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.”