I was heartened, though, by the fact that one of the valkyries was outside when we left the restaurant.

She’d follow Sarlac home. I didn’t want him to get hurt, or even die, not because of this.

Even if it wasn’t my fault. The succubus would have targeted him anyway, and he’d probably be dead if I hadn’t been there. She’d have driven the poor guy to a heart attack.

Or to realization, as had happened anyway. I wondered what would become of him. For now? I liked the guy, and I gave the valkyrie a quick hand signal before heading home. The next day I called the ACLU.

“Well, changing the rules so nobody can bring anyone who isn’t a current student…”

“Good way around the problem, isn’t it.” I let out a breath that their representative could probably hear.

“I think we should go the publicity route. I’ll assign a lawyer anyway, but…you aren’t averse to cameras and journalists?”

I laughed. “I’m a model.”

“Well, definitely not averse to cameras, then, but some models are surprisingly shy if you ask them to do anything but sit there and look pretty.”

I laughed again. “I’ve met them.”

“But you won’t have a problem. What about your girlfriend?”

“I’ll check with her. She’s training as a teacher.”

“That’s scarier than journalists.”

I was warming to the voice on the phone. “Just let me know when and where you want us.”

Kanesha was angry about this too. I knew she wouldn’t mind a bit of attention.

“Just be ready for people to…”

“They’ll pull the race card, I know.” There were some people who objected as much to the interracial part as the same sex part.

“Yup. The haters will hate.”

“My girlfriend’s a black belt.”

It was her turn to laugh. “Oh dear. So anyone who tries anything with you physically will be on the floor?”

“Yup.”

Which did make me feel better about the entire thing. Whichever one of us they messed with could put them on the floor.

Kanesha was less likely to hurt them on the way down, with her training. But I was perfectly capable of dealing with this.

Even if we didn’t get them to agree, we’d get some egg on their face. Times had changed…and if thousands of year old gods could handle it, a few hidebound mortals could too.

It was practically an invitation. “Don’t say that.”

“What, they might be listening?”

“My dad.”

He glanced around. “I…” Beat. “No, after all I’ve seen, I would believe he could randomly hear us.”

The waiter came back to the table with a bottle.

No, it wasn’t the waiter. I rolled my eyes. “We didn’t order that.”

“It’s not even alcoholic,” he said with a snort, setting it on the table.
Sarlac was eyeing him suspiciously. “Random constituent gift.”

“No.” I elected not to warn him further.

Loki poured two glasses. I took a sip.

No alcohol, no. But whatever spices were in it were enough to blow the top off of your head and clear your sinuses in one shot.

Sarlac sipped his own and almost dropped it. “What is that stuff?”

“My dad’s idea of a joke.” Of course, he’d already disappeared. “He…likes…spicy stuff.”

“It makes a bloody Mary taste like water!”

“You shouldn’t have mentioned my parents.”

“Apparently not.”

I finished my glass and showed every sign of enjoying it, which caused him to look at me suspiciously.

“What’s your gullet made out of, girl?”

I grinned, then, “It’s my heritage.” And while it was spicier than I would have liked, it was certainly drinkable. For me. Sarlac wasn’t finishing his.

“It’s not fair is what it is. You’re whiter than I am and have more spice tolerance.”

I laughed. “I won’t share the magic brownies with you, then.”

“Not the kind with pot?”

“No. The kind with cayenne.”

“That’s ruining perfectly good brownies.”

I was liking him more and more. The fact that I knew he would never hit on me helped. But otherwise, I just liked him.

I didn’t want him involved, but I knew it was too late. He remembered. He knew. And Loki had tested him.

He was involved and there was no way to pull him back out. “You’re in my world now,” I warned him.

“I know.”
“Be careful.”

“I’m getting protection.”

I hoped he was getting it fast.

Sarlacc had to have sources of income other than a Senator’s salary, as generous as it was. Despite that, he took me to a steakhouse that was the cheapest I’d heard of.

It was really good.
“So…”

“So, apparently, they’re going to change the policy so nobody can bring a non-student as their date because they’d rather do that to avoid being sued than let us do it.” I shook my head. “And then tell everyone why.”

