by Lisa Oliver
“Kin? That’s a joke, right?” If asked, Orin was going to blame his lack of sleep, the slight twinge in his ass and the fact he was still naked in a room full of dressed people for his tone. “I haven’t seen an elf in decades. The last ones I saw were visiting my mother and making her cry, but no one would tell me why. Until this book came into my life, I have lived a totally elf free life. And you call me kin? No elf has ever done anything for me.”
“You didn’t know about your father?” Cathair glowered. “How could you not know how much of a hero he was?”
Uncaring that the covers had fallen from his chest, Orin surged up. “Hero? What kind of a hero leaves a woman pregnant with his unborn son? What kind of hero’s family calls on that woman and makes her cry? All I got told, the only thing my mother said about my father was that I would never meet him, and it was just us two against the world. And it was, until she died, and then it was just me, shunned by the shifter and elven communities alike. So, don’t stand there and call me kin. Don’t you dare. Thor.” Orin reached out his hand and grasped his mate’s bicep. “Please take me home.”
Within seconds he was curled up on Thor’s lap on a familiar couch. They were in Thor’s Manhattan apartment. Orin was still naked but, in a blink, Orin found himself curled up, in a soft warm blanket, Thor’s bare chest under his cheek. Overwhelmed, it was all too much. Seeing Cathair reminded Orin all over again of just how much he’d missed in his life. There was a whole half of his genetics he knew nothing about beyond what he’d read in books. Curling his arm up around Thor’s neck, Orin cried.
Chapter Thirteen
Fart, he’s crying. What the hell am I meant to do now? Crying wasn’t something Thor had a lot to do with. Oh, he made people cry, often, but it wasn’t as though he hung around and made “there, there,” statements to make them feel better. He’s tired, Thor told himself, petting Orin’s head clumsily. He’s tired, and overwrought and that damn Cathair brought up bad memories for him. Thor would deal with that annoying elf the next time they met.
For now, he had to find a way to get Orin to turn off the water works. Kissing him sounded like a good idea. If the kisses work, I could get rid of my pants before they cut the circulation to my dick. But something niggled in Thor’s brain, probably Lasse’s influence, that it might not be the best idea to be thinking about sex, and besides Orin’s face was all wet and mushy. Still stunning but mushy. Tissue. Thor plucked a large handkerchief out of thin air. But when he tried to dab Orin’s tears with it, Orin just buried his face further in Thor’s neck.
S…h...i…i…i…t. My neck’s all wet and now he’s snuffling. Eww, I hope there’s no mucus. Thor would do anything for his mate, and share almost all bodily fluids with him. But not nose snot. There were some things even a slayer of giants couldn’t handle. “Here, sweetness,” he said, tucking the handkerchief in the crook of Orin’s arm. “Is there anything I can say or do to make you feel better?”
“No.” Orin sobbed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
“It was that damn elf, being thoughtless, saying stupid things he knows nothing about.” Yeah! Anger at Cathair, Thor could handle.
“You’re right. He doesn’t know me. I don’t know him, and I damn well shouldn’t let his comments get to me.” Orin sat up, the blue blanket falling to his butt. “Thank you for the hanky.” He wiped his face and then blew his nose, before folding up the evidence and blinking it away.
Phew. Orin’s face looked so much better now it wasn’t wet. Thor started to rethink his sex idea. But before he could get too entranced with the way the setting sun from outside made Orin’s chest glow and the caged necklace dangling from his neck sparkle, Orin said quietly, “I’m really glad you brought me back here as soon as I asked. You’ve no idea how much that means to me. Most people tend to ignore anything I say, or talk over me, telling me their idea is better for me, even when I know it isn’t.”
Serious shit. Better keep your pants on for now. “I’ll do anything you ask,” Thor said in what he hoped was a serious tone to match his mate’s. “Anything except leave you, wipe your nose for you, or… or… no, that’s it. Anything but those two things.”
“Those are very specific exceptions.” Orin chuckled, which was a huge improvement on the crying episode.
