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Chapter 20
Alrick
“G
o after her. We can’t lose her now,” Henrike said.
I was still rooted to the ground, my feet as heavy as rocks. A storm of emotions had taken hold of me. It was a terrible mixture of a passionate tingling in my stomach from the intimate moments I had just shared with Mina and the worry of her anger—which was justified in every way. How had I dared touch her? How had I dared kiss her? In my pitiful defense, I’d never had a woman push me to the limits like her. I was always so calm and controlled. The war had taught me that. But Mina had a way of finding my weak spot and twisting.
When I’d returned to the hut, I’d expected many things—Mina throwing another vase at me, accusing me of indecent behavior—but what I found had left me speechless again.
There she stood, her hair cut off and her chin held high as always when she was trying to prove herself. She had looked me straight in the eyes, a cold defiance on her face.
The only thing that I could think of at that moment was...I loved her. She was fearless, proud, and strong. And despite what others thought of her, she was kind. I had seen it as a child and on this journey when she was giving coins to the poor. She had also risked her life for me when we were attacked on the road. No, there was no doubt in my mind any longer. The reason why she had so much power over me was simple. I loved her with my whole heart. A feeling she clearly didn’t share. Mina hated me. I was a lying barbarian, nothing more than a toy to play with.
“I said go after her,” Henrike demanded, tearing me out of my thoughts.
“I...I can’t. She doesn’t want me to.”
Henrike rolled her eyes. A childish gesture she had never grown out of.
“Are you men actually this clueless? Of course she wants you to.”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “What do—”
“I said go,” Henrike insisted, pressing a slice of bread into my hand. “And give her this before she starves.”
In all the turmoil, I hadn’t even realized that the old woman had already placed food on the table for us—right next to Mina’s pile of golden curls.
With quick steps, I left the hut and followed the little path that led to the river. It wasn’t long before I saw a golden-haired head sitting by it. As if readying myself for a battle, I took a deep breath and sat down next to Mina. She didn’t even look at me.
I held the piece of bread out, but she didn’t move to take the food.
“Leave,” she said.
My body moved as if I was her servant, ready to do as she commanded, but then something held me back. It was the sadness in her eyes. The way she stared into the river. Without thinking, my hand reached out to her short hair and playfully pushed up a few curls. I couldn’t help but smile. “You are so beautiful,” I said.
Mina didn’t look at me, but her head tilted. “Don’t mock me, Northerner.”
I was intoxicated with her beauty. Her full lips, her long eyelashes, her narrow, lifted chin. To me, she was the most stunning woman on the earth, both inside and out. She had risked her life for me at the inn. If she lost her beauty overnight, I had no doubt in my heart that I’d still want her.
“I’m not mocking you, just telling you the truth.” My voice sounded soft. Slowly, her face turned to me. Her sharp eyes analyzed my face. She smiled briefly, then grew serious again.
“It’ll all fade someday. Leave me with nothing again,” she said.
I shook my head. “It’s not the physical beauty I’m talking about.”
The corner of her mouth curved up as her cheeks grew red. “You’re making no sense, Alrick.”
My hand moved from her hair to her soft cheek. May the gods help me, I wanted to kiss her again. The memory of what I had done to her in the hut returned. I pulled my hand back, and now it was me who stared into the river.
“I...I must beg your forgiveness. What happened in the hut—” My voice broke off. What could I possibly say? How did one apologize for compromising a princess?
“Don’t trouble yourself. It had no meaning,” Mina said calmly.
I wish she would have said anything else. It would have been easier had she told me how much she hated me or how her father would let me rot in his dungeon. But to diminish emotions I had never felt with any other woman before asnothingwas devastating.
“I’m glad to hear it.” I sounded insecure, like a fool.
