Lysander, son of Odin, has for years raised and cared for Valeria, daughter of the god of war, as her uncle. Valeria secretly falls in love with this uncle who is not related to her by blood, but Lysander cannot face his own feelings because of the ethical boundary between them. When Valeria tries to break the taboo, Lysander distances himself from her. Grief-stricken, Valeria goes to the war between the Aesir and the giants to prove herself, and is ultimately killed in battle. With her obsession unresolved, Hel, the goddess of death, grants her a bargain: she may return for ten days, and if within those ten days Lysander confesses his love for her, Valeria will live; otherwise she will be condemned to the underworld forever. Valeria returns overjoyed, only to hear that Lysander is already betrothed to Seraphina, daughter of Loki, the trickster god.
