lips twitch into a smile.
“Come break bread with me, bródir,” he calls jovially, his lips now curved up into a big smile.
Flicking my eyes to my closed bedroom door, knowing that my wife is inside, I hesitate to break bread with my brother. However, I need to gauge for myself my brother’s mental state. Letting out a heavy sigh, I make my way toward him and sit across from his body.
He grins, pushing some bread toward me. I grab some of the meat on the plate in the middle and tear the bread in half before stuffing the meat in the middle and then enjoy one hearty bite at a time.
“So, you’ll be taking your bride on the raid?” he asks, mentioning our conversation from earlier again.
Jerking my chin toward him, I tilt my head to the side as I chew. “It seems that I must,” I grunt.
His eyes darken, then as I watch they begin to swirl with gray mist right before my own gaze. My stomach sinks. The sight is unlike any that I have ever seen before. I have heard of it happening before, but I have never actually witnessed it myself.
I cannot end him, not here, not now. Not only is he my brother, the demon inside of him could transport to another body, I cannot risk my people, not like that. So, I will have to wait, I will have to seek the counsel of Runa and the seeress.
“I will, Fiske. We are newly married, I cannot leave her behind,” I murmur, careful not to enrage the beast that is residing beneath his skin’s surface.
He shakes his head a couple of times, mumbling something that I cannot make out before he lifts his head and his eyes find mine.
“When do we leave? I am bringing my thrall as well, then.”
His words are not a question, it seems that he thinks he can tell me what he is and is not going to do as if it is not up for discussion. I almost deny him the slave, except, I decide to allow it this time. I will just put them on a different ship from my own, it will be a good excuse to keep him and his misplaced rage away from my bride.
“Very well, Fiske. We leave in two weeks’ time.”
Without another word, I stand and turn my back to him before I walk toward my bride. I don’t look back at him, I have no desire to see the evil swirling inside of his body. It is there, just beneath the surface and it is something that I will no doubt have to deal with sooner rather than later.
Opening the door, I call out to Hagen, making my presence known before I fully step inside of the room. He grunts, walking into the middle of the room as I slip inside.
“She sleeps,” he grunts as he walks past me.
“You won’t be needed this eve,” I inform him.
His lips twitch and he shakes his head once. “You must stop playing with her, Aaric. She is not of here, or so you say. She does not understand our world and you have not been accommodating.”
I snort, though I know him to be correct, however, I will never admit it aloud—at least not to him.
“We leave on a raid in two weeks’ time. I need a meet tonight after everyone has gone to sleep.”
“The cabin?” Hagen asks on a whisper.
I dip my chin. “It is important.”
“I will tell the men.”
Hagen leaves us alone. Turning toward the door, I place the wooden piece in place, locking us inside and alone. Standing in the middle of the room, I cross my arms over my chest and watch her sleep for a moment.
There are a million things that I could say to her, but none of it matters. She is mine as I am hers, a fate decided by the gods. A prophecy yet to be fulfilled and a lifetime to spend together, bound by magic and possibly one day, even love.
“Aaric?” she asks, her voice hoarse.
Lifting my gaze to meet hers, I silently watch her for a moment. Her lips tremble into a smile as she pushes up to a sitting position. She brings her legs up, bending at the knee before she wraps her arms around her shins and rests her chin on her knees.
“Why do you hate me so much?” she asks softly.
“Hate? I do not hate you, Liv.”
She shakes her head a couple of times.