Page 15 of The Last Valkyrie (Vikingrune Academy #4)

Chapter 15

Ravinica

WE SPENT THE NEXT FEW hours lazing about, resting and enjoying each other’s company. I made a mental note to hit up Dagny in Eir Wing for a special blue tincture over the next twenty-four hours, because the guys had filled me so thoroughly.

We knew shit was going to hit the fan soon, and this might be the last chance for all of us to be together for at least a week.

Plus, who knew what awaited my mates on their individual quests? It worried me endlessly, though I tried not to show it on my face. I didn’t bite my lip or chew my nails—I simply stayed introspective, hoping my quietness wouldn’t alert my guys to the worry rioting in my head and heart.

Solo missions, each of which need to go off without a hitch in order for us to be successful. Because any of them getting hurt or killed means this has all been an abject failure. I can’t live without each and every one of them.

After getting dressed, we took our clammy, gross bodies to the nearest river sloping down the eastern side of Academy Hill, and purged ourselves of our delectable filth.

Naked again, yet more relaxed and proper this time as we bathed and chatted with our clothes lined out along the bank, I watched my guys wading through the water. I lost track of time as I spied on them, their muscles and different shapes glistening with crystal-clear water dripping off their enviable, beautiful bodies in the afternoon sunlight.

Spring was an awesome time here up on the hill.

I stayed silent as the others bantered about the raunchy sex we’d just had, preferring to sit on the bank on my elbows while smiling demurely at my men.

Arne was chuffed, with a wicked smile across his face as he slapped Sven’s shoulder, rubbing up against the wolf’s back. Sven was blushing again, which I found adorable and unlike the wolf shifter of the past.

“Told you not to knock it until you tried it,” Arne said with a wink.

The others laughed at Sven’s flustered expression. “No you didn’t! You never said any such thing.”

Arne’s face went slack. “Oh? Well. I am now. And you have tried it. And you loved it.”

Sven opened his mouth to argue with the pretty blond elementalist he called “dandy” . . . but he had no words. He simply bowed his head, dunking down into the river and coming up with his black mane plastered to his scalp.

The others laughed as he submerged, because it was obvious he had no defense against Arne’s barbs. The iceshaper was right: Sven had enjoyed getting drilled by Arne from behind, if only so the wolf could grow hornier and bigger inside me.

It seemed like all of this—even the anal play and unsuspecting openness of my lovers—was aimed at pleasing me more than anything. It was the next level of our lewd pack, as they were starting to find a level of comfort with each other I’d never thought possible.

Magnus floated by on his back, gently kicking his feet as he stared up at a hanging branch over his head that blocked the sun from his eyes. “How about you, bear?”

Grim took a moment, pondering, and then shrugged his massive shoulders. “I won’t deny it like Sven is trying to. I enjoyed it.”

My cheeks flamed when I thought back on the way the skinnier, wiry bloodrender grabbed Grim’s buff body and railed him from behind—the expression of exertion and red-faced bliss on Magnus’ face over Grim’s shoulder. The way Grim winced before ultimately closing his eyes while he filled my ass.

Gods, these men are going to drive me mad.

“I did too,” Magnus admitted with a small smile.

Their voices drowned away as they continued to unpack this new experience with each other. I stared up at the hanging branch, watching as the new spring leaves fluttered in the mild breeze.

I found myself smiling at the simplicity of life at the moment. Training, learning, fucking, loving. It was something I could get used to.

I can’t get used to it though, can I? Because it might all be snatched away from me if we don’t act. I feel like we’re so close to getting everything we want, me and the boys. The roadblocks ahead are treacherous, dangerous, and could end everything in a heartbeat.

I couldn’t let that happen. I would do everything in my power to save these men from ruin—to save all of us—even if it meant sacrificing myself for their sake.

Of course I wasn’t going to tell them that, because I didn’t need them worrying even more about my safety while they were gone. It was simply a realization I came to while sitting there in the late-afternoon breeze on the bank of the lazy eastern river.

Once it seemed their good-humored banter had died down, I lowered my gaze and noticed the guys were looking at me. They had said something about me, expecting my response, and I’d been lost in la-la-land.

I blinked. “Sorry. What were you guys saying?”

“We don’t want you staying here alone while we’re gone,” Magnus said. “You’ve made too many enemies. Hersir Ingvus, Tomekeeper Dahlia, Damon, Eirik, Gothi Sigmund. Am I missing anyone?”

“Thane Canute?” Arne questioned. “I didn’t like the way he glared at you during the debriefing.”

“Aye,” Corym agreed. “He’s silent and strong. They’re always the most dangerous ones. His allegiance clearly lies with the Gothi rather than the academy, unlike, say, Hersir Kelvar.”

I scrunched my nose, hating how they talked about my safety like it was something they could control every minute of the day.

Grim said, “She won’t be alone. I’ll be with her.”

“Will it be enough?” Sven snapped.

Grim raised a brow. “You’ve seen me fight, Torfen. So have all the other students here.”

“Yeah, and Rav kicked your ass.”

Opening his mouth to reply, Grim stopped short, inclining his chin. He didn’t deny it, simply pouting with a frown and nodding, which made everyone chuckle.

