“Okay, Kera, you’re being way too dramatic. For you, I mean.” He stood and held his hand out to her. “You’re tired. You need sleep. Stay the night. Here.”

Kera winced. “Vig, I’m not sure I can—”

“Just sleep, Kera. I promise. I missed you last night.”

When she hesitated, he reached over and took her hand with his. “Let’s get some sleep and let me hold you while we do. Maybe I can protect you from the bad dreams.”

Kera looked away but Vig waited. He’d wait forever for Kera if he had to.

Thankfully, though, that wasn’t necessary. She slid off the porch and moved into Vig’s arms. He held her tight, kissed the top of her head.

“Come on.” He led her into his house, but instead of taking her to his bedroom, he took her to the couch. There they cuddled together, forced by the size of the couch to be as close as possible so neither fell onto the floor.

She fell asleep on his chest, her hands resting on his biceps, her legs between his legs.

Vig held her all night and wondered how he could fix this for her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Kera woke up. She was still on Vig’s chest but they weren’t alone. She looked up and saw Erin, Leigh, and Annalisa standing by the couch, staring at her.

“You better go,” Vig said, his eyes still closed. “They can stand there all day just staring. After a while it’ll start freaking you out.”

Kera slid off Vig and stood. She stretched out her back and kissed Vig on the lips. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“You will.”

Kera followed Erin and the others outside. She stood on the porch as the others went down the stairs.

“So what happens now?” Kera asked.

Erin faced her, her expression grim. “Now? We sacrifice you to the gods.”

Horrified, Kera stared at Erin until Erin burst out laughing. Leigh and Annalisa shook their heads and walked off.

“I’m joking, you idiot. You’re one of us now. Good or bad.”

“Why would you still want me to be one of you?”

“You just are. Like with family, we don’t get a choice. But I saw you fight last night. Your skill is there.”

“But I can’t—”

“You need to know what you’re fighting for. Right?”

“Why would you say that?”

“Skuld only takes smart women. And smart women ask questions that they expect answers to. You need to know what you’re fighting for. And I’m going to take you to someone who can show you. You up for it? Or do you want to go back in there and snuggle up to your big Viking?”

“Is it wrong if I say I want both?”

“Actually . . . you wanting both makes me feel better aboutthis.”

Kera walked down the stairs and they headed off to where Erin had left the car.

“You and Vig slept together in your clothes?”

“I wasn’t in the mood for sex.”

“Guys are always in the mood for sex.”

“So what’s your point?”

“That if he was willing to cuddle up to you all night and not make a move to at least get a blow job—must be love.”

Kera stopped, Erin’s words stunning her.

“Keep moving, Watson. We’ve gotta beat traffic.”

After they had the SUV valet parked, the four women walked into the most beautiful office building Kera had ever seen. Lots of glass and steel and natural light from open skylights, and big looping staircases.

“This place is amazing,” Kera said, unable to stop looking around. And, as her eyes scanned down one of the big staircases, she gasped. “Hey, isn’t that—”

“Yeah. That’s him,” Erin replied. “And before you start asking is that her or is that him or is that the band I love? The answer is always going to be yes. Betty does not deal with no talents.”

“That’s Betty . . . uh . . . ?”

“Lieberman. Top Hollywood agent and most feared bitch in the world of media. She is loathed and feared like no other.”

Erin walked up to the unbelievably gorgeous woman working the front desk. “Hi. Erin Amsel to see Betty Lieberman.”

“I’ll let her assistant know you’re here.”

“Why are we here to see Betty Lieberman?” Kera asked.

“She’s the Seer,” Annalisa whispered.

“Which Clan is she in again?”

“With the name Lieberman?” Erin scoffed. “What do you think? She’s one of ours.”

“Oh. And she has an office here?”

Annalisa gazed at Kera. “This is Betty’s building. Betty’s company. All these people report to her.”

“Wow,” Kera sighed, her gaze moving over the amazing architecture again. “Did the Crows get her all this?”

“Not exactly.” Erin pushed her hands through her hair. “She was already a pretty well-known agent in her first life. She worked for one of the big agencies. Maybe CAA. I can never remember. Then she got killed, started her second life, and several of the Crows financially backed her opening her own agency. They’ve been repaid in full, several times over.”

“How did she get killed?”

“Husband killed her for the insurance money and because she’s kind of a bitch if you can’t keep a handle on her.”

“No woman should be ‘kept a handle on.’ ”