No, no, no. Please. I panic. I need to wake up.
I bite my thumb to stay in reality. Hoping a shock of pain will keep me present.
Blood lands on my tongue, mine. Metallic. Like licking an iron pot.
My vision clears. My body is rejuvenated. Strengthened.
The room flickers. Bending in waves. No straight lines.
But I feel alive. So sharp.
Sigurd’s gaze passes by me again. He’s frowning, confused. He rubs his face.
His grief weighs heavy in the air.
“Thyra?” he whispers.
But it’s not her. Not her spirit. It’s just me. Kilda the thief.
Kilda the Wild.
He sighs and collapses back onto the bed. Covering his eyes.
“Thyra,” he whispers. “Sweet Thyra.”
He’s lost so much. So much. I am stung by guilt or pity. I’m not sure which. But I discard it. Now, he’s losing a ring and a necklace. A skald. A slave. A part of me feels bad for him. But he thinks he can fucking own me. Ownme? Look how it went.
I slip out the door. Through the hall. Into the cold night.
Fresh air fills my lungs. Reborn. I fucking did it. I got what I came for.
This will show Ari. Now he will know what I am. Who I am.
I am not some stupid thrall. I am not a toy to be discarded.
I will not fail.
Let fate bend or break to my will.
It is decided.
A whisper enters my mind—not from my ear.
You will rule.
CHAPTER 77
The weight in my satchel strengthens my confidence. My chest is thumping. My blood is hot. The crackle of magic hasn’t left my veins. I’m half-invincible, half-sick. I have no fucking clue what happened in there. The tang of blood still sits on my tongue.
Ari won’t believe it. He’ll be shocked. Impressed. His jaw will drop. What will I say when I return victorious?
No need to repay me, Ari, I’m always there for a friend in need.
Now that you have your ring, Ari, you can crawl back to your Queen.
Need a woman to do your dirty work? Maybe Vidar was right, Ari, you are ergi.
I chuckle to myself. None of those will do. It will probably come to me all on its own. I glance around as I prowl theshadows. No one is around. The dark feels thin, like the night itself is holding its breath.
