Val pushes off the wall, an intrigued smirk on her face. “Is that so?”
“I’ll keep an eye on things here,” I tell Val, encouraging her.
Something still seems to be stopping her, though.
“You’ll never know if you don’t ask,” I add.
Val arches a brow. “How about this? I’ll ask Tala if you ask Edith.”
She gives me a mischievous grin.
I stiffen. “But my brother—”
“It’s adance, Amund,” Val says slowly. “You’re not asking for her hand in marriage. Why don’t you have a little fun for once? We’re all in this together.”
I shift my weight between my feet, suddenly uncomfortable.
Isaac gives me two thumbs-up. “Gotta shoot your shot, dude.”
“Fine,” I say so they’ll stop ganging up on me.
Val smirks. “Oh, please. As if you haven’t been standing here like a lovesick puppy this whole time.” Laughing, she slips a knife free from her thigh strap and uses the blade as a mirror to touch up her lipstick. “I guess I’d better not keep Tala waiting any longer.”
With that, she saunters off.
When I glance over at Isaac, the longing look he’s giving Tala is familiar.
“Do you still like her?” I ask him.
Isaac hesitates. “I always have. Probably always will.” He offers me a sad smile. “After our other best friend died, we grew even closer and started dating. Tala was confused, but I think I always knew she never really saw me like that, you know? I was her best friend. We just didn’t want to lose each other, too. And then her parents…”
I frown. “Weren’t you with Emilía?”
“We were hooking up, yeah. I started seeing Emilía, trying to make Tala jealous, but she didn’t care. She was too busy obsessing over Valerie.” He laughs a little, but it sounds pained. “I’m just glad T is finally doing whatshewants for once.”
“So neither of us can be with the girl we want,” I say quietly.
Isaac lifts his glass to me. “At least we have each other.”
A small laugh escapes me. “Right.”
While he throws back his drink, I clear my throat. “We should focus on finding the killer anyway.”
“I’ve been scenting the place this whole time.” Isaac’s nose twitches. “Valerie took us to the admin building where Egill’s pelt was stolen, and we were able to pick up its scent. I’ll be able to scent it as soon as they step inside the gym. Whoever the killer is, he’s not here yet.”
“Or she isn’t,” I remind him.
Scanning the crowd, I search for round glasses and brown hair pulled into a bun. Irina should be arriving soon. I have to keep an eye out for her. If she’s the killer like I suspect, we need to act fast, before she can strike. With everyone gathered, it’s too easy of an opportunity not to do something.
One way or another, things are going to end tonight.
“Quiet, everyone,” Helga calls out, tapping a fork against her glass. She stands at the front of the gym, surrounded by streamers and balloons. “Before we begin the celebrations, I’d like to say a few words.”
I exchange a look with Isaac. We both start scanning the crowd for threats.
Irina must be here somewhere.
“Students, alumni, family, and friends of Skallagrim,” Helga calls out with a flourish, “thank you so much for joining me for our first Unity Celebration in thirty years. When my ancestor Egill Skallagrímsson founded this school, he hoped to create a safe haven for all those who practiced seiðr. Not just seers like him but also berserkir and witches. And more recently, we even welcomed hunters into our ranks as well, all for the preservation of seiðr.”
