“Eleven.”
Valerie laughs. “Yeah, sounds about right. She reminds me of one of my sisters.”
“Oh, does she go here—”
“She died,” Valerie says flatly.
Shit. Right. She mentioned as much in class once when she was arguing with Tala, didn’t she? I stop walking and turn to face Valerie. “That’s awful. I can’t imagine what that must have been like.” I hesitate a moment before admitting, “You’re stronger than I am, Val. If anything ever happened to Bea… I don’t know how I’d survive.”
“I still carry them with me,” Valerie says, slowly reaching for one of her knives. “Each of my knives is named after a family member. This one—my favorite—is Chloe. She was a lot like Bea.” Her lips lift in a small, sad smile. “I always keep them with me so I never forget why I became a hunter.”
My stomach sinks. “So a berserkr…?”
I can’t finish the sentence.
Valerie nods. “My entire family.”
No wonder she hates berserkir so much.
“I’m so sorry.” Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I add, “Our dad went berserk and killed our mom and then himself. So… I get it. When I found out what he really was, I despised berserkir. It seemed like the worst punishment imaginable to be one. I’ve been terrified of hurting Bea or my foster parents. I never asked for this.”
Valerie looks me over. “Huh. It never occurred to me someone might notwantto be a berserkr.”
“If I could be normal, I would.”
As I say the words, I start to question them. If I were normal, I’d still be back in Massachusetts, still attending classes at prep school, still pretending. I never would’ve ended up coming to Skallagrim and meeting Tala, Kris, Nils… and Amund. Maybe being a berserkr isn’t theworstthing.
Our footsteps echo over the stone as we cut through the courtyard, heading for the berserkr section. Something at the back of my neck prickles, and I can…sensesomething, my body tight with anticipation.
“I was hoping to have everything under control by the time my foster parents arrived, but I’ve barely made any progress.” I blow out a breath, unsure why I’m even saying this to Valerie. Maybe I just need to say it tosomeoneafter keeping it inside for so long. “I have no idea what I’m going to tell them.”
“I’m sure they’ll just be glad to see you,” Valerie says quietly. “I’d give anything to see my parents again.”
Something inside my chest squeezes.
I’m at a loss for words. At least I still have Bea. Not just her, but we found foster parents who love us enough to travel all the way to Iceland to see us. Who are willing to go along with all of this bizarre, impossible-sounding stuff like berserking and magic in order to help us.
Jim and Patricia are waiting outside the gates with their suitcases.
Relief, pure relief, fills me at the sight of them.
“Why won’t it open?” Patricia frowns.
Jim wheels his suitcase closer. “I don’t see any kind of intercom system…”
I have to stifle a laugh. Both of them seem sonormal. When Bea and I first arrived at Skallagrim, we couldn’t figure out the gates either. If it wasn’t for Amund and his dad arriving at the same time, Bea and I could have been attacked by wild berserkir. Suddenly nervous, I glance around, but I don’t see any wolves close by.
“Mom! Dad!” Bea shouts, waving wildly at them.
“Sweetie, how do we get in?” Patricia calls.
Valerie stops before the gates. “Stand back.”
With a loud groan, the gates slowly swing open.
Patricia and Jim exchange an amazed look.
“The gates are protected with magic,” Valerie says by way of explanation. “Seiðr is all about intention, so they open only if you actually want them to. As long as you have some magic, that is.”
