I felt a flash of gratitude toward the she-goblin. We’d never been close, frankly sometimes she scared me more than Lydian, but I never doubted how much she cared for Soren. Never in a hundred years did I think she’d willingly stick up for me. Honestly, I was pretty certain she didn’t like me very much.

She finally looked up from her nail care and around the room. When her eyes met mine, she gave a small, almost undetectable nod before continuing her journey. “Does anyone else have anything to say or are we done with that?”

When nobody else spoke, she nodded. “Good. So, the plan is for Janneke, Soren, and Diaval to go into Hel, bargain with Hel, and free Lydian’s spirit, track down the liminal being most likely to signify Ragnarök’s arrival, then kill it.”

“Well, when you put it that way…” Soren’s words lingered in the air like smoke. But he was right. When you put it that way, it did sound fucking ridiculous, didn’t it? But then we had some crazy plans during the Hunt, and that worked out for the better, mostly, until now.

Besides, it didn’t matter how outlandish the plan sounded. We needed a plan. Because I could see it now, every time I closed my eyes. The serpent gnawing on the roots of the world tree. I could feel it as if it were sinking its fangs into my very flesh and tearing me apart bit by bit. Every time a little chunk disappeared from the trunk of the tree, the branches, the worlds, they all shook and rattled like they were loose rocks about to topple over. If no one stopped it, they would topple over. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about silly things like the stag or the Erlking, Lydian, or Satu’s new kid, because we’d all be very much dead.

“Rose and I are going too,” Seppo announced, undaunted by the tone of Soren’s voice. Rose grasped a hand over his partner’s and nodded in agreement.

Tanya rolled her eyes. I had a feeling she probably considered hand-holding a gross and inappropriate display of public affection. Personally, I thought it was adorable.

“It’ll be dangerous,” I warned. “I don’t want you to needlessly risk your lives.”

Seppo smiled. “Needlessly risking my life is my favorite hobby, right, Mom?”

Satu pinched the bridge of her nose. “I blame your father. You definitely didn’t get that trait from me.”