Page 51 of Thor
“No,” she said louder.
A buzz of whispered raced around the crowd.
“You have no say. Sutrelle daughter of Surtr—”
“No!” Elle said forcefully. “If you want Thadren to be your heir, adopt him, marry him, I don’t care, but I will not be a pawn in your plans any longer.”
Surtr raised his hand to strike her but Elle raised hers as well, allowing her magic to flow over her hands and arms for the first time in front of anyone but Val.
“Go ahead,” she dared him. “Try to strike me and I will show you what I’ve inherited from my mother.”
Surtr froze. “You have your mother’s magic.”
Elle didn’t respond.
“But you can’t possibly use it. You’ve never been taught.”
“Do you want to find out, Father?”
His flames flared. “Are you threatening me girl?”
Elle’s magic rose higher inside her. Swirling and growing with each passing heartbeat.
“No. I am warning you. I will no longer take the abuse you have met out on me my entire life. I will no longer sit silently and allow you to use me at your pleasure. I will not be my mother and die under the weight of your hatred. I may be the daughter of Surtr, but I am also the daughter of Aelena, Priestess of Asgard.”
“How dare you—”
“How dare I? How dare you?” Her magic spiked as her temper flared.Interesting.
Thunder rolled over the castle so loudly that the windows rattled and several pieces of wall décor crashed to the ground.
Surtr’s hand dropped and Thadren as well as most of the audience turned as the stone doors to the great hall burst open.
In ran two enormous goats pulling a golden chariot the size of a small dragon. The goats ran straight to Elle. Thadren backed up as Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr slammed into the head table, throwing it backward and tipping over the three thrones. Surtr managed to jump out of the way before being bowled over.
Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr formed a barricade in front of Elle like two furry protective mountains. One of them bleated at her and stamped his feet for pets, but it wasn’t quite the time for goat cuddles.
“Get me my axe!” Surtr bellowed. “We’ll have goat meat for a week.”
“No!” Elle raised her hands ready to attack Surtr.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Thor stepped out of the chariot in full Asgardian armor.
Elle couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him. He was there. He’d come for her.
Thor’s lightning gaze remained on her as he stalked forward like a fierce predator. Mjölnir had morphed into its true form, so massive that Thor’s hands barely closed around the hilt.
He stopped at her side and it took everything inside Elle to keep from throwing her arms around him.
He touched her cheek. “Are you hurt?”
Elle shook her head, unable to form words. Thor was there.
“Unhand my daughter,” Surtr bellowed. “I won against you once, Odin’s son, I can do it again. Only this time I’ll make sure you won’t be coming back.”
“I wouldn’t be sure about that,” said Thor.
“Why?” asked Surtr. “Because you’ve gotten more powerful since we last met? It makes little difference.”