Page 93 of Valkyrie Unknown

“Enid made her decision. You have to respect that.” Zeke tried again to budge Azzie.

She wasn’t moving.

I could touch them both and we’d blink out of here. If I took her someplace she didn’t want to go, would she unlock a new power that brought us back here? Would Zeke, to make her happy?

Life would be easier if we dropped this subject altogether and walked away.

“Would you have done the same for a client, Zeke?” Azzie tapped her fingers on one of her holsters.

That was a bad sign.

“In this very specific circumstance?” He glanced at the door. “I don’t know. As a general question, if someone walked into my shop who had never shorted me or been a pain, who had always been helpful and easy to deal with, and I was talking to anacquaintance”—his emphasis was hard to miss—“I’d pick the client and call the acquaintance back.”

Azzie’s phone buzzed. “It’s Enid.I’m fine. Please go,” she read aloud. “Can I ask her why he’s there?” Her thumbs were already hovering over the screen.

“None of your business unless she wants to share.” Zeke took the device from her.

“I say this with the greatest respect, Azzie, but the entire world—mortals or gods—does not revolve around you.” This was my least favorite part about dealing with her, aside from wondering if each day would be the day she decided she had to kill Zeke, and I had to end her. She’d been raised to think so many important events hinged on her, and had just enough bad encounters in her life, that she wanted it to all be about the prophecies.

Azzie finally gave me her full attention. “I’m aware. But—” Her phone buzzed again, and she grabbed it from Zeke before he could stop her. “Go.”

“Enid’s fine.” Zeke nudged Azzie again.

Azzie sighed. “Fine,” she repeated. “Let’s go be tourists.” Despite the pronouncement, she glanced over her shoulder several times as we walked down the street.

Twenty-Five

Davyn

Tree branchesand underbrush tore at my clothing, but it didn’t bother me. The sun through the branches was mild on my skin and the only sounds were nature—birds, bugs, and the distant rush of a river.

For decades—centuries if I were being honest with myself—it had been easier to exist alone than to pay attention to the bit of me that missed being part of a pack. Traveling for Azzie for the last three and a half years was enough to remind me that despite bears being solitary creatures, Berserkers were used to being in a tribe.

Existing in the city, even a small one, wasn’t the same as being part of a close-knit group who looked out for each other. Despite being surrounded by people, none of them were allies. Now, with their scents and the constant hum of electricity gone, I could sink into the solitude of the forest.

While I hadn’t decided what I thought of Finn, and I was wary of how quickly Zeke had earned Azzie’s trust, living next to the pair, spending the time with them, made all of us feel like a group.

We weren’t. It would be only Azzie and me again soon enough, and the knowledge sent the need through me to reconnect with old friends. To see if I could reestablish some of the bonds that I missed. Especially when Finn insisted on a birthday party with friends, which summoned the reminder that Azzie didn’t have many more close connections than I did. She shouldn’t be so isolated.

I stepped into a clearing, leaving oaks and aspens behind me. According to the information I’d been able to gather, through Finn’s contacts and through feelers that Enid put out on my behalf, this was where I could find Tyr—one of the few gods I not only liked but still respected.

I hadn’t talked to him in ages, though. As Zeke would put it, a big gruff loner didn’t need friends.

With the temperate air hugging me and foul smells of the city cleared from my senses, I paused and dragged in a deep breath. The gesture would not only help me enjoy my immediate surroundings, but I hoped it would give me a direction to go, to find Tyr.

A powerful scent hit me full force—sweat and ancient blood—at the same time an ax head dug into the middle of my back.

“It’s been a long time, Berserker.”

Tyr.

I didn’t fight my smile. “Too long.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not long enough.” His tone didn’t give anything away about his mood or state of mind.

I was unconcerned. This was a better greeting than pretending all was well. For him, all hadn’t been well since he lost?—

“Why are you here?” Tyr asked.

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