Never once had a protective sister encouraged me to bed their sibling. I’d experienced the opposite more than once—Dalric had forbidden me from even talking to his sister. The thought of consummating this marriage made me feel like a stud horse.
But if Seth turned the tribe against us, we wouldn’t last a day. Not unless I found a way to gain their trust—or at least keep them from stabbing me in my sleep.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I lied.
“Good. Since you look better, tomorrow we start training for the Skorn. I gave you the day off today because you were impaired, but you and Seren can join my squadron tomorrow for drills.”
I raised my brows. Did she really think she could teach me something? Or did she know Seren was the weakest link but wouldn’t disparage her sister? “I look forward to it.”
I dragged myself up as she walked back to the stall. Seren and her mother had already returned. Beyond them, the Viori continued celebrating, jeering at the oxcart carrying the body of my friend.
My head pounded, a thousand thoughts assailing me at once.
I needed to block the images swimming in my mind of my family, Malin, my home. Of Dalric. Does Thorne know?
This was going to be the longest day of my life.
At least my secrets were buried deep. For now, that would keep me safe.
I gritted my teeth and Seren pivoted her head toward me, then looked away.
“Don’t look at him.”
Her voice?
No. That was impossible. Just grief playing tricks on my mind. But her reaction … it had mirrored mine too closely, as if she felt it with me. Not physically, but emotionally. The thought gnawed at me, refusing to let go.
I furrowed my brow.
The bond had me questioning the limits of what was possible. She’d felt my pain yesterday. Now this?
A strange instinct simmered inside me. Her visceral reaction told me we were sharing more than I’d expected. More than I wanted.
The godsdamned bond was growing stronger, but how?
No. She was a Ragnall, and I would never trust a Ragnall.
What if she could hear my thoughts, too?
Oh fuck.
If she learned who I really was … I wouldn’t just be trapped. I’d be dead.
Whether or not this bond was broken, I knew one thing—come nightfall, I was leaving.
Chapter 13
Seren
The market had been unusually busy, as though everyone was eager to spend their money ahead of tonight’s celebration. But the flurry of activity worked to my advantage—as it wound down, I slipped through the crowd, heading for the repository.
Tara had advised me not to take Rykr. “You risk emasculating him if you drag him around like a pet.” She was right, and I needed distance. Maybe space would dull the effects of the bond.
Still, as I hurried through the forest toward the center of the encampment, a shadow clung to me, a deep gloom I couldn’t shake. I knew its source—Rykr had worn a haunted look. But while sharing his physical pain had been shocking, this was different.
Like an invasion of a private space where I don’t belong.
His emotions, so strong that they clouded my own, blurred the lines between us. Rykr had a right to his sadness—he was Lirien—but their intensity gave me an insight into the heart of our enemies, too. What my friends saw as victory, the Liriens would mourn. Seek revenge. And there wasn’t just sadness in Rykr’s heart, but fear, too. Worry. Guilt. Maybe he believed he’d failed to protect his king.
