Page 40 of Blood of Ancients

Pointing to his right, hand on the large woman, he said, “And Gertrude Lanfen.”

I nodded slowly. My eyes snappd wider as I recognized the surname, Lanfen.Wolf shifter. Rival pack with Sven, the same pack that ambushed him.

I glanced down at my food to hide my surprise, humming my acknowledgement to the newcomers. With the pleasantries out of the way, I started eating. The orange juice was a nice touch, with the pulpy burn of it washing down the bacon and eggs.

“Your older sister’s made quite a name for herself in the year she’s been here, D,” Eirik said.

“Oh?” Damon said innocently, perking his brow.

Eirik tossed a thumb over his shoulder. “See the big bastard over there? One of the best fighters at the school.” He smiled wide at me. “Vini took him down.”

Damon gave me an impressed pout, which I ignored while I kept my head bowed and slightly blushed from the compliment.

This wasn’t like Eirik—cheery, relaxed, shooting the shit. Honestly, I didn’t like it. Maybe I was just being a sourpuss, but I felt extremely uncomfortable sitting around the table of near-enemies.

Gods, girl, get a hold of yourself. Eirik isn’t your enemy! The only thing Ayla, Tyrus, and Gryphon have ever done to me is accidentally flash their goods when they answered the door.Well, Ayla hadn’t “accidentally” done shit. She had purposefully arrived at the door with her tits out.

Thathad been a surprising situation, learning my brother was getting as much tail as I was. I’d never taken him for a man to indulge himself in . . . extracurricular activities.

“I thoughtyouwere the best fighter, E,” Damon said, nudging his chin across the table. “Or should I say,Drengr.” He finished with a mock bow.

Everyone around the table snickered, except me. Gryphon looked at my elder brother with stars in his eyes.

Eirik gave Damon a crooked smile and winked. “I said Grim wasone ofthe best, brother.”

You kidding, E? Grim would eat you alive,I thought.

Granted, I’d never seen Eirik fight in recent years. He was too busy locking himself away in his cabin with his fawners, or out on field duty. I still didn’t really know what Eirik did here, or what made him so important.How did he earn his title ofDrengr, warrior, anyway? I’m assuming the reason it didn’t go to Grim was because of Anders Rennarfen’s death.

There was as much politics at Vikingrune Academy as anywhere else in the world, I’d come to notice. As much subterfuge and lies, too.

“So, you became a badass, sis?” Damon asked, chewing into some crispy bacon.

I shrugged again, not wanting to grant myself any accolades. I didn’t have my bearings.

“She’s humble,” Eirik said. “But yes, she has.”

Why the hell are you being sonice,E? You’re making it hard to be angry at you.That was probably his plan, I realized.

Damon shrugged, sitting back. “Well, that makes sense. You always were a baddie back at Selby . . .”

I continued eating, head bowed.

“. . . even when you betrayed me.”

I choked on my food, coughing once, and glanced up. He stared at me with a menacing smile, which was unnerving. More so than straight-up rage. The malice in that smile, in his dark eyes, nearly made me shudder.

Then I remembered I had beaten Damon’s ass all over Selby Village for years. Nothing had changed. I could do it here too, if it came down to it.

“I’m assuming that’s why you’ve been a pain in my ass since coming here, brother?” I asked him in a low voice.

The lighthearted banter and soft conversation ceased, everyone falling quiet and finding their food much more interesting.

Except for Damon, who continued staring at me in that lizard-like, unblinking way. “What ever do you mean, dear sister?”

I slammed my glass of orange juice down. “Don’t play the fool with me, Damon. The missing pillows from my dwelling? The missingclothesfrom the riverside where I bathed?”

At that, I felt Grim stiffen out my peripheral vision.

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