Page 74 of Valkyrie Unknown

“I’m not charging for the coffee, and I’m pretending I don’t understand the euphemism.” Azzie set milk and sugar on the table as well.

Finn grabbed his favorite mug from the cupboard—the one that said#1 Aunt—and got his own drink. “Do you think you’re fooling anyone?”

With a gasp, Azzie fluttered a hand to her chest and gave him a wide-eyed look. “I’m a sweet, innocent young lady.”

This was a good distraction from my headache.

“Uh-huh.” Finn didn’t sound convinced. “And you two were doing what within hours of meeting each other?”

“Talking blade smithing.” Azzie sipped her drink. “Okay, fine. Maybe not innocent, but still sweet.”

Finn blinked across the couple of feet between them without warming, wrapped an arm around her waist, and licked her neck.

“Ugh.” Azzie grimaced and pulled away, while she wiped the wet spot with the back of her wrist. “What the fuck?”

Finn’s expression mirrored hers. “Not sweet. Definitely salty.”

I snorted in amusement.

“Is this doing anything for you?” Azzie fixed me with a look.

“It’s not turning me on, if that’s what you want to know. But it is hilarious.” Then again, I was sleep deprived.

“Whatever.” The irritation Azzie had earlier was gone, and she looked entertained as well. “Change of subject. Is there any issue with me using that field behind the house to stretch and work out a little?”

The morning flashed in my mind. Waking up there. Only having the vaguest notion of how I got there. “Nope. None at all.” I drained my coffee and pushed away from the table. “Enjoy. I’m going to bed.”

“Right after all that caffeine?” Azzie sounded surprised.

I rinsed out my mug and set it aside. “Helps me sleep. G’night.”

Finn grabbed me before I reached the bedroom, but after we were out of earshot of the kitchen. “I’m heading out for a few days."

“Anywhere fun?” I didn’t expect an answer, since he rarely gave me one.

Finn shook his head. “Just some business I need to do.”

This vagueness was one of the big reasons I wouldn’t call him more thanfriendeven if there were a deeper connection. “Sure. See you when you’re back.”

I headed into my room. With the world on the other side of the heavy security door, exhaustion bled into every inch of me. I collapsed on my bed, too tired to do more than kick off my shoes.

What happened this morning? I used to black out when I was drunk, but that was years ago. This felt different.

This felt more dangerous.

Partly because of the condition my hands were in. The cuts weren’t severe. Being near the grips on my gun should have healed them, but my skin was still scuffed and red. It was almost as if I wasn’t supposed to forget what I’d done.

There was the real problem—I couldn’t remember. Why had I wandered out there? What did I draw? Why was the entire thing a blank in my mind, aside from the random still images?

It didn’t matter how long I chased the questions, there were no answers, and that meant no silence for sleeping.

I rolled my head to the side to check the clock by the bed. How had I been in here for nearly forty-five minutes?

Ridiculous. If I wasn’t going to sleep, maybe I could draw. On my own terms, rather than whatever happened earlier.

I slipped my shoes on again, grabbed my sketchpad, and headed outside.

Azzie was exactly where she said she would be, practicing in the clearing behind the house that held my unwilling art just a few hours ago. She didn’t look up from her forms as I approached, but something told me she knew exactly where I was.

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