Page 112 of Valkyrie Unknown

Azzie sighed, but one corner of her mouth tugged up.

I’d gotten better at ignoring how often she and Zeke were together, though it amused me in a sadistic sort of way that Finn hated it. The desire and jealousy that flared inside was smothered by my worry about how hurt she’d be when this all came crashing down.

Zeke pulled the lid off the box, and frowned.

“Well?” Finn’s question stuck me as odd.

Azzie leaned in. “What is it?”

Zeke held the box out so we could all see. “Cufflinks?” He pulled out one of the pieces. It had an onyx inlay, with a tiny pearl dot in the center, and was shaped like a stylized fish.

Azzie grabbed the other half of the yin-yang symbol. Odd that Finn had gone with someone else’s symbolism for his gift. Gods, even those not actively seeking worship, didn’t do that.

“Definitely cufflinks.” Azzie twisted the small metal bar that was attached to the stem by a pin.

Though Loki was a fan, I’d never had much need for such a thing. As far as I was concerned, a breastplate was a far better accessory. What were Zeke and Azzie supposed to do with a single pair of cufflinks?

Finn worked his jaw, but no sound came out. This kind of silence was unusual for him, especially since it was his gift. He finally gave a light cough, as if clearing his throat. “Sure, they were once upon a time, but what they do is more important. They’re protection. For the wearer if donned in a pair, or for the pair if split apart.”

“I’ve never in my life worn something that required cufflinks.” Zeke continued to turn the onyx jewelry over in his hand. “I don’t even own any shirts with the right kind of cuffs.”

Azzie tilted hers toward the light. “I wore the right kind of shirt once.”

“You did?” That didn’t sound right.

She held the accessory up between her thumb and forefinger and let it fall into the palm of my hand. “I met a guy during a job, and he was in a tux. I borrowed his shirt for a little while the next morning?—”

“Okay, we understand.” I cut her off. I didn’t have any issues with who she’d been with in her past, but the mental images of her in crisp white shirt and nothing else, buttons most likely undone, bottom hanging just past her ass…

It all summoned my bear carried on a fuckton of desire, and I couldn’t fall into that. She was mine to teach and, but not to take.

Enid grabbed the cufflink Azzie had claimed. “You could hook them into your shoes.” She slid from her seat to kneel next to Azzie, and hooked the piece through one of the eyelet’s in Azzie’s boots. “See?”

“Brilliant.” Both the way we’d changed the conversation, and the idea of extra protection for Azzie. I offered Enid a hand, and she ignored it as she climbed to her feet and returned to her chair.

“I love it, thank you, Finn.” Zeke hooked his in place as well.

“I don’t get a kiss?” Finn asked.

What the fuck was he talking about?

Zeke gave him a puzzled look that asked the same question.

“Thank you, Mister Finn.” Azzie tucked her foot away, but not before giving the pearl adornment another glance.

I handed out my gifts, too. A fountain pen and ink for Zeke. The pen was built from a raven feather that held a whisper of a spell, to keep his hand steady. Basic stuff.

When Azzie lifted the necklace from its box, she paused. “It’s beautiful. Is it…? It tingles.”

Did she feel Tyr’s protection? “The necklace is from me, and the blessing is from Tyr.”

“Thank you.” Her gratitude was soft, and she traced a thumb along the leather, over the moonstones, and to the silver clasps. “It’s beautiful,” she repeated.

I took it from her, and she brushed her hair over her shoulder as I draped the woven leather along the back of her neck. The adornments lay flat against her collar bone, and I clasped a small silver chain at the base of her throat. I brushed another thumb along the gemstones and her skin, admiring the contrast against her pale skin. “Beautiful.”

“I spoke to the siren.” Enid sounded more shrill—louder—than usual, and her comment jarred me.

The words were all that was needed to grab Azzie’s attention. “And?”

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