“You know it’s not allowed, right,” I replied, turning away from the men with my cheeks burning.
“Heirs are not allowed tofall in lovewith their seconds.” Vero mock-fanned herself with her hand. “Hate-fucking your lethal and weirdly hot second, on the other hand, I think is all good.”
I shot her an amused look. “Weirdly hot?”
“I mean, look at him.” She waved his way. “Tall, built like he could carry two longships under his arms, that hair that looks like it would be perfect to weave your hands into…”
“You sure you’re not the one who wants to fuck him?” I asked.
The muscles playing beneath Darcke’s leathers coiled when he felt the pang of childish jealousy shooting through me. I whirled again, grinding my teeth so hard a headache started at the back of my neck.
“And earn the wrath of a Sweengard?” Vero laughed. “No, thanks.” She jerked her head his way again. “Stop wasting yourtime. I’m sure your parents are like my own and have several potential husbands lined up for you that would benefit your fylki. Men like him are for having fun before that.”
Darcke’s spine locked so abruptly my fingers curled.
A golden glow flashed in the distance, and a second after, the ground rumbled.
When the girl lost her balance, yelping in pain, I caught her arm.
“Thanks,” she mumbled. “I didn’t see those bastards coming last night. So fucking stupid, since we have this trial and the steel one coming up.”
I was about to respond when the world went dark.
“Vero! What just happened?” Ottoh screamed.
“I’m getting really fucking tired of this forest,” Darcke muttered.
“We’re over here!” Vero called into the darkness. “Let’s stay by the horses,” she added as I held on to her arm. “I’m no good if we need to get away from something quickly.”
“Vero!” Ottoh shouted again.
“Over here!” his twin called back.
“Strange,” Ottoh said. “They weren’t that far away.”
“What?” Vero’s hand found mine as she started to approach their voices. “I said, over here!”
“I can feel her,” Darcke said. “Heir, stop playing and come out.”
“We’re right here,” I replied. “No need to yell.”
“Vero! It’s not fucking funny,” Ottoh barked, but there was fear trickling into his voice.
“I don’t think they can hear us,” Vero said.
“I’d say that’s pretty obvious.” Apprehension crackled over my skin. “Let’s try to find them.”
“Ottoh! Can you call out again?” Vero shouted.
I nudged my shoulder to hers. “Didn’t we just agree that they can’t hear us?”
“Right.” Her hand tightened around my wrist. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“Heir,” Darcke called, his voice lowering into his dangerously calm one. “I can feel you.”
I tried to make myself relax—let him feel that I wasn’t worried—but that proved impossible when Ottoh’s cry splintered the darkness. “No! Vero!”
A thud followed, and Darcke hissed, “Get up!”
