Sven had found nothing but heartbreak in his first ritual. He hadn’t completely followed the rule that emotions were to be avoided. The Rite was specifically for the survival of their bloodline, and if no heir was produced, it was vital to move on to a more compatible mate the following phase.
Thus far, Sven had failed at producing an heir. And in just a couple days, he would mate again. Not out of love or even lust, but because he had to. The thought depressed him more than gave him anything to look forward to. Alitta was an alluring woman, as had the others. He found her attractive enough, but despite his obligations as king, he did not find that enough.
Especially now that he had met Bryn and felt a stirring that he hadn’t felt before.
Lars persisted. “I’m just warning you, we can’t lose Alitta.”
“She’s not leaving,” Sven yelled. “She wants to be queen. And I know all about the quirks of the council. I know my duties. I also know that if there is no heir created at the ritual this season, there will be another. Alitta is not our last hope.”
“But she is our best hope,” Lars reminded him with raised brows. “You’ve had several failures at the mating rituals. Alitta is the most compatible.”
“And you know how I feel about that. Lita and I have never been truly compatible.”
“She just doesn’t like being treated like one of your subordinates. Can’t blame her for that, especially if the ritual is successful. But this isn’t just about Alitta.”
Sven’s shoulders sagged. He crossed to the window and took his routine stance and stared out at the town below where the shadows had begun to stretch long across the ground. “You’re talking about Bryn.”
Lars straightened. “Well, I don’t trust her, Sven. There is too much happening that is coincidental. I never have and I won’t until I’m sure she’s not playing both sides.”
Sven didn’t answer right away. He felt slightly guilty because he had purposely not given her the ring back. He wanted to see if she would ask him for it, or at least about it. He thought back to her voice breaking but insistent.I’ve got you, buddy. Stay with me..
“She saved my life,” Sven repeated from earlier conversations. His attention stayed out the window.
“Maybe,” Lars replied with a skeptical tone.
“And she continues to do so.” He turned back toward Lars and pulled his shirt open. His wound was almost completely healed. “I touched her again. I could feel my body being repaired.”
“Did you figure out what her power is?”
“No.” Sven closed his shirt. “And she has no idea that she’s doing anything out of the ordinary.” He thought of the look in her eyes. “I think she feels something but has no idea what it is.”
“How is that possible?”
“It’s something we need to figure out, especially if she has the ability to neutralize whatever the toxin is. There must be something in her family lineage that explains this, whether she knows it or not.”
“That could pose a whole new danger.”
“No,” Sven disagreed. “If she’s healing my dragon without knowing it, that represents something good in her. She isn’t working with the enemy.”
“I hope you’re right, Sven. I really do.”
Tired of the repeat argument with his guard, Sven rubbed his temples. “Any word on Erik?”
Lars shook his head. “We have people looking everywhere. The stewardess on the flight recognized him from a photograph,so he was on the plane. What happened to him when it landed is anyone’s guess.”
“I need to call Magnus.” It wasn’t an act that Sven wanted to do, but their past friendship held some degree of respect.
“Do you think he’ll tell you if they kidnapped your brother?”
Temper spiked. “Don’t you think if they kidnapped him, they would have a vested interest in me knowing about it? Otherwise, what would be the point?”
Unless they had killed his brother, but that was a situation he didn’t want to address just yet.
“What if Magnus tells you that Erik is a part of the Skelvarns?”
Sven turned on Lars. “I understand that it’s your duty to warn me of possible issues, but damn it. Sometimes you are just the bearer of bad news. I have to wonder if you enjoy it.”
To his credit, Lars laughed. A full belly laugh. “You know me better than that. I simply bring up options that you may not have mentioned.”
