Bride of the Sea (The Prophecy of Sisters #2) - Hayley Faiman Page 0,50

cannot demand anything of me, but I realize that she would like to know what is happening around her own home.

“Liv was sent to me by the gods. She holds magic that she cannot control. I must admit, it is not something that I am comfortable with having around my people and especially my family.”

Sylvi shakes her head, lifting her gaze to meet my own. “Aaric,” she says, her voice sounding disappointed. “She is your wife. This is not right, for you to have done what you did. How will the people see this? She was dragged from your bed naked and screaming the day after you wed. Nobody will respect her.”

I close my eyes, slowly. Sylvi is of course correct in the words that she speaks, however it does not matter. Not only has it already been done, but it was for good reason and maybe a bit because I panicked. Liv simply cannot control herself.

I hear a caw and lift my gaze to my window. There sits a Gnu, the sparrow hawk. I watch as it tilts his head to the side, the blood-red beast of a bird watches over Liv. It does not move, his intent beady eyes only for my bride.

“Aaric,” Sylvi whispers.

I grunt, lifting my hand and waving it slightly. The gods watch over my woman, most importantly, Ostus’ spirit animal watches over her. The God of Weather sent his spirit animal to watch over her and that sends a chill throughout my entire body.

“The gods watch over her,” I rasp.

“You will treat your bride better?” Sylvi asks.

Pressing my lips together, my eyes flick to the side. She’s watching me, her lips curved up into a grin. I shake my head once. “I will do whatever needs to be done to protect you and our people, nothing more and nothing less.”

“My heart aches for you, Aaric. For you are a brave warrior and a good man. You should have the bride of your heart’s choice,” she says.

Without another word, she turns from me and walks away. When she’s completely out of the room, only then does my gaze shift back to my wife. “I do have the bride of my heart’s choice,” I whisper to myself.

Silently, I watch as Runa and the seeress stay at Liv’s side to attend her. Gunnar and Hagen quietly lean against the wall of my bedroom, watching and waiting, along with the damned Gnu.

“You know…” Gunnar begins.

“Do I want to know?” I ask.

He chuckles. “Possibly not. However, I am going to tell you anyway.”

I snort. “This I do know about you, frændi.”

There’s a moment of silence before Gunnar begins to speak. “Your dróttning’s powers could be very useful. A woman who can control the seas when we travel on raids? When we’re in enemy waters? Think about that, Aaric.”

“She will be with child soon.”

“Will she?” Hagen asks. “You do not want anything to do with her, correct?”

“I’ll have the völva see to it,” I snap.

Runa turns her head, her eyes narrowing on me. “You will not, my Konungr,” she grinds out.

Arching a brow, I cross my arms over my chest and tilt my head to the side. “I believe as your konungr, that you will do what I command, will you not?”

She sighs, pushing off of the bed as she turns to face me. “Normally, you would be correct, but not in this case,” she says.

“Why is this?” I demand.

“You know why, but I will explain it anyway. Liv was sent by the gods, from another world. I do not know how her body would react to that kind of magic. I do not know what that would do to the prophecy. You two must be in love for this prophecy to be fulfilled.”

“I do not believe love could happen between us, not ever, as I can never trust her.”

Runa shakes her head a couple of times, then looks back over her shoulder before she brings her attention back to meet my own. Her eyes are dark, they’re glittering and dancing and I take a step back, unsure of what she is about to do or say.

“You will never have love if you do not open yourself, Aaric. I cannot place a spell on either of you to trust and fall in love with one another. I cannot go against the fates and the gods, not ever.”

Liv moans, which ends our conversation. I rush to her side, but I do not sit down. The seeress is rubbing a cool wet