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Valeen took off her cloak and placed it on the hook next to the door. She adjusted her hair, left down in loose curls, and then pushed her shoulders back and trudged forward. She was a goddess as old as time, and yet around Aunt Evalyn she felt like a teenager again, about to be reprimanded.

“They’re here,” Leif sang. “How much silver you got?” He nudged Fennan’s arm.

“What in the world are you two going on about?” Aunt Evalyn put a hand on her hip.

Her stern face cracked into a huge grin. “Layala! You’re back. What has gotten into you lately? You ran off two days ago in a panic without even a goodbye.”

“Sorry about that.” She flushed.

“I was so worried. I know you’re strong and powerful but you’re still a daughter to me. And mothers never stop worrying, no matter how old you are.” She came out from behind the bar and pulled her into a hug. Her cinnamon spice smell felt like home. A breath later, she went rigid and slowly pulled away. “Laya, who is this?”

Valeen turned. Hel had removed his overcoat and now wore a black top with red runes down the center button line. He’d rolled up his sleeves revealing his tattoos and runes. So much for being discreet. At least he didn’t have on a black cloak with the hood pulled up. “Aunt Evalyn, I’d like you to meet… Hel.”

“Hel…The one who left the letter in my door addressed toValeen?” Her brown eyes narrowed on him like an insect that needed to be squashed. He stopped beside Valeen and put his arm around her shoulder, then kissed her temple. The lines between her eyebrows deepened. “I was hoping you got back with your betrothedThane—although, strangely, they resemble one another a little too closely.”

“No, he’s not Thane but… they are related.” Valeen rubbed her forehead,as if that helps this situation?She silently berated herself.

She glanced back at Thane, drinking a mug of ale. “Is this a long-lost brother?” she whisper-hissed. “Layala—you can’t do that to Thane.”

Leif and Piper snickered together. Tif sat on the bar top, kicking her feet over the edge, staring at them, no attempt at all to pretend like she wasn’t eavesdropping.

“Brother only in my heart.” Hel held out his hand and waited for her to take it. “It’s a funny story, actually, but first I would like to say it’s great to meet you, Evalyn. You raised a remarkable lady, and I thank you for all that you did to keep her safe.”

Valeen flinched at Evalyn’s disapproving glare sliding down his form then back up to his face.Ugh, not the berries comment, please…Aunt Evalyn reached up for her poison berry necklace and rubbed the twine. The comment was on the tip of her Aunt’s tongue, she knew it, but as if thinking better of threatening to poison him, she hesitantly shook his hand. “She’s remarkable on her own. This old gambler didn’t have much to do with it. What did you say your name was again?”

Please don’t say your full name,Valeen thought silently. She needed time to explain before he went and outed himself as the Black Mage. Aunt Evalyn knew his true name. Hel’s garnet eyes flicked to her, she hadn’t intended to send him her thoughts, but he must have heard it anyway. A mischievous smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and she felt the heat rising in her neck.

“It’s Hel. Black.”

“Hel Black. And you’re what, sleeping together? In love? What am I looking at here?”

Leif spit out his drink and laughed. All Mother above, it would be nicenotto have an audience. She glared at them all. Katana was the only one who looked concerned. She grabbed Thane’s hand. And waved at the others. “Let’s take our drinks to the tables outside.”

“Party pooper,” Leif muttered, but everyone, including Tif, went out the back door.

Once it swung shut, Valeen relaxed a little. “He’s…” Valeen swallowed hard.

“I’m her husband.”

“Husband?” she balked. “Husband? You ran off and got married and didn’t invite me to the wedding? When did you even meet him?”

“Oh, we met some time ago,” Hel said, winking at Valeen. She let out a nervous laugh and tried to get her rapidly beating heart and erratic breath under control.

Aunt Evalyn still looked like she’d taken a swig of bad whisky, but there was nothing in her expression that said she suspected he was the villain of Adalon. She adjusted her colorful shall and turned on her heel before either of them could answer. “I think I need a drink to finish this conversation.” She made her way back behind the bar. “How long is ‘some time’ to you Mr. Black? I can guarantee she didn’t know you from Briar Hollow.” She waved at one of the empty tables. “Sit, I need the full story. Can I make either of you anything?”

How much does she know?Hel sent the question to her mind.

She knows I’m a goddess reborn. Not much else.

Hel nodded slowly, and the evening sun shining through the front windows made his eyes glitter with mischief.This should be good then.Hel pulled out a chair for Valeen and then took a seat of his own. “When did we meet, love? Before Evalyn was born of course but the number of years is evading me.” Valeen’s skin dampened with sweat. She laughed nervously.

Aunt Evalyn stopped what she was doing and tapped her fingers on a bottle of amber. “So, you met in her previous life?”

“Yes, exactly,” Hel answered. He got up from the table and made his way over to Aunt Evalyn. “Allow me to make you a drink. Something special I can guarantee you’ve never had before.”

“As long as it’s strong.” She fumbled through a stack of rolled up, yellowed papers from the corner cubby shelf, took one, thenmade her way over to the table Valeen sat at. The chair legs scraped loudly against the wood floor, as if she did it on purpose then she plopped into her seat, smugly.Umm what is she holding?Valeen chuckled nervously and started biting her nails. She wasn’t even a nail-biter either.

Hel pulled a few different bottles from the shelves and with a flick of his fingers three silver goblets appeared—one with rubies, one with amethyst, and the other with emeralds glittered on the outside. He poured a few different liquors he’d taken from the shelf into a separate glass, squeezed in fruit she had no idea where he’d gotten, then snapped his fingers and a silver flask appeared. She recognized the primordial letters across the center, revealing it was a light, sweet spirit used for adding flavor to drinks from Runevale. He must have had it stored in the aether.