Page 31 of Soul of Fire

So does Bryndis. I glanced over to see that Branka’s cheeks were just as flushed as mine.Why deny that you enjoy the sight of your mate showing off?

“He is a showoff, isn’t he?”

I started, whirling toward the male voice behind me.

Prince Edvard was leaning against the wall only a few feet from us, his gray eyes fixed intently on me as a small smile tugged at his lips.

“What?” I felt Branka stiffen beside me and realized with relief that my tone was the icy one I had adopted for Arik in Ironholm, rather than the placating one I’d used for Henrik and Einar.

Good. I had no desire to be placating.

“My brother.” Edvard looked at me curiously, something dark flashing in his gray eyes. “He’s a show off. Or did you not hear me?”

Idunn rumbled deep in my chest, all amusement and lustful distraction replaced by wary distrust.It is not possible that he heard me.

I tried to soothe her with a gentle stroke.A coincidence, surely.

Baldur stirred uneasily across our mental bridge. Arik had seen his brother’s approach and was watching as he continued to spar.

“It’s rude to ignore a prince, you know.” Edvard reached out as if to touch my hair, and I flinched back. He smiled, stuffing hishands in his pockets and rocking on his heels. “Even more rude to forget to curtsy.”

“Apologies, Your Highness.” I gave the smallest curtsy—more a bob of the head—that I could possibly manage.

Branka followed suit, her eyes downturned. I could feel her shaking behind me, and I took her hand.

Edvard chuckled, the sound lacking true amusement. “My brother chooses his women well. You have courage at least.”

“I suppose you have intimate knowledge of your brother’s women.” The words had left my mouth before I had time to think them through. I felt Baldur rumble a warning as Arik dropped his stick and strode toward us, Jorgen on his heels.

Edvard glanced at his brother, the same dark smile still tugging the edges of his lips. “Oh, you’ll do nicely.”

Let me burn him.Idunn growled in my chest as if Edvard had threatened me with physical violence.

I felt Branka sag with relief behind me as Jorgen took his mate’s hand from mine and pulled her a step away.

“Edvard.” It was a command, not a greeting. Arik stood behind me and placed both of his hands on my shoulders.Alright, Kjære?

Fine.My pulse was hammering, and Arik placed a steadying hand on my waist.

“What do you want, Edvard?”

“Such theatrics.” Edvard leaned casually on the fence. “I was just getting to know the woman you are abandoning convention for.”

“Being with my mate is the only convention that matters to me.”

“How sentimental you’ve become.” Edvard’s eyes flicked to mine, and for a split-second, I felt a sharp ache in my chest.

The feeling was gone before I could even properly register it, but Arik had noticed.

What is it, Kjære?Baldur’s pulse of white energy speared across my mind, a steadying presence that calmed Idunn’s more violent instincts to eliminate what she clearly deemed a threat.

I’m fine. Idunn is just on edge.

Arik pulled me into his chest, his arm encircling my waist. “Go away, Edvard.”

The prince shook his head in disbelief. “You would truly wed a thrall, then?”

“You fucking—“ Jorgen growled from behind me, but Arik put out a hand to still his friend and stepped in front of me. It took a great deal of willpower to rein Idunn’s fury in, and I could feel Arik doing the same with Baldur.