“I won’t sit on Alice.”

“Well, you say that, but it’s a surprisingly easy thing to do. She’s soft, like a cushion.”

Valkyrie’s mother walked in. “Did you sit on our child?”

Her dad shook his head. “No. I did not. Not recently. You ready to go?”

“I am,” said her mum. “Steph, sorry for dumping you with Alice on your first night back, but that’s what you get for staying at Gordon’s place all week. Alice is wonderful, she is a wonderful, wonderful child, but we really need a break. If I’d remembered how tiring it was to raise a kid, I’d have probably got someone else to do it.”

Her dad nodded. “Outsourcing. Clever.”

“She’s ready for sleep, so just give her a bottle, tuck her in, and then go to bed yourself. You look tired.”

Valkyrie smiled. “That sounds nice.”

She walked them to the door.

“Don’t open the door to strangers,” said her dad. “Unless they’re selling something. Then open the door and see if I’d like it. If I’d like it, buy it for me. But nothing cheap. I have standards. Nothing too expensive, either. My standards aren’t that high.”

“Have a good time,” Valkyrie said, closing the door behind them.

She went back into the living room, put the guard in front of the fire, and scooped Alice into her arms. She climbed the stairs, put her sister in the cot with her bottle and tucked her in. Alice looked up at her until her eyelids began to close, then Valkyrie sneaked out. She crossed the landing to her bedroom.

Stephanie was sitting on the bed, her backpack beside her. “Enjoying being back?”

Valkyrie’s smile faded a little. “I am, actually, yes. It’s good to come home.”

“I know what you’re trying to do.”

“And what is that, exactly?”

“You’re trying to replace me.”

“I’m trying to replace you? You are my substitute.”

“Was!” Stephanie said, springing to her feet. “I was your substitute! And now you’re threatened because you’ve realised that I’m a better daughter to them than you ever were.”

Valkyrie’s lip curled. “You’re insane. But then we all knew that when you murdered Carol. You really think I’d be comfortable with you living with them full time? How do I know you won’t slip up and have to kill someone else? How do you know you won’t do it?”

“Because I’ve changed. I’ve evolved.”

“You can’t be trusted.”