“Well, Gran used to make these amazing waffles . . .” I trailed off.
“Done.” Mack stood up. “Norsk waffles and fresh fruit for breakfast.”
“And coffee?” Hope colored my tone.
“Always coffee,” Mack agreed. “God natt, Allie. Try to get some sleep when you’re done with your reading. It’s going to be a long couple of weeks.”
I nodded. When the boys left, I closed the door behind me and settled in with my math homework. A part of me knew that moment, sitting with a textbook and a page of black-and-white, answerable questions, was the last moment of normal I’d have for a long time. And I wanted to savor it.
****
Muted sunlight streamed through the curtains of my window early the next morning. I rolled onto my side, pulling the thick down comforter over my shoulders, and just stared at the wall. I couldn’t believe I’d just agreed to live with four guys. Gran was probably rolling over in her grave. But certainly I didn’t want to be alone—not after I’d seen what the night elf was capable of. And I didn’t want to drag Mallory into all of this either. She’d seemed calm enough when I texted her confirming Johann’s cousin-story, and there was no point freaking her out by bringing Allie-hunting demons to her door. Sigh. It looked like I was a temporary resident of Protector Palace. I sure hoped the boys were halfway decent roommates.
I somehow managed to drag my sluggish body out of bed to throw on some clothes, brush my hair and my teeth, and swipe on a coat of waterproof mascara. While I had no idea what Asgardian Weapons Training later would entail, I had a pretty good inkling it would involve sufficient pain to evoke tears. I made a mental note to stick close to Mack. He seemed like the gentlest—or, at a minimum, the least prone to torture—of my protectors.
I padded out into the hallway, sleep still weighing down my steps. I was so not ready for a day of classes—my trip aboard the rainbow crazy train, not to mention my virtual all-nighter, had totally wiped me out. Rally, Allie. Don’t let them think you’re weak.
“Morning, Sunshine.” Bodie’s cheery voice greeted me as I made my way into the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Please,” I grunted. My energy was pretty dormant until it got its daily serving of caffeine.
Mack looked up from the stove, where he spooned up scrambled eggs. When the waffle maker beeped, he turned his attention to the device and removed a steaming treat. “Vafler, Allie?” he offered.
“Please,” I grunted again. When I’d plopped myself down on a stool at the center island, I accepted the warm cup Bodie handed me. “Thank you.”
“Around here we say takk,” he corrected. “Those of us with Asgardian heritage attempt to retain our connection to the Norse Midgardian language.”
Guys who spoke multiple languages were hot. Maybe I could pick up some words while staying with them. “You guys are all Asgardian, right?” I sipped my coffee. Mmm. Liquid gold.
“They wish.” Bodie winked as Johann slugged into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “God morgen, Sleeping Beauty. Nice of you to join us,” he teased Johann.
“Shut up, Bodie.” Johann went straight for the coffee pot. He poured a cup and shuffled over to the stool to my left. “Hei, Allie.”
“Hey,” I replied.
“As I was saying, we’re not all Asgardians. Asgard is home to the primary gods, demigods, and warriors and healers who protect the nine realms. We can’t all be go-getters, though. The sleepyheads live in Vanaheim.” Bodie tilted his head at Johann.
“I said shut up, Bodie,” Johann groaned. “Let me drink my coffee in peace.”
Looked like Johann wasn’t a morning person either. Preach.
“Johann’s from Vanaheim.” Bodie took two plates from Mack and sat on the stool to my right. He set one plate in front of me before digging into his. “That’s the home of the secondary gods, and general slowpokes. No offense.”
“You do not want to fight me before I’ve had my coffee,” Johann threatened. “I won’t have the fortitude to not outright kill you.”
“Gentlemen. We are not animals.” Mack frowned over his shoulder.
“Mack’s from Alfheim—he’s a light elf, and they’re all about the manners and sensitive feelings,” Bodie continued.
Shut up. The big beefy dude rocking the Viking beard was an elf?
“But you don’t have pointy ears,” I blurted.
“Excuse me?” Mack looked confused.
“Your ears. They look like mine. The night elf who attacked me the other night had pointy ears. And so do the elves in those movies about the ring.” I bit my bottom lip, worrying I’d offended Mack. But he let out a guffaw that echoed around the kitchen.
“Do you believe everything you see on your television?” Mack chortled.
“No.” Maybe.
“I’m a light elf, Allie. And while it’s true some light elves do share the ear shape of our dark elf brethren, you’ll find most of us are indistinguishable from humans.” Mack’s easy smile let me know all was good between us. He returned his attention to the stove.
“Yeah, Mack’s a light elf all right. That’s why he’s so in touch with his feminine side,” Johann chimed in. The caffeine must have hit his system. He was back to heckling Mack.
Mack turned around, a heaping plate in each hand. “If you would like any vafler, I suggest you put on your kindness hat.”
Johann saluted. “Yes, sir.”
Oh my God, he just said kindness hat. So cute.
Mack crossed to the island and lowered his massive frame onto the last available stool. He set the plates down and opened up the newspaper that had been sitting on the countertop. “Huh,” he muttered.
“What is it now?” Bodie looked up from his eggs.
“Another mudslide in Los Angeles. This one took out a dozen homes and killed a group of hikers.” Mack stared at the paper. “I knew this much rain after their drought would be dodgy, but I thought their parks department could handle diverting the overflow.”
“Their parks department was downsized considerably, remember?” Bodie took another bite. “Budgetary cuts under the new leadership.”
“That worked out nicely for Nott, didn’t it?” Mack folded the paper and pushed it away.
“Lots of things in this realm are working out nicely for Nott lately,” Bodie agreed.