THERE WAS A BROTHER? And said brother was the bat-skit crazy guy who’d just shown up on a dragon?
Can my life get any more insane?
“Stay behind me,” Erik murmured. “And no matter what happens, do not go anywhere with him.”
Like I was going to.
“Raynor.” Erik kept his voice steady, but his hand trembled slightly at my waist. Oh, boy. “Where have you been?”
“Recruiting,” Raynor replied. He walked steadily toward us, his boots crunching lightly on the snow. “In case you hadn’t noticed, our numbers are nowhere near strong enough to go to war. And since you and Mother refuse to engage thralls—”
“And where are your recruits?” Erik’s chest rumbled. “If you’ve compromised our location, so help me, Odin, I’ll—”
“Relax. They’re being vetted by Valkyris East. If they pass the inquiries, the mainland will send word.”
Erik’s eyes narrowed as he stared his brother down. They were similar in height, each at least six and a half feet tall, but while Erik was a broad-shouldered bulk of pure muscle, his brother was leaner, hungrier. My gut told me his strength was in his cunning . . . and possibly his willingness to betray the ones he was sworn to defend.
Raynor was bad news. Of this, I was one hundred percent certain.
As if sensing my distaste, Raynor’s eyes shifted to me. His lip curled up again, and he spoke my name like it was a bad word. “Saga.”
Erik shifted his body so he stood slightly in front of me.
“You must be the keeper Mother brought in to make sure my brother does his job.”
“That’s enough,” Erik growled. “If you have nothing more to report, take your dragon and get out of here.”
Raynor cocked his head at me. “Aren’t you supposed to encourage Erik to collect all the information before dismissing a source?”
What the hell was he talking about?
“If you have something to say, say it,” I said evenly. “Otherwise, I’d suggest you do as Erik says.”
A spark illuminated Raynor’s eyes. “I like her, Brother.” His lips quirked as he noticed Erik’s hand on my waist. “And, I’m gathering, so do you.”
Erik’s hand tightened around his sword. “If you have information pertinent to the safety of Valkyris—”
“All right, all right.” Raynor waved his hand. “No need to draw your weapon. I just wanted you to know that two of the tribes have been engaged in secret meetings. Representatives of Bjorn and Jotir returned to the Ting shortly after it concluded, and have been in some kind of negotiation ever since.”
“What are their terms?” Erik asked.
“I don’t know. That information came from one of the recruits—a Clan Aestra thrall. He was retrieving forgotten items from one of the campsites when he overheard two Ragnar warriors talking. The meetings are so secretive, both parties brought a team of guards to discourage eavesdroppers.”
My hand slid up Erik’s bicep and held tight. This wasn’t good.
“Are any other tribes involved in the meetings?” Erik asked.
“Again, I don’t know. My recruit was lucky to escape unnoticed. But if two of the allies have gathered, the rest are likely to follow. They’re planning to move against someone. The only question remaining is . . . is it us?”
My throat caught. As uneasy as Raynor made me, I knew he was right—unless that mainland settlement was massive, Valkyris didn’t have the numbers to take on the rest of the allied tribes. Hell, we’d be lucky to win against just two tribes. I’d seen how those Bjorn warriors had handled intruders on their beach. They hadn’t left a single raider alive.
Gulp.
“We need more warriors,” I whispered.
A cold grin stretched across Raynor’s face. “Now I really like her.”
I looked up at Erik. “How many do we have on the mainland?”
“Not enough.” Erik turned to his brother. “How many recruits have you brought in?”
“Fifty,” Raynor said. “Most were thralls, left behind to clean up after the Ting. I offered them a silver coin apiece, and they trotted after me like sheep. They’re not big on loyalty, slaves.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from shouting. “You clearly don’t know much about them.”
Raynor sneered. “Then enlighten me, keeper.”
A low growl built in Erik’s chest, and I squeezed his bicep. “He’s not worth it.”
Nobody who couldn’t see beyond a title was.
“Go out and collect as many new recruits as you can,” Erik commanded. “Send them to Valkyris East, and see that our warriors there commence their training immediately.”
“And what will you do? Amuse yourself with your new prize?” Raynor’s gaze swept up and down my body. My stomach clenched, and I stepped closer to Erik.
“Look at her like that one more time, and you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of a broadsword,” Erik growled. “You’re a single misstep away from losing your standing in my tribe. Watch yourself, Brother.”
Raynor’s eyes clouded with hatred. He spun on his heel and stormed back to his dragon, climbing atop its back and launching into the sky before I’d managed a proper exhale.
And I thought my life was complicated.
The bicep beneath my palm began to tremble, and when I looked up, white puffs emerged from between Erik’s lips. His breath came in short bursts, the warm air turning to smoke in the chill. And his eyes . . .
I’d never seen a look quite like it. Pain mixed with distaste mixed with . . . was it anger? Sorrow? Fear?
Whatever it was, it passed in an instant. Erik schooled his face in an impassive mask, released his grip on his sword, and turned his body to mine.
“Saga.” The word was thick with regret.
“Yes?”
“I’ll help you get home. You’re right; your life is there. Your family is there. And nothing good awaits you here.”
You do. You’re here.
I wanted to shout the words—bludgeon him over the head with them, if need be. Yes, I wanted to go home. Well, I was pretty sure I did. War and crazy brothers and dragons were here. But . . .
Doesn’t he want me to stay?
I scanned Erik’s face, barely recognizing the man in front of me. The friend who’d visited me in the healing unit was gone, replaced by a stoic, impassive warrior. “Erik?”
“War is coming, Saga. It’s unavoidable. Whether it’s now, or two years from now, our beliefs threaten the way things have always been done. We will be attacked, and we will rise to defend our way of life. There’s no reason for you to be caught in the middle of all of that.”
“I thought I was supposed to help you,” I said quietly. “To protect this amazing world your family has created—to help your tribe offer hope to those who need it most.”
Erik’s face softened. “You have helped me. You’ve shown me there are good people out there who are worth fighting for. And who will fight alongside us because it’s the right thing to do. For everyone.”
My throat tightened.
“I know where my mother keeps her dagger, and I know where she takes it to pray. I’m fairly certain I’ll be able to activate it there. We’ll get you home, one way or another. Tomorrow.”
Tomorrow.
It was so soon. Too soon. But it was the right thing to do. It was what Erik wanted. It was what I wanted.
Wasn’t it?