“Shut up, I’m being sincere and vulnerable.”

“Can’t you be those things and work a little faster?”

“The problem with people forgetting you when you’re gone is that nobody actually cares if you don’t come back.”

Valkyrie regarded her as the lock picks scratched and scraped. “Sounds lonely.”

“It can be,” Myosotis said. “But this is the life I chose. Mystery and intrigue and anonymity. There are things one must sacrifice in order to be a good spy.”

“You could give it up, you know. Become a regular operative.”

Myosotis smiled, her thin lips rising. “My Sanctuary values my expertise too much to allow that. But do not feel sorry for me. I never do.” The shackles clicked open. “There. My rescuer is freed.”

Valkyrie’s magic washed over her as they jumped down from the frame. Myosotis handed her a bracelet. “Wear this, it’s one of mine. So long as you keep it close to your skin, you won’t forget me.”

“I’m honoured.”

“You should be.”

“Though it’s a pretty cheap bracelet.”

“I buy in bulk.”

“I’m still honoured.”

“You still should be.”

Valkyrie’s grin caught on her lips as a low growl reached them. It was close. It was far too close. “The Beast,” she whispered. “It’s behind me.”

Myosotis nodded.

Valkyrie turned slowly, ready to click her fingers and summon a fireball, ready to grab the darkness and hurl spears of shadow. Instead, she frowned.

The Beast was two feet tall, with small arms and tiny hands. It was covered in fur, everywhere except its face, where two large eyes blinked above a small snout. It had little ears that twitched, and big feet.

“Uh,” Valkyrie said. “That’s it?”

“That’s it,” said Myosotis.

“Does it grow? Is it suddenly going to expand into a giant and devour us in one bite?”

“Nope,” Myosotis said. “That’s the size it stays.”

“Does it have razor claws that are going to pop out, or huge teeth, or…?”

“Nope.”

“Is it… I mean, is it really bad-tempered?”

“It’s quite good-natured, actually.”

“Then I don’t understand. Why is it so terrible?”

“Who said it was terrible?”

“What do you mean? Everyone’s terrified of it. From the moment we got here they’ve been talking about feeding the Beast, how the Beast must be fed, all that kind of stuff.”

“And the Beast must be fed,” Myosotis nodded. “Otherwise it’d go hungry. But they’re not scared of it. They love it. Look at it – it’s adorable.”

Valkyrie had to admit, it was pretty cute. It kind of wobbled when it walked.

“I think they named it the Beast because they thought it was kind of funny,” Myosotis continued. “It’s their pet.”

“And how exactly would that little thing eat us?”