Page 117 of White Raven

“You might want to ask your hersir,” I snipped, my brain no longer attached to my mouth. I had enough of being controlled and walked over tonight like I was nothing but an object. “He seemed to find my pussy much to fuss about tonight.”

Renyx’s mouth dropped.

“Damn, lille ravn.” Bjørn’s choked laughter boomed in the corridor.

“I’ve taken on cannibals and murderers; I can certainly handle a pretty boy like you.” I leaned into Renyx, holding tightly to my last bits of my dignity and bravado, when I was nothing more than wet paper ready to rip into shreds.

“Huginn-Muninn. I think I’m in love with you now.” Bjørn guffawed, guiding me toward my chamber. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “If you can get rid of my current husband.”

“Dangerous words, lille ravn.” Bjørn’s thick eyebrow lifted, noticing Renyx had stopped a few feet away, his mouth open.

“No, tell me she’s lying.” Renyx glowered at me, his head wagging in disbelief.

Bjørn laughed harder at Renyx’s bewilderment, wiping away tears.

“Seriously? The hersir? After all he went through with her kind? We lost my brother to them!” Renyx’s expression evolved to disgust. “I feel sick.” He twisted around, heading back. “I need a bath and a fucking drink.”

“What’s wrong, Ren?” Bjørn called after him. “A little jealous it wasn’t you lapping at the cream of another certain hersir?”

“Fuck you!” Renyx held up his middle finger, stomping down the passage, Bjørn’s snickers following him until he disappeared.

“He’s really in love with her?”

“Ever since we were teenagers,” the big guy replied. “He was the more reserved one, where Raelis went after her.”

“Did Raelis know his brother was in love with her?”

Bjørn’s humor evaporated.

“Raelis wouldn’t have pursued her if he didn’t.”

“What?” I blinked. “He purposely went after Brynn because he knew his twin was in love with her? That seems so cruel. Why would he do that?”

“Brynn was the one thing Raelis could have over Renyx,” Bjørn replied. “Raelis was always in competition with his brother, always trying to outdo him. But Renyx was naturally better at things—he quietly observed, learned—while Raelis jumped in without thinking. It’s why he took the chance to go with Onyx to your realm, even though it was supposed to be Renyx. Raelis made sure the king picked him.”

“Another reason why Renyx feels guilty over his brother’s death,” I muttered. “It was supposed to be him there instead.”

“Yes,” Bjørn agreed.

A sadness washed over me. “Did Raelis even love her?”

“I think he did.” Bjørn sighed, bobbing his head. “Well, I guess as much as Brynn loved him back.”

“Right.” I bit down on my lip. “Onyx.”

There needed to be a line for those enraptured with Onyx.

“How long have you known him? Did you guys all grow up together?”

“Most of us grew up together. Onyx was the only one the king brought in.”

“Brought in?”

“He was orphaned as a child, homeless. The king saw potential in him and started training him at a young age with the rest of us to be shields.” Bjørn rubbed at his beard in thought. “He was treated as an outsider, until one day he stuck up for Brynn. He lost his temper and almost killed the kid bullying her. We saw a glimpse of how dark, powerful, and ruthless he was, and many of us realized then it was better to have him on our side than against us.” He laughed. “He became a favorite of the king. He knew he had a weapon on his hands.”

“And the king’s feelings for Onyx now?” I couldn’t help but ask, my thoughts going back to how he kissed him earlier.