“Me?” Aleksei jerked my shoulders backward with no warning, looming over me, eyes dark in his pale face. “Oh, I’m trouble, and that’s all you need to know about me.”

Perrault had warned me what a slight to the Imperiya would mean: danger, a massive misstep with political ramifications for Potomac. Did that apply here, to Aleksei, as oddly as he was behaving?

But when I glanced at Anya and the other boys, I found them rolling their eyes and shaking their heads, as if they found the whole display a little childish and nothing more.

I gave a trembling laugh, all nerves. “I consider myself forewarned.”

Aleksei winked. “Doesn’t matter. The only person you have to impress on this visit”—he set me gently upright—“is Torden.”

I faced the redheaded boy across from me, cheeks burning. “Any advice?”

“He’s got a nasty temper.” Aleksei leaned down to stage-whisper in my ear. “And he gets physical quickly.” He glanced at the others for their reaction.

Fredrik laughed generously as I gaped. At Skop’s sharp glance, Anya swatted at Aleksei. “Stop it. You know what she thinks you mean.”

Torden cracked an embarrassed smile and scratched at the scruff on his chin. “I never pick the fights.”

Oh. I’d misinterpreted Aleksei’s comment—he’d intended me to. Relief flooded me. But Torden’s siblings had dissolved again into scoffing and eye-rolling.

“What?” Torden demanded. “I do not look for trouble. I don’t begin fights.”

“You finish them,” Bragi teased.

“Someone has to. You never complain when I am taking your punches,” Torden said calmly. “Come on, don’t make me look bad in front of Selah.” He glanced at me, a smile catching the corner of his mouth, and something jolted in my stomach.

I thought of Bear—how, time and again, I’d felt my heart in my throat at the look in his eyes. Too soon, chorused my thoughts. I bit my lip.

Fredrik elbowed him. “She ought to know what to expect.”

I changed the subject again. “What should I expect?” I asked. “From this visit, I mean.”

Hermódr shrugged. “Most of our days proceed according to routine. We train together. Eat here together. Visit the village to help out as we can.”

“And you’ll be here for Midsummer’s Eve!” Aleksei exclaimed. Hermódr swallowed hard and glanced away, silent. The others suddenly seemed very interested in their plates.

“Midsummer’s Eve may be different this year,” Torden muttered, sawing at his food.

But Aleksei ignored the warning in his tone. “We have to!” he protested. “It’s bad luck not to have the bonfires.”

“Did the bonfires bring Baldr or Hodr any luck last year?” Torden asked, suddenly fierce. “Or the rest of us?”