Page 23 of Chosen

Chapter Fifteen

Truth

How dare he smack my ass? I was his wife, not some slave. I knew he’d never respect me if I didn’t make him see that early on. I wasn’t his to summon and slap about. I didn’t care if he was playing, he was too familiar. Too comfortable ordering me about. That would end.

He doubled over beside me and I tsked, “Breathe through the pain. It will subside in time.”

I should know. I’d been dealt blows and beatings half my life before I became his intended. Most of which were at the hands of his kin. I glanced toward Enzo and offered a wee smile. The poor man was wide-eyed, but he didn’t look so shocked. I imagined Gisla had given him a taste of something similar.

Sig coughed a time or two and slowly, shakily found his feet. He glared at me and for a moment, my heart raced. His eyes were such a vivid shade of blue that I was afraid. I’d seen that look before in the moments when his father was half murderous and ready to snap. He licked his lips, looked at Enzo and nodded.

“Get on with it,” Sig snapped.

“Without even inviting your father and mother?” Sven called from behind us.

I whipped around, and my heart dropped to my stomach, unsure of how much he had seen. I hated myself for it, the moment I felt that kick of adrenaline. I was consumed with the sudden need to run. Why did he have that effect on me? He was the only man who could instill ice-cold fear in my belly. I hated him. Hate was possibly even too kind of a word. He’d trained something inside me to react to the mere dip in his voice. I could read his body, his tone, his smile. Now it was my turn to shake.

What the fuck was I doing? I couldn’t marry his son. I glanced at the door and shifted, but before I could run Sig’s hand was on my arm.

“Renata, please…” His tone thinned.

I gasped, and so did his mother. Had that Viking prince just publicly begged me? It was like I was suddenly anchored in place. No one had ever begged for my presence before. And he’d used my name. The one my mother gave me. I swallowed a lump of emotion and nodded.

“Get on with it, Bishop,” I agreed. “We forgo the beach ceremony.”

Sig grunted, agreeing with the last part as well.

Sven and Ava sat in the first pew. Gisla trickled in behind them along with my ladies. I was still in my thin nightgown. My hair looked like a bird’s nest from Sig tugging on it, and yet more people continued to trickle in. I was oblivious to most of them. I was still struck by the fact that I had been begged.

Perhaps life with this prince wouldn’t be so bad. I let my thoughts carry me through the ceremony. Every now and then Enzo painted the air with his fingertip, making the sign of the cross and hailing blessings in an ancient tongue. He must have noticed how nervous I was, at one point he reached out and grasped my forearm giving it a gentle squeeze.

“You must repeat after me,” he encouraged.

He waited until I met his eyes and tipped my head, indicating that I understood.

“I, Truth of—” he began.

“No,” Sig immediately objected. “Her name is Renata.”

Enzo squinted with confusion and looked to me for confirmation.

I gave a subtle nod.

“Very good. My apologies, Lady Renata.” He cleared his throat, directing attention back to himself effortlessly. “I, Lady Renata, Countess of Merrimount, do take this man, Sigurd, Prince of Thor’s Ridge and of The Bay of Keys to be my lawful husband. I promise to love, honor, and obey him. I shall seek no counsel above his and cling to no other for as long as we both shall live.”

His words sort of blurred together except that one. Obey. I felt the corners of my mouth twitching toward a smile.

“I, Lady Renata, Countess of Merrimount, take Sigurd, Prince of Thor’s Ridge and of the Bay to be my husband. I will cherish his advice and cling to him above all others. I shall be a good wife to him,” I carefully agreed instead.

Enzo grunted and gave a delayed smile. He looked toward Sig, as if asking if that would do. Sig nodded and Enzo took a deep breath and looked to his audience before proceeding.

“Very good. Now then, Highness, it is your turn. Please repeat after me. I, Sigurd, Prince of—”

“I, Sigurd, Prince of Thor’s Ridge and of The Bay of Keys take this woman, Renata, to be my own. I will protect and provide for her.”

Enzo floundered for a minute, clearly not wanting to correct the prince.

“I am a wife, not a servant. You do not get to claim me and state that you will feed and water me after I have vowed so much to you. I am your first and only wife. I am the one you will turn to in times of need. You will hold me above all others…” I stared him dead in the eye and dared him to say anything less.

His eyes lifted at the corners with a smile that I didn’t understand.

“Aye. All of it. I will keep her, and she will be mine, above all others. In times of hardship, we shall stand together,” he amended.

I gave a reluctant nod. It would do.

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