Page 15 of The Stolen Bride

Gold rings flashed in his irises. He stepped toward me, and I drew back my elbow. I’d go hard and fast. Hopefully, I wouldn’t lose my awareness in the process.

Bodi surprised me, abandoning the strike zone before I swung. “Perhaps I’ll remind him of your presence after all. If you aren’t his firebrand, he’ll end you on his own.”

“Apparently the firebrand honor goes to Valkara. Excuse me,theValkara.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw.

Oooh. I’d noticed his dislike of her before, and this was confirmation. He wasn’t Valkara’s biggest fan. “I’d love to meet her. Just point me in her direction, and I’ll go say hi,” I said.

A commotion erupted outside the tent. Shouts for help. Grunts of pain. Rushing, thumping footsteps. The prince and I paused, momentarily frozen.

“Get Bodi!” someone bellowed.

He held my gaze, unfazed. “If you leave this tent, Clover Deering, I will come for you, and you won’t enjoy what happens when I catch you.”

I snapped my teeth at him. “Like I haven’t heard that one before.”

He hesitated only a moment more before pursing his lips and hurrying off, leaving me alone.

Okay. All right. A relieved breath seeped from me, and I finally relaxed my stance. Well, as relaxed as a woman like me could get. Obviously, I wasn’t letting either man’s promise of retribution dictate my actions.

Problem: I now knew more of those turul-shifters occupied the forest. Should I really take off and risk another run-in?

Might be better to wait, just a bit, amass supplies and weapons, and find a map of the forest. And shoes!

Also, what about Malachi’s offer? I still had no plans to cash in, but did I really wish to cut ties with the target right now? Although, granted, said target wasn’t exactly sane. Viktor flowed in and out of coherency, was execution-happy, and produced more mysteries than Hallmark.

The outside commotion increased in volume, certain Hungarian phrases crystalizing. “No, Majesty.” “Please, no.” “Don’t do this!”

What in the world? My injured, throbbing feet carried me out of the tent before my brain registered my intention. No guards stood at the door, so no one tried to capture me. Fading sunlight spotlighted soldiers congregated around an enraged Viktor, who tossed or broke anyone he could reach.He reached far too many. They toppled one after the other, broken and bleeding, unable to contain him, even as they worked in tandem.

The sight of him stopped me in my tracks, my heart thudding against my ribs. I’d thought him in a berserkerage before, but no. He’d told me he hadn’t yet raged and here, now I believed him.

Thiswas a berserkerage.

He wasn’t just bigger; he was monstrous. His eyes were filled with those glowing golden rings, no hint of green remaining. His irises radiated deep cesspools of rage, yes, but mostly hatred. Thin black lines didn’t fork or flash beneath his skin, as before, but pooled and layered, resembling feathers. Like the turul-shifters, he brandished long, sharp claws.

Bodi stood out of striking distance, doing his best to calm the king with words. “Let’s talk about this, Majesty. I will make it better, whatever it is. Just tell me. That’s all you need to do.”

Viktor paused and sniffed the air. His attention swung to me and stuck.

The force of his notice sent me stumbling back, as if I’d been kicked. Guess I had a flight response, after all. I should run now. Yes, yes, I should.

Bodi spotted me, too. Anger pulsated from him, and he bellowed in Hungarian, “Leave, female!”

My cue. I spun on my heel and sprinted off. A vicious roar rang out behind me, sending chills down my spine. Fresh grunts of pain followed me, creating a terrible chorus. I picked up the pace, flying through the camp, scanning, scanning, searching for the wisest direction. Right. Definitely right. My breath quickened.

“Nooo!” I screamed when brawnyarms clamped around me. With every ounce of my strength, I fought for my freedom.

A huffing, puffing Viktor hauled me against his powerful body and held tight, but…hmm. He never harmed me. In fact, he didn’t even prick me with the tips of his claws.

“Enough, drága.”

His delicious scent filled my nose, and I…settled. The danger must have passed. “We all good, Tor?”

“I told you not to run,” he rasped between ragged breaths. Once again, he spoke with two voices. His own, and that of his beast?

“Yes, well, I’m not exactly keen to stick around when you’re shredding your own men like cheddar cheese.”

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