Page 95 of Valkyrie Unknown

Because she wasn’t ready.

I charged Tyr and he leaned in, steadying himself and hunching his shoulders. I dodged around him, toward the tree to his back left. I landed one step and then another, taking me up half a meter and coming down with an elbow aimed at his back.

As I struck my mark, Tyr lunged to the side with a grunt. He rolled upright, letting out a laugh that radiated from his chest. “You’re learning dangerous things from that woman of yours.”

“She’s not my?—”

“—woman.” I lost my voice as my past slammed into me, carried on my voice saying the same thing. Though I was still in the clearing with Tyr, my mind was carried back to a time before Odin made me Berserker. To a similar fight with the same god.

To an identical taunt about a quite different woman.

Gudrun was my sister. A maiden with so much potential, and determined to become a Berserker like so many of us who trained. Odin didn’t grant that gift to women, though. Any female Berserkers were born naturally, much later.

Gudrun insisted she would be the first. She would convince Odin she was worthy. I learned from her. Worshipped her. Would have done anything for her.

Including overlooking the fact that she stayed mortal when I didn’t. I told myself she was strong. She knew all the things we did, and she was a better warrior than half of us. Which meant when she fought alongside us, I never questioned it. She joined us in a battle she never could have survived without enhanced strength and healing.

Despite not having thought of her in ages, her death flooded my mind now, vivid and horrifying.

One of the Valkyries, Kirby, assured me Gudrun was in Valhalla. Kirby’s accompanying her was one of the rare times she quietly defied Odin.

“Are we fighting?” Tyr’s taunt brushed the edge of my thoughts.

Gudrun was the other reason I held back with Azzie. I wouldn’t get so caught up in another person that I overlooked?—

“Davyn.” Tyr’s shoulder to my gut yanked me into the present.

The inconvenience of pain kept me grounded, and I buried the memory once again. I gave Tyr a toothy grin. “We are fighting, yes.”

I threw myself into the fight full force, and banished all thoughts of Gudrun. Of Azzie and how tempting and strong and skilled she was. Of how glorious she was when she lost herself in battle, or anything. Of how infatuated she was with?—

Tyr tackled me, and we rolled to the ground. “Be careful with prophecies and the women they attach themselves to.” His light tone vanished.

“I am.” I fought back, grappling and drawing strength from within to try to gain the upper hand.

Tyr pinned me and threw a punch at my throat.

I blocked and rolled to the side, but he caught me in the kidney with his knee. The hits came harder and faster from both of us, and I let go of every restraint except the one that kept me from becoming a bear.

It felt good to lose myself, and each of us healed instantly from any wounds. However, as the fight wore on, the bruises hurt more, and the twisted limbs ached longer. I lost track of how long we fought, before we both rolled to the side and agreed at the same time to yield.

Tyr wore a smile, and I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Incredible fight.”

“Thank you. It’s been too long since I could do that,” he said.

Same.

Another reason I missed being part of a pack. A group that not only protected, but appreciated a good fight. With no restraints.

“What is that?” Tyr nodded at a shimmer in the sunlight that dappled through the trees.

I glanced at it, then looked again, and patted my pockets. Fuck. I should’ve secured that better. Pushing to my feet, I wandered the short distance to retrieve the necklace that had fallen out of my pocket. “A birthday gift.”

“For her?” Tyr joined me.

I nodded, and picked pieces of dried leaves out of the fittings. Fortunately, it was a sturdy piece, meant to be both beautiful and survive Azzie wearing it at all times. It hadn’t taken any damage I couldn’t polish away with my T-shirt.

“Would you like me to bless it? A protection of sorts?” Tyr asked.

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