Page 152 of The Last Valkyrie

Corym was sitting upright, arms extended with green magic wisping from his fingertips.

He gave me a tired smile.

Hands shoved me and I let out a squeal, pitching sideways—

As a cruel blade shaved off the ends of my hair.

Theclangof steel rang out, swords matched together.

Spinning onto my back, jaw falling open, I looked up at my protector.

Eirik gritted his teeth, locked in a fierce standstill with the remaining dark elf. Two robed bodies lay behind the elf, both acolytes who had charged him slain.

“Not your sister, not your circus, asshole,” Eirik spit out.

With a roar, he went into full-attack mode, moving even faster than when we’d fought. He sliced and diced, kept the confused elf on his heels, and then buried his blade into the bastard’s chest.

I swallowed over a lump in my throat, breathing for the first time in minutes as the dark elf dropped dead.

Falling onto my back, a huge sob and ragged breath ripped through me. I stared up at the sky—

And started laughing. It sounded hysterical in my own ears.Eirik and Corym, both alive. Randi and Dagny, both alive.

My luck was changing. Against all odds.

Eirik reached down to help me up with an outstretched hand. He smiled warmly down at me. “I’m sorry, Vini, for . . . whatever it is I did.”

I clasped his forearm and groaned as he lifted me up.

After a quick embrace, I said into his ear, “You’ll always be my brother, E. Even when you’re lost, I won’t give up on you.”

“I promise to never give up on you either, Vini. Never again.”

Our hug tightened. My hands dug into the tunic of his strong, muscled back. Then I pushed myself away with a tearful smile and rushed over to Corym.

He was starting to stand with Dagny’s help, dusting himself off. “You’ve . . . learned well, Largul.”

“You were a good teacher,” Dag answered. To me, she said, “He’ll live.” Her face was pale, waxy, covered in sweat. “Don’t know if he’ll be any good in a fight though. Not until he gets some rest.”

Corym grunted, wincing in pain. He was bruised and wounded yet Dagny’s magic had closed up the worst of the cuts—including the one in his chest, which would leave a lovely, deep scar. “We . . . have to keep moving,lunis’ai. The others are . . . in danger.”

I kissed his bloody lips, running my hand over his sharp cheek. “I know, love. Do you think you can move? Fight?”

His smile was wistful yet wry as he melted into my palm and closed his eyes. “All that and more . . . for the right people.”

---