Ice Gods (Paranormal Romance Novella) by Helen Scott Taylor

Author:Helen Scott Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: paranormal romance, christmas, fantasy romance, mythology, iceland, norse gods, norse mythology
Publisher: Helen Scott Taylor

Chapter Six

Annika woke snuggled beneath a heavy quilt on a bed. Her head pounded and her body ached as if she'd been used as a punching bag. A rustle of sound caught her attention. She turned over warily and opened an eye. A log fire crackled, casting dancing patterns of light over a forest green sofa and honey-colored wood.

Where was she? She tracked back in her mind and remembered boarding the plane. Her breath hissed in as an echo of pain flashed through her. The ring had trapped her in Iceland. A gamut of emotions followed the realization: anger at Odin for daring to confine her, fear over what would happen to her now, but also relief that she had an excuse to stay with Tyr.

The sound of footsteps heralded Tyr's approach from a small kitchen in the far corner of the room. "You're back in the land of the living." He smiled down at her and placed a steaming mug on the nightstand before hunkering down beside the bed. "Hot chocolate with a nip of something to revive you."

He bent his head, his dark bangs flopping over his face, and pressed a kiss on the back of her hand. Her breath rushed in, carrying the woodsy smell of Tyr mixed with the sweetness of chocolate.

"How long have I been unconscious?"

"Long enough for me to lug you back to my retreat and put you to bed."

Her eyes opened a little wider when she realized she must be in his bed.

While Tyr fetched his own mug from the kitchen, Annika sat and pulled her knees up to her chest. She tried to smooth the creases from her black tailored pants but gave up and drowned her sorrows in a blissful mouthful of chocolate with a kick of alcohol. She held off reality for half a cup, then the strangeness of her situation swamped her, and she returned her mug to the nightstand unfinished.

She spread her fingers, gazing at Odin's ring. "How can I get it off?"

Tyr sat beside her and gently wrapped his hand around hers. "Forget the ring. There's nothing you can do about it. My brother Baldur cut off his own finger to rid himself of the ring but it just appeared on one of his other fingers."

Annika shivered.

Tyr drew her hand towards him and kissed her knuckles. "Stay here with me, elskan mín."

She stared around the tiny wooden lodge. The place was toasty and snug but little more than one room. Inside her head she'd sensed Tyr all her life, but moving in with him when they'd only known each other for a couple of days was crazy. Yet where else could she go? "I'll be in your way."

With a wry laugh, he cozied up to her. "No…you won't." His hand settled at her waist, and he eased her around to face him. "We've been together in mind and spirit for a long time. Our connection is strong."

He leaned his forehead against hers. Her eyelids fell as the familiar comforting sense of him swept through her, calming her fears and smoothing her worries.

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