Page 39 of Tyr

Tyr felt for Hephaestus. Even after all these centuries, old hatreds died hard. Really hard.

For the firsthalf of the show, Celeste sat mesmerized by the music, and then her mood changed when the band sang Gods of War. She jumped up and danced to the beat. Tyr couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her letting go. Hephaestus jumped next to her, and together, they were like two teenagers at a rave. Tyr laughed.

He had always loved music, but very little of it had spoken to his soul throughout his life the way Brothers of Metal did. From the first time he’d stumbled upon it, it had just resonated with him somewhere deep. And seeing it do the same thing for Celeste was almost better than the music itself. Almost. He liked that he was able to do that for her. That he was able to help her forget what she’d been through and enjoy herself. Even if it was only for one day.

Herm and Vid had tried to placate him by coming once, but their reactions had been nothing like Celeste’s. And those guys liked everything having to do with themselves.

He chuckled, remembering Herm trying to headbang to the music, hitting his head on the cement and knocking himself out. Idiot.

As if she’d heard him laugh, Celeste turned to him, hair wet with perspiration and cheeks flushed. He imagined what she looked like after sex and wished more than anything to see her like that in his bed. Happy. Pink and sated. Sweat slicking her body.

She held her hand out for him to join her, but Tyr shook his head. Dancing was one thing he could not do. She stuck out her bottom lip and tugged on Hephaestus. She whispered something in his ear, and Phes glanced at Tyr and shook his head. He said something to her, and she laughed. Tyr kicked Phes in the leg, and Phes grabbed his thigh.

“Charley horse! Not cool, man!” Hephaestus rubbed his leg and punched Tyr in the thigh.

Celeste dropped into the seat next to Tyr, grabbed his beer, and chugged it. She set the cup down in the holder and made a face.

“That’s horrible.” She rubbed her neck and massaged her arm.

He quirked an eyebrow. “Are you old enough to drink?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m the daughter of a demon and an angel. Is there an age limit for beings like us?”

Fair enough.

“Would you like me to get you a different kind of beer?”

She shook her head. “Not if all beer tastes like that.”

“Have you never had alcohol before?”

She shook her head and wiped her tongue with her t-shirt.

For a split second, Tyr wished he was the one licking the taste out of her mouth.

He clenched his fists. He had to stop. He was supposed to be keeping her safe. Nothing more.

Hephaestus laughed. “Let her try some honeyed mead from Frigg’s place. That’s probably more her style.”

Tyr stood.

“Where are you going?” Celeste pushed the hair from her face.

“To get you something else to drink.”

“Like what?”

My tongue.Tyr wanted to punch himself in the face. Repeatedly. “I’ll find something. Do not move from this spot. Got it?”

“And miss one of their songs? I’d rather piss myself.”

Hephaestus smiled at Tyr. “I like her. I like her a lot.”

His friends kept saying that.

“Don’t let her go anywhere,” he said to Hephaestus.

“Yes, Dad.”

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