Page 75 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

A number of rapid heartbeats passed.Then the world released its breath, and Thordis’s knife disappeared.She looked at me.“We’re meeting your friends, right?”

Note to self: Reread Phedre’s and Thordis’s employment applications.And maybe check Deagan’s dossier too.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to go through with this now.She didn’t look like a killer anymore.She was again the overly eager, too energetic version of herself, now bouncing on her toes in anticipation of doing anything but standing still.

“I will let you know if someone arrives,” Eli said.He bowed his head, then departed.

Thordis didn’t glance his direction.

“Are you okay?”I asked her.

“Of course.Why do you ask?”

“Mostly because I don’t want you to go all lethal assassin in front of my friends.”Also, because I needed to know what had just happened.I’d never seen her look so vicious, not when she faced an opponent at fight night and not when she and Phedre trained with me.Was that because we were outside the Null?Was it something else?If her emotions ramped up that quickly, I couldn’t introduce her to Carrie.

“No need to worry,” Thordis said cheerily.“Just lead the way.”

Uncertainty kept me locked in place.Thordis was unpredictable.She might claim I shouldn’t worry, but if something triggered—

“You’re here!”

I cringed when Carrie’s voice carried down to us.Craning my neck, I spotted her leaning over the metal balcony, grinning.

I managed a tight smile.It was either go up or go home, and if I left now, I’d never be able to explain it away.

Half-heartedly, I lifted my hand to wave, and another figure popped up at the rail.

“Alex?”The surprise in my voice was genuine, and my reluctance instantly vanished.Several weeks ago, Alex had moved back home to be with his sick mom.I hadn’t expected him to be here.Hopefully his presence meant good news.

“Hey, stranger,” he called down.“You coming up or not?”

“On my way!”I turned to Thordis.“Normal human, remember?”

“Yep!”she replied with way too much energy.Energized Valkyries inevitably led to mischief.

I’d deal with it.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I hurried up to the third floor.Carrie, John, and Alex stood in the breezeway.I strode directly to the latter and wrapped my arms around him.

Alex returned the hug.

“Carrie didn’t say you’d be here.”I stepped back, and my smile turned cautious.“Your mom?”

“In treatment, but the prognosis looks good,” he said.“She threatened to hang Paw Patrol underwear from our trees if I didn’t come back, so…” He splayed his hands to his sides in anI’m heremotion.

He’d been present during the unicorn fiasco.Laughing, I punched his arm.“It’s so good to see you.”

“What about me?”Carrie asked.She stood behind Alex with her arms crossed.

Still smiling, I walked over and gave her a tight hug.“Of course I’m happy to see you.You too.”I turned to John and hugged him as well.

“The gang is back together,” Carrie said.“Plus one?”

Right.Thordis.She took a big stride forward.Before she could introduce herself, I jumped in.“This is… Tory.”

It wasn’t the most elegant delivery, but I hadn’t had a name ready.If I’d called her Thordis, someone would ask questions about her name, where she was from, did she have siblings, et cetera.Given her exchange with Eli, it was best to keep questions to a minimum.

“Hi friend,” Thordis said, shooting forward and extending her hand.