“I have one question first,” he asked while Clara stepped away to call Seb.

“Go on.”

His eyes narrowed. “How did she get the burn scar?”

“Some fire giants tried to use her as a magical battery. I had to burn over the runes they branded into her to break the connection.”

“Are they dead?”

“Not permanently.” My lips quirked. “I’m not really up to singlehandedly invading Muspelheim to deal with them.”

“Good. That means I can kill them a couple more times.”

I couldn’t help but laugh slightly. That was an interesting way of looking at it. “So you really do like her.”

“Yes, but don’t worry. I’ll respect her.” His lips quirked. “And you. You are very attractive…”
“And very taken.”

“I’d say I could always wait, but you’ve probably worked something out.”

I felt my lips twitch. “Possibly. Unfortunately, the friend I have most interested in…entertaining…you is very sick.”

“I’m not a healer.”

“She’s past needing one.” I let out a breath. “Mortals.” I glanced at Clara.

“Loving them is painful. But often worth it.” He paused. “Mortals have a brightness, an appreciation of life that immortals tend to lose after the first couple of centuries. And the best of them also have that knowledge of their own eternity. It’s bittersweet.”

I glanced at Clara again, then back towards him. “Because they can’t help but change.”

“And those we keep…those those of us with the power to keep…they stop changing and they stop being the person we fell in love with. I’ve seen it happen.”

My eyes closed for a moment. Opened. “It’s her choice, not mine.”

“Typical Aesir. You respect mortal free will more than most.”

I grinned. “We like to be friends with them.” And I understood that. I could see it in Loki’s antics, even when I’d glimpsed Tyr talking to some young soldiers.

“But then you keep the best ones…”

“I don’t know. Freya’s seem to be…” I tailed off.

We both looked at the door at the same moment.

“Crap.”