Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,46

but he says otherwise.” She tilted her head. “To the males who will preside, your version of 128

events matters little.”

Brand understood where Ingrid was headed with her reasoning. “How many of them will back him for no other reason than to be rid of me?”

Her shrug was careless, but her gaze remained sharp.

“A third, perhaps more. You are not well-loved, but it will depend on which earls preside.”

“You believe I would lose.”

She rolled her eyes. “I believe it"s a risk you shouldn"t take. That you refuse your birthright is frustrating; that Ansvarr might take it from you is unacceptable. He is not fit to rule.”

“Surely the earls know that.”

“What they see is someone they can cow and manipulate.” She smiled a little. “When faced with you as the alternative, can you blame them for their choice?” Brand struggled to contain the rage that threatened to explode. “I won"t send her back to him. Do you have any idea what he did to her?”

“We all do what we must, Brandúlfr, my daughter included.”

His hands tightened into fists. “No.” Ingrid made a dismissive gesture with one hand. “Why must you be difficult? You were supposed to impregnate her and send her back to your brother. Instead, you fancy yourself her rescuer, like some gallant knight. She is no damsel.”

“You"re a callous bitch.”

“Perhaps, but my plan would have undermined his authority. Instead, you do everything you can to fortify his position. You have no idea the precarious edge you cling to.”

“Fenrir only fucking knows why you do the insane things you do, but don"t pretend it"s for my benefit.”

“Believe what you will.” She folded her arms and nodded toward her daughter. “Ask her if she needs your help.” He knew the answer to that question without asking.

Dagny needed him as much as he needed her. He knew that down to the deepest part of him. He turned to her, a smile 129

pulling at the corner of his mouth until he saw her expression.

Dagny"s lips compressed while she searched his face.

The muscles of her jaw stood out. “I"ll go back to Ansvarr.” The wolf surged fast and took over without warning. A passenger in his own body, he heard the words roaring from his mouth. “You will not.”

Rather than cower under the force of the beast"s rage, she stood taller. “You don"t tell me what to do.” The monster grabbed her arm. He knew the grip was bone-crushing because he felt pain, distant though it was, in his fingers. “You are mine.”

She didn"t blink. The silver eyes bored into him. “No.” How she shamed him. He wanted to look away, but the wolf would not. “You misunderstand, puppy.” The words slipped from him in a rumbling growl. “I do not ask. I take.” She moved closer and lowered her voice. “Then, you"re no better than any of them, despite your sweet words.” The wolf hesitated, confused. After several seconds, the hold on Dagny"s arm loosened. “I would never harm you.” In the smoothest transition that had ever occurred between them, the wolf relinquished control. Brand swallowed, his throat tight.

“You can"t mean it.”

Her gray eyes didn"t waver at all. “I"m going back to Ansvarr.”

He shook his head, unable to understand why she was making the choice. “No, I won"t let you.” She stared into his face, her expression blank. “It"s not your decision.”

The icy resignation flowing from her made his stomach churn. Her strength made his weakness all the more terrible.

He wasn"t sure he could let her go. The drive to protect her went beyond need. Thoughts of what Ansvarr would do to her whirled in his mind and threatened to break him. She deserved so much better, yet what sort of beast would he be to hold her against her will?

Sighing, he closed his eyes. “I"ll unlink you.” 130

Removing the brood ties first, he unwound her from Alice and Gunni. After that was done, he touched their connection for the last time. The warmth made the back of his throat ache. He sighed again and began to break the bond between them. Pain tore through his chest with every tendril he peeled away.

When he was less than halfway done, Dagny collapsed, whimpering. Hearing the pain he caused her, he doubted he could keep going, but he pressed on.

When he finished, he was drenched in sweat and felt as though he"d been beaten. He looked down at Dagny huddled at his feet. She sobbed, mumbling incoherently into her hands every few seconds. She suffered more