“The entire needing a date thing is stupid anyway.”

He, I thought, would know. “How did you get around it?”

“Went with a friend who didn’t want a date either.”

Which I knew was an option for me. But…no. I was going to fight this. “I suppose changing the policy isn’t illegal.”

“I’ll talk to a lawyer. It probably isn’t, but we can make it bad PR.”

“Like a DC public school cares about PR.” With neighborhood school rules and all…the only reason I still went to that school after moving was because I’d got special permission so I didn’t have to change.

“You’d be surprised. Everyone cares about PR. The question is do you want it?”

“Given who I am, no. Given that they’re going to keep doing this until somebody makes a fuss…”

“You realize that some people are going to make this a race issue?”

I frowned. “Yes.”

“They’ll use it as an excuse for the race issue. It’s not acceptable to have issues with interracial, but you can have issues with same sex because religion.”

He had a point, although I laughed sharply at religion. “Religion. I’ve met angels. They have problems with me, but not for that.”

“Rivalry, I’d suppose.” He looked at me searchingly. “You’re no angel and no demon.”

“Right. So, yeah. Rivalry.” I thought of Sarael. “Level of friendliness varies.” I remembered how they’d asked Kanesha to sneak an angel feather into Hell.

I still wasn’t sure I’d forgiven them for that. But it had been her choice.

“I’d imagine there are things both you and angels don’t like.”

“Demons, for starters. Demons who try to get into my pants.”

He laughed. “I can bond with you on that.”

“Yeah, but what did she offer you? Money?”

“Money, yes, as if I needed it. Then she offered to fix my problem. That’s what you came in on the end of.”

“As if you had a problem.” Maybe he…no. He didn’t strike me as lonely.

“I have friends. That’s all I need. I’d be proud to call you one of them….age difference or no.”

I laughed. “I was thinking I was a daughter substitute.”

“No. I don’t want to meet your real parents.”

Oh dear.

He had to say that.

Of course, the thought of my father tricking my mother into marrying him and her keeping him anyway gave me a higher opinion of her loyalty and a lower one of her good sense.

Then again, I couldn’t exactly help loving him myself. He was kind of adorable in his own weird way.

Tricksters.

One day the war will have to happen. The reminder sent a shiver down my spine. But something came after it.

A cycle. A cycle that might not leave any of us the way we were, but something came after it.

Surtur thought that something would be better for his people. I finally understood him. I didn’t agree with him.

I just understood him. Which made me wonder about my own good sense.

Prom was fast approaching and I still didn’t have official permission to take Kanesha. I’d decided I wasn’t going with anyone else.

Maybe.

Maybe I could find, if that happened, somebody who didn’t have a date, somebody who didn’t want a date, even. Heck, somebody like Sarlacc. You had to have a date, and it was so stupid.

They hadn’t denied us permission either. Maybe she should just show up anyway. If they said no at the door then somebody might support us, might take pity on us.

Maybe even the people who wanted to deny my identity and tell me I had to be a lesbian now.

After lunch, I was called into the office.

“Okay. We got your application to bring an alumni as your date.”

“And?”

“Don’t you think this sets a bad example, Ms Doe?”

I seethed. I’d started the process for legally changing my name and everyone else had respected that I wanted to be Ms Rudi now. “Bad example in what way?”

“Things might be more accepting, but it’s still inappropriate to flaunt your lifestyle in front of the younger students. Not to mention the danger it puts you in.”
“So, if she was a boy you would grant it?” I kept my voice low and dangerous.
“No reason not to.”

I only had a short period. “In that case, I’ll be contacting the ACLU. They have lawyers on hand for just this case.”

“In that case we’ll have to change our policy to allow only dates who are current attendees. Do you want to ruin things for everyone?”

He was the vice principal. I kept my gaze even. “I’m not responsible for your actions.”

As soon as I was out of school, I made good on my threat and called the ACLU. Things like this had been in the papers before.

I didn’t want to be in the papers. But I wasn’t about to take this lying down. And I might well have an ally.

The encounter shook me a little. Just a kid, a nice kid I wanted to like. But clearly part of the anti me marrying Surtur faction.

