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His face hardened. “I am not commanded by anyone, least of all a disgraced goddess who ismortal. You’re an elf now. Nothing more.”

A deep voice cut through the dark. “I have this thing about people talking down to my wife.” Hel prowled through the room behind Atlanta, his red eyes lit with disdain. “The next words out of your fucking mouth better be apologies.”

Atlanta turned. “Hel.” He stepped back against the balcony doorframe, putting both Valeen and Hel in his view.

Did he hurt you?Hel’s question came into her mind.

No.

“That didn’t sound like an apology. No, in fact, I’m sure it wasn’t. Now I require begging for forgiveness.”

Atlanta’s eyes flicked back and forth; he was cornered, and gods were dangerous when cornered.Be careful, Hel.

“I am a primordial! You’re nothing more than a dog who needs to be whipped and put on a leash—” Atlanta gasped reaching for his throat.

“A dog, am I?” Hel gave him a wicked smile and tsked. “Oh, I think someone has forgotten I’m a serpent, not a hound. You didn’t even see my bite coming.”

Atlanta’s face went a deep shade of red. “How—dare—you.”

Shit.Valeen called Soulender to her palm and readied herself to use it. No matter what Hel did, she was at his side. The golden blade glinted in the moonlight, catching Atlanta’s eye. “I’d be careful of your next move, Atlanta,” Valeen said. His jaw muscles twitched with his gaze locked onto the golden weapon in her hand.

“You’re lucky she’s the one holding that sword,” Hel snarled. “If it were me, you’d already be dead. Set foot here again and you will be.”

Atlanta suddenly gasped in air and his face began to return to its natural color.

“You and your husband are on your own in this conflict. You won’t win.” A swirl of water circled around him, and he vanished, leaving behind a puddle.

“How did he find you?” Hel demanded.

Valeen hurried inside and closed the balcony doors behind her. “He said he thought hefeltKatana and followed that feeling here, but he found me first.”

“He doesn’t know Katana is alive?”

“I don’t know what he thinks.” She glanced out the window. “Katana is leaving with Thane up north soon.” Valeen nibbled her lower lip, worry churning her gut. “He could follow her there.”

Chapter 24

KATANA

Katana made her way to the hot springs to soothe her achy, tired knees and ankles. She’d gone running to condition her mortal body with Thane and Leif the last couple days. They went easy on her, but she felt like a baby deer on new legs. For someone who healed fast, it wasn’t nearly fast enough.

The steam rose off the water under the light of the half-moon. The dark clouds left openings to the sparkling sky. She stripped her dress and dipped her toes in, testing the water, and finding it perfectly hot. She moved down the stone steps leading in. The water reached her hips when she spotted male clothing hanging from a branch. Her eyes drifted to the grass below where a pair of boots, two shiny swords and a weapons belt waited. Those swords were familiar…

Someone cleared their throat, and she whipped her head to the shadows on the far side. Long dark hair draped over fair skin, green eyes, bright even at night. Katana gasped and quickly sank into the water to cover her nakedness. Last time she’d been in this pool she at least had on her bralette and underwear. Now she was completely nude.

“Um, hello. I did not see you, Thane. I thought I was alone.”

He pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. “I figured. Although, you looked right in this direction when you arrived.”

“I guess I need to be more observant.”

“You do,” he agreed. “I could have been someone who’d want to hurt you.”

“But you are not.”

He chuckled. “No. Are you sore?”

“We ran five miles just today. Half of it was uphill. I have a new appreciation for mortals.” Before she could run and dance endlessly and not tire.