Page 55 of Valkyrie Unknown

Or maybe I needed to find out why she was here, and then move on.

The internal struggle was real. “Did the grip break on your knife?”

“No. The grip is elven.” Despite theduhin her voice, there was a waver.

Becausesomethinghad broken, which meant the magic failed. How? “I’m Zee, by the way.” Why didn’t I tell her my real name?

Because I wanted to tell her everything. Give hereverythingand take the same in return. Talk to her for eternity. Drag her into the bathroom and fuck her again and again. Be part of her. Let her consume me. It didn’t matter, as long as she stayed.

And that was terrifyingly obsessive, no matter which world I was talking about.

“Interesting name.” She licked her lips.

“I’m an interesting guy.”

“That remains to be seen.”

No it didn’t. She was as compelled as I was.

How did I know?

Not a clue.

One of Finn’s gifts was to impart knowledge on another individual. With a touch, he could make it so the other personknewwhatever he shared with them. It was how he’d convinced me this other world was real when we first met. A kiss. A gift of knowledge.Hey, gods and other immortals walk among us, and most never realize it.

What he’d taught me that day came with an unwavering certainty that he was sharing reality with me.

I had that same feeling about so much when it came to this woman I’d just met.

“I’m A.” She extended her hand. In the circles Finn ran in, a handshake still held its original meaning. This was a temporary truce. Evidence that neither of us was armed.

“Pleasure is all mine.” When my palm met hers, another shock, this one more potent, threatened to consume me.

Pink spread across her cheeks. An adorable, soft blush that contrasted sharply with her posture and demeanor. She pulled her hand away quickly and grabbed another fry without looking, but she didn’t eat.

“Yes, one of the blades broke.” She worked her jaw. “The enchantment is gone.”

So she actually wanted me for my skills. In the forge. “I can fix that.”

“How much will it cost me?”

“No charge.” Another tricky thing about the work I did. It had to be offered freely on my part, with no request for payment. She would choose to donate when I was done.

In her case, I wouldn’t mind sex after instead of cash, but she looked like she would kick my ass if I suggested that.

And any sort of comment about remuneration, even teasingly, could keep the enchantment from taking hold. “Do you want to show me what I’m working with?” I asked instead.

A did an exaggerated surveillance of our surroundings, especially compared to the way she’d watched me in the mirror. “Here? Now?” Her shock was exaggerated as well. “Do you ask every woman you’ve just met to whip out their weapon in public?”

FuckI wanted her. “Only you. But you look like you might enjoy it.”

“Strike one for you.” She sounded amused. “I’m more of a private person.”

“You’re inviting yourself back to my place before exposing yourself then?” I teased.

Her almost-smile was amusement mixed with challenge and made me half-hard. “He shoots, he scores.”

“Did you just mix sports metaphors?”

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