Page 46 of Valkyrie Fate

Adriel stumbles backward, his face losing all color, his eyes losing all hope. He crashes to his knees, a broken cry rattling from his lips. The world around us seems to shatter, the last vestiges of his icy control splintering away. The raw, desolate pain in his one good eye is devastating to witness.

Damrion drops beside him, broken in a way he's never been. For once—for the first time in millennia—he and Adriel are perfectly in sync, their pain healing what was broken between them long ago.

A fierce oath spills from his lips as he presses his forehead to Adriel's. "We will bring her back. I swear to you, we will."

"She's…she's not gone," Tori whispers, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and determination. Her gaze flits to mine, a quiet plea sparkling through the tears.

"We won't let them keep her," I promise, my grip on her hand tightening as if to lend her some of my strength. I can feel the heat of the fire licking at my face, the acrid taste of burning wood filling my mouth and lungs.

"And what will you sacrifice to get her back?" Adriel growls, his gaze narrowed on me.

"Anything," I vow instantly. There is no price too high. For my mate to survive, we need Abigail. I'll crawl through the Helheim to get her back if that's what it takes. That's what Adriel and Damrion were willing to do for me. Of course I'll do the same for them. There is no question.

Malachi finally rouses himself from his shock, his Valkyrie still unconscious in his arms. "We'll start scouting immediately. We won't rest until she's back with us."

"Ja," Dax agrees, holding Rissa as she sobs. "We will find her."

As we mobilize again, I gently pull Tori up against my chest. For just a moment, the world narrows to just us—our shared warmth a sharp contrast to the cold bite of loss hanging heavy in the air. Her sobs shake her tiny frame, but she clings to me like a lifeline.

"We need to move," Malachi says, his voice tight with urgency. Long gone is the irrepressible Fae who finds humor everywhere. There is no laughter here.

"Yes," I agree, pressing my lips to Tori's forehead before pulling away to help drag Adriel and Damrion to their feet to head toward our new mission—bringing Abigail home.

Their steps are heavy, weighed down with the biting agony of terror for the Valkyrie they love. But together, we plunge forward, warriors of Valhalla stepping onto the battlefield once more to keep our oath. Our lives for theirs. Our souls, in their service.