Page 45 of The Last Valkyrie

“Yes . . .” Grim agreed. “You think bringing me around other Torfens is a smart idea? Instigating and antagonizing them? It sounds cocky and foolish.”

“My father is a proud, dangerous man,” Sven explained. “He clearly sees something less of me than he used to, or else he wouldn’t have had Edda, Olaf, and Ulf kick my ass and take over.Whathe sees, though . . . that could be malleable.” The wolf waved his hand around, searching for the words. “We could find a new lens for him to look through. A new perspective, by showing how even rivals like us can come together in times of desperation and war.”

Grim furrowed his brow, thinking it over, taking Sven seriously. This was unprecedented. It was one thing for the two former rivals to work together and find camaraderie around me, but it was entirely another for Sven to consider using Grim as a prop—a goalpost against his father, andaskingfor his help.

Essentially,allyingthe hated families together, for a show of strength.

I never thought Sven would change so much, yet he seems the most changed of us all. Could Olaf’s death have caused this new perspective? Has Sven learned that life is too short for all the petty squabbling, and now wants to show that to his father?

“I think it’s a great idea,” I chirped in a light tone once the riverbank had grown quiet. He didn’t need to know the reasoning for my about-face. I saw it as Sven’s and Grim’s next stage of growth.

When the guys looked at me to expand, I said, “It’ll throw Salos Torfen off his game. If your Da is as cunning and diabolical as you say he is, Sven, we’ll need all the help we can get. Show him you’re not coming empty-handed—that we have options, and you’re only meeting with him out of courtesy and a shared interest, not desperation.”

“Yes.” Sven massaged his chin. He understood where I was coming from. “I’ve found a new family. Dear Father needs to learn that.”

Arne said, “There’s also the chance he might simply try to kill you if you come alone. So, at the very least, Grim could act as a deterrent to that.” When I scowled at him, the iceshaper ducked his head. “What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”

Sven nodded sagely. “You’re not wrong, dandy.”

“Then it’s settled,” I announced with a smile. “Grim will go with Sven. Magnus will go with Corym. Arne, you’ll stay safe and hidden until absolutely necessary.”

The boys nodded.

Sven nudged his chin toward me. “And what about you, little menace? Without Grim here, we’ll be even more worried about you.”

“I’ll stay with Randi and Dagny, make sure I’m never alone. I could use some girl-time with my besties anyway, before embarking on our voyage to Selby next week.”

The boys grumbled, glancing at each other and speaking wordlessly with only their faces. They knew each other so well now they didn’t need to speak to come to an agreement or disagreement. It was written all over their handsome features.

“I suppose that’ll suffice,” Sven murmured for the group.

“I don’t know,” Corym said. “I still have a bad feeling about it. Your brothers can’t be trusted,lunis’ai.”

“My brothers won’t harm me, Cor. You don’t know them like I do, and they’re hurting just like the rest of us.” The final tally had come out regarding the deaths from the Selfsky Plains battle, and it was a grim reminder of all we’d lost. Both Damon and Eirik had lost someone in their respective group—Gertrude Lanfen, my younger brother’s girlfriend, and Tyrus, Eirik’s “roommate.”

There wasn’t a person alive at Vikingrune Academy who wasn’t affected in some way from that terrible night. It would be a long road to recovery.

I said, “My brothers aren’t my enemies, guys. They’re just misled and confused. Maybe I’ll talk with them—”

“No!” Sven snapped. “That’s thelastthing you should do while we’re gone, Rav. Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

I sighed, lying back and staring up at the blue sky. “Because at the end of the day, they’re the only blood-family I’ve got around here. I can’t go my whole life hating them.”

“You’re too empathetic,” the wolf answered, shaking his head with frustration, making his jaw twitch. “What you said may be true, but can the same be said about them? Cantheygo their whole lives hatingyou?”

My chest rose and fell as I thought over his question for a long time, until I felt my eyes growing droopy.

“There’s only one way to find out, love.”

---