Mastered by the Berserkers (Berserker Brides #8) - Lee Savino Page 0,40

the Alphas and the Gathering. Jarl and Fenrir will be sentenced then.”

I was breathless as if I had raced up a mountain. “Then take me to the Alphas.”

Knut frowned at me and I stomped my foot, my voice ringing out. “Now!”

Knut did not take me to Jarl and Fenrir or the Alphas. Instead, I found myself in a mountain cave, pacing back and forth. The cave was clean and well appointed, with finely carved wooden chairs and chests, tapestries, and an iron stand that held a small fire. Brenna’s Alphas made their home in caves such as these. I was too agitated to sit.

Murmurs echoed down the hall, and two women pushed the curtain aside and entered the room. The dim firelight shone on their faces. One was dark and the other fair, and I recognized them from the few times I’d seen them from afar. Muriel and Sabine.

My mouth was too dry to speak, but Sabine, the tall blonde, merely looked me up and down with unnerving perusal. Her sister Muriel spoke first. “Sister Juliet.”

“Just Juliet,” I said automatically. “I am no longer a nun.”

“Juliet, then.” Her voice was warm, compassionate. “How are you?”

I found myself speechless again. I had been through so much. “Physically, I am well,” I stammered.

“Good.” She swept her hand to a chair. “Please, sit.”

“I don’t want to sit. I wish to speak to the Alphas.” I moved to the door, but Sabine was blocking it.

“We have been sent to care for you.”

I drew myself up, though I was no match for her height. “I do not need anyone to care for me,” I snapped. “I was fine, I did not need a rescue—” I cut myself off with a hand to my mouth. I was almost shouting. “I wish to see Jarl and Fenrir. I need to know they have not come to harm.”

“They have not been harmed,” Muriel said. I turned to her.

“How do you know?”

“My mate Wulfgar was the one who brought them back from their lodge. He told me. Jarl and Fenrir are well, though they are still under guard.” Muriel seated herself gracefully in a gilt chair. “Please.”

I sat. My sigh gusted out and made the flames gutter.

“There will be a trial,” Sabine said. Her voice echoed oddly in the small space. “The warriors will be called to account for what they did to you.”

“What they did to me?” I repeated. “What is it they are said to have done?” I clasped my hands in my lap to keep them from shaking.

“They stole you and kept you hidden on the far side of the mountain. The blizzard kept us from searching for you.”

“Be assured, Juliet. You are safe now,” Muriel said. And then the pity in her eyes made sense.

“You think they kidnapped me. Took me against my will.”

“Did they not?” Sabine twitched her head to the side. Her eyes were almost black in the lowlight.

“I…” How to explain? I could not lie. “They came across me when I suffered from the mating fever.” I glanced up at Muriel and she gave an encouraging nod. “I was hiding as best I could, but they knew. And they wanted to ease my suffering.” I threaded my fingers tighter. “They helped me.”

“Did they take you against your will?” Sabine asked.

“They wished to help me. And they did. My fever is gone.”

“They did not get permission from the Alphas,” Sabine swept past me to add a few pieces of wood to the fire. “The rules are in place for a reason. We cannot allow warriors to simply claim whom they will.”

“From my understanding, that is exactly what the Berserkers have done. How else will you explain the night they sacked the abbey and carried us off?”

“That was for your protection,” Sabine said.

“It is true, many spaewives found their mates that night,” Muriel said. “But this is different. The Alphas have decreed—”

“But once a spaewife comes into heat, she is able to choose a mate, correct?”

“Yes,” Muriel said slowly. “But Juliet—”

“Well, I have chosen.” I crossed my arms and jutted out my chin.

“Truly? You were a nun.” Sabine also crossed her arms over her chest.

“I am no longer. Jarl and Fenrir are my husbands. I married them in a church. A priest oversaw our vows.”

Sabine blinked. Muriel leaned forward. “They took you to a priest?”

“Yes.”

“And you married them?” Sabine asked.

“Yes.” I groaned and covered my face with my hands. “Both of them. They made the priest do it.”

Sabine and Muriel exchanged glances. Sabine’s eyebrows