Irina stepped around Emma as if she were not there at all, as if she were made of iron and Starkad of magnets. His claim over her was still strong, even years later.

Whatever she said to him, she said quickly and in Russian -- Jack picked up just enough to know it was some torrent of a confused explanation. When she paused for breath, she still looked off-balance. To Jack, she directed a single word.

"Wolf?"