“What if Grim would be better used elsewhere?” I asked.

Their faces veered to me, baffled.

I continued with a small shrug, not enjoying the full attention they gave me as I worked out what I meant. “I . . . I worry about you guys as much as you worry about me, you know. All of you going on these solo trips? I’d rather you went in pairs, like Corym and Magnus.”

With that, I turned my gaze to Arne and Sven, wondering what they had to say about that.

Arne said, “The Lepers Who Leapt were once family, lass, and I’m still my sister’s brother. That counts for something, even with Frida being dead. I don’t fear them. I’m more powerful than any of them. I’m only going to slip in, meet with Dieter whether he likes it or not, and discuss things. I’ll be safe.”

He sounded confident, so I flipped my gaze to Sven across the riverbank. Tapping my chin, I said, “What if Grim went with you?”

They both looked struck.

Grim said, “Sneak, are you trying to get rid of me?”

I flapped a hand at the ridiculous assertion. “Of course not! I’m just trying to make sure we do this the right way. There’s a lot of ground to cover in six days, love.”

Sven remained quiet for a moment, surprisingly, rather than immediately chastising the idea. He had a thoughtful look on his face, staring off down the stream.

He said, “Perhaps we could make use of you, bear.”

“How?”

“Tors and Kolls hate each other. You know that as well as anyone.”

“Yes . . .” Grim agreed. “You think bringing me around other Torfens is a smart idea? Instigating and antagonizing them? It sounds cocky and foolish.”

“My father is a proud, dangerous man,” Sven explained. “He clearly sees something less of me than he used to, or else he wouldn’t have had Edda, Olaf, and Ulf kick my ass and take over. What he sees, though . . . that could be malleable.” The wolf waved his hand around, searching for the words. “We could find a new lens for him to look through. A new perspective, by showing how even rivals like us can come together in times of desperation and war.”

Grim furrowed his brow, thinking it over, taking Sven seriously. This was unprecedented. It was one thing for the two former rivals to work together and find camaraderie around me, but it was entirely another for Sven to consider using Grim as a prop—a goalpost against his father, and asking for his help.

Essentially, allying the hated families together, for a show of strength.

I never thought Sven would change so much, yet he seems the most changed of us all. Could Olaf’s death have caused this new perspective? Has Sven learned that life is too short for all the petty squabbling, and now wants to show that to his father?

“I think it’s a great idea,” I chirped in a light tone once the riverbank had grown quiet. He didn’t need to know the reasoning for my about-face. I saw it as Sven’s and Grim’s next stage of growth.

When the guys looked at me to expand, I said, “It’ll throw Salos Torfen off his game. If your Da is as cunning and diabolical as you say he is, Sven, we’ll need all the help we can get. Show him you’re not coming empty-handed—that we have options, and you’re only meeting with him out of courtesy and a shared interest, not desperation.”

“Yes.” Sven massaged his chin. He understood where I was coming from. “I’ve found a new family. Dear Father needs to learn that.”

Arne said, “There’s also the chance he might simply try to kill you if you come alone. So, at the very least, Grim could act as a deterrent to that.” When I scowled at him, the iceshaper ducked his head. “What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”

Sven nodded sagely. “You’re not wrong, dandy.”

“Then it’s settled,” I announced with a smile. “Grim will go with Sven. Magnus will go with Corym. Arne, you’ll stay safe and hidden until absolutely necessary.”

The boys nodded.

Sven nudged his chin toward me. “And what about you, little menace? Without Grim here, we’ll be even more worried about you.”

“I’ll stay with Randi and Dagny, make sure I’m never alone. I could use some girl-time with my besties anyway, before embarking on our voyage to Selby next week.”

The boys grumbled, glancing at each other and speaking wordlessly with only their faces. They knew each other so well now they didn’t need to speak to come to an agreement or disagreement. It was written all over their handsome features.

“I suppose that’ll suffice,” Sven murmured for the group.

“I don’t know,” Corym said. “I still have a bad feeling about it. Your brothers can’t be trusted, lunis’ai .”

“My brothers won’t harm me, Cor. You don’t know them like I do, and they’re hurting just like the rest of us.” The final tally had come out regarding the deaths from the Selfsky Plains battle, and it was a grim reminder of all we’d lost. Both Damon and Eirik had lost someone in their respective group—Gertrude Lanfen, my younger brother’s girlfriend, and Tyrus, Eirik’s “roommate.”

There wasn’t a person alive at Vikingrune Academy who wasn’t affected in some way from that terrible night. It would be a long road to recovery.

I said, “My brothers aren’t my enemies, guys. They’re just misled and confused. Maybe I’ll talk with them—”

“No!” Sven snapped. “That’s the last thing you should do while we’re gone, Rav. Why would you even suggest such a thing?”

I sighed, lying back and staring up at the blue sky. “Because at the end of the day, they’re the only blood-family I’ve got around here. I can’t go my whole life hating them.”

“You’re too empathetic,” the wolf answered, shaking his head with frustration, making his jaw twitch. “What you said may be true, but can the same be said about them? Can they go their whole lives hating you ?”

My chest rose and fell as I thought over his question for a long time, until I felt my eyes growing droopy.

“There’s only one way to find out, love.”