Page 112 of The Last Valkyrie

My elven mate had chosen. I knew he had chosen—even back at that portal, shoving Deitryce away so he could take up arms beside me. When we’d hardly known each other, his decision had been made. He picked me over his sister . . . in the same way Arne picked me over his sister, and Sven picked me over his siblings, and Magnus chose me over his own blood, and Grimonlyhad me.

There was a reason these five men were my mates, and it wasn’t just because of their good looks, their camaraderie, and their big dicks. It was because of their undying loyalty and their need to always protect and defend me. To fight for me, when no one else had before them.

I stood proudly with them now, ready to square off with our allies in public, in Vikingrune Academy, when I had done everything I could to stopothercadets from doing this.

Corym drew his sword, the steel rasping particularly loudly in the quiet night. Other students were starting to gather around us, shocked at what was happening—the same girl claiming unity and togetherness just an hour ago, now in a standstill with the elves.

“I told you what happened to the sister of my kinsman Arne,” Corym said lowly. “Her name was Frida. She died because of ill-conceived plots. You will too if you don’t answer Ravinica. Why. Did. You. Bring. It?”

Arne made a sound next to me, a groan that made me feel awful for bringing him back to that horrible moment with Frida. I hadn’t known Corym had threatened Deitryce with violence before. It must have happened during his recent mission to Alfheim.

Deitryce stared long and hard at her brother, scrutinizing him, challenging him with her golden eyes. Wondering, most likely, if her brother would truly strike her down.

I knew he would. She didn’t know how close she was to tragedy.

Then, finally, after the tension became thicker than blood, she let out a huff of annoyance. “The Runesphere is in my possession because it isn’t safe left unguarded in Heira.”

Corym said something in Elvish with a growl, leading me to believe it could be translated to “Bullshit.” Then he switched languages so I could understand him. “Does Vaalnath know?”

“No.”

“This subterfuge isn’t like you, sister. What is your plan? You must tell us, or we won’t let you leave.”

She crossed her arms. I noticed she didn’t have her pack on her—the bag where she held the Runesphere over her shoulder—which meant it must have been somewhere in her camp near Tyr Meadow.

That, or already given to someone for some nefarious purpose.

Salos Torfen, perhaps?

I shook my head of the horrid thought of that man getting his hands on the prized magical relic. What he coulddowith it, when none of us really understood its power.

Deitryce raised her chin defiantly. “I am holding the Runesphere in case incidents play out here where it will be useful. The artifact is a means to fulfilling a contingency plan, brother.”

“Whatcontingency plan, Deitryce? This vagueness is unworthy of you.” Corym took a step toward the elves. “Be straight with me, like you’ve always been before.”

She chuckled darkly. “I cannot tell you what I don’t know, brother. The ‘incidents’ are theoretical in nature.”

Enough of this bullshit.

“Are you selling it to the highest bidder?” I snapped.

“No,” she scoffed, “and the fact you’d ask such a thing is insulting to—”

“Are you in dealings with Gothi Salos Torfen?”

She paused, head lurching and eyes flickering. “No.”

The shock on her face at hearing my question was enough for me to believe her. It hadn’t crossed her mind.

My gaze narrowed. “Are you in talks with the Dokkalfar?”

Her nostrils flared, arms folding tighter around her torso. “Another insulting inquiry. The Dokkalfar are our hated enemy. Brother, are you going to continue to let your mate dishonor and disparage me with this line of questioning?”

Corym said nothing, settling his steely-gold gaze on her.

“The jotnar?” I asked. “Have you been in contact with them?”

“No one has,” she answered. “Though the jotnar and their unpredictable ways are just the sort of thing I’m waiting to see play out.”

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