Skulduggery Pleasant: Raising Cain

Chapter 20 - The Reunion

Skulduggery – Crow

Anton – Bear

Ghastly – Panda

Dexter – Wolf

Saracen – Weasel

Erskine – Snake

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Chapter 20

Nadia's parents drove out of the car park, leaving them alone with each other. Valkyrie turned back to Nadia and pulled her into a hug. "I missed you."

She grinned and kissed her lips lightly. "I missed you too."

"I expect my reward at some point too," Valkyrie warned her with a grin, leading her into the building. "I was promised."

Nadia smirked at her. "I haven't forgotten. You're like a needy child sometimes."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "No," she said boldly. "I just want you too much."

Nadia flushed darkly and then they were in the golf centre, Valkyrie trying not to think about the art of flirting and what could potentially be cringy versus actually good. The dining room had been turned into an open hall with some tables and chairs, a buffet, DJ and dancefloor. There were more than a hundred Edgley's with their various surnames if they married, their partners, children, a few friends of the family. Valkyrie took a deep breath, holding Nadia's hand tightly and bracing as some drunk man came up to them enthusiastically.

"Stephanie!" He said loudly. "I haven't seen you since you were knee high to a grasshopper! You've grown so much."

"Yeah, nine years will do that," she said, looking around for a grandparent.

"You must remember me, though," he said, nodding. "Remember, I would swing you around when you were little."

Valkyrie nodded. "Of course I do. Sorry, Nana wants to..."

She pulled Nadia passed him and she greeted her Nan, then Pap, then some other relatives and Valkyrie thought at least six hours must have passed when she got through the other side and through the whole thing, no one mentioning Nadia. She pulled her in and put an arm over her shoulder.

"I think that's enough relatives," she sighed in relief. Nadia smiled at her. "Food?"

"God yes," she said, yanking Valkyrie to the buffet. They picked up plates and took little sausages and finger sandwiches for themselves and Valkyrie found the crisps and dips too though Nadia did get a few carrot sticks to look good.

"I hope you're not going to make me eat those," she said.

"Of course not," Nadia said, then stuck one in Valkyrie's unsuspecting mouth.

"Bitch," Valkyrie said under her breath and ate it. Nadia laughed loudly and then went to a side room to eat.

Carefully, Valkyrie got a box out her bag and Gordon faded into existence. "Valkyrie! Oh, and Nadia, it's so good to see you again."

"You too," Valkyrie said. "We're at the reunion."

"Ah yes," he said, peering through the door. "Incredibly. They're so drunk so early. Someone will fall over soon, mark my words."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes and ate her food, watching as Nadia stole her crisps. "Excuse me, you chose carrot."

"I changed my mind."