Page 123 of Sacrifice
And they do.
Each dog has claimed their human—Rex shadows me, Luna rarely leaves Elfe's side, and Odin has appointed himself Emil's bodyguard.
But they work as a group when needed, some invisible communication keeping them coordinated.
Emil reappears, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Smells great in here. Tor’s been texting me and?—"
"Is he still pissy about the range thing?"
"Probably will be until someone else humiliates him worse." Emil grins. "Which, knowing Tor, should be any day now."
My phone buzzes.
Soren:
Leaving now. ETA 2 hours. Tell Emil I'm bringing that beer he wanted to try.
Me:
Drive safe. Dogs miss you.
Soren:
Only the dogs?
Me:
Mostly the dogs.
Soren:
Harsh. See you soon.
"He's on his way," I announce.
The next few hours blur together.
Cooking, cleaning, the dogs getting increasingly excited as they smell food.
Elfe puts on music—her weird mix of classical and death metal that somehow works.
Emil helps where he can, though I ban him from the kitchen after he nearly drops the Yorkshire pudding trying to taste-test.
"Go do something useful," I order. "Check your guns. Brood mysteriously. Whatever."
"I don't brood."
"You totally brood," Elfe calls out. "It's like your primary characteristic. Brooding biker with a heart of gold."
"I'm going to stop feeding you," Emil threatens.
"Saga would divorce you."
"We're not married."
"Yet," Elfe and I say in unison.
Emil retreats, muttering about being outnumbered. But I catch his smile as he goes.
