Thor's Serpents by K.L. Armstrong, M.A. Marr Page B

possible to ‘accidentally’ leave him behind, let’s do that. I’ll ask him to bring up the rear in case of trouble. You go first as Thor’s champion and he goes last as another Thor descendant. I’m pretty sure the portal will close after I go through. It’s like a part of me—that’s why I always go last, but he doesn’t know that.”
    Matt hesitated. “I’m not sure he’ll buy that.”
    “I’ll go second-to-last,” Ray said. “That way it won’t look suspicious. Laurie goes in. The portal starts to close. I leap through.”
    “No,” Reyna said. “I’ll do it. You—”
    “I’ve got this, sis. Now, let’s get moving.”

    As they moved away, Ray caught Matt’s arm and led him to the side.
    “I’m going to make sure Jake doesn’t follow you guys,” he said.
    “Okay. Thanks.”
    Ray kept hold of Matt’s sleeve. “I mean I’m going to do it by not following you myself. I’ll stall him as the portal closes.”
    “You don’t need to do that.”
    “I want to.” Ray met Matt’s eyes. “I’ll be there for the battle, but I… I’m not cut out for this. Reyna is. As long as I’m with her, though, she’s torn between protecting you and protecting me. Like at your place with your brother. It’s your back she needs to watch. Not mine.”
    “I don’t need—”
    “Everyone needs someone to watch his back, Matt. Even Thor’s champion. I have to let her do that. I’m better off here anyway. Your family has all those books you read. I can look through them for stuff about the battlefield, in case your uncle doesn’t have it. I’m good at that—reading and research.” A wry smile. “Better than I am at fighting.”
    “That’s not true.”
    “Yes, it is. Reyna’s powers might work better with me there, but when she’s trying to help you, I hold her back more than I help. I get that. So I’m staying behind.”
    “Okay, we’ll talk to her.”
    Ray shook his head. “There’s no time. She’ll fight us on this and I’ll end up going, and that’s not the right move.”
    But she’ll kill me.
That’s what Matt wanted to say. When Reyna found out what he’d agreed to, she’d be furious. With good reason.
    And that couldn’t matter because Ray was right.
    “Guys?” Baldwin called. “Opening a portal over here…”
    “You’ve got this,” Ray said. “I’ll be there for the big battle and hopefully I’ll find something useful in your books. Until then, look after my sister.” He leaned over and whispered, “Try not to let her drive you crazy.”

    They exited the portal into a dust storm. Or that’s what Matt thought, seeing the gray floating around them, feeling it burn and chafe as he sucked it into his lungs. He braced himself, peering about wildly for stampeding bison. That’s what had happened the last time—he’d come through to see this grayish fog and nearly gotten trampled. It took about five seconds for his brain to remind him that bison in the middle of a city was highly unlikely. Then he smelled the acrid stink of smoke.
    “Ray?”
    Matt turned and saw Reyna’s dim outline through the smoke. Between that and the darkness, it was impossible to see more than a few inches.
    “Ray?” Reyna called as she disappeared into the smoke. “Does anyone see Ray?” Her voice started rising in panic.
    Matt’s gut clenched. He had to tell her, but not until he was sure everyone was safe.
    “Roll call!” he said. “Everyone check in.”
    Voices sounded in the smoke. “Baldwin!”
    “Laurie over here, with Owen.”
    A hand grabbed his elbow. It was Laurie, Owen beside her. Baldwin stumbled to them, coughing and rubbing his eyes.
    “Where’s Ray?” Reyna said, still lost in the smoke. “Where’s my brother?”
    “He decided—” Matt began.
    Baldwin coughed again, Owen echoing it.
    “Um, guys?” Baldwin said. “Smoke might not kill
me
, but…”
    “He’s right,” Matt said. “Everyone, grab someone else, and let’s find a safe