Mastered by the Berserkers (Berserker Brides #8) - Lee Savino Page 0,39

and sitting side by side. Soon we would rise and wash out hands and go outside to work and play in the fresh air. Whatever the day held we would face it together.

Fenrir finished first and brought a bowl of water to me. I washed the grease from my fingers, and when I was done, he set the bowl aside for Jarl.

“Juliet,” he said as he caught my face between his hands. “Are you happy with us?”

As if he could not feel what was in my heart. “I am.”

“Good.” He kissed either of my cheeks, my forehead, and finally my lips. “Remember that, and the pleasure we gave you.” With that confusing statement, Fenrir stepped away and Jarl took his place.

My tattooed husband bent to kiss my lips. “For us, one smile from you is worth the world.” He tweaked my chin. “And one moment with you is worth risking death.”

Death? I wanted to ask what he meant. Both warriors looked so serious, my heart stopped.

Before I could speak, a shout went up outside the lodge.

“Stay here, Juliet.” As one, Jarl and Fenrir turned. They marched side by side to the door of the lodge and opened it.

A host of warriors stood in the clearing. Fenrir and Jarl went out of the door, blocking my view. I scrambled to put on my boots, but I heard the lead Berserker clearly.

“Fenrir and Jarl, you’re wanted for kidnapping a spaewife. Do you yield?”

“We yield,” Fenrir said quietly. He and Jarl stepped away from the lodge, their hands outstretched at their sides to show they held no weapons.

“You will come with us now,” the warrior ordered. He motioned and a group of Berserkers, bristling with weapons, stepped forward and surrounded my husbands.

What was happening?

“Wait,” I called, stumbling out with my right boot half on.

“Juliet,” a warrior called, loping to my side. He was big and blond and looked familiar. Hazel’s mate. “I am Knut. Hazel made me come. She is heavy with child, but insisted she would make the climb unless I promised to find you.”

“What is happening?” I reached down and tugged my boot on properly.

“They broke the Alphas’ decree and kidnapped a spaewife,” Knut said. “There is to be a trial.”

“What? Which spaewife?”

His blond brows pulled together and I realized he meant me. I was the spaewife they’d stolen.

This was all wrong. The warriors were herding Jarl and Fenrir away.

“Wait,” I cried. “You cannot do this!”

“Stay back, little wife,” Fenrir called. At his side, Jarl hunched, his whole body heaving. The warriors made a circle around him, their weapons pointed inwards. Jarl was close to the Change.

He needs you to be safe. That is the only way he will keep control. Fenrir spoke into my mind.

I froze.

Knut stepped forward and addressed my husbands. “She will not come to harm. I swear it.”

With a nod, Fenrir gripped Jarl’s shoulder and hauled him back. The troop of warriors marched them down the path.

I wanted to rush after them, but Knut blocked my path. The scarred warrior who led the troop of warriors stood near, waiting to bring up the rear.

“Where are you taking them?” I asked him.

“To the Alphas,” the scarred warrior answered. He looked grave. He nodded to Knut and followed his warriors down the path.

It’s all right, Juliet. It will be all right, Fenrir whispered into my mind.

But it was not all right. Nothing was.

I startled when Knut dropped a fur cloak over my shoulders. “Shhh,” he said. “Juliet, you’re safe now.”

The fur cloak held the scent of my warriors. I drew it around me, welcoming the warmth. “I don’t understand what is happening.”

“The warriors Jarl and Fenrir took you without permission,” Knut said. “They have broken the Alphas’ law.”

“What law?” I asked before I remembered. I covered my mouth with my hands when I remembered what Fenrir had told me, long ago. “The penalty for touching a spaewife is death.”

“Is that what’s happening? They will be put to death for claiming me?”

“The law is very clear,” Knut said, adding in a gentler tone, “Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?”

“No,” I brushed him off. “They did not hurt me.” They healed me. They gave me everything I wanted. “I need to see them.”

He shook his head. “That cannot happen.”

“They are my husbands,” I snapped. He blinked at me, his brow furrowing. “My mates. I belong with them.” Panic flared in me. “You cannot put them to death. I need them.”

He rubbed his blond beard. “There will be a trial before