Heavy bags hang beneath his eyes, and the lines on his face age him. The air of savagery from the Lord Commander intensifies with his crimson-stained combatant armor.
Her legs quiver as her blue eyes lock with his. A ravenous hunger burns in his piercing gaze.
How can this be the same man who committed war crimes against the Timber people?
Helga’s wide and toothy smile makes her blood boil. The shieldmaiden races to his side and stares up at him with admiration as if he is the stuff of legends.
“Thank the gods you are alive. We have much to discuss on the way to Toftlund.” Helga gushes out, seeming more nervous as she speaks. “We received your message and cell key to arrive today, but I wouldn’t believe it until I saw you in the flesh.”
Instead of responding to his Drengr, Sigvid draws Avina’s attention.
Without thinking, she bolts down the hallway with no one paying attention. She barely reaches the next cell when he slams her against the wall. His thick, veiny arms cage her as his hot breath tickles her neck.
“Well, hello, Avina. What a surprise to find you outside my cell…again.” A mingling of blood, sweat, and the same sensual musk that clung to her body after their last interaction swirls her senses.
“Sigvid.” She squeaks.
His hand curls around her upper arm, and he drags her back to his cell before tossing her inside like a rag doll.
“Her Highness and I have unfinished business before vacating the arena.” He waves a hand in dismissal to his Drengr as his door thuds to a close.
“What’s going on?”
“Shut up.” He moves quicker than she can process. His axe blade is cold against her throat. “You are going to answermyquestions,QueenAvina.” He growls out her title like a curse.
What does he wish to know? Her Council and father took away what little power she could wield. Her mind held no castle secrets to exploit.
“Why did you send me to this fucking place?” his menacing growl has her shaking. “Did you want me to die for the amusement of the Treland lords? So you can laugh at the sheer powerlessness you have forced upon me? You fucking spiteful bitch. Surely your uppity Ridge friends take delight in my torment.”
She flinches as if he had struck her. “No… I would never. I didn’t…I wanted you to return home. To Salt.” The terror over his wrath has her cowering.
He recoils from her with a furious growl. The Prince frantically strokes his beard as he stands before her, clutching her chin roughlybetween his fingers.
“Lies!” He hisses. “You sent me to the Arena to die like a rabid dog. Do not fucking lie to me!”
“Sigvid,” his name sticks in her throat, eliciting far more emotion than she realizes, “my ability to choose your fate was ripped from my grasp. I am so sorry.”
“Fuck!” He pushes away from her, pacing and muttering angrily to himself.
She leans against the wall beside the door, wondering if she can slip out and around his Drengr. When her hand reaches the handle, he whips around on her, and she bristles.
“Why are you so angry that I did not send you to the Arena?” She shrieks before he can question her again.
“What about my father?” He ignores her. “He was killed visiting the Sapphire Palace.”
What is this line of questioning? Does he need me to be at fault for all the sorrow in his life?
She shakes her head, pressing her back against the cell door. “I loved Thord! He and Frida were better parents than my own father. Thord was furious that night he came to the palace, and the Healers said his fall from the high garden was a tragedy.”
I still mourn that man!
He grunts, turning away from her as if he can not bear looking at her. He tosses a chair against the wall, raining splinters over the room.
“What is this fury you have with me? What have I done to you?” Her throat constricts with unshed tears.
“My Lord, we must move along.” Helga tosses open the door, catching Avina before she can dart. “Also, here are your axes. You must have dropped them when the Timber men snatched you.”
Kar gestures to his blackwood axes. “Only our Lord Commander would figure out a way to obtain new weapons while imprisoned,” he laughs.