Or one of them. It was very complicated. It was, though, heartening to know at least one fire giant didn’t want to start Ragnarok. Might fight hard if they did, but didn’t want to.

It did mean it might be possible to negotiate some sort of peace. Which brought me around to: If it was to bring about peace, would I marry him?
Maybe.

But I didn’t want to. It wasn’t just that I didn’t really want to marry anyone other than Kanesha, although that was emphatically true.

I really didn’t want to marry somebody who reminded me of the X-Men’s Magneto, except possibly more aggressive and even more delusional. And as much as I’d accepted the possibility of marrying for reasons other than love, I wanted to at least have some sense of liking for the person.

Some feeling that I could love them with time. I shook my head again as I walked away.

“You handled that well.”

“Hi, dad.”

He fell in next to me. “Interesting to know they aren’t all quarrelsome warmongers.”

I shrugged. “Interesting, but heartening. Maybe we can solve the entire thing.”

Loki laughed. “Except one day the war will have to happen. You know that. I know that.”

I shivered at his words. “I know.”

“You just don’t want to admit it.”

I looked around. “I want to preserve this.”

“Even with the climate going haywire and black people being shot in the streets?”

“Even with.”

“You have too much faith in human nature.” A pause. “Or maybe I have too little.”

“You’re a trickster. What do tricksters have faith in?” I grinned at him. “You don’t need to answer that.”

But he did. “Your mother.”

I thought about that for a moment. “Well, she has stuck by you no matter what.”

“I tricked her into marrying me, you know. I didn’t think she’d have me otherwise.”

“Did she tell you how much of a fool you were?”

“Yes.” Then he let out a breath. “You’re closer to the solution than ever, Siglaugr. Don’t give up.”

He didn’t often call me by my real name, but then, he wasn’t always this serious.

He’d given me something else to think about. As if I needed it.

Of course, Clara did jinx us with her monster-free comment. There were fire giants hanging around outside the gates.

I elected to ignore them until and unless they decided to bug me. One of them followed me onto the bus.

Definitely ignore. He looked like some guy in a hoodie, albeit not black, but I wasn’t going to confront him on a bus full of people. For some reason, it was even more full of people than usual. Maybe the Metro was having problems again.

It usually was. Well, that wasn’t my problem. I got off at a different stop from usual, a bit further from home. Kanesha had a late class in college, she wouldn’t be home.

I ducked into a side street, then turned. “You know I’ve been letting you follow me.”

“Figured. You care about mortals. A weakness.”
“A strength,” I argued. “Having backup is always good.”

“You don’t have any right now. I’m not here for a fight, though.”

“You’re probably here to distract me from something or other.” I was abruptly glad Kanesha was somewhere with lots of people.

“No, I came to find out what you’re actually like.”

“I’m not marrying Surtur.”

His lips quirked. “For a king, he’s not very good at attracting potential mates.”

“I noticed that. He’s probably lousy in bed.”

The young fire giant blushed. “You don’t talk that way about the king.”

I decided he really was young. “I do if he’s trying to attract me as a potential mate. But I’m not interested.”

“Power?”

I shook my head. “Not interested.”

“You’re a goddess.”

I grinned. “Did you choose to be a fire giant?”

He looked down. “No.” Then back up at me. “You’re still born to power.”

“Doesn’t mean I want it. Maybe I’d rather just hang out and drink with valkyries.”

“Valkyries…” He tailed off.

“You think one of them is hot, don’t you.”

He blushed again.

A fire giant teenager. Definitely. It was something to know they were young and awkward at some point, perhaps more young and awkward than I’d ever been myself.

“That’s fine, they kind of are.”

“Is that why you aren’t interested in Surtur?”

“Nah. I go both ways. I’m mostly not interested in his politics.”

He looked down. Then, softly, “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Not helping him start a war.”

I knew Kanesha was right to be worried about prom. I needed special permission to invite her, and I wasn’t confident it would be granted.

Not for us. I put in the request anyway, contemplating skipping it if she wasn’t allowed to be there. I supposed I could find somebody without a date and we could go together for the sake of being able to go.

