Page 115 of Into the Isle

My heart tugged, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I blushed harder and looked away to his tray of food, where I snagged a piece of bread to nibble on and keep me occupied.

The kiss had been completely impromptu and innocent. His words melted into my soul, and I knew he was right. I didn’t want to give Arne the wrong impression. Even if I was wildly attracted to him.

I fell silent, and he said, “It’s all right.” He reached over and grabbed my hand. “I can’t say I didn’t like that. I was just . . . surprised, is all.”

“It wasn’t planned,” I murmured. “You were just sitting here looking so forlorn and pretty.”

He laughed, returning to his food. He certainly had a different expression on his face than “forlorn” after what I’d just done. I hoped it wasn’t a mistake.

“So you’ve met my sister. How did you figure it out?”

“You mean other than the beautiful face, blonde hair, and sparkling blue eyes? Her last name. She also said you should stop worrying about her.”

Arne groaned. “Dieter was an idiot sending her to liaise with you.”

“Why? Do you not trust me? I, for one, think it’s amazing what you’re doing.”

Glancing over at me with that roguish glint, he asked, “And what do you think I’m doing, little fox?”

“If Frida is a Leper, then she was once a student here. Which means her powers never came to fruition. I think you’re protecting her from getting discovered by handing out Huscarl routes and scouting report—”

“Shh,” he chided, face twisting with frustration. “Lower your damned voice, woman.” With a glance over our shoulders at the other students in the mess hall—making sure no one was listening—he calmed down. “Astute observation, though.”

I tossed him a quick smile. “Thanks.”

Arne looked out the window past our table, where the setting sun sent in a flash of orange and red. “On that note, I suppose it’s time to resume my operations.”

“Can I come with you? I’d like to meet the Lepers.”

He shook his head. “Not tonight. It’s dangerous.”

I frowned, shoulders slumping, head dipping.

He put a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, little fox. You’ll meet them in time.”

He tilted my chin—

And when I looked up at him he smiled and ravaged my lips with a kiss of his own. It was much harder, firmer, and more intentional than mine had been.

I got lost in his taste, his essence, closing my eyes. Our tongues flitted together.

Then he pulled back. Gave me that dashing, million-dollar smile, and left me breathless. “I’m going to miss that tonight.”

I had nothing to say, too shocked to speak. I supposed I had invited his kiss. It was only fair.

“Careful, though, little fox. I might demand more from you in the future so our trade-off of favors feels more . . . equitable. You’ve opened the floodgate.”

That night, I was buzzing. I felt so wrong and perverse over what I’d done with Arne in the cafeteria. Our kisses had come by surprise, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the way his tongue expertly glided over mine before he left me there alone, aching between the legs.

I’m getting way too immersed in these men. Shit.

I was falling, and falling fast.

It didn’t make matters better that I now walked alongside Grim Kollbjorn, my stoic giant of a protector. Out of all my men, I had been spending the most time with him, by virtue of him being my second-year Combat & Strategy tutor. Hersir Axel taught the class, of course, but halfway through each session he would send us off to continue training with our groups.

It was nice having Randi and Magnus alongside me, and Grim giving us our training. He was a good teacher, despite being quiet and reserved.

Grim and I had fallen into companionable silence about fifteen minutes into our walk. Our treks only lasted about half an hour per night—from one end of the woods to the other—before I scooted off for Nottdeen Quarter.

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