Perfekt Order (The Ære Saga Book 1) (43 page)

There was no doubt in my heart; I’d do
absolutely anything for Tyr, anything at all, if it meant saving
him.

I bent down and brushed his lips softly with
my own. “Please don’t leave me,” I whispered. “I know we’re not
perfect. I know we’ve got, like, the entire universe stacked
against us. But we’ve only just started. Come back to me. Because I
love you.” My voice broke over the words. They were too true, too
right.
And too late.
I lay my head on Tyr’s chest and cried.
“With everything I have, I just love you.”

The hand that touched my back was cold. And
hard. It rubbed me stiffly, like it was moving for the first time
on its own.

It was Fred.

I lifted my head. Tyr stared up at me.

“You’re okay!” I threw my arms around him and
squeezed so tight, he winced.

“I’m okay.” He pulled me back. “Do you?”

“Do I what?” I blinked back my tears.

“Love me?” His voice was thick.

“With everything I am,” I whispered back. Tyr
reached up and guided my face to meet his. Our lips met in a rough
kiss. It was far too short, and when Tyr met my gaze, his eyes were
hungry.

“Gods, Mia. I love you so much. I’d do
anything for you. Anything.”

“Oh, Tyr!” All of a sudden I couldn’t stand
the inches between us. I crawled into his bed, careful not to
jostle him, and pressed myself to his side. Tyr pulled my head to
his bare chest and cradled me with his good arm. He flexed Fred
experimentally, moving each finger with care.

“You did it. Nice work, Henrik. Sis! You’re
awake!” He beamed up at Elsa, who practically wilted in relief.
Forse ran over to catch her.

“For the love of Asgard, Tyr, don’t scare me
like that again!” Elsa leaned against Forse.

“I could say the same for you,” Tyr
admonished. “Do you have any idea how long you were out?”

Elsa put a hand on her hip. “How would I know
a thing like that?”

“Months. It felt like an eternity.” Tyr
balled both fists—Fred, and the one he was born with. “I am so
sorry that monster hurt you. I swear, I won’t let anything get near
you ever again.”

“Ah, Tyr the Protector. Once, now and
always.” Elsa smiled ethereally. “I adore you, big brother. But you
don’t have to save everyone, all the time. I’m here, and I’m just
fine. A few scratches, is all.”

“You gave us a scare.” Henrik crossed the
room and wrapped Elsa in a bear hug.

Elsa’s laugh rang like chimes. “
Hei
Henrik.”

Brynn moved to kiss Elsa on both cheeks.
“We’re so glad you’re okay. That
both
of you are okay. Gods,
Tyr. That was terrifying! Mia nearly had a heart attack.”

“You were pretty freaked out too,” I pointed
out. “Wait, the prophecy. Henrik said the Norns saw the God of War
fall. Does that mean you’re still in danger?”

“I doubt it. The prophecy came true. I did
fall,” Tyr pointed out. He shifted us so we could sit up in the
bed, and he nestled me underneath his arm as he rested his back
against the headboard. “For all purposes, that monster killed me.
But then you brought me back.” He stroked my cheek with one finger.
“And now,
mitt hjårta
, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.”

I studied Tyr’s features, committing every
detail to memory. Especially the way he looked at me like I was the
only girl in the world. “Thank gods.”

“Agreed,” Elsa chimed in.

I reluctantly looked away from Tyr. “Sorry I
yelled at you, Elsa. I’m usually more well-mannered.”

Elsa laughed. “I know. I could hear you all
those times you came to visit. I couldn’t wait to come out of that
void and meet you in person.”

“I’m getting you an Elite Team security
detail,” Tyr vowed. “Henrik, find out who the ranking officer is. I
want him reassigned to Elsa immediately.”

“I don’t need Elite Team.” Elsa rolled her
eyes. “Honestly, you’re so overprotective.”

“That’s my job. I’m your brother. And we’re
not done talking about this. But we can table it until tomorrow.”
Tyr stroked my back while he spoke to his sister.

“I hope he’s not this bossy with you, Mia.
It’s rude.” Elsa punctuated her declaration with a wink. She was
bubbly—not as perky as Brynn, but more so than I expected of
someone who’d shared Tyr’s upbringing. She looked out the window
with a frown. “So where is Fenrir now?”

