FIRE AND ASHES

01

I awoke to the calming scent of lavender incense smouldering in the jeweled burner on the mantel.

Sitting up, I haphazardly tied my hair up into a messy ballerina bun, and walked into the bathroom. I took my time, indulging in a rose bath the maids had prepared for me beforehand, and then lazily shed my robes for an embroidered black bomber jacket with a skin-tight crop top and denim skirt.

Deciding to go outside for a breath of fresh air, I laced my sneakers, grabbed a matching satchel, and headed towards the nearest cafe for breakfast.

A few minutes' walk away from the mansion was a famous high-end shopping street that specialised in everything designer-shoes, jewelry, hats, clothes, tea-you name it, they had it.

I turned a hidden corner and entered the bustling district that seemed to teem with activity.

Remember, Ingrid. You're Tatiana Mikhailov, touring world-class ballerina from Moscow.

Don't expose yourself.

For all you know, there might be an Asgardian watching you from afar.

I kept my composure, and walked into the cafe with all the grace and elegance I could summon at eight o'clock on a weekday morning.

I sat myself down beside a table in a corner. A waiter came up to me, asking if he could take my order as he passed me the menu. I briefly looked through it, having been here so many times in the past century that I barely needed it to know what tasted best in the cafe.

"A cup of hot mocha, two slices of french toast and a small bowl of fruit salad, please," I gave the middle-aged man a seductive smile, when I realised that I forgot to bring my wallet.

"Do I need to pay first, or..."

"It's alright, ma'am. It's on the house," The waiter's eyes glazed over with lust, and winked suggestively before going off to the kitchen. I shuddered in disgust. The minds of mortals were ridiculously easy to manipulate.

Just then, the cafe door opened. A sinewy blonde man strode imperiously into the shop.

A man whom I found all too familiar.

He turned around, and our eyes accidentally met, striking blue against flaming auburn.

Then, I realised that my seduction magic was still in effect, and that blonde was now eyeing me up and down.

And then it hit me. That man was Thor, son of Odin, Crown Prince of Asgard, and I had just unintentionally seduced him. I could feel the panic rising in me. Men tended to do stupid things when they were in heat, and I was going to bet that this one was no different from the others. I couldn't leave now without causing a few raised eyebrows, especially since that waiter had taken special notice of me, and Thor was blocking the entrance with him being tall and buff and all. His gaze travelled down to my neck, and stopped at my Shieldmaiden's Mark.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, and silently cursed that I had forgotten to put a concealer spell on it in the morning.

Great. Now he knew that I was a Valkryie, and also wanted me at the same time.

How wonderful.

"Greetings, milady. What's your name?" Thor's deep voice brought me out of my daze. "Oh! I didn't see you there!" I was genuinely surprised this time. "Name's Ingrid." shit. Why did I tell him my real name? Wasn't that the point of an alias? "It's a lovely name, Lady Ingrid. I'm Thor, son of Odin. It's a pleasure meeting you. May I?" The Asgardian pointed towards the spare chair opposite me. "Sure," I smiled at him, trying to mask my internal panic.