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Dinner was awkward that night. It felt like a massive obligation to have to sit through it with him, and I hated every second of it. Ragnar’s father has summoned me, and I honestly feel like I’m in serious trouble. The King’s study is in the North wing. I’ve never been on this side of the castle before, but it’s now heavily guarded.
This is probably where the King is hiding his pregnant Queen. This part of the castle also seems a lot more modern. The stone walls are covered with drywall, and there are picture frames instead of hand–painted portraits. The art in this part of the castle isn’t historic. It looks brand new. It’s a little weird that the aesthetic changes on this side, but then again, this might be the part of the castle that only belongs to the King and his chosen.
I track his fresh scent to a door and stop to make sure that I’m at the right place. I tap on the door, trying my best to hide the Fact that I am scared shitless about being summoned. The door opens on its own, and suddenly I’m surrounded by the nedieval madness that is the rest of the castle once more.
‘What the hell?” I mutter as I enter.
Sorry about the theme whiplash on decor. My wife doesn’t like the medieval shit,” the King waves me in. “Come in, Sophie.”
It’s okay. I’m convinced my grandmother is slowly changing my modern furniture with things that kind of look like them, out are hella old,” I shrug.
Have a seat,” he smiles. I shut the door behind me and take a seat in front of him.
Am I in trouble?” I ask.
No,” he says, confused. “Have you done anything that would get you in trouble?”
A few things,” I nod and try my best to look up at him, but I can’t quite hold his intense stare. I guess it turns out that I am ruly an omega. “I almost started a war. I was mated to the guy that tried to murder your son with bombs, and I might be tressing him out as much as he’s been stressing me lately.”
The first two are inconsequential. This is the most fun we’ve had in years. I actually wanted to talk to you about that last >ne. What the fuck is going on? You two seemed perfectly fine. I hadn’t seen my son as alive as he has been in years. Did Something happen?”
I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “He’s been like this since he got back from the temple. I’m not sure how to help him. It’s :reated a divide between us.”
‘Did he tell you what happened?”
‘He said he saw his mom,” I nod. “And all I can think is that she didn’t approve of our mating.”
‘She wasn’t like that,” he shakes his head. “He’s been spending more time with Ivar. That, I have noticed.”
Yeah, so have I. Ivar sends me daily updates,” I agree. I don’t know what Ragnar has told him about his vision in that cave, or whether the King has been open to discussing it, given his disapproval of Ragnar going there and all. “He doesn’t want to be around me. I think he may have pushed to remove the oath too soon. Neither of us expected much from the other outside of trying to make this work, and now it kind of feels like the foundation we were building on wasn’t strong enough.”
“I know the three of you have a deal. The boys like to exclude me from their personal pursuits. Would you tell me if I asked?”
“I’m sorry, sir, but the three of us swore to keep this between us until the end, and that’s how it will remain whether we choose to move forward or not,” I shake
my
head.
“I respect that,” he falls back into his seat, disappointed. “Are you okay?”
1/3
11:33 am DD
Chapter 101
“I’m sorry?” I ask, not knowing if I heard him correctly.
9:41
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“Guilt is one of the most dangerous emotions to feel. A lot of people think it’s fear, but I can tell you from experience that it’s guilt. I can face fear head–on. It’s a lot easier than facing the truth. When I marked my wife, I didn’t do it out of love. I did it because I was scared of what might become of my sons, my kingdom, and my family.
“I couldn’t even look my son in the eyes for months after that because it felt like a betrayal to his mother’s memory. She meant everything to me, and things only got worse when I started having feelings for her.”
“Maybe you’re right about that, sir, but I can’t sit here and allow him to give me the silent treatment after what I’ve been through. The hardest part about being rejected was accepting that I was so blinded by the idea of my mate that I didn’t see how one–sided our relationship was. I didn’t know how thin I was stretching myself or how disrespectful he was being without straight out calling me a useless bitch.
“I love your son. He’s become my best friend, but I can’t lose myself the way I did before again. You lost your mate, sir. She was taken from you. Mine decided that I wasn’t worth shit. We built this lie around us, then he wanted me to accept the scraps of his affection while he paraded someone he believed was worthy of standing by his side.
“Ragnar isn’t Santiago, but there are times when the familiarity of their actions cuts me deep. Since coming here, I’ve learned to use my voice. I’ve learned that I have more to offer than the expectations of someone who should never have been in control of my life to begin with. I can’t go back to living that way.”
“I think breaking up is a very rash decision. Especially with the kind of bond the two of you are fated with,” he shakes his head.
“Breaking up?” We both turn around to see Ragnar standing in the doorway. “You want to break up over what?”
“Ragnar,” his father growls. “You knock when you step into my study.”
“Not when my mate is sitting here complaining to you about something she doesn’t even care to understand,” he growls back and then turns his angry, glowing eyes towards me. “What the hell are you doing?”
I look between his father and him for a moment, and I feel the weight of these past two weeks. I already said what I needed to say to him. He can believe what he wants.
“You’re reaching,” I say calmly. “I never said I wanted to break up, but even your father sees that what is happening isn’t working,” I stand up and bow to the King, “Perhaps we can talk some other time, sire. I’ll be taking my leave.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Ragnar reaches for me. On instinct, I slap his hand away. Hurt replaces his anger when I step away from him.
“You can’t stop me from going anywhere. I don’t belong to you,” I say steadily. He drops his hand and tries to form some kind of response, but as usual, the lie falls short.
I’m out of the study before he can find the lie he’s looking for. I don’t realise I’m crying until I get to the main hall and a cold gust of air dries them on my cheeks. There’s a commotion not far from the entrance, but I ignore it as I try to find the valet who parked my car so I can get my keys back.
“Miss Helvig,” the girl waves me down. Relief floods my nerves, and I jog over to her to take them.
“Thank you,” I say, taking them out of her hand when she holds them out for me. I hear someone growl behind us, and I look back to see that the guards are struggling with a group trying to get in. “What’s going on?”
“Some wolves didn’t get the memo that the castle will no longer be employing wolves. That idiot claims he’s your mate,” she says dismissively.
“What?” I ask and turn all the way around.
2/3
11:33 am DD
Chapter 101
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Nothing prepares me for the instant my eyes lock with Santiago’s. The guard is fighting him, but he’s slipping out of his hold. I blink, trying to shake the image out of my head. Surely, this is a figment of my imagination. Just then, Ragnar steps out of the entrance. His eyes lock in on me.
“Sophie!” Santiago shouts. “Baby, tell them! Tell them who I am! Tell them I’m here to take you home!”
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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.
