“I know!” Stephanie said, almost shouting. She lowered her voice immediately, but the anger remained. “I know how to use this, and it’s not going to go off accidentally. I’ve been thinking about it since I got home, actually, thinking of all the people it can kill and the destruction it can cause, and you know what? I don’t want it any more. You’re back. You can go off and have adventures. That’s what you’re good for. But me? I’m done with all that. I quit. I never want to use another weapon. I never want to hold this thing again.”

Valkyrie watched her grab the backpack and stuff the Sceptre into it. She zipped it up and the zip got stuck and Stephanie cursed and muttered and Valkyrie reached out. “Here, let me—”

Stephanie yanked it back. “No. This has nothing to do with you. Amazing, isn’t it? Something that has nothing to do with you. This is about me. This is about my decision.” She stormed past Valkyrie, slamming the door.

The room was quiet without her. Valkyrie waited a few moments to see if she’d storm back in. When she didn’t, Valkyrie hung up her jacket and pulled her boots off.

Stephanie walked in. She wasn’t carrying the Sceptre any more.

“There,” she said. “I’ve put it away. Happy now?”

“Where is it?” asked Valkyrie.

“You don’t have to worry about where it is. You just have to worry about what you’re going to do with your life. Because this life is mine.”

“I’m not going to argue with you about this,” said Valkyrie. She sat on the bed and took off her socks.

Stephanie’s eyes widened. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting ready for bed, what does it look like?”

Stephanie put her hands on her hips. “And who says you’re getting the bed?”

Valkyrie laughed. “Seriously? Who says?” She stood up. “I say, because it’s my bed.”

“You haven’t been sleeping there for quite a while,” Stephanie responded. “It’s mine now.”

“Listen, Stephanie, here’s the way it is. My bed. My room. My family. My rules.”

“You gave up your family, Valkyrie. What is it the lawyers say? You’ve relinquished your rights. You gave in. You let Darquesse beat you.”

“And now I’m back.”

“But that’s got nothing to do with you. We brought you back. You did nothing.”

The anger rose. Valkyrie’s eyes narrowed. “Screw you,” she said, bumping Stephanie’s shoulder as she strode out.

She was halfway down the stairs when she realised Stephanie was following her.