Page 34 of Foretold

I nod. “You’re right. I need to yell at him and get it all out… give him a piece of my mind. Maybe throw some magic at him and watch him suffer.”

“That’s not exactly what I meant—”

“Is everything okay?” Rave asks, coming to stand next to me, his sandalwood scent hitting my senses. He looks sexy as sin, and I can’t help checking out his muscled thighs in the leather fighting pants he’s wearing. His black tunic is rolled up at the sleeves, showing off more corded muscle. He lifts his hand to brush a curl off his forehead, and my eyes stare at the veins on his arms, which are also somehow extremely attractive. His eyes darken when he feels my arousal through the bond, and I clear my throat. “Everything is fine, why?”

He tilts his head to the side, his nostrils flaring slightly. “Just wondering what other reason Soren has to have his arms around you.”

I roll my eyes and put my hand on his chest. “He was comforting me. If that is a crime in your eyes, then you have afucking problem.”

His head snaps toward me, and his gaze rakes over me as if making sure I’m okay. “If you need comfort, you come to me. Now what’s wrong?”

“I can’t go to you when you’re the one who has hurt me,” I reply, throwing my hands up in the air and storming away.

I stop when Vale spots me, his blue eyes lighting up. “Astrid! There you are.” He runs over and hugs me, his little arms wrapping around my waist. “Do you want to go fishing again? We shouldn’t go at night this time. Apparently, that wasn’t a good idea.”

Rave follows me, his eyes gentling when he sees his son embracing me. I clear my throat. “I’m sure your mom or dad would love to take you fishing.”

He lets go and looks up at me, a line forming between his brows. “I didn’t ask them. I asked you.”

“Asked her what?” Rave questions, resting his hands on his son’s shoulders.

“For Astrid to go fishing with me again,” he says, tugging on my hand.

“I can go fishing with you,” Rave says, his icy-blue eyes darting to me. “I’m sure Astrid has other things she wants to do.”

The only thing I want to do is get the hell out of here.

“It’s okay,” Vale replies, his shoulders slumping. “Maybe tomorrow, Princess?”

Did he just reject his father for me?

Sighing, I wrap my arm around his shoulders. “All right, come on then. Let’s go catch some fish, but after that, I need to train.”

“Yes!” he cheers, jumping up and down excitedly. “I’ll go and get the rods.”

Rave and I watch him run off.

“Don’t feel like you have to—”

“I don’t,” I cut him off. “He’s a good kid, and he broke me outof my prison, so I kind of owe him.”

“Astrid—”

“I’ll be back later,” I reply, turning away.

He grabs my arm and pulls me back, kissing my lips.

“One step forward and two steps back,” he whispers against them, cupping my nape and pulling me to him. “I love you, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Neither is Vera,” I reply dryly, and his eyes flicker with anger. “You want her gone from the castle like she was before? Then consider it done.”

He lets go of me just as Vale runs up with a bucket and two rods. “Let’s go! I’ll carry everything so you don’t have to. Dad says that’s what a gentleman does.”

Fucking hell.This kid is going to steal my heart.

“I can carry something, Vale,” I say, my lips twitching in amusement.

“Nope,” he says, shaking his head. “Bye, Dad! Don’t worry, she’s safe with me.”

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