Page 12 of The Stolen Bride

“TheValkara,” he corrected, a clear warning.

“Right.” I pinched the bridge of my nose.Lord, help me.“She’s the one speaking inside your head, and you want to date her.”

“She is perfection itself. Meant to be the bride of the primordial of primordials.Mybride.” He tilted up an ear and scowled. “Too muffled to understand.”

His invisible, possibly nonexistent future bride. Got it. Batting my lashes at him, I said, “See Clover nod and smile as if the conversation isn’t steeped in absurdity.”

“You are certainly bold for someone awaiting punishment for disobeying a direct order from her king, running away without permission, and endangering herself.”

Cold infiltrated my veins, an icy tide that raised my hackles. “I’m yourcaptive, bud. Not an old friend or new crush or even a tolerated acquaintance. If anything, you should punish yourself for ever expecting me to obey your commands.”

“But I won’t,” he said, almost pleasant now. “You alone will bear the brunt of my irritation.”

Okay, that was my cue to stage another escape. This time, I wouldn’t fail.

I geared up to slam an elbow into his nose, only to notice we approached a strange glittery wall of air. The corners of my mouth turned down. What the– Dizziness struck the moment Viktor sailed through it. A shock, yes, but the greater shock happened when my vision straightened out. How in the world…

A massive campground stretched before us, the air filled with sounds of clashing swords and pained grunts as hundreds of soldiers trained for battle. An equal number of tents dotted the forest floor. Some warriors competed in an open field, their shouts, calls and trash talkaccompanying the rhythmic thud of booted feet hitting the ground as still others marched about. A handful of women in old-fashioned frocks performed the fine art of cooking. The scent of roasting meats mingled with smoky campfire, and my stomach rumbled. Nearby, a blacksmith hammered a sword.

As soon as people noticed Viktor and I, every man and woman in the area stopped what they were doing mid-motion. Bows and nods of greeting abounded, as did gaping. Didn’t take long to feel as if the heat of a thousand suns spotlighted me.

A beautiful, bearded man with hair the color of a sandy beach and muscles galore rushed over. He said nothing as he kept pace at our side.

In my current position, I was eye level with his torso. What looked to be hundreds of different images covered his skin. From flowers to weapons to household items such as teacups and chairs.

“You’re here,” the newcomer said in Hungarian.

“Find, destroy, happy,” the king muttered.

Groan. I craved information, and there was no way to get it if he kept getting lost in his head. On the other hand, he would never remember my punishment in this state.

But on theotherother hand, he was currently my only ally amid a horde of what I assumed were immortal berserkers. Not that he was my ally. Still. He’d protected me once. Why not again?

In an effort to snap him out of it, I gently patted his stubbled cheek. “Hey. Snarls. I’d love an introduction to our newcomer.”

“This is Prince Boldizsár. Or Bodi,” he grumbled without dishing a rebuke for my forwardness. “Bodi, this ismy prisoner. Mine!” he added with gusto, squeezing me tight.

Don’t roll your eyes again. “So you’re brothers,” I said. They didn’t look alike, though they did possess a very similar eye color.

Viktor pursed his lips. “Princes are chosen for might, not blood.”

Intriguing. A berserker fact my research hadn’t revealed.

The newcomer missed his next step, his attention riveted on the motion of my hand–eek! I’d kept my palm pressed against Viktor’s cheek, absentmindedly stroking the pads of my fingers over his beard stubble.

“You found a female in the forest, majesty?” The prince shook his head, as if he needed a reboot. “And you kept her alive?”

“I told you. She is my prisoner. My exclusive property. Anyone who dares to touch her will learn the true meaning of suffering.”

Now that was a plan I could support. I smirked at Bodi. “Yeah. What he said.”

The prince blinked with surprise. “I will ensure word spreads, majesty. But if I may be so bold, who is she? Other than your prisoner and exclusive property, of course.”

Viktor’s hold on me tightened once again. “The more time I spend with her, the more certain I am that she’s the one I’ve been searching for.”

Chapter

Four

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