Page 44 of The Stolen Bride

“He’s my brother.”

What! I flattened my handsagainst the table. “Like, for real, not just good buddy bros? But you told me you guys weren’t related.”

“Nem, I explained how princes are chosen. A far more important title than brother. Bodi and I share a mother. Bodi and Deco share a father.”

Another bombshell! Bodi and Deco were related. Things began to click. How Bodi never seemed overly bothered by his king’s moods. How Viktor relied on him. Their eyes being a similar shade of green.

“Satiate your hunger.” Viktor swiped up the backpack before settling on the bed to riffle through his belongings as if he were on the hunt for something specific.

“You’re not hungry?” I asked, after consuming half the smorgasbord.

“I rarely am…for food.”

A moment passed, and he didn’t elaborate or look my way. Maybe he needed a few minutes alone to collect himself. I sure did, even though my previous starvation demanded I eat up his portion, too. But I didn’t. Not this time. He must keep his strength up.

“Please eat. I’ll clean and change out of my battle dress.” Unlike him, I hadn’t received a sponge bath, or whatever his men had done. “Is there a pond nearby?”

“Nem. But this is an abandoned bathhouse, eternally guarded by my men.”

That explained the extra manpower we had.

He pointed to a shadowy opening near the boulder, the action stiff and choppy. And still he didn’t face me. “It’s there.”

Man, something clearly bothered him. He’d seemed fine just before his men had entered with food.

“Here.” He tossed a bundle of clean clothing my way. Garments he’d removed from the backpack. “Wear these.”

I caught them, grateful. “Thank you.”

“You are beautiful. And smart,” he grumbled out of the blue.

I double blinked. “Um. Thanks.”

“And brave,” he added.

Was he building up to an admission of feelings? Was this…nervousness? I bit my bottom lip. Perhaps I could help him out. “I find you strong and sexy, especially when you’re semi-sane.”

His gaze slid to me at last, his pupils huge. “Sexy?”

Cared more about that than the strength? “Very.”

Though I expected him to respond, silence filled the air between us.

If he required more time, fine. “See you in a bit, Tor.” Almost smiling, I carried my prize through the shadowy opening, trekked a narrow corridor and emerged into a rocky-walled cavern with a natural bubbling spring. Toiletries waited at the edge.

With a giddy squeal, I stripped and entered the water. This time, I didn’t worry Viktor would burst in on me unannounced or uninvited. I knew him better. Barging in wasn’t his style.

Okay, so, it was his style, but he wouldn’t do it to me.

Okay, so, he’d totally do it to me, but not today. Not while he was still a wee bit upset over...whatever he was a wee bit upset over.

As warm water enveloped me, I groaned with delight and savored the decadence of the moment. Enjoyed the scent of lavender and honey as I squeezed out shampoo, conditioner, then body wash. Thrilled when the soft fabric of the tunic and leathers settled over my curves. Oh, la, la. Pants!

I combed my wet hair, secured my boots in place andgave my reflection a quick check via the water surface. Not bad for a dimension traveling captive. Not bad at all. Now, to face Viktor. We needed a battle plan against Deco. And I required weapons.

I drew in a deep breath and held the air in my lungs before exhaling with gusto and returning to the main chamber.

Viktor was exactly where I’d left him, but not nearly as calm. He sat with his knees raised and his head between them while he pulled at hanks of his hair. “Find, destroy, happy. Find, destroy, happy.”

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