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“You won’t. I won’t allow it.”

A knock on the door, then it opened. Katana came through.

Valeen pulled back and twisted out of his arms. Her sister flew across the room and threw herself at Valeen. “Oh, thank the All Mother, you’re safe. I’ve been worried. You aren’t hurt, are you?”

Pulling back, Valeen shook her head. “I’m alright.We’realright.”

He fell back on the bed, pulled out a civar and watched the silver smoke rise in little curling wisps.

“Where is Thane?” Katana asked, the worry clear in her voice. Hel glanced over at her. Something about her was different, her smell or maybe the shimmer in her hair.

“He found us at the portal. He’s probably riding back and almost here as we speak.” The civar eased the burning fire in his chest a little more, though it didn’t change his mind. He was going to make a move against the council. A monumental one that would shift the tide of this war.

“So he never went to the underrealm?” she nibbled on her lip.

“No.” He blew out smoke and rose off the bed. He was going to need Thane for the plans his mind was working up. “But I do need to speak with him. Are you alright if I leave for a few minutes?” He brushed Valeen’s arm and kissed her cheek.

“I’m fine, Hel. Take your time. I’m just going to bathe and then get something to eat.”

With a finger to his temple, he said silently,I’m right here if you need me.

Chapter 42

KATANA

As soon as the door shut behind Hel, guilt started to eat away at her. While she was in the north with the dragons, she’d slept with the elf her sister was once going to marry, and again while Valeen was fighting for her life in the underrealm. She needed to talk to her before she found out another way.

“I’m going to hop into the bath really quick,” Valeen said. “I look clean, but I don’t feel it. I need to scrub that evil place off me. You can wait here if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, sure.” Katana sat on the bench at the end of Valeen’s bed.

Water splashed in the bathing champers. It wasn’t long later she heard her sister get in. “Ugh, it feels good to be back. I never want to go there again.”

“I wouldn’t either.” Katana’s stomach began to twist. “Are you hungry? I can go get you something to eat.”

“No, stay and talk to me. My stomach can wait. What happened while you were gone?” Her voice sounded echoey from the other room.

“Um,” she nervously pushed her hair behind her ears. The confession was on the tip of her tongue but then she remembered Atlanta and decided it was more important. “Well, Atlanta came. He and Thane got into a fight. Thane slapped him in the face. It was… actually amazing to see.”

Water splashed and she imagined her sister bolting upright. “Did he try to take you?”

“He would have, yes.”

“That prick. When this is over, I’m going after him.”

She smiled even though she hated violence. It was nice to be loved and protected. “I told him you would. It’s why he left. He fears you.”

“As he should.”

Katana giggled. “Thane wasn’t afraid of him. I was surprised.”

“No, he wouldn’t be. Especially if he was protecting you. He would do anything for his friends.”

“I gathered that.” The word friend hit harder than it should. That was what she was to Thane, a friend, although she wished it was more. Did friends sleep together? Did friends think about each other all the time? No. “Val…”

“Yeah?”

“I need to tell you something and I don’t know how you will feel about it.” Sweat dampened her skin, and she suddenly found it harder to breathe.