“Yes, well, people go around saying Gods can handle anything, but believe me, they can’t.” Thor laughed. “Lasse can’t stand snakes. I mean, he’s a jump on the table and squeal type person if he sees a little snake. Me, I’m not one for kids. Put me within ten feet of a runny-nosed child and I want to puke. As for the leaving you aspect – that’s me being one hundred percent selfish. I don’t want to feel like I did when I knew you’d left Poseidon’s, so you can’t leave me, and I won’t leave you. Do we have an agreement?”
“No snot nosed kids, or leaving each other. Agreed.” Orin held out his hand, which Thor took, marveling at the difference in their sizes. “I don’t suppose you fancy a picnic on the bed,” Orin continued, “or the floor here by the couch is fine if you have a pet peeve about crumbs in the bed? I seem to have worked up an appetite this evening. Is it still evening?”
Thor looked over his shoulder at the window. The sky was just starting to darken. “London is five hours ahead of us, so we’ve gone back in time today. Which means it must be time for dinner. Would you like to go out for a meal? My treat.”
Orin brightened for a moment, and Thor wondered if his wee mate had ever been on a date. But then his sweet face fell again. “What if Foggerty or someone from the library sees me? My gods, there might even be an arrest warrant out for me for stealing. I don’t want you getting into trouble for being seen with me.”
“Foggerty won’t have reported the theft to the local authorities. For one thing, the book didn’t belong to the library – it was given to Foggerty and secondly, he wouldn’t want to risk the police taking you in, and then keeping the book he wants to get his grubby hands on as evidence. Besides, if he files a complaint he’d have to explain where he got the book and that’s not anything he’s ever going to share with the police.”
“Do you know how he got it?”
That’s when Thor remembered he still hadn’t explained to Orin about the things his father told him. Sorry, cock, we’ll have to take a rain check. “Magic yourself some clothes, and we’ll go out for a meal. It’s a long story and one better heard over a bottle of wine and a huge plate of pasta. And don’t worry.” Thor leaned forward and pecked a kiss on Orin’s nose. “I’ll keep you safe from the likes of Foggerty.”
/~/~/~/~/
Going out with Thor was eye-opening. Striding along as though he owned the pavement, Thor didn’t stop or move aside for anyone. He just automatically assumed people would get out of his way, and they did. Orin, on the other hand, was having trouble keeping up with Thor’s long legs. “Haven’t you ever heard of a romantic stroll?” He asked as he had to run to keep up. “You know, looking in windows, taking the time to savor the sights and smells, and basically slow down?”
“You want to look at handbags?” Thor stopped suddenly in front of the window they were passing, causing three people and a dog to cut around him. “I don’t mind stopping if that’s what you want, but the air around here smells of exhaust fumes and garbage which is hardly pleasant and most of the shops are closed.”
Clearly not used to the window shopping concept, Orin thought. “It’s the smells of the city. I’m sure you’re used to them.” Orin slipped his arm in the crook of Thor’s elbow. “And I’m not in the market for a new handbag this week. It’s just you’ve got long legs. I didn’t fancy arriving at our dinner destination out of breath, because I had to run most of the way.”
“I’m used to walking with Lasse,” Thor said by way of an apology, as he patted Orin’s hand on his arm and started walking more slowly this time, keeping Orin’s hand where it was. “You need to tell me these things, because it’s not the sort of thing I would even think of by myself.”
“Haven’t you ever dated someone smaller than yourself?” It was easier to talk now Thor wasn’t moving so fast.
“I’m not one for dating,” Thor threw a dirty look at a man in a business suit who was too busy talking on the phone to notice where he was going. Orin gave the man a small smile as he stumbled out of the way. Thor’s glare was enough to frazzle anyone. “Almost everyone I’ve been with has been big boned. Not even my wife was someone you could consider small.”
“Your wife?” Orin’s feet froze to the pavement. How could I have forgotten the little detail about Sif? Adultery was common among the ancient gods, but it wasn’t something Orin ever thought about in relation to himself. He cleared his throat. Oh my God, I’m the other woman. “Do you still see her often?”
