Page 79 of Tyr

The door opened, and Herm grinned. “You actually showed. I thought you were going to hide her away forever.”

“Actually, I didn’t want to leave,” said Celeste. “I haven’t been ready to go anywhere.”

Herm’s eyes widened. “Oh. Well… uh…”

“Move,” Tyr said.

Herm scratched his head and stepped out of the way before heading across the room to the dining table.

“Do you have magic powers I don’t know about?” Tyr asked.

Celeste looked at him. “Why?”

“Because Herm has never shut up that fast in my life.”

Celeste smiled.

The spacious room was like the front of an apartment. Heimdall sat on an ample leather sectional, surveying the scene, an ale in his hand. He noticed them and nodded. Tyr returned his nod.

Thor and his wife stood in the kitchen preparing food and laughing with Frigg and Meili. Baldur, Vali, Herm, and Vid sat at the table, playing cards and drinking.

Tyr looked past the sectional to a wall of dark French doors that stood open and led to an atrium. Odin took up his normal place, tending to a fire and cooking in the middle of the grassy area.

On the lawn around him, Loki and Val lounged as their daughter, Freyette, toddled between them and then over to where Fenrir held a small pink bundle. Grace sat next to him, holding two bundles of her own. Their triplets.

Tyr glanced around the group, his stomach in knots. Celeste squeezed his hand.

“Tyr’s here,” Heimdall called, loud enough for everyone to turn.

Tyr glared at him, and Heimdall raised his ale and then sipped from it.

Damn, Heimdall.

Frigg hurried over, a radiant smile on her face. “Tyr, I’m so glad you made it. We’ve missed you.”

From anyone else, the sentiment would have sounded like a lie, but Frigg never lied. And of anyone, she loved her family most.

She hugged him and then looked at Celeste. “You must be Celeste. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m so glad you came, too.”

“You’ve heard about me?”

She nodded. “Your father used to come in every few months for a meal and a drink. He always talked about you. And, Herm hasn’t stopped talking about you and Tyr.”

Tyr rolled his eyes. Of course. Herm never could keep his mouth shut. But being the messenger to the gods, Tyr supposed it was written into Herm’s DNA.

“Oh, Tyr, I hope you don’t mind, but I invited a friend to join us from now on. I know he’s your friend, and we don’t know him, but I felt like I needed to.”

Tyr’s eyebrows drew together. “A friend?”

She nodded, and a loud knock sounded at the door. Frigg smiled and walked to it, opening it.

A smile spread across Tyr’s face as the broad man ducked in the doorway and glanced around nervously.

“Hephaestus, you got my invite. I’m so glad,” said Frigg. “Thank you for joining us.”

“Uh… thank you for the invitation, Lady Frigg. I am truly honored.”

“Frigg,” she replied. “Just Frigg.”

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