Page 154 of The Last Valkyrie

I faced them fully. “She’s trying to find Korvan to give him the Runesphere. She’s betrayed Vikingrune Academy and is in cahoots with the Swordbaron. My . . . father. She thinksallying with Korvan is the only way to save the academy from destruction, or some bullshit.”

“Gods, that fuckingfool,” Corym growled. “She has the Runesphere? Deitryce told me it went missing shortly before the draug outbreak. That her entire troop was laid low by a sleeping spell or poison.”

My head bobbed, and I seethed at just how devious and cunning Dahlia had been behind the scenes, under the noses of everyone.

“Korvan will enslave your peopleandmine,” Corym bellowed.

“I know, love. I don’t think Dahlia is working alone, either. Salos, Ingvus—Hel,anyof the Hersirs—could be colluding with her to give our school away.”

“Diabolical bitch,” Dagny said.

“What a total see-you-next-Tuesday,” Randi added, a scrunch to her cute button nose.

“We need to find Korvan before she does,” I said, “and defeat him. Has anyone spotted the bastard?”

They all gave me a round of headshakes.

“Great. Well, I’m sure he’ll—”

As if on cue, a whistling in the air brought my attention to the sky, neck craning. There, silhouetted against the backdrop of a red and purple sky, dragon wings leisurely beat over us, headed in the direction we were going, south.

“. . . turn up.” I gaped as my words ended on a whisper.

The figure became smaller in seconds, hurrying over the wall above our gathered army near the southern wall and hole.

Energy sizzled inside me, ready to unchain and summon my wings.

Corym’s hand fell on my elbow. “Not yet, love. Not again. Look.” When I fixed him with a scowl, he gestured with his chin past the end of the meadow, toward the gates.

Tightness gripped around my heart and squeezed.

Grim, Magnus, Arne, and Sven were headed our way.

All four of them, and the elf beside me,alive.

The angry energy of my wings fizzled out in a single breath. Warmth spread through me at the sight of my mates, all of them looking beautiful, deadly, and like they’d been through Hel to get here.

I ran at them and they huddled around me to wrap me up in their strong arms. So many limbs, so many hugs, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Over my shoulder, Grim spoke in a low timbre, “Eirik Halldan.”

My brother raised his hands in surrender. “It’s me, Kollbjorn. Not the . . . shadow me, or whatever that was.”

My huge mate grunted. “Still don’t like either one of you. But as long as you’re safe around Ravinica . . .”

“I am. I swear it.” My brother pounded a fist to his heart. “I just want to help any way I can.”

The guys’ attention fell back on me, doting and smiling.

Guilt flooded me. “Guys, I’m so sorry. I know I hurt you leaving like that—”

“Just shut up and come here.” Sven was the first to kiss me, curling a hand around the back of my neck before slanting his lips over mine.

My heart pitter-pattered as we pulled back, our gazes locked.

Magnus said, “Your autonomy is your own, silvermoon. We would never try to take that from you. We were only worried is all.”

Arne let out a wry chuckle. “As always.”

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