Stupid, really. Why was it so vital that we paired off? It felt like it was pushing people to romance, to relationships. Maybe it was.

Maybe, but I couldn’t do anything but appeal and maybe do it on purpose if they said no. Or make a fuss in the papers, which had got them to make U-turns on this kind of thing before.

Even if Kanesha was still in school they might have tried to stop us from going together. And the LGBT club still wasn’t very welcoming or helpful.

“Can’t win,” I grumbled out loud.

“Can’t win what?” Clara’s voice from behind me.

“You know what I mean.” She did.

“Mean about what?”

“Straight people dismissing me as gay, gay people saying I’m not gay enough.”

She made a face. “I got called a traitor to the movement for dating a boy.”

“Exactly. I’m bracing for a fight to be allowed to invite Kanesha to prom.”

And I recalled that if I skipped it, then I’d disappoint the gentleman who gave me the dress.

She made a face. “You have some legal recourse.”

“And enough money for a lawyer, too. Maybe I’ll just have to remind them of that.”

“Or of the bad publicity they’d get these days.”

I shook my head. “Some. Some people would cheer them on.”

“Well, let’s change the subject.”

“To what? Monsters?”

She laughed. “I’ve been monster-free all week.”

“Won’t last,” I predicted.

“I’m enjoying it while it does. Working on some stuff.”

I knew she meant new spells. “Hopefully I’ll get to see some of it.”

“Hopefully not on one of them.” She grinned a bit. “It’s for scaring monsters.”

“Then I hope I do get to see it. I’d like to know what would scare some of them.”

“Does anything scare you?”

I paused, then, “Responsibility. Power.”

“Smart thing to be scared of.”

I rather thought she was right.

Of course, the Senator didn’t actually respect me not wanting anything for myself. The package came in the mail a week or so later.

I wasn’t sure who he bribed to find out my size, but it was a dress. A beautiful one. Not the highest end, but it was also…

I laughed. “I know what this is for.”

Kanesha peered at me. “Prom. He gave you a prom dress.”

“He did.”

She grinned. “Maybe I should rent a tux.”

“Nah. If anyone’s the masculine one it’s me. But I know where to find something for you.”

I looked at the dress again. He’d be upset if I sent it back. I was glad I knew he wasn’t interested in me sexually.

Then I realized what I was probably dealing with – a confused mix of emotions, but Sarlac had no kids. Maybe buying a prom dress for a girl who’d helped him out was his way to feel, for a moment, like a father.

Either way, I couldn’t send it back.

“I hope we won’t have any problems with school admin.”

She meant about her being there, being my date when she’d already graduated. “They’ve allowed it in the past.”

“For het couples.” She laughed a bit. “Maybe I should rent a tux.”

I envisioned Kanesha in a tux. “You’d look dashing.”

She studied the dress. “Would be cheaper, too.”

She sounded like she wasn’t joking any more. I grinned a bit. “Up to you. You know I can get good deals on a rental for you, or even a purchase. Especially as I don’t have to worry about mine.”

It was a gorgeous dress, too. Plain, flowing, blue skirt, and a bodice embroidered with intricate gold patterns. I was pretty embarrassed by the gift.
There was a note with it, I finally noticed. I tugged it out.

“I know you said you didn’t want anything, but I also know how tight money has to be for you – Sarlacc.”

It wasn’t that tight, but I wouldn’t have spent this much money on a prom dress. And then it hit me.

A politician probably didn’t like owing anyone favors. This was to even out the ledger. If I took it in that spirit, he would understand.

And politics was something I needed to learn more about, learn to move and live in if I was going to survive.

I didn’t have to contact Charles Sarlac. He called me. Asked me to lunch at a more expensive place than I would have chosen, on a Saturday.

“How much more school do you have?”

I mentally counted. “A couple of months. I graduate this summer.”

“And you’re going to model full time?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Maybe take some design classes.”

His lips quirked. “And keep fighting bad guys.”

I looked down.

“Turns out there’s more of this stuff than I knew, a lot more.” His face was thoughtful. “Do you know what she wanted?”

“She wanted to get somebody a contract as part of a deal.”

“So, as mundane as money.” He studied me. “What are you?”