“What? Gods, no!” Thor looked down at him with an expression of horror. “Please, sweetness, I know you’ve spent many years reading about the ancient Gods, but seriously, you can forget a good half of what you think you know. Yes, Sif and I had a daughter together, and yes, I had children by another woman too, but that was back when the world was only in its infancy. We’re talking thousands and thousands of years ago. By the time poets and story tellers started spreading the word to people about our supposed lives, as if they knew anything about us, most relationships had already split up and we’d all gone our separate ways. Marriage was a lot more fluid in those days among the god line, but not so much by the people who worshipped us. Consequently, most humans prefer to think we’re still spending eternity with the one person. They have no concept of mates. Oh, look, we’re here.”
Thor pulled open the door of a typical Italian pizzeria, not one that Orin had been to before. The smell of fresh pasta, anchovies, and cream appealed to his animal half and Orin’s stomach rumbled, but he still had a lot on his mind. Thor’s casual dismissal of his marriage bothered him for some reason. He followed Thor to a table tucked out the back in a quiet discreet corner and listened as Thor rattled off an order to the waitress who was clearly used to his mate’s big appetite. He was startled when, after the waitress had left, Thor leaned across the table and grabbed his hand. “I’ve put my foot in it again, haven’t I? Mentioning my wife in front of you. I’m so used to people knowing about her, I tend to forget most people alive now don’t know the full story.”
“No, no you haven’t said anything to upset me. I should have asked you about Sif before we claimed each other, but with this issue of the book and everything, it completely slipped my mind. Thank you for letting me know there’s nothing between you and her anymore. I didn’t fancy being considered as an adulterer, or coming between you and your wife.” Turning Thor’s hand, Orin imagined a huge solid ring on the thick third finger. His imagination easily filled in the details of his mate’s wedding feast. Thor resplendent wearing very little at all; Sif looking beautifully buxom, her long blond hair flowing down her back. “It just threw me for a moment, the way you just dismissed her, even though you were married to her. But as you say, it was a long time ago.”
“Well before you were a twinkle in your mother’s eyes,” Thor said with a grin. “I have walked the cosmos alone for more centuries than I can count and any relationships I did have were all so long ago they truly don’t count anymore.”
“I think your attitude bothered me slightly because I never knew my father,” Orin said thoughtfully. “I’ve never been able to understand why he only stuck around long enough to conceive me. I mean, if you take the time to create a brand new dependent being, don’t you think that entails some sort of commitment to the mother?”
“I couldn’t say. Times were very different back when my children were born. I was away fighting to defend Asgard, I barely saw my kids, barely knew they existed. Women had to contend with so much back then. They were solely responsible for raising the children, and among the gods a decent upbringing as such was,” Thor waved his free hand back and forth, “a relative term. Marrying for love was virtually unheard of until the Renaissance. Among gods, it was fashionable to pine over someone, go to war for someone, have numerous affairs for a variety of reasons, but love was something else entirely. Gods were revered and worshipped by their followers, and some might call that love, but very few of the deities felt the same way.”
“I like to think my mother loved my father, whoever he was,” Orin said. He shrugged. “Another flight of fancy I imagine. Spending so much time with my head in books, reading about the angst and torment caused by affairs, I could never reconcile myself to having multiple entanglements.”
“Just try not to pre-judge my behavior based on the cultural norms of today,” Thor said quietly. “The Thor of old married, had affairs and thought nothing of it, and spawned children that grew up and made their own way in life. I never believed the Fates would favor me. But I am hugely thankful you’ve come into my life now.” Thor did sincerity very well and despite the seriousness of the topic, Orin felt his spirits lift. “Many beings, paranormal and human alike, make the mistake of thinking a mating is like a marriage. Believe me, the bonds created by the Fates are a lot more enduring than those formed by signing a piece of paper or saying ritual words over a fire pit.”
“I’m glad we’re mates not married then, because my life would seriously suck without you in it now and I can’t see that ever changing.” Orin regretfully took his hand back as the waitress arrived with steaming plates of pasta covered in a delicious smelling sauce. Orin’s keen nose picked out basil, pepper, garlic and parmesan. It tasted as good as it smelled.
