of her breath against his lips. “No matter what happens, know you are adored,” he whispered.
She opened her eyes and started to pull away.
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck to prevent her escape and captured her lips again. Her brief noise of protest was lost in his mouth. He scratched the delicate skin of her lower lip with his canines. His tongue sought the twin drops of blood that formed there. Bolstered with an infusion of her power, he wove a variation of the partnership bond.
When he was done, he released her, but kept one hand on her hip to steady her. “Gunni and Alice will pass to you should something happen to me.”
She stared up at him, confusion evident on her face.
“You can"t do that.”
He smiled. “Says who?”
She blinked, then laughed. “Well, I guess that doesn"t matter, does it?”
“Right.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Let"s get this 172
over with.”
They walked out of the cabin hand in hand, proceeding around the corner to the large circle where Ingrid had tortured Brand days earlier and everything had begun.
* * *
Dagny"s gaze drifted to the post where Brand had been strapped a few days earlier. Her fingers tightened around his hand. She resisted the urge to apologize again for what had happened to him there, knowing he didn"t want to dwell on the devious agendas that had brought them together. She moved closer to him, and he smiled.
She worried for Brand. His exhaustion had progressed into dangerous territory some time ago. She felt it through their bond, like an anchor pulling at him. He stood tall, though, and walked with ease. She hoped the matter could be resolved before he collapsed.
On the ground near the center of the circle, a group of six males sat with their legs crossed under them. They were all garbed similar to Brand. She recognized only two of them—
Ansvarr and Erik.
Her eyes were drawn to Ansvarr. When she had been sent to him, she had rejoiced at first. Among the females of her sire"s brood, he was well known for his stunning good looks and fighting prowess. Physically, he was perfect, the very image of a finely-wrought statue with masculine features, chiseled muscles, and golden hair. Her impression of him changed when she discovered what a monster he really was.
The grimace Ansvarr wore marred his handsome face.
His black eyes bored into her with unfiltered hatred. She let her gaze pass over the rest of them. Erik appeared calm, splayed hands resting on his knees. The other males in the arc fit somewhere between the two in terms of expressions and body language.
Ingrid stood ten feet in front of the males, but faced 173
Brand. Dagny had no idea what to expect. She"d never been present at such an occasion; females weren"t generally allowed.
An exception was made for Ingrid because she was acknowledged as the arbiter of brood law. How she"d gotten that title was a secret she"d never shared, but Dagny assumed she held some advantage over the powerful males seated behind her.
Brand stopped before crossing the boundary. He turned to face her, showing her a warm, boyish smile no one else ever saw. Her heart sped up. Before she knew what she was doing, she was pressed against him and pulling his head down. He let her steal the kiss, chuckling against her mouth. When she pulled back, he sauntered away, leaving her staring after him at the edge of the circle.
Dagny walked around the outside and eased herself to the ground where she could see Brand"s face.
“Kneel, Brandúlfr Geirson,” Ingrid said in a haughty tone. He stopped in front of her and made a show of surveying the males behind her. “I will not kneel before you or them, so you may as well get on with it.” Ingrid frowned and put her hands on her hips. “You stand twice accused, and the Conclave has been called. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“What is it that I am accused of?”
Ingrid gestured over her shoulder toward Ansvarr.
“Ansvarr, Earl of the city of Vancouver, accuses you of stealing his mate.”
Brand gave Ansvarr a hard stare. “My brother lies.” His voice betrayed his disdain.
Ansvarr jumped to his feet but, before he could attack, Ingrid lifted her hand. “The accuser will remain seated.” A harsh growl came from him, but Ansvarr dropped back to the ground. Brand spared Ansvarr a quick, contemptuous glance before he returned his attention to Ingrid. “Dagny Hilsdóttir