Kera kept looking up when she heard the sound of wings overhead.

“So you only work at night?”

“We only go into battle at night,” Vig replied. “Odin will only hide our wings—and by extension, us—at night.”

“Does that go for all the other Clans?”

“Just for the Protectors. They also have wings. But the Valkyrie horses and the Valkyries themselves travel whenever they have to.”

“Because who knows where in the world a battle might happen,” Rolf added. “The Valkyries have to be ready to go whenever Odin needs them to, so they can collect his warrior souls.”

“When do you think I’ll go into battle?” Kera asked, reaching for a bottle of water that was in a basket of ice under the table.

“Tomorrow maybe.”

Kera was so surprised by that reply, she rammed the back of her head into the edge of the table when she shot back up.

“Ow!”

“You okay?”

“What do you mean tomorrow?”

“Your wings are out. That means you’re ready.”

“What if I don’t think I’m ready?”

Stieg stared at Kera and asked, “At what point have the Crows showed you that they care about what you think?”

“Thanks, Stieg.”

“Just being honest. Because the Crows aren’t going to care. They’re going to throw you in the pit and you will sink or swim on your own. More coffee?”

Kera shook her head.

“You’ll be fine,” Vig told her. “Everything you need to survive in battle is already within you. Just have faith.”

Brodie’s bark came from the trees surrounding the house and she suddenly charged out. Her tongue was hanging out and Kera was betting she was exhausted but happy.

As she petted her dog’s soft fur and accepted all those kisses on her face, a female voice from somewhere on the Raven territory yelled out, “Thanks!”

Kera shrugged and yelled back, “You’re welcome!” Although she had no idea who the hell she was talking to.

“Do you have dessert?” Siggy asked Vig.

“Yeah.”

“Do you have dessert for the dog?” When Vig just gazed at him, Siggy added, “You don’t want her to feel left out, do you?”

Once the dishes were done and Vig had kicked his Raven brothers out before they could settle in to play video games, he went back into his house and tracked down one of the earliest adult books he could remember reading.

When he walked back out of the house, he found Kera sitting on the porch. She rested her head against one of the wood pillars at the front of the house while an exhausted Brodie lay on her other side, on her back, so that Kera could rub her chest and belly.

Vig sat down on the stepsand handed Kera the book.

“What’s this?”

“A book to help.”

“The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology,” Kera read out loud. “By Snorri Sturluson.” Then she snickered.

“I wouldn’t laugh too much at that name. A few guys in the Clans are named Snorri. And they’re pretty proud about it, too.”

“Okay.”

“Anyway, I thought it would help you get a better grasp of our pantheon.”

“Thanks, Vig.”

“You’re welcome.”

She looked out over what Vig considered his yard and sighed. Long and deep. “Guess I should head back, huh?”

“No. You’ll stay the night.”

Kera looked at him, her lips turned up at the corners. “Oh? Will I? On your couch?”

“No. In my bed.”

“Presumptuous!” she laughed.

“I’ll be on the couch.”

“No way. I can’t put you out of your bed.”

“You’re not. I usually fall asleep on the couch anyway. You’ll stay the night and get a fresh start tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? Brodie’s used to sleeping with me and that means dog hair in your bed.”

“That’s why one changes the sheets. It’s not exactly a hardship.”

“Thanks for all this, Vig,” Kera said. “Taking care of me and everything. Pulling me out of that fight this morning. Going through the window with me. Dinner tonight. I really owe you.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Kera. I just enjoy hanging out with you.”

“Even if that means almost getting hit with a crazed redhead’s flame-of-death whip?”

“You act like that’s the first time I’ve gone toe-to-toe with Erin Amsel. It’s not. I doubt it’ll be the last.”

“Well, I still appreciate it.”

“Anything for you, Kera. You have to already know that.”

Kera nodded and stood, Brodie right by her side. “I’m going to bed.”

“Sleep well.”

“You, too.”

Vig heard Kera move toward the screen door. It creaked when she opened it, then slammed shut.

He thought she’d gone inside until her hands pressed against his shoulders and Vig looked up to see her standing over him.

“Everything o—”

He never got to finish because she kissed him. Warm lips pressed against his and her hands moved from his shoulders to frame his jaw, her fingers stroking against his bearded face.

Vig started to reach for her, but he forced his hands down. Forced them to tighten into fists so that he didn’t have her straddling his cock in two seconds flat.