Cassie raked her hair out of her eyes and really looked at the new guy for the first time. He looked like hell, like someone had dragged him back and forth across Death Valley, and then done it a few more times just for kicks. He had what looked like ritual scarring on his completely shirtless chest and some other scarring on his face and around his mouth, weird lumps where his neck met his shoulder, beat-up cargo pants and boots, and he was crying like his heart had just filled up and burst inside his chest.

"No, this isn't Valhalla," she said gently, rising to her knees and resting a hand on his shoulder. "You're still alive. It's a long story, but I promise, you're alive."