Page 141 of The Last Valkyrie

These were skilled warriors, much unlike the draug before them. They moved fast, avoiding my attacks, nicking me with slices here and there, which I ignored with practiced ease.

My blood rushed, body growing warm as the berserk rage clawed further up my spine, trying to reach my brain where it could change me.

Gritting my teeth, I snarled at the nearest elf and locked my eyes at the huge figure behind him as it came into view through the cloud of dust.

The jotun noticed me first—the largest of my people—and grinned. The man was massive, the only living creature on two legs I’d ever seen to dwarf me. It had a huge belly and sturdy legs the size of tree trunks, lifting him to the height of two men, at least twelve feet high. Strange shapes of ink, swirling tattoos of power, lined every fiber of his greenish-brown skin. It wore a loincloth and nothing else, wielding a massive war-club that put the dinky sword in my hand to shame.

Dark elves streaming into the battle avoided the jotun, and one that got too close earned a club across the face, exploding his head like a watermelon.

Interesting, I thought, shoving the dark elf in front of me aside so I could charge at the jotun.Almost like the jotnar and Dokkalfar alliance doesn’t run as deep as we thought.

No other cadets in the vicinity were equipped to face this monster. Hel, I wasn’t either, but I had to try. He was already killing my people—a single swipe of its club sent two soldiers flying ten feet away in sprays of red.

The lane cleared and I saw my opening.

Before I could charge, the jotun brought his club down on the ground and cracked the earth in a zigzag of grooves that made me reel.

Then it charged, and I roared and met him.

I raised my shield—foolishly—and the beast brought his club down. The shield exploded in a million splinters, shards sticking into my forearms as I felt my bones jar and crack from the intense hit.

Fighting dizziness, I bounced on my feet toward the beast, using my smaller size and greater speed to get under his arm before he could reel his club back for another strike.

My left arm was useless now, numb. I jabbed my sword into its belly—

The sword fuckingbent, meeting thick skin like it was platemail.

“Fuck,” I groaned—

A second before the giant backhanded me and sent me flying, white lights shooting behind my lids.

I went weightless, floundering through the air, and landed heavily many feet away on my back, blinking up in a daze.

A dark elf stood over me, blade raised with a sinister grin on his face, ready to plunge it down into my bare chest.

And unlike the jotun, my skinwasn’tlike armor.

I clenched my teeth, ready for the end—

THUNK.

The dark elf launched skyward. I’d never seen so many fucking bodies getting tossed around like ragdolls.

A huge tower shield barricaded me, easily six feet in height.

I blinked up at the huge, armored form of Thane Canute, who had rushed in and blasted the elf away with his massive shield.

A hand came into my peripheral vision and reached down. “Get off your ass, lazy bear.” Sven Torfen gave me a crooked smile, and I’d never been so elated to see my former rival. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, his eyes were tired and wild, and a nasty bruise had formed around his face.

Seemed getting out of Fort Woden for the wolf hadn’t been a walk in the park.

I took his hand and he grunted as he helped me to my feet. “Heavy bastard,” he complained.

“Salos?” I asked.

Sven shook his head, meeting my gaze. “No more.”

Working my jaw, I nodded firmly. That was all that needed to be said. I clapped him on the shoulder, sending him wobbling a few feet to the side. “Good to see you still alive, wolf.”

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