Finn bleeds out onto the ground, unable to speak or move. His eyes finally reflect what Sigvid has been waiting on.
Inevitability.
He kneels over Finn, cocking his head to the side. “You swore a blood oath of loyalty to me. I acknowledge your pain from losing your father. However, you should have enough sense to know her hand did not wield the blade that struck Orm down.”
Sigvid lowers his voice so no one else can hear. “Avina’s life belongs to me. And you tried to take her away from me. My own Drengr.”
Finn shakes his head, his voice nasally. “I dint no she meant anyting.”
Sigvid pats him on the cheek, loosening another tooth to the evergreen needles. “Ah, but vengeance blinds us, Finn. You broke your oath to me. It is time you pay the price.”
Sigvid nudges his body so he lies on his back in the snow. He snarls as his axe sinks into the right side of Finn’s chest and slowly slices through his skin. He repeats the same on the other side, carefully connecting the cut under his abdomen. In one stroke, he rips the skin off his chest, revealing his rib cage.
Finn’s scream fills the space, and not a single Drengr flinches. Hidden beneath his ribcage is Finn’s slowly beating heart. Sigvid poises the butt of his axe over the organ.
“I am going to push my axe into your heart until you die slowly.” He whispers in his ear. “No one takes her from me. Fucking no one.”
Sigvid slowly pushes his axe into his heart. Finn’s scream quickly dies as he succumbs to the shock. He presses his axe until blood spurts out onto his hands. Sigvid shoves the handle of his axe straight through his heart. He leans over the carnage to watch Finn’s eyes go dark.
The surrounding Drengr watch in eerie silence. Someone in the crowd whispers, “Never break your blood oath.”
Sigvid stands and points to the three closest to him. “Prepare his body for the Depths.”
Before he abandons Finn, he digs in the boy’s pockets until he withdraws a medallion bearing a protection rune hung on a metal chain.
The mark of the Drengr.
Sigvid awards those who have passed the initial trials with one. He also removes a hand-crafted dagger bearing Finn’s name along the blade. All those who swear the blood oath receive one designed by Sigvid.
Having dishonored him, he forfeits his life and all marks of the Drengr.
“I will not suffer any more disobedience. If you will not follow me, step forward so I can end you now.” No one moves as Sigvid dares even one of them to move.
When everyone responds with nods, he pounds his fist in rhythm on his chest. Soon, the sound of two hundred others thumping their chests reverberates through the woods.
Bloody and exhausted, he finds the Timber Queen.
My bounty from the Arena. I will make you mine, Avina.
Grim wraps her in his arms, pressing her body against his side. Those wide blue orbs fix unblinkingly at the Salt Prince. To Grim’s credit, he holds her closely but platonically.
As he approaches, Grim slips his hand to rest on her lower back and gently pushes her toward him.
Allowing anyone to refer to her title is contrary to her becoming his slave. Even his diminutive name for her alone is contradictory to his actions.
Fuck, this whole situation is messy.
But he is long past the point of no return, and he will die before anyone else has her.
He presses his face into her soft curls to inhale the faint scent of roses and lavender, a reprieve from the metallic stench of blood. His fingers tangle in her hair, caressing her jaw. He trails along her soft skin to grip her chin in between his thumb and forefinger.
“Did he hurt you?” He watches her eyes and is shocked when they narrow.
“Hedid not hurt me,” venom laces her words. “Why care about the safety of your prize? Surely, you will tire of me quickly.” She is shaking, and her nose scrunches in defiance.
Sigvid grinds his teeth. His hand tightens until she yelps, and he throws her head back, exposing her throat. He grazes his teeth along her neck column until he rests between her soft breasts.
When her breathing hikes beneath his lips, he smirks before biting into the top of her breast, wrenching a whimper.
