Yeah, I was pretty set on a bit of revenge. Nice, quiet vengeance, taken at the next opportunity. About ten minutes later, Mike showed up.

“What the hell happened?”

“We got jumped. I set off the sprinkler system to try and get the area clear.” I glanced around. Too many people. “I mean, I have no idea what they were up to, but they ran off in different directions. Except one of them did that on the way out.”

I tried to act how I imagined somebody who wasn’t used to this stuff would act. I was well aware that I was completely and utterly incorrect. I mean, I’d never been one to freeze up, throw up, or anything else.

He slipped an arm around my shoulders comfortingly and steered me away. Once we were more out of earshot. “Who was it?”

“Fire giants working for a rival for Surtur’s affections. They wanted me dead.”

Mike nodded. “And they…”

“That one decided to kill a few civilians out of sheer spite. I’m going to kill him, then go to Muspelheim and kill him again. For good.”

“Jane…”

“Don’t argue with me. That kind of thing can’t be tolerated.” I stepped back, fixed him with my gaze. “He crossed a line when he killed people who weren’t involved.”

“Why?” came a female voice. “Do you think they weren’t involved?”

Angrboda. I turned to face her. Softly. “Who’s were they?”

“One of them was mine. So you can get in line.”

“I wouldn’t melt in Muspelheim the way you would,” I pointed out.

Mike shook his head. “You know that thing you were hoping to prevent? Please don’t cause it.”

He had a point. “We’ll take it outside,” I said, simply. “Do you know about the others?”

“They were together, although I only had an interest in one of them. He probably thought they were with you.”

Wrong place, wrong time, no defenses. “I still think…if it wasn’t for the fact that I don’t want to deal with him I might even talk to Surtur about this.”

Angrboda considered. “No, I’ll do it. He’s not trying to get me between the sheets. He knows better.”

I nodded. “Thanks. I…actually really appreciate that.”

We could be friends. We could be allies. That second thought scared me far more.

“Great,” Mike said. “First Loki, now his ex.”

“Why don’t you go tell Thruor what happened?” I suggested with a bit of a grin. “We girls have a plan to put together.”

Rolling his eyes, but grinning finally, he turned away.