Page 45 of Thor

“Is she aware of that?”

Thor looked at Hod and then at Elle and back to Hod. Dread snaked through his gut.

“Why would Elle care about my plans to avenge us with Surtr?”

Suddenly Thor didn’t want the answer.

Hod’s eyes widened. “Because of their connection.”

Thor’s throat dried. Skin abnormally warm. A connection between them. The way Frigg had taken her in. The way Odin had known her. And now Hod. Hod who couldn’t see physically but saw beyond what others could.

No.It wasn’t possible. Couldn’t be.

“She’s a fire giant,” Thor said.

“She’s Surtr’s daughter,” Hod replied. “Can’t you sense the power which flows through her? The faint smell of smokiness to her skin.”

Thor got up from the table so quickly his chair tipped backward and crashed to the floor. Everyone turned. Lightning cracked outside and thunder rolled across the top of the building. Time slowed as Elle turned and their eyes connected.

Surtr’s daughter. Elle is Surtr’s daughter.

The smile she wore fell. Lightning hit the floor next to him, knocking Hod out of his chair.

“Thor!” Odin yelled. “Enough.”

Val jumped in front of Elle. Twin silver and golden blades protruding from her wrist bracelets. Val...Valkyrie. How had he not seen it? How had he been blinded?

Loki stepped next to Val, his eyes darkening and a faint glow of blue magic appearing in his hand.

“Did all of you know?” Thor yelled. “Am I the only one not in on the joke?”

Elle took a step forward but Meili pulled her back and whispered something in her ear.

Thunder rolled louder above the building.

“Thor.” Frigg moved gracefully toward him. “It’s not like that. Elle’s mother was a dear friend who Surtr kidnapped at Ragnarök. We thought she had died in the cataclysm. When Val was able to send me word about Elle and who she was, I had to help. I loved her mother like a sister.”

Thor looked to her. “You. You’re the one who said for me to go to the speed dating event. You knew she would be there. You knew we would meet, didn’t you?”

“Your fate and the fate of the fire giants have been tied together since the beginning of time. Did I know it would be the daughter of Surtr who would finally heal your heart, no. I only knew someone would. And that someone would be from the house of Surtr.”

“And you,” he said to Odin. “You knew who she was when you saw us together, didn’t you?”

Odin crossed his sinewy arms over his chest. “I met her once. Years ago. She was only a child. But yes. I recognized her.”

Thor’s heart pounded against his ribs. They knew. They all knew. And no one told him. His gaze met Elle’s and tears welled in her eyes.

He wanted to go to her. To tell her it didn’t matter. He didn’t care who her father was. That he loved her and that was all that mattered. But he couldn’t.

Thor grabbed his hammer from inside his jacket and pointed it skyward before anyone spoke. His feet lifted from the floor, and took off into the sky.

* * *

Elle stood paralyzed.Unable to do anything more than watch Thor disappear. She wasn’t sure how he’d found out the truth about her, she was only upset that he hadn’t found out about it from her. She should have told him the truth. Should have forced him to listen and let her tell him who she was. Maybe he would have reacted the same, maybe he wouldn’t have. It didn’t matter, all that mattered was that he thought his entire family had lied to him. Thatshehad lied to him.

Elle set down the dishtowel she’d been using and walked toward the exit.

Val grasped her arm and turned her around. Elle stared at her for a moment.

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