Freya squeaked at the force of my hug, her laugh muffled against my shoulder. "Maeve, I am happy to see you too, but girl you're suffocating me."
I pulled back, still clutching her arms like she might vanish if I let go. "How did you even get here?" My voice cracked on the last word.
Freya's grin faltered. She bit her lip and glanced sideways, where Lucian stood. "We… may have forced Valeria to open a portal for us."
The name made my brain stumble. "Wait. Valeria? As in, evil, black-dress, possibly enjoys blood rituals, tried to kill me, Valeria?"
Freya winced, nodding. "Yeah. That Valeria."
I blinked at her. Once. Twice. "Freya. Do you hear yourself right now?"
Her shoulders scrunched toward her ears, sheepish. "Look, it wasn't exactly my idea, okay? But she owed us. She has been extremely cruel to you and honestly, it was either portal or a long and awkward drive. You might have disappeared."
I groaned into my hands. "Point taken."
