Page 109 of Valkyrie Unknown

“Wecalled to wish Doomsdayhappy birthday.” Astrid’s distant shout came through the phone loud and clear. “Tell him to stop being a pussy and fess up about what’s wrong.”

I couldn’t help my laugh.

“Did you hear that?” Diego asked.

“Loud and clear. I swear I’m not hiding. Give me a little time to figure out how to talk about it, that’s all I ask. And thanks for the birthday wishes, to you and Red.”

HowwasI going to talk about this?

I had no idea.

Twenty-Nine

Davyn

As far asI was concerned, Rodizio was one of the best inventions in history. It ranked up there with indoor plumbing and disaster movies.

Even better, All-You-Can-Eat-Meat with friends. The afternoon with Tyr lingered in the back of my mind as I watched Azzie joke with Zeke and Enid, and exchange barbs with Finn. Seeing the god, his life reflecting so much of mine, left me with a lingering sense of disquiet.

I’d fought a connection to anyone for so long, but it was impossible to ignore that this odd group of people meant more to me than anyone had in a long time.

Azzie nudged me, and jerked her head toward the waiter, who stood next to me with a thick skewer holding several slices of honeyed pork, based on the smell. I leaned back enough for him to pile the new flavor on my plate.

I’d heard the man approach, but hadn’t registered any threat. He was holding a heavy fork and a sharpened blade—of course he was a threat.

He wasn’t though. Not when I was surrounded by this group.

Azzie picked up the steak knife from where it rested against her plate, and twirled it between her fingers before grasping it by the grip.

“Show off.” Enid’s tone was kind rather than bitter. “How do you make it look so easy?”

“It is.” Azzie tossed the knife ten or so centimeters in the air, caught it by the tip, and handed it to Enid, handle first.

Zeke grabbed the utensil, and set it back against Azzie’s plate. “Start her with something less sharp.”

Finn handed Enid a butter knife instead.

Zeke took that and set it aside too, before stealing my still-wrapped straw and handing that to Enid.

Seven months later, and I still didn’t see how he was a threat to Azzie. Aside from the fact that he had her distracted and tied up in trusting him. Trusting Finn.

Enid shrugged off the offer of the straw. “I don’t think that’s enough weight to do what Azzie did.”

I took my straw and set it by my plate. “We don’t teach knife throwing at the dinner table.” I frowned and clamped my jaw shut as the words passed my lips. Did I just say that?

Finn scoffed. “Careful, bear. They’ll revoke your Berserker card if they hear you talking like that.”

“Can they do that?” Enid looked instantly concerned. “Tell them it was my fault.”

“They can’t do that,” I assured her. “And I don’t know how to juggle blades either.” I wiggled my fingers. “Not built for it.”

Zeke raised his brows and looked me over. “No? You don’t have a prehensile penis or something?”

“Berserkers are built just like other people. Some are well hung and others aren’t, but they can’t grab things with their dicks.” Azzie took a bite of her dinner.

“Thank Creation,” Finn muttered.

Bright pink spread across Enid’s face. “I’m not going to ask how you know.”

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