Page 32 of Tyr

He held up his hand. “It’s okay. Most people expect that of me. And in a lot of ways, I have many things in common with those men, but that’s not who I want to be, it’s who I was born. I didn’t ask to be the God of War. I didn’t choose to be the God of War. I justamthe God of War.”

She reached across the table and squeezed his metal hand. “I’m so sorry, Tyr. I can’t imagine what that must be like.”

Again, only compassion and understanding shone in her eyes. Not pity. It made his heart squeeze. She was so beautiful. So amazing. So… perfect.

“So, what about you? Tell me something about you.”

“Like what?”

She thought for a minute. “Do you like movies?”

He chuckled. “I love movies. Why do you think I put the theater in the basement? I have over five thousand movies.”

“Wow. That’s so cool.”

He shrugged. “I have to admit it is a guilty pleasure I indulge in at least once a week or when I have time off. I have even gone up to some of those movie premier things in Hollywood.”

Her eyes widened. “Like walking the red carpet and seeing movie stars and stuff?”

“I have clients who owe me favors. They get me into the movies first. I don’t do the whole dress-up and take-my-picture thing, though. Photographs can be… tricky for immortals. Especially with the internet. Take one photo, and it lasts forever. Especially at a place like a movie premier.”

She nodded. “Tell me your favorite movie.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her and smiled. “Pass. Different question.”

“What? Why?”

Because it’s embarrassing.

“Now I must know. And don’t lie. Tell me your favorite. I promise not to laugh.”

No. He couldn’t. No way. She would laugh despite what she said. And yet…

“Tangled.”

Her eyebrows drew together, and her lips quirked up. “Tangled. As in, the Disney movie about Rapunzel?”

“Yeah, it may sound stupid, but that movie deserved a lot more credit than it got. A girl fighting for her freedom and following her dreams no matter what stood in her way? She was sweet and cute but fierce and loyal. She helped people and loved despite what she’d been through. She reminds me a lot of you.”

Shit! Had he just said that?

Celeste’s eyes rounded, and she pushed her lips together.

“I like most of Walt Disney’s movies. Especially the older ones Walt did himself,” he said, trying to break the tension. “They make it seem like anything is possible and that love always wins in the end.”

She peeked up at him through her thick, dark lashes. “They do. I think that’s why I had such a hard time with them when I was little. They gave me such a sense of hope. Hope I never thought would be fulfilled in my lifetime.”

He squeezed her hand hard. “But you’re out now. You can follow your dreams. Do what you want to do. You don’t have to go back to that.”

She nodded.

“What would you do? If you could do anything, what would it be?”

She shrugged. “Books were my escape and my lifeline. I think if I was going to do anything, it would be to write books so I could maybe help others do the same. Or make my own comic books or something. Maybe I’ll write one about you. Tyr, God of War by day, Disneyphile by night.”

They both laughed, and her gaze traveled to where their hands joined.

“Can I… feel it? Not your glove, but your actual hand?”

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