For a while, the only sounds between them involved munching, swallowing and the occasional clink of cutlery on the china plates. The room was warm and the background noise from the other diners wasn’t intrusive. Not used to being out on a date, especially with someone as magnificent as Thor, Orin found himself relaxing, looking forward to spending alone time with his mate later. Their one bout of sex wasn’t enough to cure the itch his cat was feeling, and he hoped this time he could last longer than five minutes.
But when Thor scraped the last of his sauce off his plate, and then pushed his plate aside, pouring two large glasses of wine for them both, Orin remembered their date wasn’t purely for romantic purposes. That feeling was reinforced when Thor reached for his hand again. Moving his plate to one side, Orin took it with one hand and raised his glass with the other. He had a feeling he was going to need a spot of liquid fortification for this chat.
Chapter Fourteen
The warm glow Thor was feeling had nothing to do with the excellent meal, although it was delicious. There was something special about being out with his mate, and Thor felt a sense of pride at the number of lustful looks sent in Orin’s direction. He was confident his sweet mate would never stray, so knowing others were envious of him was a boost to his ego. But he’d promised an explanation and so, with Orin looking at him expectantly, Thor laid it all out about how Foggerty was given the book by the dark elves and how it was meant to be in Orin’s possession.
“I’m the only being in existence that can use that spell?” Orin’s whisper sounded horrified. “Why would it be given to me? My uncle was a distant relative at best. I never met him.”
“I doubt it was an inheritance angle, at least from the Fates’ perspective,” Thor said. “Elves can’t die, as such, they’re immortal much like the gods, but they can be put into stasis. Being in the presence of true evil is usually enough for that to happen. If your uncle came into contact with the dark elves; well, my father said he’d been killed, but it’s more likely he’s in stasis never to recover, probably in the underworld.”
“I still don’t understand why it came to me. Surely, there must be other family members on the elven realm who would keep it safe, even if they couldn’t read it?”
“Apparently not.” Thor shrugged. “Chances are the whole family line is lying in a sanitorium somewhere waiting for the love of their fated mate to revive them, which, unless their mate is another elf, is unlikely to ever happen. If my father says y
ou’re the Keeper, then that’s it as far as I’m concerned.”
“I’ll never use it,” Orin’s lips set in a tight line, his eyes flashing with resolve. “Summoning any being, from a god to a squirrel is wrong. It takes away their free will. I’d die before I trapped someone that way.”
“You’re immortal too, sweetness, thanks to our mating, and I think you’re missing the point of a summoning. It doesn’t have to be a horror story.” Thor waved to the waiter for another bottle of wine. He waited until the bottle was brought over, sampled and approved, before topping up Orin’s glass. “You’re thinking of a summons as a means for a lesser person to shackle a greater force to do his bidding, like Foggerty and his need for immortality and world domination.”
“That seems to be what happens when magic users summon demons.”
“Ah, but those people are crackers to begin with. Every single person who’s summoned a demon ends up paying for it in one way or another. You know for yourself, when you expend magic, magic demands a price. For the pure of heart, that price is usually nothing more than a headache and the need for sleep. But evil doers, and they are usually the idiots who summon demons, their very soul is permanently tainted from the interaction. A summons is a contract as such so a price is paid by both parties.”
“All the more reason not to use the spell,” Orin muttered into his wine glass. “Can you imagine the consequences of summoning someone with huge powers like Zeus, Odin or Poseidon?”
“Ah,” Thor raised his finger, “but you’re thinking like a man who might want to use their powers for nefarious ends. I imagine if you summoned Odin to dinner one night, he’d be tickled pink and there would be no consequence to you at all.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to call him on the phone?”
“Odin doesn’t have a phone. You need to start thinking like one of the god line, especially now you’re their Keeper.” Thor tapped his head. “I wouldn’t think messing with many of the Norse gods would be a good idea. They tend to keep to themselves. And don’t ever summon Loki unless you absolutely have to. I have him to thank for Mjolnir, but Sif was pissed for years about her hair. But let’s say Itzamna was having a petty dispute with Amun-Ra, and Zeus or Odin caught wind of it. They might ask you to summon both gods to a neutral location, so the situation could be discussed rationally without a centuries long feud breaking out.”