A woman swept into the hallway like a whirlwind. She moved across the chamber and a wave of her perfume arrived before she did. Perfect red curls bounced around her flawless face, diamonds glittered in her ears, and her dress hugged every flawless curve. She moved with the ease of someone who belonged in the castle.
“Alitta.” Sven’s tone was droll and unimpressed, but he took another step away from Bryn.
“There you are,” Alitta gushed as she wrapped her arms around Sven’s neck before he could react. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”
Bryn’s stomach dropped and she was afraid she would retch. Or punch the woman for hurting Sven. She had seen him wince when the red headed bombshell grabbed him without a thought about his injuries.
Sven stiffened before he slowly returned the embrace. His eyes flicked toward Bryn before he settled back on Alitta.
“You should be resting,” he told her, though Alitta didn’t seem to notice his flat tone. “You’ve only just arrived.”
“Rest? After what happened to you?” Alitta pressed a kiss to his jaw and lingered far too long. “I nearly lost you, Sven. I need to be near you.”
Bryn turned her face away as shame mingled with unfair jealousy burned her throat.
You fool. If there’s a way to read a situation wrong, you certainly figure it out.She was an idiot to think even for a second that there had been something real between her and Sven.
Alitta’s laugh tinkled across the room. “And who’s this?” she asked suddenly. Her gaze swept over Bryn as if she hadn’t noticed her until now.
Sven hesitated. “She helped me when I was shot.”
Alitta’s smile faltered and her eyes narrowed. “Oh.Her.”
The way she said it made Bryn’s skin prickle. She couldn’t help but wonder who had been talking about her.
Alitta tightened her hold on Sven’s arm, tight and possessive. “Well. Isn’t that sweet. A Florence Nightingale moment.” Her gaze was sharp and dismissive. “But we won’t be needing your services anymore.”
Bryn ground her teeth and swallowed the retort that burned her tongue.
Alitta turned back to Sven and lowered her voice but not enough to hide her words. “Darling, you should be careful. Some people have motives you can’t see.”
Her words landed with precision and Bryn’s breath stilled. Her gaze snapped to Sven. “Are you going to say anything?”
She was desperate to see if he would defend her, but his expression was unreadable again. He said nothing.
To Bryn, it was worse than rejection. Hot tears welled and before she realized she was doing it, her ‘mom’ finger pointed at the king. One that she had used for years on her little sister so it just came natural. “That’s twice today I’ve been accused of being a threat.” Her voice shook and her throat burned with the unshed tears. “I won’t stand for a third.”
Out of the corner of her eye, something moved.
Lars.
He had entered behind Alitta without a sound, and now his eyes locked on Bryn, cold, sharp, merciless.
“You will not speak to the king like that.”
The weight of that stare pinned her where she stood with the unspoken threat in Lars’s gaze.
You don’t belong here. You’re a danger. And if you try to get close to him again, you’ll regret it.
“Let her be.” Sven finally spoke. “She’s no threat.” No apology, no emotion.
Her body went cold. She straightened up and stiffened her shoulders. “Then if we’re done here, I’m going back to my hotel.” She turned to Lars. “And you have nothing to worry about. None of you will ever see me again.”
When no one said anything, she almost stomped her foot in frustration. “Can someone please show me how to get the hell out of here?”
Lars shot a glare at Sven who simply motioned with his head. Without another word, Bryn followed the brooding man to the door and refused to look back. For the first time since stepping foot in Stagholt, Bryn wondered if she’d be able to stay.
Chapter Eight
