“Did you have a bad dream?”
“No.” Vhalla averted her eyes so he wouldn’t see the pain he’d parked in them. She knew he had not meant to, but just the mention of dreams made her think of what was lost between them. Never again would she see his memories in sleep.
“Is it keeping you up?” His fingers rested lightly on her shoulder.
“The pain is manageable,” Vhalla sighed. “Elecia said it will scar.”
“And?” he murmured nonchalantly. Aldrik leaned forward, pressing his lips into the fabric over the mark where Victor had stolen her magic and nearly her life. “You’re not one to worry about feminine notions of your complexion.”
“I’m not,” she agreed. “Are you?”
Aldrik laughed lightly. It was a throaty whisper. “You could turn green with yellow spots and I’d find myself uncaring. If I’d wanted a dainty court queen, I would have picked from my father’s lineup.”
“The Fire Lord with a dainty court queen?” Vhalla grinned playfully. “Now there’s an image.”
“Ah yes, quite the hilarious failure.” Aldrik brought his lips to hers lightly.
“Will you two get a room?” Jax groaned from Aldrik’s opposite side. Aldrik was pushed closer to Vhalla as a swift kick was placed on his lower back. “Tired of listening to lovers’ sweet nothings.”
“Jax!” Aldrik snapped, rolling over. “I did not realize you wanted accommodations in the dungeons upon our return.”
“After all I’ve done for you?” Jax snorted.
Vhalla took the opportunity to stand, stretching out her stiff limbs. Being brought back from the dead took a toll on one’s body.
“It seems your lady does escape, my prince.”
“Boys, I swear, do not make me get up from this pallet,” Elecia threatened without so much as a hint of movement.
Vhalla grinned and held up an index finger to her lips, motioning for the men to be silent. Jax gave Aldrik a satisfied smirk before rolling over. Fritz snored on as though nothing had happened. The two Northerners in the corner ignored their companions. Aldrik just shook his head, running a hand through his limp hair. Her eyes caught his, and they had one more moment before Vhalla crept out to the main room.
She was not the first to wake. Cass had already stoked a fire. The tall woman now stood at the end of the large table that dominated the space closest to the crackling hearth. Her cerulean eyes turned up at Vhalla’s sock-muffled footsteps.
“Good morning,” she said softly, clearly still mindful that most of the people in the home were still in the depths of slumber.
“Good morning, Cass.” Vhalla smiled, meeting the other woman’s kind and toothy look.
“Did you sleep alright?” she asked as Vhalla joined her at her side.
“I did,” Vhalla affirmed. She assumed the space next to the woman as one of Cass’s sister’s would, beginning to slice some of the root vegetables. Vhalla winced as she tested out what sort of pressure her shoulder could withstand.
Cass noticed, but kept silent about Vhalla’s pain.
“I hope we’re not putting your family out too much.” Vhalla noted the quantity of food they were being forced to prepare.
“Don’t worry.” Cass shook her head. “It’s nice to have Fritz home. It’s not every day that we have a prince with us either.”
Smiling to herself, Vhalla slipped the knife through another potato. She remembered being awe-struck and dazed at the notion of being near royalty. There was a time when just proximity to Aldrik could fluster her. Now she spoke with him without thought. She had no qualms when it came to scolding him or encouraging him to do something he may otherwise not consider.
Then there was Baldair. He had flustered her also. It had been his flirtations, then his misguided protection, and somehow at the end he was as good as a brother. The idea that he was gone still rested cold in her core. Vhalla sighed softly, her knife paused.
“You’ve been through a lot.” It was not a question. Vhalla looked up at the Charem girl. “We all know the story. We heard it not long after the Night of Fire and Wind. You were the low born library girl turned sorceress who rode with princes.”
“Was I?” Vhalla asked softly. She supposed some of it was still true.
“You tell me,” Cass laughed. “In any case, it is an honor to meet you. Gwen had a mouse she found in the spring that she named after you.”
“What?”
