Page 13 of Tyr

Tyr let go of Celeste. “Are you alright? Did she hurt you?”

Celeste shook her head, breathing heavily, her face pale as his comforter. A trickle of sweat rolled down Celeste’s cheek.

“Are you sure?”

“She just scared me.”

Celeste clutched his t-shirt. She looked at her hands and let go immediately.

“Sorry.”

“No reason to be.”

The sound of Yegret’s cage being locked pulled his attention. Vid and Herm looked between him and Celeste. She turned away and lifted her cloak to cover her face.

“Celeste, you don’t need to do that here.”

She peeked out at the two men.

“This is Hermódr, messenger to the gods.”

“And a god myself.” Herm gave a flourishing bow. “At your service.”

Vid elbowed him in the ribs, and Herm straightened and grabbed his side. “Ouch! What the Freya did you do that for?”

Vid growled. “Don’t take my mother’s name in vain, you little twat.”

Herm burst out laughing. “Twat? Seriously? That’s the best you came up with?”

“Knock it off,” Tyr said too loudly. Celeste flinched, and he took a moment to gather himself.

“Sorry about him,” said Vid. “He’s more the god of prepubescent boys than anything else. He has the mentality of a twelve-year-old.”

“Hey,” said Herm. “That’s so rude. I have the mentality of at least an eighteen-year-old. Ask any of the women I’ve been with. They say?—”

“No one cares,” interrupted Vid. “I’m Vidar, God of Vengeance. And now I will be taking this one to have a little timeout in his big boy room.”

Without another word, Vid slung a massive arm over Herm’s shoulder and forcibly moved him toward the door.

“Wait.”

The men stopped.

“See, Tyr doesn’t want me to go,” Herm ducked out from under Vid’s arm.

Celeste wore a perplexed expression. “As juvenile as they seem, they are my best friends and brothers to me. We’ve been together for thousands of years. I trust them with my life. They’re the only two men I will allow near you while you are in my care. But never, ever, will they touch you. On my honor be it.”

Hermódr and Vidar bowed to Celeste. “On our honor be it,” they said together.

Celeste’s perplexed expression turned to something akin to amusement.

“Celeste is a telepath like Sy,” Tyr continued. “I would like you to consent to let her read you both for her peace of mind. You don’t have to, but if you don’t, I won’t be able to let you near her for any reason.”

Vid and Herm shrugged.

“Sure. Just don’t judge me too harshly if you see anything personal in there,” said Herm.

Vid snorted. “What? Like porn?”

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