Page 29 of Wolf Alliance

“He willna allow you to stay with us,” Thorfinn said, matter-of-factly.

“We’ll see.” Then they walked into the great hall where everyone was beginning to gather.

Erik wasn’t there yet. She walked the boys to their table.

Beathag joined them and said, “You’ll be leaving soon.”

“Oh?” Accalia arched a brow.

The boys looked at Accalia as if she truly was leaving.

Beathag smiled at her wickedly and then turned and flounced off, taking her place at another table.

“You’re no’ leaving, are you?” Johnne asked, tears forming in his eyes.

Irritated by the woman’s comments because Beathag had upset Johnne, Accalia hugged him. “Nay. I dinna know why she would say that.” But she was going to set her straight.

“She wants da,” Thorfinn said.

He was too young to know such things, Accalia thought. “What do you mean?” She wanted to get clarification before she jumped to conclusions.

“She was storming around the castle before you got here,” Thorfinn said. “She said Da was bringing some strange woman here to marry him.”

“Strange?”

“Aye,” Hendrie said. “When we saw you, we didna think you were strange.”

“Nay, but we didna believe you would threaten to throw us in the dungeon either,” Thorfinn said.

She smiled. “Well, you are clean and none the worse for wear.” But then she wondered if the boys liked Beathag and would be disappointed that their da might mate Accalia instead. “You are fond of Beathag then?”

“She doesna pay any attention to us. No’ like you do,” Johnne said.

“She doesna threaten to throw us in the dungeon,” Thorfinn said.

“That’s because she doesna care anything about us,” Hendrie said, scowling at Thorfinn.

Accalia looked at Thorfinn.

He shrugged. “Aye.”

Logan approached Accalia and said, “You’re wanted at the high table.”

Frowning, the boys looked disappointed, even Thorfinn. She gave them each a hug. The boys smiled at her when she did. “Good. I will tell his lordship what we want to do on the morrow.”

Their faces brightened at the idea. Their nannies joined them at their table and Logan escorted her to sit beside Erik’s chair. Then Erik stalked into the great hall, his gaze going to his lads first, and then to Accalia at the head table. He smiled.

“You confound Erik, you know,” Logan said, smiling down at her. “He doesna know what to make of you.”

“’Tis best to keep him guessing, aye?” She smiled brightly at Logan. She wondered if his mate had confounded him or used her feminine wiles on him.

Logan laughed.

Erik joined her and they took their seats. Then the mugs were filled with honeyed mead, and the bread and fish soup served. “You are having a profound effect on my people. And on me.”

“Good or no’?” She sipped her mead.

“We dinna want you to leave.”

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