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Callum grinned. Even Evander’s narrowed eyes and tight jaw weren’t enough to make him look away or wipe that grin off his face. Had it been anyone else, Evander would’ve knocked it off with a fist to a nose that had already been broken at least twice since they’d known each other.
He did neither. Callum just had a face that made people want to break his nose.
When it was done, he did not return to his seat. Instead, he went straight to his wife and held out his hand.
“Must I toss the caber as well to earn a dance?” he asked.
Freya looked at his hand. “They’re yer men, or have ye forgotten?”
“Nay, I havenae forgotten,” he quipped. “How could I, when this is the entire reason ye are here?”
He pulled her up, holding her close. She sputtered, but then quickly composed herself. All Evander could do was smirk.
“I daenae like the way some of them look at ye,” he admitted, his eyes darkening a little bit. “And it didnae help how willing ye were to dance with them.”
Freya gasped. “I didnae dance with them!”
“But ye would have, and I daenae think I’d have much cared for it.”
“Once again, husband, they are yer men,” she ground out. “Why must ye act like a jealous clod when they are celebrating yer marriage?”
Evander threw his head back and laughed. “Ye have a way with words, Freya. Have ye ever thought of writing them down?”
“Writing is what me sister does,” Freya muttered. “She has a way of makin’ ye enjoy the words every bit as much as the thing they’re sayin’.”
He sensed a story there but decided to press later. They had three weeks, after all.
“Ye thinks ye daenae have a way with words?” he asked with a chuckle. “The spoken word counts as well, wife. Or have ye forgotten?”
The blush returned to Freya’s face. “Are ye complimenting me, or trying to flirt with me?”
“Thanks for noticing, wife. It’s taken ye long enough.”
A laugh escaped her.
At first, it was hard to make sense of her laugh, but Evander was good at reading people. He had impressed her. His people had impressed her. But he had not softened her.
Their marriage might or might not be annulled in three or so weeks, but she wouldn’t let him in. That much was clear.
“Ye think ye are so charming, but the truth is—”
“Aye, I am charming, and it’s good to ken that me wife thinks so.”
Freya glared up at him. “I daenae find ye charming.”
“I find that hard to believe when ye brought up me charm unprompted.”
“Do ye want to ken what I truly think of ye?” she scoffed.
Evander chuckled. “Please tell me, wife. I’m sure I’ll find yer opinion of me surprising.”
“Do ye think ye can go five minutes without being so smug?”
The blush was spreading. Whether Freya wanted to admit it or not, he was charming her. She would deny it her last breath, but it was clear she was not immune to his charm.
“But I do charm ye, is that what ye’re saying?”
“Nay, I said the opposite!” Freya sputtered.
