Page 61 of The Heir
The minute the Nman turned I recognized him as Bjorn. A flash of heat made me sweat as my argument with Thor came back to me. Bjorn belonged to the first group of Explorers who went to France. When I vetted him back in January, I sensed that he enjoyed rough, dominant, and sadistic sex. I had questioned him about it and felt assured that he wouldn’t hurt a woman outside the confines of a consensual sexual relationship. I should have considered the effect of alcohol. Thor narrowed his eyes, recognizing Bjorn as well and probably remembering our heated fight about this candidate. Back then, I had wanted to give Bjorn a chance while Thor had been adamant that he shouldn’t be allowed to go.
Victor’s tone with Bjorn was dripping with resentment. When Bjorn didn’t react to his French, Victor switched to English. “Control yourself, man.”
Bjorn waved a dismissive hand at Victor, shooing him away before he continued shouting for a woman called Nora.
With his lips curled up in rage, Victor looked back at us. “Can you get this insane man to stop making a spectacle?”
Freya called out. “Bjorn, you need to stop at once. You’re jeopardizing the Explorer program with your irrational behavior. Use your common sense.”
Her words had no effect on Bjorn whatsoever.
I was about to step forward when Thor stopped me with a hand to my shoulder. “Stay here! He’s drunk and volatile. Let me deal with him.”
“No, Thor,” Freya said. “You’ll beat Bjorn up the second he says something disrespectful or refuses to listen to you. Let Linea try to reason with him first.”
I could tell how torn Thor was. “All right, but I’m standing right next to her. If he as much as looks at Linea the wrong way, he’s done.”
“Maybe it’s better if I go with Linea,” Freya pleaded.
“No. You’re staying here.” Thor pointed to Victor. “Protect my sister while I go deal with this clown.”
Victor went to stand next to Freya with his arms crossed. She took half a step away from him and crossed her arms too.
“Bjorn,” I called out as we approached the distraught Nman, who stood in a t-shirt that did nothing to hide his bulging arm muscles. The blue door was banged up and about to give in when I finally got Bjorn’s attention.
“Bjorn, do you remember me?”
His eyes widened as he turned to me. “You’re…. you’re that Motlander who reads minds.”
“That’s right. How have you been?” By pulling at the fabric of my clothes on my back, Thor stopped me right outside Bjorn’s reach.
Pushing a hand through his hair, Bjorn made a grimace of pain. “I was enjoying it all, but then Nora fucked me over.” He spit out the last words.
“Who is Nora? Tell me about her.”
Bjorn stepped back a little, his eyes darting between the four windows in the house in front of us. “Nora lives here. She’s a fucking bitch but I’m crazy about her.”
Thor growled low next to me and it made Bjorn send him a side glance.
“I didn’t mean it like that. But if you had someone play with your emotions like Nora does, you would understand.”
“Nora plays with your emotions?” I was trying to get eye contact with Bjorn, but he was all over the place.
“She’s funny and sexy. But she doesn’t show me the respect I deserve.”
“How so? Bjorn, look at me. How is Nora not showing you respect?”
He smelled of alcohol and his speech was slow and slurred. “She fucking taunts me. Every night, she texts me about all the naughty things she wants me to do to her, and then when I tell her I will, she says that we’ve already had our three times together. She’s fucking with my head. Do you understand?”
I gave him a soft, sympathetic smile. “That must be hard for you.”
“It is! I can’t think of anything but her.” When Bjorn walked up and hammered on the door one more time, Thor lost his patience. Resolutely he pulled Bjorn back, turned him around, and smacked his back against the wall. The two men were about the same height, but it still felt like Thor towered over Bjorn when he hissed, “Do you know who I am?”
Bjorn nodded. “Of course. You’re Thor Aurelius, our future ruler.”
“Good. Then you’d better listen up, you fucker because if you want any chance of setting your foot in the Northlands again, you will do as I tell you.”
“Yes, sir.”
