Page 85 of Valkyrie Unknown

I did the same with Finn, or I would if it weren’t for the secrets.

And myother halfwas about to leave.

I dropped my ash-covered clothes in the hamper, and made my way to the shower. Should I be worried that I’d been attacked twice by draugar since she showed up? That seemed like a good reason to let Azzie and Davyn walk away.

Could I go back to life as it was before if they did go?

The questions swirled in my mind, none of them finding answers, as coal and draugar ash swirled down the drain.

When my shower was over, I didn’t have any more answers than when it started. I dressed and joined the others. Finn stood behind the island dividing the dining room from the kitchen, as if keeping a barrier between himself and the others. Azzie was already in a chair at the table. Her wet hair was pulled into a braid. She had one leg tucked under her and the other propped at the knee, which she rested her chin on.

Davyn leaned against a wall behind her.

The sight made her look deceptively helpless, as if she couldn’t summon a sword from mid-air that she wielded as effectively as any master.

I took the Styrofoam takeout boxes from the counter in front of Finn, and the familiar smell of smoked meat and BBQ sauce greeted me. I inhaled deeply. “I forgot it was Friday.”

Finn almost smiled. “Same.”

Friday was when Gabby’s oldest son pulled out the smoker, and the special at the diner was ribs, brisket, and burnt-ends.

The table had come with four chairs, but it wasn’t meant for a meal for four. I spread the boxes of food and side dishes across the island, while Finn grabbed plates from the cupboard.

“Help yourselves.” I gestured to the spread, and a new thought entered my head. “Unless we’re going to have another conversation about exchanging favors for food.”

“Nah.” Finn shook his head. “Davyn paid.”

“And the feeding hole is sacred ground.” Davyn grabbed a plate and was already piling it high before Azzie finished standing.

“So you two know each other?” I pointed between Finn and Davyn, then grabbed my own food.

Finn loaded up mac and cheese and biscuits, to go with his ribs. He never touched the potatoes. “Not really, I’ve heard his name.”

“I think we fought once.” Davyn waited until Azzie had her food—nearly as much as he had—and was seated before he took the spot next to her. The wood of the chair creaked under his bulk, but it held.

“Thirteen-twelve?” Finn seemed to consider Davyn’s statement as he took the other spot next to Davyn.

Davyn waited until I joined them, but only barely. He paused with corn muffin covered in beans halfway to his mouth. “France?”

Finn shook his head. “I wasn’t in France until a few centuries ago. Ireland.”

Davyn nodded. “That makes sense.”

And now they were having a casual conversation?

“Things ended amicably?” Azzie sounded as confused as I felt about their abrupt shifts in demeanor.

“The way most wars do.” Finn’s sarcasm was back.

That was probably a fun story, but I had more pressing concerns than an eight-hundred-year-old battle. I focused on Azzie. “You were sneaking out.” I didn’t mean to let the accusation slide into my tone, and tried to hide it behind eating.

“I didn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

The derisive snort Finn made could’ve rivaled one of Davyn’s growls. “Like draugar attacking, or your pet bear trying to kill Zeke?”

Azzie shrugged. “A lot like that, yes.”

“Since it’s too late to stop that now… Besides, you said we were safer together.” Was I going to ask her to stay?Them? There was no pretending at this point that she was alone, and I had no idea where she’d come from. She would have her own home, and I didn’t know anything about her.

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