Page 18 of The Stolen Bride

The prince glanced between us before offering a stiff nod and striding out.

That worked? I mean, sweet! That totally worked.

In an instant, Viktor calmed again. Seeming to forget the entire incident, he kicked into another pace.

What an interesting day this had turned out to be.

Little time passed before the entrance was moved aside once more. I braced for Bodi’s return. Instead, a young soldier carried in a tray of food. Finally! From the looks of it, I’d be dining on hearty stew and crusty bread. A meal I didn’t have to peel, cut or cook. Bowls I didn’t have to wash, dry and put away. Yes, please and thank you.

The perks of being the berserker king’s firebrand were kind of fantastic.

The soldier never glanced in his king’s or my direction. Just placed the tray on the desk and rushed out.

“You gonna eat?” I asked Viktor.

He muttered a refusal.

His loss. I ate my fill, meaning all of it, doing my best to display a modicum of manners and not shovel in every bite. My companion provided the evening entertainment as he continued to pace, flexing different muscles. What a strange, complicated man.

When I swallowed the last sip of broth, a yawn cracked my jaw, fatigue sneaking up on me once again. I scannedthe pallet of furs. Would stretching out in Viktor’s presence really be such a bad thing?

Brushing any remaining breadcrumbs from my hands, I returned to the bed. I stretched out, careful not to poke myself with the daggers hidden in my pockets.

Viktor stopped pacing and focused all his intensity on me. Or through me.

“My firebrand,” he muttered. “Beautiful. Trouble.”

Right back at you, bud. The ‘trouble’ part, I meant. And yeah, okay, the beautiful part, too. His features were way too harsh when examined one by one, but all together, they dazzled. And those muscles…

Anyway.With a little finesse, I bet I could convince him to return me to Aurelian Hills and force Malachi to share what he knew about my birth parents. If I could make the other king rue the day he’d kidnapped me, even better.

After a while, my lids drifted close, and I didn’t resist. I wouldn’t let myself fall asleep, becoming vulnerable. Rather, I’d use the time to recharge, so I’d better deal with Viktor. A quick mental and emotional reset…

I dreamed the dream.

A thick fog enveloped the night sky. Despite the haze, I had no problem detecting the stars. Perhaps because I floated in the ether without an anchor, yet somehow I also stood on solid ground. The hem of my wispy white gown billowed at my ankles.

Before me towered a shirtless warrior sculpted with a wealth of hard-cut muscle. For the first time, I saw his face,and my entire body reacted as if I’d stuck my finger into an electrical outlet. Nerve endings sang.

Viktor Endris.

He said nothing, but then, no words were needed. I knew in the depths of my being. For the greater good, I must place my life in his hands.

Some of the fog around us thinned, and I spotted the weapon he clutched. A long double-edged sword he kept pointed down.

A question drifted through my mind.Am I willing to die to save him, our loved ones and even our worlds?

Dream me rasped, “For the greater good, I will do this,” and sank to her knees.

Another first: I saw what happened next.

Dream Viktor jutted his stubborn chin and repeated my words. “For the greater good, I will do this.”

He raised the sword high in the air, as if he intended to–

Swing.

I awoke with a gasp. My heart pounded at warp speed. I was panting, breath sawing between my lips. Sensing a presence, I jolted upright.

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