“Kara was Valkyrie,” Embla said, “just like me. She was my sister, my closest friend. Our mother died not long after Kara’s birth. The Valkyries showed up a few days after her death and told Kara and me what we were. They took us to the Aerie to raise us and train us. We never saw Father after that—I barely remember him. Your mother and I were inseparable… until your dad came along. That girl fell hard and fast. A man in uniform has a way of doing that.”

“So,” I said, “no coincidence you followed in your father’s footsteps.”

Skyla pulled a face. “He wasn’t going to raise any princesses.”

“That explains a lot.”

Skyla ignored me and turned back to Embla. “She sure didn’t seem like any of the Valkyries I’ve met so far.”

“The sword I gave you yesterday belonged to her,” Embla said. “I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how. The Valkyries’ existence is supposed to be a close-guarded secret. If a sister chooses to leave the order, she has to take a vow of silence.”

“Who would believe her anyway?” Skyla asked. “To anyone but us, it would sound crazy.”

“Still, the sisterhood takes no chances. If a woman chooses to leave, she has that freedom, but she must keep our secret. It’s more than a simple promise that binds her tongue. She’ll be physically unable to speak of it, and eventually her memories of us will fade.” Embla gave Skyla a meaningful look. “By the time you came along, the Valkyries were a distant memory to her—more like a dream. She wouldn’t have spoken of us. She couldn’t have.”

Skyla frowned at Embla. “What could have made her want to leave this?”

Embla shrugged. “Love.”

“Oh, gag me. My mom and dad fought like cat and dogs.”

“That doesn’t mean they didn’t love each other.”

“Bullshit,” Skyla said. “He spent as much time as possible away from us.”

“What about when she got sick? He was there for her.”

“How would you know?”

Skyla had never offered much information about her past, and I had never had the guts to ask. Truthfully, I had let my problems overwhelm me, and I hadn’t spent much time worrying about Skyla’s background. That was self-centered of me, perhaps, but there in the Valkyries’ kitchen, I found Skyla’s lineage intensely interesting. Val looked equally intrigued.

“You never saw me,” Embla said, “but I was there. I watched her. I watched you.”

Skyla’s cheeks flushed a deep, angry crimson. “Why wouldn’t you tell me? You knew, but you kept it from me. Do you know what it would have meant for me to know who I was?”

“I wasn’t sure it was a good idea in the beginning,” said Embla. “I debated whether this was the life for you or whether you should be allowed to live as a normal woman. But I see now that your heritage will not be denied.”

“Did Tori know about me?”

“She knew your mother.”

“Why did she lie?”

“At the time, I thought she was protecting us. Now, I think she was protecting her own self-interests. I’m sorry I didn’t come to you with this sooner. I could have helped you so you wouldn’t feel the need to sneak around.”

Val sighed and rolled his eyes. “I told them to just ask in the first place. But, no, they wanted to be a couple of Charlie’s Angels.”

Skyla pouted. “No one would talk to me, Embla. If I brought it up, people changed the subject or flat out told me to mind my own business. Besides, we didn’t know who to trust. Some members of the Aerie have shown questionable loyalties.”

Embla chuckled. “We are an elite bunch of snobs, aren’t we?”

Skyla dropped her gaze and shrugged.

How diplomatic of her, I thought.

“You were right not to trust anyone. With Tori gone, there’s a vacuum of power. Who or what will fill it has yet to be seen. Some of the sisters may be willing to look for the Aerie’s next leader outside the Valkyries as easily as they would look inside.”

“Outside the Valkyries?” Skyla asked. “Like Helen?”

Embla’s mouth twisted as if she’d swallowed something distasteful. “Yes. Like Helen.”

“What about you?” Val asked. “Where do your loyalties lie?”

Embla blanked her face and said, “With the order of the Valkyries, of course. Always and forever, my sisters come first.”

While I made brunch for us all—omelets and toast—Embla told us about the memorial service the sisters had planned for after sundown to remember the women lost in the fire. Embla asked if I would arrange a reception with snacks and hot drinks for when the service ended, and I agreed.

After they cleaned their plates, Skyla and Embla went to look through the collection of photographs Embla kept under her bed. I stayed in the kitchen to wash dishes and start on the list of items Embla had requested. Val left to find his own entertainment, giving me the time I needed to give Thorin a private call.

I dashed upstairs to dig my phone from my bag. When I dialed Thorin’s number, it rang and rang, but he never answered, and the call never switched to voice mail. I gave up and called Thorin’s store.

Val’s roommate answered. “Thorin Adventure Outfitters, Hugh speaking.”

“Hugh, it’s Solina.”

“Solina. We have to stop meeting like this… over the phone. I’m much sexier in person.”

I rolled my eyes. “Right. So sexy. It’s the reason I have to stay away from you all the time. Couldn’t keep my hands off you otherwise.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“So, besides wanting to hear your stimulating voice, the reason I’m calling is that I’ve sort of lost contact with Thorin. Have you heard from him lately?”

“The last I knew, he was with you.”

“Something came up, and I had to take a side trip without him. Skyla and Val are with me, though. Thorin’s not answering his cell, so if you hear from him, tell him I called and that I’m okay.”

“Um, sure. Anything else?”

“I guess that’s all… No, wait a minute. Does the term grim mean anything to you? You ever hear anyone mention it in relation to Thorin and Corvallis?” Bringing up Ariel’s words was impulsive, but Hugh was far enough removed from the whole ordeal to be a safe contact. I hoped.

“Sure. It’s the Boss Man’s brother.”

“It is?” My voice went high with surprise. “He has a brother named Grim?”

“Yes. Modi Grimr Thorin.”

“Why have I never heard of him?”