She wraps her arms around his midsection, her cheek pressing against his leather armor, freezing the Iss Drengr on the spot.
“Thank you for your support.” She whispers against his chest.
He returns the embrace, burying his massive hand in her soft copper curls. As he watches her eyelids flutter to a close, a pang thumps in his heart. A faint smile lifts her full, pink lips. It is as if the sharpest peaks of his frozen resolve soften ever so slowly at her touch.
Does she realize no one has ever touched me in such a way?
He does not move for fear of ruining a moment he does not deserve with a woman he can never claim as his own.
She steps away first. “It is a lovely day. Perhaps we should-”
Her sweet little voice, poised to suggest time spent exclusively with him, is abruptly cut off by the arrival of one of the Jarls of Skalor.
Jarl Rolf’s dark gaze sweeps from Calder to linger on Aura. He halts his progress toward the jail and redirects toward them.
“You must be Princess Aura.” He inclines his head. “The descriptions of you match that of your father.”
Calder senses the tension in her before she even speaks. Her nostrils flare, and she straightens her shoulders, regarding Rolf with cool indifference.
“Then your stories must be fictional, sir, as my father saw fit only to pass along hisrage.” She lowers her voice.
The corner of Rolf’s lips twitch at her spitfire reaction. “My apologies, Princess. I have yet to meet your parents in the flesh.”
“My father is more than his braid.” A warning lingers in her tone.
Rolf leans back, smirking just a little. “I would never reduce Sigvid Thordsson to a mere beast, Princess. He manages that all on his own.”
She launches at Rolf in time for Calder to pin her to his chest. However, he refuses to contain the curses and spits issuing from her mouth as if she were a feral cat.
“Ho, ho!” Rolf chuckles as he steps forward. “Looks like theQueen was right about this one.” He addresses him in a tone so soft that he is sure she missed it amidst her struggles.
“If you will excuse me, I fear one of my men caused a ruckus in the street, and I must release him.” He gestures to the jail.
As he enters the prison, she ceases to fight.
He is a sad excuse for a Jarl. “I do not trust him.”
“What do you know of that man?” She twists her head to look up at him.
“As any Jarl in Skalor,”except myself, “his circlet and shield were gifted to him by his father and his father before him. He is protected that way. Queen Lavinia relies on him to carry out her orders.” Calder strokes his beard thoughtfully. “Fortunately, he fears me.”
Aura appears taken aback. “Did it have anything to do with the village? The one you froze.”
He flinches, hating that she had heard any of his sins.
“Yes… and no. To assume the Jarlship of Kaldrgataness, I needed to challenge my predecessor to akrone–a fight to the death for his circlet.” Forever burned in his mind are the numerous moments of cruelty that earned him the moniker ‘Iss Drengr.’ They parade behind his eyes, taunting him.
“Rolf and several other Jarls tried to exploit my youth and power for their benefit until I stood my ground.”
And I punched the bastard for throwing a flagon of wine in my face.
“I have heard of your tales.” She whispers as if it is all a secret. “What led you to stay in Kaldrgataness, to take the Jarlship?”
He focuses on her intent gaze, with her plump pink lips parted. The Princess does not judge or express terror at him.
She genuinely wants to connect with me.
“My mother.”
