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“They say you are still a man of honor and I do believe it. Consider the debt paid. Besides the trade has already been made. Nothing is owed. By the way, my name is Traevuth.”

I nodded. “Traevuth. You are welcome here.”

“Ah, and before I forget. I believe these belong to the both of you.” Traevuth reached into the black velvet bag and pulled out both crowns. He handed them over. One to me and then the other to Visla—just as I’d intended from the moment I asked her to make the crowns. It didn’t seem like very long ago that I realized she would be my forever mate.

Visla gasped. “Why do you give them back? They are yours. We traded them so you could buy fuel.”

“I cannot keep these in good faith. I had no idea you were mated to a King, and even so, I am respectful and awed by the way you two fought to secure peace here.”

Visla nodded.

I smiled. “We have fuel here, Traevuth. You can fill your ships before you depart. By the way, it has been so long since I traveled the seas. I miss finding treasure. Have you loot to trade with me?”

Traevuth smiled. “We’ll talk later, King Khol.”

Visla lifted herself on her tiptoes and kissed me. “I’m so glad to have you back.”

“What do you mean, my love? You never ever lost me.”

“I worried…”

“Well, worry no more.”

She grinned and squeezed my arm. A lustful gaze clouded over her eyes. “You fight like a beast, horde king. I’m beginning to love watching you. You excite me when you’re like this.”

I chuckled deeply and scooped her up. “You know what else I do like a beast?”

She giggled as I carried her out of the dining hall and away to my sleeping quarters.