Page 7 of Into the Isle

Appropriate, even if she is a little devilish.

I shrugged, wincing as some water sloshed over the top of the left bucket. I waited for the water to settle before continuing on. “Probably try to make some allies.”

“Ah. Smart.” She nodded diligently. “Or enemies. They’re more fun.”

I let out a soft huff. “I have enemies enough here, Anna. I don’t think I need more.”

“Maybe you can find someone to warm your bed.”

I nearly tripped over a gnarled root in front of me, thrown off by her words. Gaining my balance—and losing more precious water as I did—I scowled at her. She simply returned an ear-to-ear grin, the little rogue knowing exactly what she was doing.

“This water supports both our families,” I said, glowering at her. “Lest you forget.” Stop trying to make me spill with your outlandish claims.

“You’re just gonna gloss over my recommendation? For shame, Vini. I think getting laid could be good for you.”

I shrugged—smaller this time—and kept moving as the squat longhouses and cabins of the village came into view. We traversed a grassy flatland between the village and the woods behind it.

“I’ve done it before,” I admitted.

“You didn’t enjoy it?”

Perhaps I simply didn’t enjoy my partner. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying my focus is going to be elsewhere. Under the sheets is your dominion, Anna, not mine.”

She pouted again, shaking her head. “The men at Vikingrune Academy will be the most strapping lads you’ve ever seen.”

“So I’ve heard.”

With a sigh, Anna quickened her pace to keep up with me. Even carrying two buckets, I outpaced her, likely because her mind was drifting elsewhere.

“You’re not wrong,” she said, laughing at herself. “I do love being ravaged—”

“I know, girl. It’s all you talk about.”

Her laughter rose again, light and airy just like she was. It was hard not to smile at the sound, as much as I fought against it.

“Who do you have on the docket these days?” I asked, trying to shift the focus from my nonexistent love life.

She counted off on her slender fingers, pursing her lips and peering up at the cloudy morning sky. “Let’s see. There’s Gustav. Pretty cock, ugly face.”

I snorted a laugh.

“Finn is still in the running. He has the opposite problem.”

I blushed at her admission. I thought Finn was quite attractive, too. Who didn’t, with his strong shoulders, sharp chin, and piercing dark eyes?

She held up her pinky, bending it and drooping with a severe frown. I let out another bark of a laugh, shaking my head.

“Oh!” she yelped, bouncing up next to me. “Hemming is a dark horse candidate,” she said, nodding profusely. “He certainly knows how to work a woman over. That’s more important than all the size and beauty in the world, you ask me.”

“Fair point.” When she smiled coyly at me, I asked, “Do any of these men know there are other competitors?”

She let out a snort that sounded somewhat like Damon’s from last night. “As if. No, I need filling, not killing. I don’t need them slaughtering each other for my affection. I just need them stuffing my—”

“Are you sure they’d be so against it?” I asked before she could continue her lewd talk. “Against working together for your hand, rather than against each other?”

It was an interesting thought that went against everything we had learned in Selby.

Anna took my words seriously, tapping her chin as I watched the cogs turn in her head. “Damn. You might be right, Vini. Being filled at every end, at the same time? Gods protect me.” She giggled. “But no, I’m just playing the field of suitors, so I can make a suggestion to my da. I’m leaning toward Hemming. Even though he doesn’t have much of a personality.” She shrugged, completely content with carrying on the conversation by herself. “That’s okay. I bring enough personality for both of us.”

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