Page 81 of The Artist
“Yes, it’s the one where they throw letters across the border.”
“Mhmm.” Freya grinned. “I can’t believe Victor was curious enough to find the book. He pretended to have music in his ears and be occupied by a game of solo chess when Mila and I came in. He must have been eavesdropping when we talked about our favorite books. Huh!”
Grabbing a last handful of cookies, I put the box back in the bar. “We should go and talk to Khan and Magni. They’ll want to know about the result.”
When Belle rose on her toes to putForbidden Lettersback, Freya reached for the book. “Do you mind if I take it?”
“No, of course not. Are you going to read it again?”
“I’m going to tease Victor a little. That’s all.”
I groaned. “We don’t have time for fucking teasing. We need to get the French to back off and leave Belle and our child alone.”
“I understand,” Freya said. “But I still think our best option is to go to France and negotiate with them. We should bring Thor, Aubri, and Indiana with us.”
“Why not Khan and Magni?”
“Not if we can avoid it. They’re old school and will start a war the moment the French insult them.”
“So? I don’t have a problem with that.”
Freya narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. “Don’t be a fool, Mason. Wars kill people and they are cruel, primitive, and unnecessary.”
“Maybe, but if that’s what it takes to keep my family, I’ll fight.”
Freya sighed before letting her gaze move between Belle and me. “It’s weird that you two are together now. I’ll have to get used to it but let me be the first to welcome you to our family, Belle.”
Belle stiffened when Freya hugged her.
“We’re not getting married.”
“What?” Freya pulled back while I closed my eyes and muttered a low curse.
“I agreed to stay and have my child here if we can make my government give up their claim, but I haven’t agreed to marry Mason.”
“Huh.” Freya tilted her head. “Well, that makes things even more interesting. I can’t wait to see my father’s reaction to that decision.” Linking her arm under Belle’s elbow, Freya led her out of the room with a warning, “Don’t be scared if Magni and Khan get loud. They often shit pine trees when they don’t get their way. I blame it on the fact that they were raised by a tyrant and treated like royals all their lives. According to my mother, Magni has mellowed out a lot since she first met him, but he’s still rude and crude if you ask me.”
“Hey, don’t talk shit about my father. He’s a good guy.”
Freya rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say Magni wasn’t a good guy, but you can’t deny that he can be intimidating when he gets angry.”
“I’m not scared of him.”
“That’s because you’re as huge and strong as him, but for the rest of us, having Uncle Magni stare down at us and curl his lip with a growl is intimidating.”
Belle nodded. “Yes, I’ve noticed, which is why I want to talk to Pearl first. She seems to be the most rational person in this place and she’s not afraid of him or anyone, it seems.”
My lip twitched. “You’ve got that right. Aunt Pearl is as badass as they come, but just so you know, she always has her own agenda and just like her daughter she’ll get what she wants and make you believe it was what you wanted all along.”
“You make me and Mom sound manipulative,” Freya protested as we walked from the library toward the grand foyer.
“You are something starting with M.”
Freya kept her arm under Belle’s and looked back at me with a smile. “Ah, you mean masterful.”
“That’s right. You’re masterful at being meddlesome.”
CHAPTER 22
