Page 61 of Rune

I had enough on my mind. I shouldn’t worry about whether or not he liked me. But gods,if he liked me.. . My chest swelled. That would feel better than the rain in summer.

If Tova knew her life was on the line and I was wondering if a boy liked me…

“You don’t need to open the door and let me barrel through like a bear,” Ve said softly. “But at least prop open a window or something.”

“Consider it opened,” I said.

He gave a small smile.

I thought the conversation was done, but after a few minutes he spoke again. “I know it must be difficult for you to let people in.”

My shields flew up. “We don’t have to do this.” I didn’t want to go over the sad parts of my childhood. The parts that still remembered what it was like to freeze half to death in the winter while my parents decided death was a gracious thing for me. I didn’t want to go over the times I was forgotten, mistreated, or ignored. That was done. Over. Scars that were sure to fade if I forgot about them long enough, and I could move on.

“I’m here,” Ve said. “I want you to know I’m looking out for you.”

I kept my emotions in check. “That’s good, because someone’s going to need to save me from yourfaðirwhen he discovers we’ve left Asgard. He’s going to kill me.”

Ve laughed, which wasn’t the response I wanted when I mentioned hisfaðirkilling me. “He’s going to kill us both,” Ve corrected. “But he won’t find us.”

I didn’t press. After we went to Danmark, there’d be no more us. But it was a nice sentiment anyway.

We were closer to the arena now, and the streets grew more crowded by the moment. The noise of it overtook us, and we didn’t speak again until the chariot stopped at the front of the arena.

My stomach tightened until I thought I might be sick. Dirt was in the air like smoke, the call of a hawk above like a death cry, and the chant of gods so loud, I could hardly hear my own thoughts. I heard myheart though, as it pounded mercilessly in my chest. A blinding ray of sunlight hit from the golden bars around the arena, lighting the path before us. It wasn’t a path I wanted to take. I wanted to run from this place and take Tova with me. But she was chained inside, so my feet moved that direction.

Ve's hand found mine, and he pulled me back to him.

I looked up, and the second our eyes met, the sounds melted away. For a second, I almost believed things would be okay. But life wasn’t easy, and Ve couldn’t solve this for me.

“If you try to help her, you will be put to death,” Ve warned me.

I swallowed hard. “I know that.”

He deliberately glanced to my long-tipped daggers. “That’s notI’ll stay away.”

That wasn’t something I could say, so instead my lips tightened. He sighed. “Who knew such a small thing could be so difficult to keep alive?”

His words caught me before I could make for the arena. I squared myself before him. “If I jump, you are not to jump after me.”

“I don’t have a choice.” He shoved his hands into his pockets as he moved past. The wind caught in his hair as it shifted with each step. “You are my ticket to freedom, so where you go, I go. Besides…” He gave me a look over his shoulder. “What sort of fiancé would I be if I didn’t jump in after you?”

“An alive one,” I grunted, and followed him into the noise.

The sun was warmer in the arena, or perhaps it was the sheer number of gods pressed together as we all fought to get a good view. Or it could have been my nerves pressing against every inch of me. The dirt had been raked but stood empty for now, the betting booth open again,and the jravn flowing freely. It was as terrible as I remembered. Everyone celebrating at the dawn of death.

Ve’s hand found mine again. It was for the sake of appearances, but the gentle squeeze, that was for me. Before I had to ask, he pushed through the crowd to find us seats near the front where I could rest my elbows against the railing and look over the fighting space.

Two racks of weapons were placed at either side, both appearing identical in what they held—with varying shields, spears, axes, daggers, and swords. I focused on the spears, trying to find the one Balder told me about, but couldn’t spot an emerald hilt from this far away. From here, they all appeared deadly.

The door below was still bolted shut, with a guard standing outside it doing very well at protecting us from the locked door.

“Have the mortals ever tried to attack the gods?” I asked.

“From what I’ve heard, it happens every time.”

“Will we be safe?” There was no guard up between us and them, which made it ideal for me to risk the long jump down, but enough strength would send a spear hurtling our way.

“Mortals are no match for gods,” Ve replied.

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