of the bad plant.

Mistletoe.I laughed.

Both Idunn and Baldur growled, and I threw up my hands in defeat. Let them get lost in each other. I intended to do the same with Arik as soon as the handfasting was complete, especially now that Sigrid’s tea was at work. There was very little blood remaining, and based on last night, I didn’t think Arik would mind a little mess.

I do not. Arik’s voice was a sensual purr as it filtered through my mind, and I caught my face flushing in the mirror.

Stop snooping, I snapped.

Stop projecting.He sent me another mental image, far more lurid than the one he’d sent in the library, and it made my toes curl in the slightly too small leather slippers.

Do you have the Book?I knew Arik had tucked it safely away somewhere, but I felt unreasonably anxious about losing it.

It’s safely locked away in our room. Don’t fret, my love.

I blew out a breath, trying to focus my energies on my soon-to-be wedding. When I glanced up, both Amaya and Sigrid were looking at me expectantly in the reflection of the mirror.Sigrid was amused, but Amaya’s face was full of concern as she asked, “Eisa?”

“Sorry. Dragons.” I pointed to my head. Probably best not to mention Arik was in there, too. “They can be rather loud.”

Both dragons grumbled in indignant protest.

“I was asking if you are ready?” Amaya said, gesturing to the door. “I think everything is in place.”

I turned to Sigrid, who was leaning heavily on her cane. “Aren’t you performing the ceremony?” I’d assumed she would, as she was the oldest of the three priestesses.

“Freya will perform the ceremony. Too much talking.” Sigrid grimaced. “Anyway, I rather like the idea of being the one to give you away.”

My heart cracked a little. Other than my own mother, Sigrid was exactly the person I wanted walking by my side.

“Of course, Mormor.” I kissed the top of her white head, and she gave my arm a squeeze, turning to inspect me from head to toe.

My mother’s gown fit perfectly, the white lacing and antler belt bringing out the sparkling blue of the dress itself. Amaya had offered me a clean serk to wear beneath, and the fur shawl was the perfect weight to fight the chill in the stone sanctuary.

“One more thing,” Sigrid said, reaching for my neck. She tugged and pulled the Tear of Elysia free, so it rested against my heart. “Now you are perfect. Your mother would be proud, child.”

I swept Sigrid into a hug so firm that I lifted her off her feet for a moment.

She chuckled, patting my arm. “Yes, yes. I love you too, my Eisa. Now let’s go make sure this mate of yours plans to keep his promises.”

Amaya opened the door, and the transformation of the sanctum nearly took my breath away. Twilight streamed through the enchanted reflecting pool above, casting the space in purples and pinks and fiery orange. The once-bare stone walls were now crawling with flowering vines covered in tiny white star-shaped blossoms, and the path from the doorway was lit with hundreds of candles that flickered merrily as if beckoning me forward.

Freya was waiting under the beam of light cast from the pool above, and Arik stood beside her, his hands clasped behind his back, one booted foot tapping anxiously against the stone. His hair was damp and freshly braided, the tattoos on his scalp glimmering slightly in the sunlight from above, and his beard was trimmed neatly along the square of his jaw. He was still in his beaten-leather armor, now polished to a dull shine, and I knew that I would picture him this way for the rest of my days. Tall and proud and strong. Bold and handsome.

Mine,Idunn purred.

Ours,I corrected, as his eyes met mine, silver flashing in their depths. He seemed to release a breath, as if he’d been holding it forthe past several minutes, and that secret smile he reserved just for me curved one side of his mouth.

Kjære.His tone was reverent as he took me in from head to toe.You look…He shook his head, and I felt Baldur’s rumbled laughter across our mental bridge. His eyes met mine, the silver brightening behind them as heat and desire rose in him.Radiant.

I blushed as Amaya skipped ahead to stand as a witness, but Sigrid continued her sedate pace forward.