Katla pats my hand. “Go ahead, get changed. We’ll be waiting for you.”
Runa stands by the bathroom and guides me in. She helps me out of my coat dress, and when she turns me around, she says, “You know, I never said anything about the new marks on your shoulder.” She raises a brow at me.
“Oh yeah . . .” I nervously laugh. “Weird, right? I bumped into a wall and blammo, bruised.”
“Very weird,” she says skeptically. “Because they look awfully similar to the bite marks Keller leaves on you.”
“Hmm, what a coincidence.”
Runa just shakes her head and helps me out of my stockings, bra, and underwear, then hands me the bathing suit. I don’t mind being naked in front of Runa—everyone else is a problem.
“Take a seat,” she says once I’m dressed.
I sit at the vanity in the bathroom, and she gathers my hair into a bun on the top of my head.
“I thought they said they were braiding it.”
“They will, but first, the oil water has to be poured on you, and you don’t want your hair mixing with that.”
“Oh, makes sense.” I look up at Runa through the reflection of the mirror and ask, “Have you done this before?”
“A few times,” she says. “It’s fun. A nice way to settle the nerves the night before the wedding.” She finishes my hair and places her hands on my shoulders. “I’m very happy for you, Lilly. It’s been my distinct honor serving you.”
“Runa,” I say, getting choked up. “Don’t make me freaking cry.”
She chuckles and pats my shoulders. “Come now, they’re waiting.”
ChapterSixteen
KELLER
“Here,” Ottar says, bringing a tumbler of whiskey over to me.
We’re both in the kitchen—seasoned cod with roasted vegetables in front of us, thanks to the chef, and some fruit tarts for dessert. Not sure the whiskey will settle well with those, but we’ll see.
“Thanks.” I hold the tumbler up to him, and he clinks his glass with mine.
“One only, we don’t need you hungover tomorrow. But one will help with the nerves.”
I take a sip of the amber liquid, enjoying the initial burn down my throat. “I don’t have any nerves about tomorrow,” I say.
“No?” he asks.
I shake my head as I break into my cod. “No. I know Lilly is supposed to be mine.”
Ottar nods slowly. “That much is obvious from the way you two look at each other.”
I bump his shoulder with mine. “I would say Lara looks at you the same way.”
Ottar shakes his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask, happy for the attention to be off me for a moment.
Ottar sets his glass of whiskey down and picks up his fork. “You’re not the only one who’s suffered through the planning of this wedding. The stress of security has taken a toll on us. We’ve gotten in quite a few fights.”
“Really? Why haven’t you said anything?” I ask.
“Didn’t want to bother you. It’s hard, being on the job and trying to date someone who works with you. We have different opinions on how to run things. We’ve just clashed, and I think we’re working through that. We were supposed to go on a date the other night, but she canceled, said she wanted to focus on the wedding. I understood, but I felt she was avoiding me.” Ottar shrugs. “Might be best. I know she struggled with Brimar.”