“Restrained. Heimdall took him to the prison
chamber via the Bifrost.” Brynn put her head on Henrik’s chest, and
Tyr squeezed me tightly.

Freya let out a contented sigh.

“What?” Tyr asked.

“Great Odin, I’m good. Look at you, Tyr. My
sweet, stubborn, impossible, irritating, egotistical, stoic,
pigheaded friend. Alive. And in love.”

“Nice, Freya. How do you talk to your
enemies?” Tyr rested his chin on the top of my head.

“As I was saying,” she continued, “my friend
finally
met his match. With more than a few gentle nudges
from yours truly. Goddess of Love, guru of happiness. Matchmaker
extraordinaire. You are so welcome,
kille
.”

I couldn’t stay silent any longer. “How is
this even possible? I can’t do any of the stuff you guys can do.
I’m not immortal; what happens when the next possessed deific
wildebeest or whatever comes after me or one of those jotun things
attacks?” My voice dropped. “Or what if you decide it’s too much
work to have to protect me all the time? I’m not like you are—you
guys are going to get tired of doing everything half-speed so the
human can keep up.” I looked up at Tyr. “I love you. I think I
always will. But I can’t lose you again. Not like this. You need a
goddess who can fight at your side. Maybe I’m not your match, maybe
you’re stronger without me, maybe—”

“Stop it right there.” Freya held up a hand
before Tyr could respond. “I said you two are meant for each other,
and it’s true. I’m not a Norn—I don’t see the future, and I don’t
know
how
things are going to work out. But I watched as you
chose each other. And I know things
are
going to work out.
That’s all you need to know.”

“It’s enough for me.” Tyr’s lips brushed my
hair. “What about you,
prinsessa
?”

“
Prinsessa
?” Elsa raised an eyebrow,
and the back of my neck grew hot.

“Fine. It’s enough. For now. But you know
I’ve got a million questions.”

Tyr tilted his head toward the door. “Want to
take a walk?”

I pushed myself to my feet, glancing at the
enormous blood stain on the far side of the bed. “Are you up to
walking right now?”

“I think I can manage it.” Tyr stood with
care, gingerly testing his weight before taking a step. He took my
hand in his good one and leaned to kiss Elsa’s cheek. “Glad you’re
okay, sis.”

“Always am,” she said lightly. “Now, is
anybody going to do something about that or does my brother have to
walk around looking like he’s part robot?” She pointed to Fred.

“How does it feel?” Henrik inspected the
prosthetic as Brynn handed Freya a small pouch.

“Better Fred than dead.” Tyr pointed one
robotic finger at Henrik, who groaned. “Nice work, man.”

“Ahem,” Brynn chimed in.

“Sorry. You too, ladies. Thanks for this. I
mean it.” Tyr grinned.

Freya held some dust from the pouch, and
sprinkled it on Fred. “It’s the last of the
älva
dust,” she
explained, looking at me. Tyr waved his hand over the metal, and a
flesh-colored sleeve grew over the robotic replacement. It slid
down the forearm, and each of the fingers, until the entire thing
was covered in a peach coating. Tyr tapped it twice, and the sleeve
shimmered, then disappeared. In its place was a highly realistic
arm. I reached out to touch it with a finger—it even felt warm.
Except for the stiffness in Tyr’s movements, I’d never have known
it was a prosthetic.

“Much better. And I’ll clean up the blood.”
Elsa raised her palm at Tyr, and the remnants of the red liquid
disappeared. By all physical appearances, the past few hours had
never even happened.

“
Takk
, Else.” Tyr nodded his
appreciation.

“Any time.” Elsa turned to Forse, who
lingered behind her, shifting his weight from side to side. “So
what have you been up to while I’ve been sleeping?”

Underneath his stubble, Forse turned a
blazing crimson.

“Let’s go.” Tyr pulled me out the door. He
called over his shoulder. “Don’t bother us.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,
kille
.” Henrik
laughed. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

****

“You’re wondering what happens now.” The tide
was just starting to come in on the cove. Tyr held my hand as we
walked barefoot in the wet sand.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “Elsa’s healed, and you
probably have a laundry list of crises you put on hold to stay here
and take care of her. You’re going to have to leave Earth, aren’t
you?”

“I’m sure I will fairly soon.” Tyr stopped
moving abruptly. Since his fingers were laced through mine, I
lurched backward. “But I’m just as sure that I’ll come back as soon
as I’m able to.”

