Page 21 of Valkyrie Confused

His expression is bored as he takes the chair Scarlett previously sat in. “I didn’t tell her anything. She’s playing cupid.”

So he did tell her about us.

As if he read my mind, he adds, “She says she can see lingering feelings between us.”

I scoff. “Did you tell her she’s nuts?”

I want to lick the hard line of his jaw when he sets it like this, and that’s why I should be walking away. Not reclaiming my seat. Not holding his gaze with a challenge.

Arnlaug flares his nostrils. “I told her we’re incompatible.”

No lie there.

“Butthis is an opportunity,” he adds.

Is he implying what I think he is? If he’s suggesting we reconnect, I—

No. He’s out of his mind. He’s still Odin’s lackey. Still planning on taking Scarlett to his god at the end of the month.

His god. Who is alive.

Something in my chest loosens.

When the news of Odin’sdemisereached my ears, I expected Arnlaug to come back for me. To fight for me. He didn’t. For a while, I feared he was gone, until I realized I could sense him. Not in the way I can when he’s nearby, but in my soul, I knew he was alive. Unharmed.

And yet he stayed away.

Knowing he was never really free soothes the ache, even though Odin’s return is unsettling. As is the reason Arnlaug is finally here.

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Arnlaug goes on. “If she thinks we’re patching things up, I can stick around, and we can tell her everything when you say she’s ready.”

Ah. More deception in Odin’s name. I should be used to it by now, but it enrages me beyond reason. “I amnotlying to her more than I absolutely need to. I just need a couple more days, to work out how exactly to tell her the truth, and then that’s it.” But isn’t this a lie too? The only reason I haven’t already told her is that I like being around her. If she finds out I’ve lied about who I am as well as withheld who she is, I’ll forever lose this easy, playful, flirty friendship we’ve been building.

Andshe’ll never sleep with me.

Fuck, I haven’t bedded anyone in over a month. I don’t need sex to survive, but I thrive on it. It enhances my powers. I should be feeling the lack of it by now. Why don’t I?

“Fine by me,” Arnlaug says. Only his frown says it isn’t. Does he want us to go through with this charade? Act like there’s a chance of getting back together, when we know full well we won’t?

I’m about to ask just that, when he says, “You have a thing for her, don’t you? You always liked your women curvy.”

Just like I always liked my men big and blunt. “I’m attracted to her.Drawnmight be a better word.” I can’t exactly lie, after I said I’m done with it.

One corner of his lips tugs upward. “I know what you mean. She’s got this magnetic… something.”

“It’s called a personality.”

“Ah, that’s what it is? Haven’t been around people who had one in a while.”

I frown. “I can’t tell if that’s an insult or not.”

He stands, dragging the chair against the stone floor. “Wasn’t meant to be, but if the shoe fits—”

“I’ll hit you over the head with it.”

His startled laugh has time-altering attributes, because it transports me back to when we used to have fun together. When we were happy together.

All too soon, he says, “Well, thank you for lunch. Delicious as ever.” He works his jaw. “When are you done here?”

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