Page 37 of Claimed By the Viking

Everything is different, isn’t it… and I wouldn’t wish my life back the way it was.

“Even the bees seem to feel it.” Signy knew she was babbling, but the words tumbled out, regardless. “I was up by the hives, and they were clustered there, as if reluctant to search for pollen farther afield. It’s not like them at all.”

She regretted speaking of it immediately.

The behavior of the bees would mean nothing to Elin.

She hadn’t mentioned the dead and dying bees, in any case. That she knew she must keep to herself until she’d had a chance to consult with her mother. There was no point in alarming Elin, or anyone else, when she didn’t yet know what was happening.

“The bees?” Elin’s brows rose in surprise.

Signy gave herself a little shake. “Pay me no mind. It’s probably of no matter.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” Elin continued to look askance at her but returned to her previous question. “And how are you and Viggo getting along?”

“Very well. That is, I’m glad to have his company.” Signy swallowed. She wanted desperately to believe it so, but she couldn’t deny the truth.

She was losing faith.

“‘Tis only that Viggo’s moods can be low. I want to make him believe all will be well, but sometimes, he’s so deep in darkness, he can see naught else.”

Elin frowned and nodded.

“He’s a good person, whatever my mother says,” Signy added quickly.

The last thing she needed was for Elin to believe Viggo was worse than she could see with her own eyes. If Elin had even an inkling that Viggo might hurt her, who knew what would happen? She might tell Bothild or her mother.

Ulva would waste no time in separating them.

‘Twas an irony not lost on Signy—that her mother would be swift to intervene this time. She’d done little enough to protect Signy when her father had been beating her.

“Once a baby is coming, it may stir him to more positive thoughts. He’ll have both me and the child…” Signy faltered.

Stop speaking now! Before you say something you regret!

If Elin gained a hint that Signy might already be pregnant, ‘twould be hard to contain the news, and she couldn’t risk Viggo learning of it. She wasn’t ready to deal with the consequences of how that would play out—that he might hold her to her side of their bargain.

Fortunately, Elin appeared distracted, her gaze straying to where the door was ajar.

Signy strained to listen to the conversation within, but the men’s voices were too low, and her good ear was turned toward the beach and the incoming tide.

Elin’s attention returned, but her expression was troubled.

“Freyja shall surely bless you, and ‘twill be a great solace… one well deserved.”

There was no mistaking that Signy was being dismissed.

As she’d surmised, Elin had other things on her mind.

The next moment, Rangvald appeared at the door. His face was impassive as he joined Elin, though Signy saw him wince as he adjusted his crutch.

Once the two had departed, Signy closed her eyes.

I must be brave and confront Viggo.

I’ve told him of my love, and I know he harbors something of the same, even if he’s too frightened to admit it.

If there’s any hope, he must declare himself.

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