Page 14 of The Barbarian's Claim
Uttin looked furious, but no one seemed inclined to back down. His attention whipped to me. “You do not have to do this. There are more options. You will be protected in any clan we bring you to.”
Like I was protected by Einar? I found that unlikely. The best I could hope for was indifference like Orn. And once they knew of my inability to speak, they might toss me away. Or worse,hurt me for not speaking correctly. It had happened before. No. I appreciated Uttin’s care for me to decide for myself, but if I had a choice, I wished to stay with Einar.
I shook my head at Uttin, moving closer to Einar to show without words what I wanted. He let out a frustrated growl, glaring at the other two.
“This is wrong. He is not in his right mind. You dishonor him.”
Einar snarled in response and took a threatening step forward. Only my grip on his tunic kept him from closing the distance between them. Thankfully, Orthorr interrupted before a fight could break out.
“Uttin, you can go. We will discuss this further privately.”
It was written on Uttin’s face that he didn’t want to. If it had not been the clan leader who said it, he might have refused. But Finn said the clan leader made all the decisions. He had no other choice. With one final glare, he stormed out, mumbling under his breath as he left.
Orthorr shook his head in exasperation. “He should calm by your bonding ceremony. But until then, you cannot take him into the forest. I?—”
Einar spun on his heel and stormed out without a word. Startled, I hesitated where I stood. I wasn’t sure if I should follow or not. I wanted to, but it seemed rude to walk out like that when speaking with the clan leader.
Orthorr sighed, drawing my attention back to him. “You will get used to that. He is not one of many words.” He gestured for me to sit. “Join me. I have a few questions for you.”
I resisted the urge to wince. There were times I wished I had no voice at all. Then no one would ask me to speak. It was only the knowledge that I was in the presence of the clan leader that kept my face blank. I didn’t know him, and I didn’t want him tohate me and send me away from Einar. I wanted the safety my protector offered.
Sitting in front of him, I braced myself for what was to come. Like with Einar, I had no choice but to speak now. It would do no good to fight it.
“You need not be afraid, Matthew. You are not in trouble,” Orthorr said, his voice soothing. I looked up at him, trying to find the lie, but his expression was soft and patient. I nodded to show I understood.
“I heard from others that you volunteered. Unfortunately, not many tributes do so. Why did you?”
Frowning down at my lap, I shrugged. I did not want to admit it out loud. But when I looked up, Orthorr waited patiently for me to use my words. I grimaced.
“I-I-I w-would n-not have survived an-n-nother year. I h-had n-n-no home.”
He hummed a sort of sympathetic sound. “You thought here might be better?”
Again, I shrugged. I’d had no expectations coming out here. Only the driving force to live. I didn’t want to dishonor my family by dying alone in the street. But if I were going to die, I wanted to spare someone else a worse fate in the meantime.
“You put great faith in the goddess when you came out here, Matthew. And after the betrayal of Orn, I understand your reluctance to leave the safety of Einar’s care. But I hope you know you don’t need to settle. You can have more time if you wish.”
I didn’t know what he was talking about with Orn. Einar refused to tell me what had happened with him. Only that he wasn’t fit to be my protector. But it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to change my mind. I shook my head.
Orthorr studied me for a few moments before nodding. “Alright. Unlike Uttin, I’m aware that not all bondings arefor love. For some, safety is more important.” He gave me a significant look. He knew that was why I was choosing Einar. He accepted that without argument.
“Perhaps during your bonding ceremony, I will focus on partnership instead of love. It will be?—”
His sentence was cut short when Einar strode back in. He looked angry, his glare dark and murderous. I was worried about what had put that look in his eye, but he surprised us both when he kneeled in front of me and slipped a necklace over my head.
“You are my bondmate. Welcome to our clan.”
Nine
EINAR
Orthorr spluttered at my gesture, but Matthew only looked up at me, confused but accepting of whatever I said. He put a great deal of trust in me. I intended to honor that, even if I could not provide him with the relationship he was looking for. I could offer him protection and trust between us. For him, that would have to be enough.
“Einar, you can’t?—”
Jerking to glare at Orthorr, I reminded him, “Your own bonding skipped the ceremony, brother. Or do you not remember?”
He winced, and a tendril of guilt tugged at me. Orthorr did not like to be reminded of his bondmate since her passing. It hurt him too much. It was cruel to throw his bonding in his face.
