by S. T. Bende
Inga smiled. “We’d love it.”
Tyr bumped Henrik’s fist, and treated me to a wry smile. “Congrats to you both. Just so you know, he’s your problem, now.”
“Hey,” Henrik protested. But he grinned back at his friend and tucked me tightly into his side. “He’s not wrong, sötnos. You sure you know what you’ve just agreed to?”
I stood on my tiptoes and planted a lingering kiss on my…my fiancé’s lips. Fiancé! Eep! “I know exactly what I’m in for. And there is nobody I’d rather spend an eternity…how did you put it? Collaborating with.”
Henrik’s cheeks flushed. “I just meant that—”
“I know what you meant. I love you, Henrik Andersson.”
“Jeg elsker deg, Brynn Aksel.”
Tyr cleared his throat as Henrik lowered his head to mine. “So…is the rest of the cake a drone, too, or do we actually get to eat it?”
“Tyr!” Mia admonished. “Sorry about him.”
Tyr shrugged. “We were all thinking it.”
“I was kind of thinking it.” Jason shot Freya a rueful grin.
“I was definitely thinking it,” she admitted.
“Me too,” I piped up. Henrik raised an eyebrow. “What? You make really good cake!”
“Who am I to interfere with mass love for my truly remarkable baking? Elsa? Forse?” Henrik gestured to the table. “Blade’s to the right. Carve it up.”
With a private smile, the bride and groom clasped hands, lowering the knife to slice their wedding cake. As they doled out pieces of confectionary awesome, I took in the sea of happy faces, letting myself absorb every ounce of the joy with which the cosmos had blessed us. There would be a lifetime for teasing. And laughing. And living. But for the rest of that day, we simply ate, danced, and celebrated the freedom each of us had to love and be loved. There truly was no greater gift in all the realms.
Elsa once said that families came in all shapes and sizes, each as unique as the multitude of beings that comprised them. As I celebrated with the beings I loved more than anyone in all the worlds, I knew beyond a doubt that I’d lucked into the family that was my absolute, hands down, unconditional perfekt match. Whatever adventure awaited us next, we’d step into it as we had everything else in our crazy, messy, amazingly beautiful lives.
With love.
Together.
Henrik’s brother Gunnar returns in THE ELSKER SAGA. (Keep turning pages for a sneak peek!) Sign up for S.T.’s READER’S GROUP to learn more, receive release updates, and get your free copy of Gunnar and Inga’s novella, TUR!
Reviews are a big deal for authors, and your feedback means a ton. If you enjoyed the Ære crew’s story, our Norse friends would truly appreciate your rating this book. Takk!
WANT MORE OF THE NORSE CREW?
Meet the other Norse crew (including Henrik’s brother, Gunnar!) in THE ELSKER SAGA.
ELSKER
ENDRE
TRO
TUR (a novella)
THE ELSKER SAGA: COMPLETE BOXED SET
Revisit War’s Norse crew in THE ÆRE SAGA.
PERFEKT ORDER
PERFEKT CONTROL
PERFEKT BALANCE
PERFEKT MATCH
See the crews together in the crossover novella…
SUPERNATURAL CHRONICLES: THE ASGARDIANS
Meet the demigods in NIGHT WAR SAGA.
PROTECTOR
DEFENDER
REDEEMER
And introduce your Padawans to STAR WARS!
Complete list of S.T.’s Star Wars children’s titles
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Want to know more about Henrik’s brother, Gunnar, and Asgard’s winter god, Ull?
Find out what the other Norse crew was up to during The Ære Saga in the completed companion series…
THE ELSKER SAGA.
Kristia Tostenson just discovered her new boyfriend is the Norse God of Winter—an immortal assassin fated to die at the world-ending battle of Ragnarok. Her orderly life is about to get very messy.
Read ELSKER now!
AND NOW, A SNEAK PEEK AT THE ELSKER SAGA…
“KRISTIA!” I HEARD ULL’S voice before I saw him. He burst through the back door of the nightclub and pulled me into a hug. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. Where did you go?” Ull’s chest muffled my question.
“I took your assailant outside. Dealt with the problem.”
I tried to pull away, but Ull was too strong. “Let go.” He did, reluctantly. “I mean where did you go? You just…disappeared.”
“I walked outside.” Ull shrugged.
“No, you didn’t. You had that guy by the neck, and then he said I was asking for it and you just—” I twirled my finger. “Poof. Gone.”
“It has been a long night. Wait here,” Ull commanded. While I didn’t appreciate taking orders, I didn’t challenge him. Ull had a brief talk with the bartender, no doubt making sure the perps couldn’t cause any more harm, and came back with our coats on his arm. I didn’t ask how he had known which jacket was mine.
