“You’re not too bad,” he finally said without adding more.
“What? That’s it?” I rolled over onto my stomach, propping myself up on my elbows. “C’mon, I’m stronger than I look. I can take it.”
Iver shrugged. “I could say that it is obvious you care for others. You are kind. I think you downplay your strengths. You certainly have not shared your secrets, and I am intrigued by that. But honestly, when it comes to who is more of a threat to my family, Edda has you beat there. Despite the secrets you continue to try to keep, you are no threat to us.”
“You think me weak,” I commented.
“Not the least.” His gray eyes turned to me. “You just do not possess the personality of someone who would concern me. However, that does not mean I view you as weak. I believe having you as an ally would be quite useful for us. So, Ariana, do you intend to go to war against the dark and evil mysterious forces of the Sidhe alongside us?”
“Do not badger her with such questions.” Kole approached, holding a bowl of potatoes and sausage. “It is not your place to ask her such things.”
I rolled over and sat straight up.
“Oh c’mon, we were just having a casual conversation.” Iver’s grin sharpened.
“If Erik heard you asking such things . . .” Kole growled.
Iver sat up, shrugging. “He would what? Where is the great King anyway?” He made a show of looking around.
“He hasn’t returned yet,” Kole informed us, holding the bowl out for me to take. It warmed my icy fingers, steam rising from the soup.
“Do you think he is alright?” I asked Kole, but Iver answered first.
“Of course he is. A single unpleasant conversation will not harm our great King.”
I turned to him. “What makes you say we had an unpleasant conversation?”
“He’s run off to clear his mind, hasn’t he?”
“Mind your mouth,” Kole growled.
Iver rolled his eyes. “You used to be so much more fun before . . .” His words trailed off, though there was a dangerous glint in his gaze.
“Before what?” I asked, turning to Kole, who was now deathly still. Rage simmered beneath that stillness. Clearly, this was not a conversation he was planning on having.
Kole took a single step towards Iver, and the intent of it was deadly. I was not the only one who picked up on the shift.
“Why don’t you scamper off before your actions result in something regretful?” Iver commented, his voice low. Though he remained sitting on the ground, his demeanor changed, his focus concentrated on Kole, poised to act if needed. Unease settled over me at the thought of this possibly escalating.
Kole’s entire body tightened as his muscles stiffened. He then angrily pivoted and stormed off without another word. Iver relaxed back onto the ground.
“Why do you do that?” I asked.
“Do what?” he asked, looking innocently at me as if unaware of his actions.
“Push everyone with your words to no end.”
“Do I push you?”
“You try by calling meprincess,” I pointed out.
He chortled. “Sweet princess, that is me simply joking around with you.” Then, smirking, he turned his attention to me. “Would you like for me to push you further?”
“Not really.” I focused on the bowl of soup in my hands, beginning to greedily eat.
“Well, then consider yourself lucky.”
“But why do you do it?”
