Page 56 of The Last Valkyrie

“Yes. Because we need the elves more than anything. You’ll marry Zentha if it gets us what we need, because it’s what Ravinica needs. We’ll find some way out of it after everything’s done.”

I scoffed, shocked. “You would have me make a bargain and go back on my word?”

“Yes. Quit being so honorable and listen to logic, elf. Without the Ljosalfar, we can’t win this thing with only Skogalfar”—he motioned to Jhaeros—“no offense.”

Jhaeros didn’t understand him, and stopped chuckling just long enough to glare at him.

As we walked through the Ruby District, complete with its opulence and neck-craning towers, I became lost in thought, trying to find a way to satisfy both parties.

Lunis’ai’sheart will be broken if she learns I’ve done this.

I bumped shoulders with a passing elf, similarly lost in thought and heading for the palace in a hurry.

When I glanced up to apologize, I gasped. “Deitryce?!” I cried out. She was just as surprised, and was taken aback when I lunged and hugged her. “Sister!”

My beautiful sister, a Company-Prince like me, smiled demurely. “Glad to see you’re still alive, brother. I wish I could talk, but I have business with theMaltor.” She arched her brow at the palace we’d just left. “Seems like you did too. What is going on?”

With her quick about-face, I debated telling her everything. I resisted, because I hadn’t seen my sister in so long and didn’t know where her heart resided anymore. It was a sad realization. “What is your business with Vaalnath, Deitryce?” My voice was skeptical.

“It concerns theSer’kariothyou uncovered. I believe I’ve discovered a way to utilize her.”

I gawked. Grabbing hold of my senses, I shook my head. “Ravinica?Utilizeher? What do you mean?”

“She is the key, brother.” Deitryce’s eyes lit up, making her look mad with hope. “To vanquishing our foes and keeping them out of our world. The jotnar, Dokkalfar, dwarves, humans—all of them!”

Oh spirits, what is she thinking?

“Explain yourself, sister.” My tone went grim.

“A simple exchange, brother. That’s all I speak of.” She leaned in closer to whisper, nearly giddy with excitement but not wanting to speak in front of the Skogalfar and human behind me. “We’ve no need for the Runesphere, Corym. We have themagic it holds. But the dark elves? They’ll give usanythingfor it . . . including a dragon.”

She smiled, as if she’d discovered the secrets to the Tree of Life.

I looked ghastly, my face losing all color. “No.”

“What do you mean,no?”

“We don’t barter with Dokkalfar, sister. You know this.”

Her nose scrunched. “What . . . what happened to the brother I knew? The stalwart defender of Alfheim, who witnessed the human soldiers slay our people? The one who fought tooth and nail to see me escape, so we might live? Just howdidyou live, anyway?”

What happened to me, Deitryce? I fell in love with a woman. That’s what happened to me. And now . . . now I would rather my entire world burn than put her in the hands of our mortal enemies.

She scoffed before beginning to walk off, realizing I wasn’t going to explain myself.

I grabbed her arm before she could get far, twisting her around, making her shrug my hand off her. “Deitryce, I’m begging you. Don’t suggest this to Vaalnath. You’re making a mistake.”

“What kind of mistake?” she snarled.

I looked into her fair face, her tawny hair, her slender shoulders. “There was a woman, fair like you, who tried a similar scheme. A human woman. Jhaeros here called her a doppelganger, and a friend of mine called her a sister. Just like I call you, Deitryce. My sister.”

Her face twisted with confusion.

“She died,” I explained. “The Dokkalfar killed her for helping them, because she didn’t help themenough.She sought to get Lady Elayina, our reveredAnvari, killed. And she was murdered for it by the very people you would hope to negotiate with.”

Doubt flashed across Deitryce’s features. It was only a moment, yet it was telling. She glanced away, eyes darting, then back to me. “Why are you telling me this tale meant to scare children, brother?”

I gripped her arm harder. “Because if you try anything with Ravinica Lindeen, theSer’karioth, it won’t be the Dokkalfar who kill you, sister. It will be me.”

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