“I don’t want to.” Vhalla couldn’t help but laugh at his pouting. “But we have no excuse, my prince.” Vhalla ran her palm up his arm to his shoulder and back down to his hand.
“You’ll be with me again soon,” he reassured them both as he brought her fingers to his lips.
They both dressed slowly, giving into distractions. But only so many kisses could delay the inevitable, and Vhalla found herself buttoned up once more, in tow behind him. Aldrik paused just before they neared the entryway into the main room. The sounds of the men and women laughing and drinking, giving into the evening revelries, were dull compared to the beautiful chorus she and Aldrik had sung the whole afternoon with their muted sighs and hushed whispers.
“I love you,” he breathed, glancing down at her.
“I love you, Aldrik,” Vhalla repeated back, not appreciating the nervous glint to his eyes.
They plunged into the room, made bright by hovering flames, and all eyes instantly went to them. Vhalla wished her face didn’t immediately flush such an incriminatory shade of scarlet. She averted her eyes, hoping no one would notice.
“So good of you to join us,” the Emperor finally spoke.
“I hope we have not been the cause of any delays.” Aldrik’s mannerisms clearly conveyed that he didn’t care if they had been.
“I would like a primary report of your findings.” The Emperor froze them both in place.
“Well—” Aldrik began.
“From her,” the Emperor interjected.
Vhalla tore her eyes off the floor in surprise, only to find all attention on her. She suddenly wondered if she’d smoothed her hair enough, or if it still bore remnants of Aldrik’s eager hands. She wondered if there was a bruise somewhere visible from his ravenous hunger to taste her. She wondered if shesmelledof him.
“My lord, it’s all, it’s very complex ...” Vhalla struggled to say something, anything.
“Is it?” The Emperor arched an eyebrow. “Did you not see within Soricium castle with your own eyes?”
“I did,” she lied.
“Then tell me what you saw; I so long to see the inside those walls.” A predatory sneer spread across his lips. Vhalla knew she was being tested, and she knew she was failing.
“I saw...” Her eyes flicked to Aldrik and hopelessness filled his expression at the inability to help. Her treacherous mind was filled only with images of his naked form. “I saw ...”
Aldrik’s lips parted. His mind raced behind the dark of his eyes, trying to formulate an excuse for her that wouldn’t incriminate them both.
“Mother, Jax!” Daniel suddenly jumped out of his seat at the crash of a flagon.
“Sorry, sorry!” The Westerner stood also, eagerly patting at the Easterner’s soaked crotch.
“Jax!” Daniel jumped back. “I don’t needthat. I need a new pair of trousers.”
“Could I help you change?” Jax straightened and cocked his head to the side.
“Gods, no!” Daniel groaned.
“Fine, fine.” Jax sat with his hands in the air in a sign of defeat. “But if you’re going, take the Lady Vhalla with you, she looks like she hasn’t slept in days.”
Vhalla blinked at her name. Her attention slowly shifted to Daniel, whose expression was icy and guarded. Her heart began to race, and every beat whispered,he knows.
“Fine.” One word unleashed an avalanche of unexplainable guilt upon her shoulders.
Aldrik used the opportunity to start toward the table, turning away when Vhalla looked back to him for some sort of input on the situation.
Elecia gave Vhalla a cool and cautionary assessment from
Aldrik’s side but said nothing. “Miss Yarl, you have not—”
“Let her go, Father,” Aldrik drawled. There was a bitter edge to his voice. “She’s clearly exhausted from her Projections and isn’t thinking straight. She needs rest.”
