Kieran plops onto Wulfric’s lap, cheeks rosy from lots of mead. “Oooh, Wulf, we’ve got to have a day trip in London! Say yes!”
Wulfric chuckles and pats his thigh. “Yes, little rabbit.”
“When’s the ceremony?” Kieran asks.
I hesitate, realizing we never decided when our fake wedding is happening. I might as well decide now. I clear my throat. “We decided to get married on the last Frigg’s day of next month.”
Four weeks from now.
I turn to Arlo. “That’s correct, isn’t it?”
Arlo has an unnaturally blank expression on his face. “Huh? Oh. Yes. That should work. Gives us plenty of time to prepare.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
Regret sinks into my stomach like a stone. I did something wrong. Should I have asked him? Let him have a say in it?
We have a month to play up our fake relationship and get ready for the biggest lie we’ve ever told. A month until we go our separate ways, and I will likely never see him again. Why would I, when we’ll have gotten everything we need from each other?
Arlo will get his potion, and I will get to keep Leif’s memory alive.
It’s as it should be.
I’m not strong like Arlo’s nan is. I could never be.
Chapter 10
Arlo
“If you let medrown, I’m coming back from the dead and haunting you forever.”
Gunnar scoffs. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Gentle waves lap at the shore, making the wolves playing in the water yelp with excitement.
The ocean stretches on into the horizon, endless and, frankly, scary. It’s quite cold, so I press a heat rune into my skin once I’ve undressed down to my underwear. Gunnar undresses nearby as well, and it takes all my self-control not to ogle his impressive figure. Goddess, but he is a stunning man.
I snap my gaze away and clear my throat. “So. Swimming lessons. Where do we start?”
“In the water.”
I roll my eyes to the back of my head. “No, really?”
“Stop stalling.” Gunnar’s big hand slips into mine and tugs, leading me toward the water. I hiss when the cold waves lap over my toes, but by the time we’ve waded out up to our knees, the heat rune has chased away the cold.
“How’s the water feel?” Gunnar asks.
“I feel—” Something touches my leg beneath the water. “Oh my good goddess!” I pounce on Gunnar, locking my arms and legs around him. He stumbles but regains his balance.
“What?” Gunnar snaps.
“Something touched my leg. That’s it. I’m out. I knew this was a bad—”
And then, we’re falling into the water. All my limbs stiffen around Gunnar in pure terror. My instincts scream to thrash for the surface, but if I let go of Gunnar, I might drown. He pushes off from the ground, and fresh air stings my eyes as we break the surface.
“You—” I want to strangle the grin off Gunnar’s face. “You could have killed us!”
He swipes water out of his eyes. With his hair plastered to his face and that boyish grin, he looks years younger. Damn it, I should not find his amusement so charming when he just tried to drown me. “Sometimes, to face our fears, we must dive headfirst into them. It’s a lesson my father taught me.”
“I don’t think he meant literally!”
