Page 26 of Thor

“Sure. I’ll go easy on you. And I promise not to use Mjölnir.”

She chuckled. “Now what’s the fun in that?”

* * *

Thor and Ellesparred for thirty minutes, and he had to admit how impressed he was at her skill. But more than the level of her skill was the technique she’d been taught. A technique he’d seen thousands of times before.

Thor walked to the fridge. “Where are you from?”

“Uh... You know where I live.”

He opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of water and walked back to her.

“No. I mean before there. Before coming to the underworld. Where were you before? You aren’t a mortal obviously or you wouldn’t be able to come down here. You have to be an immortal of some kind. Where did you come from? It’s obvious you are hiding from someone or someones. Are you another god? Greek? Roman? You don’t look Egyptian or Asian. And your fighting style is Asgardian. Why is that?”

Elle’s eyes rang with fear. She took several gulps of the water and then sucked in a breath. “I’m from one of the nine realms.”

“You’re Asgardian?”

“Yes and no. My mother was a priestess. A sorceress, like your mother. In fact, they were friends for a long time I am told. But my father was not Asgardian.”

“Frigg knew your mother? How did we never meet?”

“It was quite a long time ago. I wasn’t born yet when my mother... met my father.”

“So, your mother was a sorceress, did she teach you anything?”

“She died in childbirth.”

Thor’s chest squeezed. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.”

“If your mother died when you were born, who taught you to fight? And how did they learn the Asgardian style?”

“You know I’ve kind of had a long day and I’m rather tired. Do you mind if we continue this lesson a different day?”

Thor had pushed her further than she was comfortable, but his curiosity couldn’t be curbed. Guilt washed through him. Go slow, that’s what Frigg had said.

“Of course,” Thor said.

She gave him a weak smile.

A million questions blasted through Thor’s mind but in the end, he could only come to one conclusion— there was something she was hiding from him. Something that scared her.

* * *

Elle walkedoff the mats shakily and went over to pet Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. He joined her, took her empty water bottle from her, and tossed it in the trash.

Now. Now is when she should tell him who she was. He’d kissed her. He deserved to know. But for the first time in her long life she actually felt cared for, peaceful and safe. She didn’t want to ruin that. What would happen if she told him?

Her hands shook and her stomach growled so loud everyone in the underworld had probably heard it. She grabbed her stomach as it cramped.

“Odin’s beard,” said Thor. “When was the last time you ate, woman?”

Elle thought for a moment. “Like you I’m not much of a cook. I ate cereal before my shift started.”

Thor shook his head. “This morning? The last time you ate was this morning? You’re lucky you haven’t passed out by now. I should have realized. I’m sorry. Let me grab you dinner.”

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