Page 81 of The Stolen Bride

“Only the kind of home I’ve dreamed of my entire life,” I breathed.

“Any changes you wish to make must be negotiated with your king,” Viktor announced, a study of delight.

“My poor ears,” Juniper cried a with dramatic whine. When we showed her to her suite, she grinned at us. “I’m guessing the wedding is tomorrow.”

“It is,” Viktor confirmed, thrilling my heart. This guy was totally gone for me.

We left Juniper in a suite and walked the halls hand-in-hand. “I wish to take you on that date you owe me.” He bent his head to nip the lobe of my ear. “So. Will you go on a date with me tonight, Clover?”

Oh yeah, totally gone. “Yes, Viktor, I will go on a date with you.” I imagined a picnic dinner, candlelight and a bubble bath.

“I have everything planned,” he said, eager. “We’ll begin with ax throwing, then move on to archery practice, wilderness survival, building a shelter together and crafting other kinds of weapons.”

I snort-laughed. “This is your idea of romance?”

An odd mix of delight and confusion infiltrated his expression. “First, that is the most magical sound I’ve ever heard. Second, I mentioned the part about building a shelter together, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

“Did I also tell you that you get to design it, and I’ll put it together while I’m shirtless?”

“Mmm. Yes. I’m liking the sound of this.” I rested my head on his shoulder. “Shirtless is always a good look for you.”

He winked. “That is only the beginning. We’ll eat, obviously. The cook has prepared two dozen dishes for you to sample. To start. We can serve your favorites at our wedding reception. There’s also a new litter of puppies in the stables, as well as a box in the attic that someone suggested has sheet music handwritten by Mozart.”

I blinked at him. Then blinked again. My hand fluttered to my chest. “You do know me, don’t you?”

He flashed me a smile so beautiful that it made me gasp. “Know and love.”

We spent the rest of the day traipsing through the rolling hills of the Hungarian countryside that surrounded Turálvár Kastély, my new home, searching for the perfect spot. Which we found inside a secret passage in the garden. As we fed each other, we discussed the wedding.

“The nine kings will come tomorrow. We’ll tell them about the primordials then.” Eyes glinting like polished emeralds, Viktor reached out and glided his fingertip along the line of my throat. “I had decided to wait until our wedding night to mark you, but I’ve changed my mind again. I should do it now, before we’re surrounded by royals.” With his free hand, he motioned to a window. “The moon is full, the world practically begging me to do this.”

My heart fluttered. “All right. Yes.”

In a blink, he had me on my feet, with my back pressed into a rocky wall. I grinned and traced my palms up his chest as he leaned into me. “Don’t forget, I’ll be giving you my mark, as well.” I wanted this. Badly. Because I was a berserker, too, and our people should know I belonged to Viktor as much as he belonged to me. Harm my man and pay the price: War.

“I won’t be satisfied until you have done so.” Anticipation and heat radiated from me. So much heat. Our quick, ragged breaths accompanied the scrape of metal against leather as he unsheathed a dagger.

My heart pounded. “I know there will be blood and a hint of pain.”

“Ja.” He handed the blade to me and offered his hand, his eyelids hooded. “But I will ensure you don’t mind it.”

My chest clenched as I made an incision in the center of his palm, blood welling. His only reaction was a soft, proud smile. A pride that bloomed in me, as well.

After he claimed the knife, he made an identical incision in the center ofmypalm. At the first sight of crimson, he dropped the weapon and linked our fingers, pressing our wounds together. A jolt of pure, undiluted power shot through me. An energy like I’d never experienced, even while swimming in the river of our connection. I gasped.

Viktor captured the noise with his lips, his mouth fully covering mine. In seconds, I was lost. Lost to him, in him, for him. This beautiful berserker was all I’d ever desired in a partner. Strong. Honest. Generous. Devoted. He’d trusted me with his heart, and I would do everything in my power to guard it.

The kiss picked up speed and intensity until we were gasping and kneading and straining together. But only a few seconds into the frenzy, Viktor wrenched up his head.

“The ceremony must be finished,” he rasped. Then he spoke in Hungarian. "A világ véget ér, de a szeretet és a béke örökké tart."

I interpreted the words and melted against him.The world will end, but our love and peace will endure."A világ véget ér, de a szeretet és a béke örökké tart," I repeated, slurring the last syllables. Suddenly the most delicious intoxication washed over me, pulling me inward into the most sublime oblivion.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

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