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He smiled and sighed in relief. “I liked last night too. I don’t want it to change our friendship.”

Friendship… “Right. Then we will not let it.”

“I’ll be packing my things as well and meet you downstairs.”

“Alright.”

The rideto the portal was quick and the walk back was filled with banter and play between Leif, Piper, Fennan, and Thane.

Despite their conversation, the previous night had changed her friendship with Thane, for her part anyway. His laugh made her stomach seem to flip and do unnatural things. The way he smiled, even if it wasn’t directed at her, heated her to the very core. His voice even sounded different to her ears, like he was a siren calling her to him. If he felt the same way, he didn’t show it.

Once they stepped inside Castle Dredwich Leif, Piper, and Fennan went their separate ways, leaving her and Thane standing in the foyer. Thane turned to her to speak until Presco came around the corner. “I need to talk to you both about where Valeen and Hel are.”

Sick to her stomach with the news, Katana found a large empty room at Castle Dredwich, with a harp that was enchanted to play on its own. As soon as she closed the double doors, the strings began to pluck. She couldn’t break down and cry with worry. She had to believe they would make it back.

The All Mother hadn’t brought them together again just for it all to end so swiftly. She pushed the heavy navy curtains to let in the sunlight and opened the windows for the warm summerbreeze. Floral scents drifted inside, and the sun’s rays filled her soul.

She took off her shoes and set them next to a high-backed velvet chair and pushed a table aside to clear a large open space. The rug beneath her feet was navy and white with florals and flourishes. Closing her eyes for a moment, she let the music flow into her, felt it in the very depths of her being, and then slowly moved her feet.

This was her offer to the All Mother to protect Valeen and Hel. She swept her arms, turned into a spin and leapt again. It had been a long time since she danced, and her ankles weren’t used to the movements anymore, but it was coming back to her.

The harp seemed to move her, to lift her arms and bend her torso. She let her training take hold, not thinking of what would come next, but dipped and twirled and kicked. The flowy fabric of her sage-green dress whirled around her. Sweat beaded at her temples, and her breath came heavier than it did when she was a goddess, but she liked the way the movements worked on her muscles, the way it burned.

There was part of her that wanted to go to the underrealm to bring her sister back, but she knew she’d be more of a hindrance than anything. Valeen was strong, powerful, and determined, so she held out hope.

Katana lifted one leg high above her head then arched back until her hands touched the floor. She kicked back and flipped into a standing position again. Then she circled her arms and kicked her leg out and around her, spinning in place. Until she caught sight of something dark against the doors and stopped.

Her breath hitched and she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thane. I did not realize you came in.” He was smiling. “How long have you been standing there?”

“I just walked in. You’re a wonderful dancer.”

“Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “I used to dance in front of an audience of thousands, and yet for some reason you make me more nervous than they did.”

His green eyes softened. She loved the color of them. It reminded her of a forest and the wilds and beauty of it. “Why?” he asked. “I’m not judging you. Admiring maybe.”

“I know but one person is more intimate than many.”

“Could anything be more intimate than last night?” He raised a brow.

She smiled and bit her lower lip. Her breath seemed to get away from her. “Well, last night wasn’t a performance.”

“It wasn’t? It certainly felt like it.”

Katana suddenly felt like she needed to drink cool water. “And how would you rate said performance?” She giggled while slowly moving her hips in a circle then winked at him.

He laughed. “One hundred out of ten.”

All Mother, his voice and his gaze on her was making her stomach do things it shouldn’t.One night. One time. That’s all.

“You can keep dancing. I didn’t mean to stop you.”

“Oh, no, it’s alright. I am glad you came. Have you heard anything more about Valeen and Hel?”

He strode forward to the table next to her and lifted the lid off a crystal bowl. He plucked out two of the silver-wrapped treats inside and rolled one between his fingers. “No. If they aren’t back tonight… I’ll go after them. I won’t leave them down there.”

Her heart seemed to clench in her chest. “You are very brave.” She brushed her hands down her body to straighten the wrinkles in her ankle-length flowy dress. It was terrifying to think of him leaving for such a horrible, dangerous place and yet she adored him for it. It was how big his heart was, how much he cared for her sister and his brother, even if them being together broke him.

When she looked up, he was watching her. He popped one of the chocolates in his mouth then held out the other to her. She carefully unwrapped it and bit it in half. It was sweet and gooey at the center. “Thank you.”