I considered my answer for a moment. “I’m not quite sure you’re ready for the truth.”

He laughed. “Letting me head for the deep end at a reasonable pace, then?”

“That’s the plan. Honestly, I’d rather not involve you, but once somebody starts believing, it’s too late.”

A slight nod. “Then, what can I do for you in return for saving my nephew, not to mention me?”

I considered that, then, “Keep your integrity. I don’t need anything from you. Except maybe…” A pause. “I might ask if you can swing me an invite to some parties. If I’m looking for information.”

He grinned. “I can do that even if you just want an excuse. Or to enhance your career.”

“I don’t want to…” A pause. “I don’t want anything for me. I don’t need money, I have a girlfriend, and…”

“Fair enough. I’d imagine your career doesn’t need that much help either. You’re maybe a little curvy for catwalk work, but…”

I trusted that his assessment was purely aesthetic. I might not have agreed to this if it hadn’t been for what Seb had explained about him. “That’s what I’ve been told. But a girl can make a pretty decent living from catalogue shoots and the like.”

“And then when you start to get too old you can switch to design. You’ve got a better plan than most girls in your situation.”

I wasn’t going to get too old. I didn’t tell him that. “Right. I haven’t really tried designing, but it intrigues me, and I know I have an eye for color.”

“Well. You say you don’t want anything for you and I respect that. Is there anything else I can keep an eye on?”

“Just let me know if you bump into anything supernatural.”

“Protector of DC, eh?”

I shrugged. “Protector of the people I care about. Sometimes it amounts to the same thing.”

Sometimes it did.

Thruor was definitely back. We sparred, and she complained that I hadn’t been practicing enough.

“I need somebody your level to practice against.”

She grinned at me. “He’s fine, by the way.”

It was a weird way to think of it. “I’m sorry.”

“He’s not going to accept that. It wasn’t your fault.” Her grin came back, and then she forced me into a corner of the room.

“I yield.”

“You’re still doing well. Multiple war demons.”

“Your dad had to rescue me.”

“I heard. He’s holding it over Loki.”

I made a face. “Of course he is. I hope in a more affectionate way, though.”

“Definitely in a more affectionate way. They don’t hate each other as much as they let on.”

“I figured.” It also explained Thor’s motive for rescuing me when the valkyries could probably have handled it. Ammunition against Loki.

“So. Again?”

I nodded. “Again.”

I did better in the second bout and afterwards we settled down in her new apartment. She’d let the rent lapse on the old one or something. This one was near the zoo, and had a nice view of Rock Creek Park.

It was the kind of place I wouldn’t mind getting myself, but I was still saving all the money I could. Of course, I could use somewhere a bit bigger.

She handed me a glass of apple juice. “So, what’s going on?”

“Had to banish a succubus who was trying to collect Senate votes.”

She rolled her eyes. “That happens every few years.”

“She’d probably have got away with it, but she made the mistake of targeting a guy who turned out to be immune.”

Thruor laughed. “Oh dear. There’s the occasional one of those and I do love to see the faces of the sex-oriented types when they come up against it.”

I grinned. “Nice guy, too. When you aren’t threatening his family.”

“She should have tried offering him money.”

I shrugged. “Oh, I’m sure she tried that angle first, but some people are immune to that too.”

“Some people certainly are.” She looked thoughtful. “It might be useful to be friendly with a Senator.”

I considered that. “I wouldn’t want to try and control him, but he does owe us a favor. Maybe he can get us into places we couldn’t otherwise. I’ve had to sneak into some high end parties.”

Thruor shuddered. “I hate the current trend in high end parties. They all try to be so refined. Then they get drunk and ruin it. Should cut straight to the drinking.”

I laughed. “Probably. I don’t mind it, though.”

“So, we sneak you in.”

“Right. But if I can get friendly with Sarlac, I won’t have to sneak in.” The idea had possibilities. “And nobody’s going to think I’m his barely-legal piece on the side.”

“Not if his reputation for being resolutely uninterested is solid, no.”

“It’s a good idea. Besides, I actually kind of like him.” And it was too late to avoid involving him in stuff.

Far too late for that.