Because that was a normal response.

Kera followed Tessa and the other Crows as they headed away from the witches. They stopped when Alessandra landed.

Smile wide, the Crow did an elaborate bow as if she was expecting them to hand her a dozen roses for her performance.

Instead of roses, Tessa reached over and snatched the necklace out of Alessandra’s hand.

“What is wrong with you?”

“I had a little fun. You’re always so uptight.”

“I want to go home. I have a husband. And kids. I don’t want to spend all night out here with you bitches.”

“Is this where she says no offense?” Kera asked.

Erin shook her head. “No. She won’t say that.”

Leigh and Maeve each grabbed one of Kera’s arms.

“Wait—”

But they didn’t, both taking to the air, dragging her along.

And yes, it was as unpleasant the second time as it was the first. But at least this time she didn’t vomit when it was over.

Erin watched Leigh and Maeve take off with Kera. Then she looked over at the witches.

“You going back for them?” Annalisa asked her.

“No.”

“You worried the kid’s wrong?”

“I’m worried she has a lesson to learn.”

“Maybe. But we’ll be there for her if that happens.”

“If she lets us.”

Annalisa smiled. “Give her time. She’ll figure it out.”

Vig dropped off the first two with no problem. One in San Fernando Valley. One in Pasadena. The last one he took back to the kid’s home in Arcadia. They dropped into the giant yard, and Vig lowered the boy to the ground. But unlike the other two boys, this one didn’t immediately run inside to go looking for his parents.

That’s when Vig heard the yelling. Two people yelling at each other. They sounded drunk.

And based on the boy’s expression, this was not new.

“Hello, Bobby.”

Vig closed his eyes at the voice that came from behind him. “Odin . . . no.”

But, not surprisingly, the god ignored him and crouched down in front of the boy.

Odin was in a custom-tailored suit with custom-made Italian leather shoes. Kind of necessary when one was nearly eight feet tall in his “safe” human form. His long gray hair was pulled back into a braid and the eye patch that covered the sacrifice he’d made eons ago for knowledge was gunmetal blue to match his expensive suit.

“Bobby,” Odin began, “you don’t want to go back in there, do you? With all their arguing and complaining.”

“Odin—”

“You want to be strong and great, don’t you? You want to be like him.” He motioned to Vig with a tilt of his head.

“Can I have wings likehim?” the boy asked.

“You already have those wings. They are already inside you. Your daddy has them, too, but he is weak and stupid and not worthy of this honor.”

“Odin. Stop.”

“But you’re worthy. And I can take you away from here. To some place where you’ll be safe. Where no one can ever hurt you again.”

The boy glanced up at Vig, back at Odin, then nodded.

“Would you like to come with me?”

The boy nodded again.

“Odin, you just can’t take the boy.”

“Why not? He’s made his choice.”

“He’s eight!”

“They haven’t even realized he’s gone yet.” Odin picked the boy up. “And he’s nine.”

The god faced Vig, one blue eye staring at him. “We all have to pay a price for honor and glory. But this boy has made the right decision. And we both know it.” He looked at the boy, smiled. “Come, child. Let’s get you to your new home.”

“I can take him,” Vig offered, hoping he could perhaps reason with one of the Elders at the house.

But Odin only smiled. “He’s not staying here. I have other plans for him.”

“O—” But the god was gone.

Vig let out a breath and glanced back at the house. The couple inside were still yelling at each other. Accusations, drunken threats. And completely oblivious to the fact that they’d just lost their son forever.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I just hate when he does that,” Vig told Stieg.

Of all the Ravens, he was closest to Stieg but they never discussed the fact. Vig knew that would only make Stieg uncomfortable. He preferred to see himself as a man standing alone. But Vikings never stood alone. They couldn’t afford to. They needed each other to man their boats, to raid with, to protect their lands. They needed each other to survive. But Stieg’s life before the Ravens had been hard, and he’d never quite been able to shake that feeling of always being on the defensive. That he and he alone could protect himself from the horrors of the world.

“Trust me, the kid’s better off.”

“I know. I know. Sometimes Odin just pisses me off.”

Stieg chuckled. “Yeah. He does that.” He motioned back toward the main Raven house. “Hungry?”

“Nah. I’m going home.”

“Hoping your girlfriend called?”

“As a matter of fact . . . yes, I am.”

Vig walked to his house. It was a little after 2 a.m., but he wasn’t really tired. He could eat, though.

Then again, he could always eat.

As Vig came through the trees, he saw Kera sitting on his porch. She was still in her combat clothes, her head bowed.