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“I live to serve you, oh, jarl.” Strega’s annoyance was thinly veiled as she grabbed Kingston by the ear and tugged.
He gave a yip of annoyance, but all that got him was her low murmured, “Bad dog.”
“Sunshine, you better make this up to me.” His words were muttered as he trailed after her out of the room, but I caught them all the same.
The silence following their departure was awkward and absolute. Nord stared at us from his throne, his gaze clearly assessing. Noah shifted restlessly behind me, moving until his breath fanned over my neck and his hand was pressed against my lower back. I knew it was a statement; I just didn’t know if it was for my benefit or Nord’s.
The door opened, and hurried footsteps came from the corridor as a woman I recognized entered the room.
“Nord, what the ever-loving he... llo?” Lina stared at us, eyes wide. “Sunday? What are you doing here?”
Nord grumbled. “This girl says she is Alek’s mate. That she’s carrying his child.”
Lina’s eyes flew wide, her mouth falling open. “Oh...” She looked at Nord, then back at me, her other hand pressing to her chest. “Oh.”
Nord reached out and wrapped a hand around her waist, tugging her closer until she sat gracelessly in his lap.
“We’re going to be grandparents?” she whispered, eyes shining.
“So you know this girl? She’s truly Alek’s mate?”
“Yes. She is.”
“Strega! Where the bloody hell is Alek? Get him in here.”
Lina beamed. “He’ll be so happy to see you.”
My heart nearly burst with hope and relief. I hadn’t made it all up. Our connection was real. Lina knew it, and so did I.
Seconds later, Alek stumbled in, Strega smirking as she and Kingston followed, muttering as he adjusted the leather pants he was now wearing. But my eyes were only for my Viking, looking absolutely edible in his low-slung sweatpants with my name on full display down his side.
His hair was disheveled, his eyes hooded with sleep. “Has someone died?”
“Why do you assume the worst?” Lina asked.
“Why else would you wake me in the middle of the bloody night?”
“You have company,” Lina said, her smile huge as she gestured to where Noah and I were standing.
“Thorne? What are you and Kingston doing here?” His gaze lasered onto me, and he gave me an appreciative once-over. “And who is this exquisite creature?”
“Not the time for a joke. They came with me to bring you back.” My throat was so fucking tight. I wanted to fling myself into his arms, but something stopped me.
“Who’s joking?”
“Alek... stop it,” Lina said. “Is that any way to treat poor Sunday after she’s come so far to be with you?”
Confusion clouded his face, his brows scrunching low. “Sunday?”
“Yes, Sunday. You have my name tattooed down your side.” Frustration burned like acid.
“Oh, that? I lost a bet. Had to get it.”
What was he talking about? We’d shared a beautiful moment. He’d used such care when he sent the magic through us both. “No. That’s not what happened. I was there.”
He laughed. “No. You weren’t. I have never seen you before, and trust me, sweetheart, there’s no way I’d forget you if I had.”
Now I was just angry. I’d come all this way. Frozen my tits off. Cried for him. Andthiswas how he reacted? “Oh, really? Then how do you explain this?” I tore my coat off and showed him the runes trailing down my inner arm, the perfect lines now marred by a scar from Chad’s handiwork.
