I was pretty sure my thought summoned her. She wore a down jacket and looked like she’d come from the shoot.
“Hey there.”
“Hey. Is Angrboda driving you nuts?”
I shook my head. “Only a little.”
“Put it this way, get to know her and you will have no questions as to what Loki saw in her.”
I laughed. “Then I’ll probably like her.” I fell in next to her down the street. “Something’s going on in Vanaheim, and that something might lead to a three-way battle between Vanir, frost giants and fire giants. On Midgard.”
Skadi laughed. “Oh dear. I don’t know whether I want to break it up or join in.”
Maybe she was the exact wrong person to ask. “I want to break it up or get them to take it outside. If they take it outside, I might not be able to resist joining in myself.”
“But you’ve developed a fondness for this city, haven’t you.”
I considered that. “I suppose I have. Live in a place for a while, and you do.” I glanced up at the sky.
“A little warm in the summer. A little warm period. But I suppose that wouldn’t bother you.” A pause. “You can’t stay here forever.”
“I don’t plan on it. I’ll probably be in New York for a while, if I’m not needed elsewhere.” I frowned.
“Which you don’t want right now.”
“I’m not ready. Whatever it is they’re going to ask of me, I’m not ready, and I have somebody I love.”
“Always a good thing, that.” She smiled a little sadly. “Just because it didn’t work out for me.”
“I’d have been surprised if it did. Feet, after all.”
The sad smile became a laugh. “Yes. I was rather set up. And it wasn’t his fault. We’re friends.”
I wondered…but no. I would not break up with Kanesha. If it ended, it would be because I had to leave, to protect her, to protect them. To do my job.
“But I think you have time yet. Unless Angrboda manages to accidentally start Ragnarok.”
“Or deliberately.”
Skadi shook her head. “Her sons die. She won’t start it deliberately.”
I nodded. “I came to the same conclusion. But…” I wasn’t going to let it happen.
And if that meant there had to be a fight here? Well…I’d work something out. I’d make sure nobody not involved got hurt.
If all else failed, I was sure I could at least do that.