Page 63 of Valkyrie Unknown

“Who’s the fighter?” Finn asked at the same time Azzie said, “You lied to me.”

Ilied? Excuse me?

Eighteen

Azzie

I was frozenas I watched the men kiss. On a primitive level, it was an incredible sight. Intense. Passionate.

Nearly as primal was a jealousy I didn’t want or have the right to. It burned up my throat, acrid and bitter.

“You lied to me.” The accusation slipped past my lips before I could consider it.

Zeke turned to me with one eyebrow cocked in disbelief. “Excuse me?You’restill carrying.”

“I never said I wasn’t.” Except that I’d implied it, and Zeke and I never had any sort of conversation about whether or not we were involved with other people. Rather, I made a lot of assumptions because I wanted— Needed…

This hurt was potent and raw and not my right to harbor. “I only promised not to kill you.” Instead of admitting this was my fault, I was going to double dow?—

“You.” The new arrival spat the syllable. He vanished from his spot next to Zeke and appeared next to me, hand instantly gripping my throat. The stranger squeezed hard enough to lift me from my feet, and dug his fingers into my flesh.

My airways closed off as he pushed me back, flying and not letting go of me, even as I slammed into the wall.

I couldn’t breathe but I could still draw my sword.

He blinked from view again, and I gasped in fresh air, until I felt his body behind mine, and he wrapped a strong arm around my neck.

Thank Freya for Davyn’syou could be attacked anywheretraining. I dug my nails into the man’s arm and forced us both into the wall again.

He let out a satisfyingoof,his grip loosened, and I ducked, spinning to face him.

He was already gone, blinked a foot to my right, elbow coming down hard on my wrist.

The shock of pain caught me off guard and my sword clattered to the ground.

“I won’t let you take him.” His voice was hard, rattling the walls. He kicked my sword across the room toward Zeke.

It didn’t matter. Only I could wield it.

Zeke picked up the sword without hesitation, and my heart dropped into my shoes.

The stranger’s arm was around my neck again, squeezing with a force stronger than any human.

I squared my feet.

“Enough.” Zeke’s roar echoed off the brick. It wasn’t magic, but it was effective. “Finn. Let her go.”

The stranger squeezed tighter, and I dug my nails into his flesh as hard as I could.

“Now,” Zeke said.

The tightness vanished from my throat and the man—Finn—appeared next to Zeke.

I kept my distance. At least this way I could watch them both. I was such a fucking idiot. Why did I think…?

Fuck.

“You implied you were unarmed.” Zeke’s voice was cool. Emotionless.

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