Page 45 of The Stolen Bride

Oh, no. Not this version of the king.

His head snapped up. He went silent when his gaze landed on me. His eyelids narrowed to slits, two gold circlets glowing in his irises. He looked me down and up. Slowly.

New flutters erupted. “Hello, pudding pop,” I said with a wave. Uh-oh. I’d meant to tease him, but I’d only sounded flirty.Get it together. “For our date, you should bring me daggers rather than flowers.Mydaggers, to be specific.” Hint, hint.

He shook his head. “Give a woman a dagger, and she can defend herself until it’s stolen. Teach a woman to steal a dagger, and she can defend herself always. I will allow you to keep any weapons you can pilfer from my men.”

“Deal.” Never mind the shock of receiving a hall pass to grand theft dagger. “Now let’s take this show on the road.” We had some rescuing to do.

“Nem. We stay and draw the shifters to the camp. According to my scouts, there are many traps beyond this point. Since shifters can attack by air, they like to pepper the land with explosives, pits and a wealth of other destructions.”

Disappointment unfurled, but dang it, I understood his reasoning. Part of me even applauded it. “What about my sister?”

“She’ll be saved from Deco, I swear it. But first, we will thin the flocks.”

“Very well.” Guess we should shore up more strength. Time for second breakfast. I swept to the table and sat. He followed my progress visually, but not physically. I removed the lids from the remaining dishes and scooped generous portions onto my plate. He hadn’t touched a thing. “Come. Eat with me.”

“I’m not hungry.”

A reply I didn’t like. “You just overcame a life-stealing toxin, Viktor.” I held up a peachy fruit, pinched between my fingers. “Come eat, and I’ll answer a question free of charge.” Then I’d get to ask one for free, as well. “I might even dish another compliment.”

Moments passed without a response, his muscles flexing and relaxing on repeat. I didn’t break our staring contest, but I did eat the morsel. The sweet flavors hit my tongue. Moaning, I sucked my finger into my mouth. So good!

I offered him a second chance. “Want your compliment or not?”

He glided smoothly to his feet as if propelled by wings. Near me in a blink. I was ill-prepared when he bent down and snagged the treat from my fingers–with his teeth. The softness of his lips registered a split second before the warmth of his breath fanned my skin. Tremors invaded my limbs.

Chewing, he settled into the chair beside mine. As soon as he swallowed, I offered him another bite, which heaccepted the same way. Heat bloomed in my cells, radiating satisfaction.

“Not bad,” he grunted.

I fed him another and said, “Here’s payment. Are you ready? Your skill on the battlefield awed me.”

“That isn’t a compliment, it’s a fact.”

“It’s both. But I’ll also admit you looked beautiful doing it.”

His shoulders rolled back, and he raised his chin, the picture of masculine pride. “Better.”

I liked this side of him. Bet I was the only person in existence to experience it. “So. Tell me what upset you earlier.”

A muscle jumped beneath his eye. “The Valkara says I should kill you now and save myself the trouble later.”

“Oh. Well.” Wait. Kill me? I sputtered, trying to find the right words. Looked like I had a brand new, bright and shiny enemy. “I’ve given her zero reasons to target me.” Other than stealing her man.

Oops?

Clearly, she wanted Viktor all to herself. Although, I kinda hoped Valkara was imaginary.

“Bet I can guesswhenshe gave her newest directive,” I said. “Right before Bodi and your men arrived.” The moment Viktor had shouted “nem.”

“You are correct.” He worked his jaw. “But she’s given it other times, too. Many other times. Even before I met you.”

That he’d known of me before meeting me, just as I’d known of him, pointed to a fate connection I couldn’t really deny. “You are the primordial of primordials, and she wants you for herself. Thank you for declining.”

“You shouldn’t thank me.” He canted his head to the side, deepening his study of me.

My flutters took flight, invadingother parts of me. “You’re making me nervous, and I don’t do nervous.” It was a mild form of fear and an enemy to my beloved calm.

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