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She’s a scarcity, like all valuable things and I want to grab her and run away with her and never let her go.
Valkyrie keeps her eyes to herself, refusing to look at me to not rouse any suspicions but a smile lingers around her mouth that wasn’t there before. I feel a punch in my gut when I think that maybe the smile is there because of me. The gravel walk crunches beneath our shoes as we walk up to the house and its more silent than usual.
I’m good at picking up on the environment and there’s a lingering pressure in the air.
Valkyrie doesn’t notice, walking up the staircase and despite being more familiar with me, she’s still nervous. When our clothes brush, she lets out a gasp, stumbling on the steps and manages to take down a painting hanging on the wall. I grab a hold of both her and the painting because where’s the use in having fast reflexes if they can’t save your girl.
“Thanks,” Valkyrie pants, looking at me with a flushed face. “You must think I’m such a klutz.”
Shaking my head, I rasp without looking at her, “You’re as elegant and gentle as a swan. There’s not a single female that doesn’t pale in your comparison.”
Panting, Valkyrie wraps her arms around her and she lets out a silent whimper that goes straight to my crotch. She doesn’t know what her innocence and brittleness does to me. It makes me want to be careful, gentler and it’s something I don’t need to be very often. Violence and I are good friends but violence doesn’t keep a man warm at night, it doesn’t make him feel like his heart’s too big for his chest but I get all that from Valkyrie. We continue down the hall under silence and with our eyes and hands to ourselves and look up when Dolph steps out of his office.
“Where the hell have you been? I’ve sent out soldiers to look for you,” he slithers between his teeth, addressing me and I raise my chin.
“It was pouring down. We couldn’t stay on the roads and we had to take shelter in a shed.”
Dolph’s brows curve. “Shed? You were alone in a shed with my daughter?” He clenches his fists and Valkyrie gasps,
“Iversen stayed outside like a gentleman. I was alone in the shed and as soon as it stopped raining, he drove me straight home.” She nods fervently to prove her point and Dolph’s eyes narrow but then he rasps.
“Go down to the kitchen and get something to eat. You missed dinner.”
“I’m not hungry,” Valkyrie whispers, before wringing her hands. “I’d like to go to my room and I want the soldier to escort me.”
“Escort you?” Dolph frowns while my heart pounds. “Why?”
“I’m feeling faint.”
Boring his eyes into his daughter, Dolph then looks at me and snaps, “Fine. I’ll allow it.” He thunders down the hallway and Valkyrie and I turn to each other. Since we have an excuse in case anyone would see us, I say,
“Lean on me.”
Valkyrie’s eyes flutter and she entwines her arm with mine, leaning her little body against me and she’s turned crimson red. I’m clenching my jaw so hard, it feels like it’s about to shatter and I feel so damn purposeful next to her. Fuck murder and fuck violence. This is my true purpose, to watch over Valkyrie like a hawk and help her fly.
Sometimes it scares me how brittle she is, makes me want to kill every single man just to be safe, because everyone can hurt her so easily. She walks with a lowered her head, her steps silent as always and a part of me is terrified that one day she’ll simply fade. There’s so little substance to her, like she’s part of the furniture at the compound but only to those who don’t look close enough.
I do look close and to me, her delicateness is beautiful.
Then again, if anyone dares to look as closely as I have, I’ll kill them.
I wait in the hallway when Valkyrie opens her bedroom door and steps inside. I catch a glimpse and it feels taboo to be looking. It’s so different from the rest of the house. The colors of her choice are a pearly white and soft grey and there’s no black in sight. I glance at her canopy bed with the girly frills and the big teddy sitting on her pillow. She must be hugging that thing at night and suddenly I want to use my dagger to gut it and pluck out the stuffing. Crossing my arms, I rasp,
“What’s his name?”
Her brows rise in surprise. “Oh, um...,” Valkyrie stutters before letting out an embarrassed, “Cuddly Dudley.”
Cute. Bending down, I take out the dagger I keep in my boots and Valkyrie’s eyes flare. I play around with the weapon and do a couple of tricks while Valkyrie stares.
“I think you should rename him to Iversen,” I say, adding, “or I’ll let him taste the blade for daring to sleep in your bed every night.”
Valkyrie’s mouth pops open before she fidgets and lets out a snigger. “Would you really gut that innocent little teddy?”
“He’s not so innocent to me,” I growl and she struggles to keep her laughter under control. I grin, wanting to kiss her on her soft and big lips but then as if picking up on my carnal intentions, she lets out a gasp and steps farther into the room.
“I forgot to give you your fur back,” Valkyrie blurts, holding it out for me but I shake my head.
“Keep it.” I’ve worn that thing like a second skin for years and I want her to have it. “It looks good on you, baby.”
