I left Angrboda to try and negotiate with Surtur, hoping she wouldn’t mention my involvement.

I didn’t want him fighting me. I even more didn’t want him protecting me. I wanted to forget he existed.

Of course, I knew I would never have that luxury. He was going to be a thorn in my side until I convinced him to leave me alone; and if he did, then this rival would continue to try and remove me.

The only way she wouldn’t was if we both ended up with him, and I couldn’t let it happen. I knew now from my dealings with Angrboda that if I did… Sooner or later I’d develop feelings for him, and those might betray me into…

The prophecy. What if. “What,” I asked Kanesha, coming out of thought so quickly I almost startled her. “If the confusion over the prophecy is because I really do have an equal chance of starting Ragnarok or delaying it.”

“Duh. That’s obviously true. Your choices are going to matter.”

I curled up on the couch. “I don’t want them to. Right now, I wish I still had no memories, I wish I didn’t know who I was. I wish I could just be, you know…”

“Ordinary? Really? You’re not capable.”

I waved a pillow in her direction. “You know what I mean. Not so much ordinary as, well, out of the war.”

I wasn’t sure I wanted peace per se. I just didn’t want this weight on my shoulders.

“And if you were? You’re allied with frost giants. All you need is some fire giants.”

“I have some who might be interested,” I quipped.
“And maybe some Vanir.” She grinned at me. “People like you, Jane. You aren’t perfect, but people like you.”

“That’s mostly guys wanting to get in my pants.”

“Angrboda is not a guy wanting to get in your pants.”

I didn’t think I was that likable, to be honest. I thought I was, well… Mediocre on that front. Attractive, sure, or I wouldn’t get the modeling gigs I did. Likable? “You’re the likable one.”

“Nah.” She grinned. “I’m the geeky black girl.”

“Not that geeky.”

“That geeky. You know it’s half of why you keep me around.”

“Remind me of the other half?” I invited, wanting to think about nothing in particular for a while.

Maybe a good long while.