“I have not had a chance to expand until now.” Sigvid growls as he taps two dashes into his skin, “And even more after tonight. Lord Leto to start.”
“I’m sorry. Even while you were in the Arena, I tried to uncover Leto’s identity.” She slumps into the chair with her hands in her lap. “Bertie did mention the name sounds like a ‘wager wig,’ a name used by a nobleman in Ridge gambling dens.”
“How do I find these? I will force Leto to Salt.”
She shakes her head with a sad smile. “They are ever-changing. Besides I,” she glances down at her hands with flushed cheeks. “I knowyou still hate me because of Thrain.” She squeezes her eyes together as if the words are fire upon her lips, “But if you left Salt, I couldn’t bear the thought of separating from you right now.”
I cannot bear the sight of her in this much agony. Once my Drengr extract Thora and Mother to Sjoby, Thrain will suffer.
Without looking at her, Sigvid holds out his hand.
Her soft hand trembles as it gently slips into his palm.
With a light squeeze, he assures her, “You willnotleave my side.”
He risks a glance into her deep blues.I am going to regret this,he thinks.
He finds agony reflected in them. The ache in his heart is like someone squeezing a tourniquet around his chest, and he nearly breaks the facade and embraces the woman he would sell his soul to protect.
“Shit!” He releases her as a tickling sensation creeps over his arm where he has just added the new tallies. Except, now they are gone.
“Sigvid?” Her wavering voice spells terror.
He rolls his shoulder with a grin. “You must maintain distance as I complete my tattoos, Keeper.”
She twirls a loose curl. Her lips dip into a frown.
He gently takes her chin and tilts her to view his arm. She inhales sharply.
“I failed to explain your additional Keeper powers.” He strokes her jaw with his thumb. “You can heal my wounds, and I can see you while you are invisible.”
She gapes and then swiftly recovers.
Fuck Thrain and his fucking intimidation.“I have an early Solstice gift for you.”
“Something for me?” She jumps to her feet and then looks far too squeamish for his taste. “What do you want? You have been terse with me since the incident with Thrain.” She recoils, her lips curling.
It takes him longer than a moment to realize her disgust is directed at him.
Sigvid shifts under her bluntness, unable to admit he knows his brother's threats against everyone. At least, not yet. Not while Thrain can still hurt her. “Sit down and remain here.”
“No!” She shouts, startling him. “You rush home every night toexert an ownership over me. You taunt him publicly. And now Thrain has surmised…” Her chest heaves as her face reddens. “You punished me for accepting the marriage and not once sought to know me enough to understand, and I cannot take it a moment longer, Sigvid!” She gestures uncharacteristically.
“You are dismantling my heart bit by bit. Each night, you curl me into your arms, and I naively believe we finally cross a bridge toward the lowered walls from the night of the gathering.” She glowers at him. “Until you abandon me every day.”
He stares at her, rubbing his hands together.Fuck, what have I done?
“You cannot now,” she settles herself with several deep breaths, “manipulate me with a gift.”
He strokes his braid as if trying to shove it off his skull.
“I expect other men to bully me, to take advantage of my lack of support, or even disregard me as a mere woman.” She shakes her head, striding toward him. “Not you. Never you.”
“Avina,” he takes a hesitant step closer, desperately wanting to embrace his woman, “I fucked up.”
Here, I vowed to protect her from the very torment I caused.
“But I know about Thrain’s threat.”