“You’re a god. You belong in Asgard.”

The words killed me.

He took my hands and dropped to one knee.

Oh my god
. What was he doing? I was
only seventeen.

“I’m not proposing,” Tyr clarified.

“You promised you wouldn’t snoop in my
head!”

“Didn’t have to. You have absolutely no poker
face, remember?”

“Oh. Right.” My cheeks warmed.

“Listen to me, Mia Ahlström. I belong with
you
. Nobody else. I’ve never told a girl I loved her,
because it’s never been true. But I love everything about you. Your
eyes. Your laugh. I love the crooked half-smile you give me when
I’m being a complete and total
ryck
. I love the way you bite
your lip when you’re concentrating, and I love that you refuse to
leave the house without checking three times for your keys and
phone.” Tyr smiled. “I love that you refuse to say ‘butt.’ I love
the seven hundred pairs of shoes you have to choose between when we
go out. I love that you didn’t run screaming from my house the
night I told you what I was. I love the way the south comes out in
your voice when you’re tired. Or nervous. And I love the way I feel
when I’m in the same room as you. Like my heart is warm, and I’m
finally in the right place. Like I’m not all alone anymore.” Tyr
lifted my hands to his mouth, and brushed his lips over my
fingertips. “You’re the last thing I was expecting to find when I
came to Midgard. I just wanted to get Elsa away from Fenrir. You
definitely weren’t what I thought I wanted, but you’re exactly what
I needed. And I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

I buried my hands in his hair, overwhelmed
with joy. The words ran on loop in my brain as I drilled them into
my memory—I didn’t want to forget a single thing about this
moment.

But as much as I loved the sentiment, there
was still an enormous problem. “You’re a god. And I’m me. Can that
even work?”

“I want to try,” Tyr vowed. He stared into
the ocean. “Being God of War is a twenty-four-hour deal. Asgard’s
almost constantly under attack, and I’ve had to run defense pretty
much daily for the last millennia. It’s not like I can move to
Midgard and play house full-time—I have to go where the hostilities
are.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“But it doesn’t mean I can’t return when the
battle’s over.” Tyr paused. The corner of his mouth was turned up
in his typical arrogant expression, but I could see just a hint of
vulnerability in his eyes. “This is a whole new game for me. I’ve
never had anyone I wanted to make time for. But I promise I’ll
always come back for you.”

He held my hands gently in his and looked
into my eyes. “You’re it for me, baby. Will you do me the honor of
being my girl?”

In this moment, he wasn’t the all-powerful
God of War, he was just… my Tyr. The one who dried my tears, and
proofread my papers, and covered my eyes at the scary parts of
movies, and who ate the black olives off the pizza because he knew
I hated them. The one who made sure his freezer had my favorite
kind of ice cream, and never made me feel like he wanted me to be
anything other than exactly who I was. The one who loved me just
for being me, imperfections and all.

The one I couldn’t imagine living
without.

“Of course.” My voice cracked. “I will
absolutely be your girl.”

Tyr stood and lifted me off the sand. I
wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed him hard.

“Is life with you always going to be this
crazy? Flying horses and feral wolves and killer dragons?
Resuscitators and healers and near-death experiences?”

“Quite possibly. You in?”

Tyr brushed his tongue against his bottom
lip, then covered my mouth in a fervent kiss. When he pulled back,
he eyed me levelly.

“I am so in.” I laid a trail of kisses along
his jawline until I reached his ear. I took the lobe in my mouth
and sucked gently.

Tyr gave a sharp intake of breath and hiked
my legs higher around his waist.

“Hold that thought.”

“Yes, sir.” I kissed him again.

Tyr ran the short distance to his porch,
never taking his lips off mine. My hands fisted in his hair as he
ripped the French doors open, then slammed them closed behind us. I
peppered his jaw with kisses while he took the steps two at a time.
When he reached the landing, he tore down the hall. His hands
cupped my bottom as he opened his bedroom door with his shoulder,
bent his knees and flew twenty feet, cradling me protectively as he
landed on his back on the enormous bed. He rolled onto his
forearms, and my heart pounded as I stared at the planes of his
bare chest. They were firm and smooth and tanned and absolutely
perfect.

Oh yum.

Tyr hovered over me. His hips pressed lightly
against mine, and he met my eyes with a look that made me
shiver.