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The absolute look of horror on the General’s face probably mimics my own because all I can do is stare up at Ragnar as he holds my arm in his massive hand. I open my mouth to deny it, but not a single word comes out. When he’s satisfied, he starts leading me away from them. His hand tightens to the point where his fingers are digging into me painfully.
“Stop,” I growl, planting my feet on the floor. I’m able to pull my arm out of his death grip. He spins around, turning his rage on me. His reaction is so familiar that I step back from him. “I don’t want to go with you anywhere.”
“Sophia-”
“I don’t want to go with you,” I shout. “You just hurt him! You were hurting me!”
That last part is like a slap across his face. He stares at me, and for a moment I think he’s going to apologize, but instead he laughs at me and turns around to leave. I immediately double back and run over to the General, who is still in shock on the floor.
“I’m fine,” he raises his good hand.
“You’re not,” I growl and reach for my scarf. I wrap it around his arm and secure it around his neck for support. “Help me.”
Sasha and Kennedy help me stand him up and take him back inside to get him to the clinic. I start giving orders for an X–ray while preparing a splint.
“You should go. The ceremony is about to start,” he tells us.
“You guys can go,” I nod.
“Are you okay?” Kennedy asks as she finishes setting up the X–ray machine.
They’re all looking at me, expecting an answer, and I really don’t know what to say. I shrug, taking a couple of deep breaths. I don’t know what to think, much less say.
“I think I’m just as shocked as you guys, I clear my throat. “Go, I’ll help the General get home.”
“What about the ceremony?” Sasha shakes her head.
“Helvig,” Master Sergeant Octavia Vance comes in. She sees the General and doesn’t hesitate to take the things out of my hand.
“He has two clean breaks-”
“You guys need to get going. You’re going to be late. I’ll take over she says, waving us off.
“Are you sure?” I look up at the General.
“Yes, I apologize for the inconvenience,” he bows his head. Sergeant Vance looks between us like I’ve grown a second head. I clear my throat and shake my head.
“I’m the one who should be apologizing. The King was out of-” I pause, looking down at his arm. He laughs. “It would mean a lot if you could keep this to yourself.”
“As a General, it is my duty to protect you. You have my word,” he agrees without hesitation. “Go, don’t miss the ceremony. You’ve worked very hard to get here.”
Sasha, Kennedy, and I excuse ourselves and start heading over to the auditorium. Neither of us has it in us to question what is happening right now. Despite this being one of the biggest days in my life, it goes by in a blur. I can’t even bring myself to look in Ragnar’s direction, so I focus on my Grandmother going out of her way to take pictures of me.
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Chapter 65
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I go on stage and accept the rank change from first class petty officer to Med–Evac specialist. I decide that I’m not going to let him take this from me. Santiago used to do the same thing whenever I did anything. He would put himself in front of me and give a speech about how supportive he was and how important it is that everyone supports their mates in their passions.
Before seeing it for what it really was, I used to love that he would show up. That he was trying to get involved in things I was interested in. The familiarity is leaving a bad feeling in my stomach. Once everything is over, I go over to my grandmother, who has flowers and a huge Cinnamon Roll stuffed toy dressed up in a military uniform.
“Grandma, where did you find this?” I laugh, holding it up.
“I had it custom–made as soon as you left for training,” she admits, her face turning pink.
“I love her. She’s my favorite,” I hug her.
“I am so proud of you. Look at this,” she holds up my certificate and the box where my new ranking patches sit. She begins to look around. “Where is the King?”
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” I pull her with me.
“Is everything okay?” she asks. “Did the two of you fight again?”
“Ragnar broke the General’s arm for touching my face,” I say. She looks at me, confused. “Grandma, he’s my second chance mate.”
She flinches and then takes a step back. Her eyes widen when she looks at something behind me, and I know he’s coming our way. I look back to confirm, and I step out of his way, not wanting to address him. He doesn’t look any happier than I do.
“May I have a moment?” he asks calmly, looking at my grandmother.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait. I don’t think it should be a problem. You waited all this time to show your real intentions,” I look up at him with a glare.
“Now would be better,” he counters and looks over at my grandmother. She turns her attention to me.
“It’s fine,” I reassure her. She gives my shoulder a squeeze and takes my flowers and gift. I look up at the king, feeling the knot I thought I had left behind tighten in my stomach. Is he going to humiliate me with another rejection in front of everyone here? “What do you want?”
All he does is stare at me. When the scrutiny of his gaze becomes too much, I’m the one to look away. I swallow the knot in my throat and take a deep breath. It’s taken me a long time to process what happened to me and step out of that darkness, only for me to fall back into it in a split second.
“Do you hate me that much?” he asks.
I look up at him, feeling completely out of place. I take a step back and let out a heavy sigh. What am I supposed to do now? I have nothing to say to something that should bring me relief, maybe? I feel nothing but the terror I did when I saw Santiago again after he married Poppy in front of the entire City
I don’t say a word and go around him to meet up with my grandmother and Kennedy. I don’t know what they see, but my grandmother nods, and we head over to the airport to go home had been the plan from the start. Sasha is staying behind to help Avian with the move back to Blackstone.
“Are you all right?” Grandina asks once it’s just the two of us in fist class.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“For what, silly girl?” she shakes her head.
“I keep embarrassing you. I would rather he reject me somewhere I can rest afterward. I couldn’t let him do it in front of all
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Chapter 65
those people,” I explain.
“Reject you?” she shakes her head. “Did he say he wanted to?”
“I know about the blood oath,” I tell her. She inhales sharply and straightens up in her seat.
“Ragnar was a child when he took that oath, Sophie.”
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“Okay,” I shrug. “And it has nothing to do with me. Grandma, Santiago used to treat me like this, and I don’t want to go-”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” she shakes her head. “Never ever compare agnar to that idiot.”
“They’re basically the same person,” I scoff.
“Sophia,” she growls.
“He grabbed me by my arm as if I were his property. I mean, sure, the General was lightly flirting, but this is on him. I have been this for over a month, and he not once called me back or answered any of my texts. I was worried.
“And instead of apologizing for being a fucking asshole, he laughs at me and walks away. If I didn’t heal as fast as I do, I’d have a mark on my arm still from how hard he gripped my arm after snapping the General’s hand. I cannot and will not be the fucking victim again. I refuse.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
