Page 65 of About Love and Revenge

I know it’s crossing a line and maybe unfamiliar territory for us, but I can't resist. I squeeze her hand, and when she intertwines our fingers, the symbolic gesture of trust ends up dispelling any lingering doubts.

Pulling her close, I put one arm around her shoulders, and with the other hand, I pick up the book again. “This particular story is about Odin, the Norse god I'm named after,” I begin. “I'm only half Greek, did you know?”

She lifts her head to look at me and shakes it.

I don't even know why I'm revealing this. Despite my unusual name and people being curious at times, I never give any explanation of my origins.

“Odin lived inAsgard,in the palace ofValaskjálf,which he built for himself. His throne was there. From it, the god could observe what happened in each of the nine worlds, thanks to his two ravens,HuginandMunin. During combat, he brandished his spear,Gungnir,and rode his eight-legged horse."

As I read, she is absolutely focused. Breathing evenly.

"The god sometimes took a violent and dark approach, inflicting inflexible punishments, like the sleep imposed on the ValkyrieBrynhildfor disobeying him."

I notice she's smiling.

As I narrate, her body slips, and to my surprise, she lays her head on my lap. She stares at me, paying attention to every word, as if she’s reading my lips, though she doesn’t ask any questions.

I pretend that intimacy like this is nothing unusual, but the truth is I've never had this with a woman, a relationship that’s led to such a domestic situation.

It's weird, but at the same time it feels right, and worse, it makes me want more.

I put my hand on her cheek, and she puts hers on top as I continue the story.

“Odin was a fearless and ambitious god. On one occasion, to unravel the Norse runes, he went so far as to hang himself, stabbing himself and spending more than a week without eating because he was told that a sacrifice was necessary for him to absorb the knowledge.”

She squeezes my hand. “Odin was not afraid of anything. You are not afraid of anything."

That's not a question, and I think about what she's saying.

I'm not afraid of anything these days. There's nothing anyone can take away from me that hasn't already been taken.

Yesterday, however, when I was still walking home and Grigori told me what had happened to her, something close to dread gripped me.

The feeling of not being around to protect her when she could have been taken away has given me anguish, but I'm not willing to delve into it any further at the moment.

“Odin also had the ability to transform into any object or animal he wanted,” I continue.

"Can I ask you something?"

I pause reading again. “As long as it doesn't involve your father, you can ask me anything."

"It's not that. You said that Odin had the ability to morph into whatever he wanted to, so in a way, he was a liar. Don't pretend with me. Even when what we have comes to an end, always be honest with me. I was a little like Odin too, but I don't want to live a lie anymore. I'm being myself with you. I give you my word."

"Did you live a lie?"

She looks away. “Yes, but we’re not talking about me. Can you promise me that, Odin? When you don't feel like being with me anymore, if it happens before I feel the same, will you tell me?"

I close the book for good and pull her over my legs, making her straddle me. I hold her face and give her a light kiss. "We've barely begun. Why think about the end?"

"Because it's necessary. Nothing lasts forever."

I don't like her answer, because I know that some feelings can last for many years.

My hatred for Leandros is the biggest proof of that.

“I promise I'll never pretend with you, but I don't want that kind of conversation right now."

"What do you want?"

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