“Come Kristia, I am taking you home.” He strode across the dance floor, still radiating barely-contained fury, as I hastily told my roommates I’d meet them at our flat. Once outside, Ull stopped under a streetlight. Tension rippled from his body, but his eyes were soft; the grey-blue of the sky after a storm. I both adored and hated him all at once.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. How did you…”
Ull drew another ragged breath. “Right place, right time.” He obviously wasn’t telling the whole truth.
“That’s not what I mean. Are you going to tell me about that whole disappearing act in the club?” Or explain how he and his stepdad had the same names as the gods I’d taken a quiz on this week?
“Not tonight.”
“Then goodnight.”
“Wait.” He seemed at a loss. “I suppose we should talk.”
“I don’t know if I want to talk to you. You didn’t call me, remember?” Hurt doused my words.
“Right. That. You deserve an explanation.”
“For what? Making out with me in the middle of a castle—no, two castles—and just leaving me hanging? For lying to me about having ‘the most enjoyable evening you have ever had’ then not bothering to call when you said you would?” My exaggeration of his soft accent was terrible, but I was building steam. “It’s been two weeks and I’ve heard nothing from you. Nothing. I actually believed you when you said you were a good guy. But clearly, you’re the same jerk who spent a week giving me angry looks for absolutely no reason.”
“I would hardly say I am a jerk.”
“Really? Then what would you call making out with someone all night and then dropping off the face of the earth? You made me feel this big.” I pinched my fingers together and held them just under his nose. “And where do you get off acting like that? What kind of scumbag just drops the cow once he gets a taste of the milk? Huh?”
“Would you be the cow in that scenario?”
“Don’t mess with me right now,” I threatened. “I called you. Because that’s what nice people do when the person they like goes missing. They pick up the phone and call. I thought something horrible had happened to you. Was this whole thing just some ploy to see how
far you could get with me?” The corner of Ull’s mouth turned up in a smirk. Seriously? “Is this funny to you?”
The smirk broke into a full-fledged smile. “Are you finished?”
“Hardly.” I glared into Ull’s endless blue, traitor eyes.
“I did just save you,” Ull reminded me.
“I had things under control.”
“Oh, did you?”
“I was getting there.”
“Right. Well, while you were getting there, I took care of the problem. The least you can do is let me explain.” I thought about what I’d have been doing right now if Ull hadn’t come along in the nightclub. Guilt stepped lightly on anger’s toes.
“You know what?” I sighed, too exhausted to fight anymore. “I’ve had a long night. I just want to go home.”
“Do you want to hear my explanation?”
“Do you think it’ll make any difference?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe’s not good enough.” I turned and walked toward campus.
“This conversation is not over.” Ull’s voice was strained.
“Yes, it is. I get it. You weren’t that into me. You’re lousy at dumping girls. Case closed.”
Ull grabbed my hand, forcing me to stop. “Please. It is not what you think.”
I pulled my hand back and folded my arms. “It doesn’t matter. I just want to go home.” I resumed my brisk walk. Ull matched my pace.
“Fine. But this conversation is not over.” He marched confidently beside me.
“Where exactly do you think you’re going?”
“With you.”
“No, you’re not.” I didn’t care how good he looked in that coat; I was a woman of substance.
“I am making sure you get home safely, whether you like it or not. We can discuss this further tomorrow.”
“I seriously doubt that,” I muttered, picking up my pace in an effort to get away from him.
At that moment, Ull Myhr was the last person I wanted to be around.
Read ELSKER now!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my handsome husband and beautiful boys—I’m so grateful God gave me you. Jeg elsker deg. Forever.
To my friend-family—thank you for filling my life with love.
To Lauren (McKellar) Clarke, whose sharp eye and gentle wit always brings out the best in our Norse crews. To Mariana, whose infinite kindness keeps everyone grounded. To my beta readers, technical advisors, and production team, who keep me on track. And to Alison, whose kitchen table pep talk made sure Freya finally got her happily-ever-after. Bless you.
To the readers who embraced War’s crew from day one—I’m humbled and thankful for all of your support through this series. Thank you for dreaming across the realms with me.
To everyone who strives to bring love and ære to our world—thank you for making Midgard a better place. Never, ever, give up.
And to MorMorMa. I love you to the moon and back. Always.
MANGE TAKK!
Mange takk for reading THE ÆRE SAGA. I hope you enjoyed reading our Norse crew’s adventures every bit as much as I enjoyed writing them. It’s been an epic ride getting to share these Asgardians’ stories, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of truly amazing readers. Tusen takk for dreaming across the realms with me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, internationally bestselling author S.T. Bende lived in Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe…where she became overly fond of McVitie’s cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a very patient Norwegian teacher inspired her YA Norse fantasy books. And her love of a galaxy far, far away inspired her to write children’s books for Star Wars. She hopes her characters make you smile, and she dreams of skiing on Jotunheim and Hoth.
Learn more about the world of S.T. Bende at www.stbende.com.
for dreaming across the realms with me.