“Lucky dandy,” I murmured.
“He needs a bigger ego boost than you do, Sven. It shouldn’t be a surprise.”
I barked a laugh, shouldering Sven as we continued. He didn’t budge, while I nearly threw myself back a few feet. The damned gargoyle, like a hunk of heavy stone.
Edda bumped his other side, smiling endearingly at him. “You know, I’ve never gotten the memory of you shifting from bear to human out of my mind, big man.” Her smile turned into a smirk. “If you ever decide that little silver-haired angel might break from what you’re packing, give me a ring.” She winked to finish her plea.
“Ew, Ed,” Ulf grumbled. “Your brothers areright here.”
Edda broke out into a belly-laugh, and I simply shook my head and smiled at her ridiculousness. She had always been a thirsty one, unafraid to speak her mind.
Grim’s face flooded with color, darkening. He wasn’t smiling. “That’s the first and last time you’ll speak about Ravinica like that, woman. Get your mind out of the gutter and don’t make me regret inviting you along.”
Edda continued smiling at his threat. As we reached the southern gate, she said, “So shecanhandle all that, eh? Color me shocked.”
I started to say, “Better than you can imagine, Ed—”
“I’m tempted to punch you in the face, Edda Torfen,” Grim said, stopping under the gate. The Huscarls above on the ramparts were watching us.
“Do it,” Edda said with a challenge in her eyes. She cracked her knuckles. “But if you’re going to, do it hard—”
Grim’s fist caught Edda on the side of the face, away from any breakable bits but enough to send her sprawling to the side and whipping her head.
“Fuck!” she finished, grabbing at her jaw, wobbling to stand straighter.
“Grim!” I shouted, rushing over. “What the Hel man, she’s my sister.”Gods above, amIgoing to have to be the peacemaker here? What a twist.
“I warned her,” Grim said easily.
A low chuckle rumbled from Edda as she massaged her sore jaw, working it open and closed. She laughed, shocking us as we stared at my crazed, eternally lusty sister. “Big mistake, bear,” she said in a gravelly tone, her devious smile spreading across her face. “Now I like you even more.”
Grim sighed, I rolled my eyes again, and Ulf chuckled.
We walked through the gates, leaving the Huscarls bewildered and confused at such a strange group.
But where my family was concerned, we had always been odd. I found myself smiling, feeling a hole in my heart where Olaf should have been, because I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed this.
Rain started to fall a few hours later. We stood on the rocky shore of the Isle, gazing out into the placid sea, stern expressions on our faces.
Here, it seemed calm, with a light drizzle dotting my head. On the horizon, the vague gray clouds of our magical wards protecting the island swirled. Lightning slammed into the water, giving us a spectacle to watch as we waited.
“Nasty weather to be traveling by ship,” Ulf murmured.
“It was ordained by the gods, clearly,” Edda replied.
“And what, pray tell, is Njord trying to tell us with the lightning?” Grim asked her.
“That my father is unwanted here.”
I pointed out at a dark speck making its way through the barrier, just under the clouds. “Too late for that,” I said. “Look.”
My senses—hearing, smelling, sight—had always been stronger than those of my siblings. It took them another minute to notice the sail of theRed Wraithsluicing throughthe sea. White froth bashed against the ship’s hulls as it cut expertly through the waves. A jagged bolt of lightning slammed dangerously close to theWraithin the water, less than a mile out, sending a bevy of tides crashing up against the ship.
I smiled. “Perfect conditions for seasickness.”
“Yes, my nefarious brother, it truly is,” Edda drawled.
Ulf asked, “What do you think he’ll do when he sees us here? You specifically, Sven.”