Siren - Hazel Grace Page 0,73
another hallway, I’m outside the castle, my bare feet sinking into the hot sand until I see them.
As in Tobias is not alone.
Dark hair sways in the ocean breeze as Tobias breaks from his guest, striding in my direction with a giant smile plastered to his face.
I try to smile back, I do, but I know it’s fake and is coming off as a scowl.
“Princess,” he greets, extending his arms for me to jump into. I would, if she wasn’t here. And it’s puzzling because he’s never brought someone along with him before, and why he has now, already has my defenses up.
“What’s wrong?” he asks me. “You didn’t miss me?” I take the three strides to get to him and wrap my arms around his torso, receiving a small squeeze in response and a kiss to my forehead.
“Who’s she?” I gripe. Tobias doesn’t let me go, breathing in my hair and laying another kiss to the top of my head.
“Don’t get mad at me, she’s injured.”
“From what?”
“I saved her from Hunters,” he tells me, releasing his hold on me. “She’s been through a lot.”
“Haven’t we all,” I object, letting my gaze fall back onto the woman who I’m going to let my sisters play with if Tobias doesn’t give me a good answer. “What am I supposed to do?”
“I was on my way to see you and was attacked. I found her on the other ship, was hoping she could stay here for a few days to heal up. Her ribs are busted up, and we’ve been hitting storm after storm. Some land might do her good.”
“I don’t have time to babysit her, Tobias. I have my hands full already.”
His brows snap together. “The Viking is still here?”
“Yes.”
“But—”
“You’re watching the lass,” I retort. “She’s your responsibility. Let me meet her.”
Before I kill her myself and save both of us the trouble of tending to a stranger.
Tobias motions for her to come closer with his hand, and hesitantly, she does—she should.
She’s beautiful and lovely, something that promises to be more of a pain than anything in my eyes.
“Davina, this is Vlatka. Vlatka, this is Davina, Princess of Lacuna.”
She curtsies, but her eyes stay plastered on the scales forming on my shoulders from lack of water. “It’s very nice to meet you. Thank you for letting me—”
“I’m not letting you,” I snap. “You’re not allowed to roam the halls only to stay in your room. Your welcome is limited.”
She glances up at Tobias, curious I’m sure as to why she heard me only in her head, and I want to snap her neck. “Of course, regardless, I appreciate it.”
I summon one of my men in my head for them to take this little wench to a vacant room. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“I promise—” She extends both of her hands in front of her, green eyes gleaming with innocence. “I’ll stay where I’m told.”
“Davina is just tired,” Tobias offers for me. “She’s had a lot going on.” I shoot him a glare, but Vlatka nods her head.
“Of course, I can only imagine.”
My jaw locks in place as she bats her long eyelashes at Tobias. Before I can compel another snarky comment, Sullivan arrives at my side.
“I want a man at her door at all times.” I instruct for only him to hear as the woman gapes at Sullivan’s frame.
He nods then clasps her forearm to guide her away to the castle, and no sooner is she out of ear shot, Tobias rounds on me.
“What was that?”
I perk a brow. “What was what? You bringing someone here when you know that no outsiders are allowed except you.”
“I didn’t bring her here purposely,” he counters. “She’s hurt.”
“That’s not a problem for either of us. And still you put my sisters and I at risk.”
“I’d never let anything hurt you. You know that.”
“Do I?” I turn on my heel, letting my question hit him as hard as it’s hitting me that he has a woman in my midst, my home, and now another problem I have to deal with.
Something happened when I wasn’t here, and I had a gut feeling it would when I left her alone with the Viking. As much as Davina doesn’t like to think it, she’s naive, knows nothing outside the water and this island. Vikings are the core of brutality. He will hurt her, that much I know, just to gain his freedom.
And I’ll have to pick up the pieces.
I don’t mind having to do so, but if I