Page 32 of The Stolen Bride

“Deco arrived, shoved them off me, and helped me out of the water. That’s how he used to be. A protector. Fair. Noble. A future king his men followed without hesitation. When he was crowned, I was his most loyal soldier. He trusted only me at his back. Together, we conquered kingdoms. Then he sent me to scout out the Starfire to discover why it drew warriors from across the globe. I did so and returned months later as the turul king. Stronger. Volatile. Unstoppable.”

He released my hand and clasped my knee, forcing it higher. Higher still, until I had no doubt he enjoyed this contact as much as I did.

Not attracted to me? Ha! He absolutely was.

I should respond to his words. Say something in turn. Anything. But I could only pant.

“He wanted to be like me, an immortal berserker,” Viktor continued, shifting closer. His gaze met mine, the gold flecks mesmerizing. “The Valkara told me what to do, how to change him, and I did it. It marked the beginning ofthe end for us. I was created by the Starfire itself. He was not. My authority cannot be surpassed and over time, resentment ruled him.”

“Sweet Viktor,” I rasped. My focus dipped to his lips. Those beautiful, beautiful lips. “Without his best friend.”

Agonizing seconds stretched between us.

“You want my kiss, Clover?” He rasped his words, too.

I did. Very, very much. I’d make him forget all about the Valkara. “Maybe.”

“Ask me for it, and I’ll grant your wish.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. Ask him? Yes. I would. Except. Hmm. Why insist on a plea when he could give… unless he intended to use the request against me, asserting the very authority he’d just celebrated.Do what I tell you, and I’ll give you another.

I stiffened. Was this why he’d offered to share a story from his past? To lead me to this moment?

“You askmefor a kiss, Mr. Only The Valkara Will Do,” I grated.

Viktor narrowed his eyes and returned his stare to the ceiling. The rain tapered to a soft drizzle, then quit. “Sleep more. It’s almost time to rise. We will set out early and reach the traveling stones before nightfall.”

My stomach roiled as I deciphered his meaning. By the end of the day, we would enter turul-shifter territory. A treacherous domain filled with shifters determined to trap and kill us. I needed him in ways he didn’t need me.

But I’d be one step closer to reaching my twin, so that was okay. There was no way I’d turn back. I’d be careful. Would guard Viktor with my life, because Juniper’s depended on his. But I wouldn’t consider kissing him again.

I absolutely, positively would not.

Chapter

Eight

When Packing For Travel, Snacks Are As Important As Swords

–HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BERSERKER

By Elizabeth “Elle” Darcy-Bruce

Okay, so, I pondered kissing Viktor as we lay in silence. As we rose and readied for travel. As we mounted Fekete Ló and abandoned our campsite. Whatever. I’d get over it sooner or later.

We rode for hours, keeping the same arduous pace as yesterday, doing the same exact things. In other words, we stopped to rest only twice and ate jerky on the road. Despite my obsession with our nonexistent lip-lock, everything felt different between us. Maybe because I had a better understanding of my companion and a new appreciation for his plight.

Loving someone who hated you invited all kinds of hurt. Though I’d adored my adopted family, I had wondered about my birth parents constantly. Were theyalive? Could they have taken care of me but just hadn’t wanted to? Even with such a devastating possibility, I’d still craved a relationship. Hoped, every day, that they would reach out. The longer that hope had gone unfulfilled, the faster it had soured, infecting other things, fueling emotions I didn’t like.

Bottling had helped. Something I was a little too raw to do at the moment. In fact, many of the bottles I’d buried in the past threatened to crack.

Maybe I stiffened atop the mount. Maybe I didn’t. Either way, Viktor wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my crown, enveloping me with his heat and scent. His incredible strength. Though I shouldn’t, I relaxed against him. For being such a chaotic guy, he’d been pretty calming lately. Our sizzling sensual tension notwithstanding, obviously.

Here, now, I didn’t care if the bottles broke. He’d already expressed his interest in dealing with the complications. Why not let him?

Something to consider.

But not yet. The rhythmic clatters of horse hooves tapped against the forest floor, soothing me further. Despite my rawness, I couldn’t remember a time I’d been so at ease, even with Benjamin.

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