The last classof the day couldn’t have come sooner. Waiting by the door, I spot her laughing with Nalaka, eyes shining, posture relaxed, genuine happiness lighting up her face.
That kind of moment’s rare around here. She turns toward me, her outfit hugging every curve like it was tailored just for her. A glimpse of her bare stomach makes me want to trail kissesalong it. Fuck, Avilyna’s got a figure that could start wars; wide hips, a tight waist, and her chest…
I’m running through all kinds of trouble in my mind, none of them are good. I shift my weight slightly, muscles tightening. Gotta keep it together for fuck’s sake.
When she finally reaches me, I lean in close, careful not to draw too much attention. My voice drops low, just for her ears.
“After class, you and your friends should head straight to the Manor. We need to talk.” She gives me a small and almost imperceptible nod, then slips away to her usual spot across from me.
All I can think of is how much trouble I’m walking into. Willing to risk too much.
33
Kai
FREYA’S BEST FRIEND
At the manor,waiting in the living room, I’m filling the boys in on what Avilyna told me last night.
“That’s crazy. A valkyrie? I mean, I knew some survived, but actually having proof of it? And all this time hidden in the Mundane World, that’s mindblowing.” Caleb’s eyes are wide open, as if he just saw one of the gods.
“And that’s exactly why this stays between us. The plan is to help her awaken, and for that, she needs to remember who she is. Otherwise, she’s as good as dead.” My arms are crossed tightly.
“So, basically, our job is to do research and find ways to unlock her memories.” Caleb summarizes.
“Exactly.”
Wyll pipes up for the first time, “I think I know where to start. Remember when I told you I had that sense of déjà vu?”
I nod.
“Well, when I tried to think about why I called her Lyna, everything just went blank. But when I stopped trying so hard. As my focus shifted to the other details of the memory, little flashes began to return. She was Freya’s best friend… and Sammy’s.” Wyll looks up from his hands, locking eyes with us.
Then, it slowly falls back into place.
Coming back homefrom my day with Dad, I sprint toward the yard where Mom is sitting with a circle of women. Wyll’s mom, Lirael, is among them. She grabs my shoulder as I pass, pulling me into a hug. Her brown hair brushes against my cheek, soft and ticklish. I put on a little show, pretending to struggle out of her arms, as if it bothers me, but I don’t mind.
In fact, I kind of like it. Not because my mother doesn’t love me. But because it’s nice to feel appreciated by someone else, especially when your Dad spends the whole day pointing out everything you do wrong.
“Aren’t you going to salute our guests?” my mom asks, more reprimand than question.
“It’s okay, Willow. After all, family isn’t really a guest,” Alek’s mom offers with a kind smile. She’s right, in a way, we’ve all been around each other forever. Our moms are kindred spirits, our dads friends. In the end, it creates a bond that feels a lot like blood.
I spot Wyll up in the tree branches, drawing in a small crowd of kids like some theatrical forest spirit. No surprise, it’s all thanks to the ‘movie’ they watched in the Mundane World, similar to a play here. Now he’s convinced he’s a cowboy. Made me promise we’d see the film together, swore I’d love it.
Before I can get to him, Sammy spots me. He bolts at full speed and tackles me to the ground. Then, with impressive determination, he manages to lock my arms behind my back.
Grunting into the dirt, I say, “Hello to you, too.”
“Soon I’ll be as strong as you! Then I’ll join you and Dad!”
“Oh yeah?” I slip free easily and flip the tables on him, pinning my six-year-old brother with exaggerated effort.
“So who taught you that move? Alek?”
Through a storm of giggles, he answers, “Lyna!”
“Of course,” I mutter, that’s when I see the little troublemaker. Her mom gently brushes one of Lyna’s wild copper curls behind her ear.
