Page 53 of Blood of Ancients

“Copy that,” the huge man said, and then he exited.

Leaving me alone with Arne, Dagny, and Randi.

“Those two. I swear,” I muttered, mostly to myself.

Arne nodded. His face was gloomy, which was a shame since he used to be the most fun-loving of my mates. Something was irking him greatly these days, and I knew what it was—the situation with Frida and the Lepers Who Leapt. The situation that got Corym in jail in the first place.

“When the revolution comes, they’ll be useful,” the iceshaper pointed out seriously. “Until then? Loki’s brass balls, lass, I can’t figure out for the life of me why you keep them around.”

He shot me a tiny smirk, but Dagny didn’t catch it.

“Because the big one saved her life, and the angry one is ready to throw his away to make things right,” she said, making a good point.

Arne lifted a finger. “And because they’re hung. She keeps them around for that too, I wager.” He smiled deviously. “Not that I would know.”

Silence.

Dagny looked struck, lips dropped, face burning pink.

I broke out laughing incredulously. My laughter became infectious to Arne and Randi, and the three of us snickered while Dagny just stood there looking mortified.

There’s the iceshaper I know and love.

“Any word from the surface-dweller? Magnus?” I asked Arne once the giggling had ceased.

He shook his head. “Bloody bastard probably wouldn’t tell me anything anyways. You know how vague and mysterious that guy is.”

“I hope he’s all right.”

“I’m sure he’s fine, love.” Arne put his hands on my feet, drumming my toes under the blanket. “You need to rest and stop worrying about the rest of us. Worry about yourself.”

“Sorry, no can do. I just came to the realization that I need to worry about you allmorethan I have been.”

“Okay. Then worry about us later.Restnow. Please?”

Our gazes locked, his blue eyes imploring me.

“Well, since you asked so nicely . . .”

“Arne’s right, Rav,” Dagny said. “If you want to get out of this bed within the next few days, you’ll need plenty of rest. And fluids.” When Arne nailed her with another waggle-brow, she blushed like a tomato. “Clearfluids, like water and something with electrolytes, you pervs!”

Arne laughed again.

Things had started to lighten up now that everyone knew I was safe. I was thankful for that.

Randi pulled out a huge sack of something heavy. With a groan she heaved it onto a small table next to me, making the table’s skinny legs bow from the weight. “Besides,” she said, smiling impishly, “I took it upon myself to bring you the textbooks forallyour classes, since you’re going to be missing a bunch of sessions. That way you won’t fall behind at the beginning of the term while you rest!”

She beamed, patting the bag of tomes.

My heart sank but I couldn’t help but smile. She was so chipper, even if I was inwardly groaning at having to do schoolwork while I recovered.

Randi was doing me a solid. They all were, in their own ways. Arne by staying funny, Grim by staying protective, Sven by staying angry.

I would need their help soon. Ididintend to do something about Damon once I was out of bed—I just needed to figure out what that was.

I smiled coyly at Randi, trying to match her high energy. “Thanks, bestie. What would I ever do without you?”

“Um, you would fail, Ravin. Duh.”

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