Tears spring to my eyes. I miss him more than anything. “Please. What if someone kept you away from the person you love?”
Something sinister casts over his eyes. I slowly creep back against my chair, suddenly realizing I may have said something inappropriate. I may be in danger. Fleeing isn’t an option. I won’t get far. Protecting myself is out of the question, especially when I’m less than five feet away from the so called danger.
“I’ve been in your position. Longer than you could ever imagine,” his voice gets higher with every word. “Do not ever use that against me again. Do not try to make our situations the same, because they shall never be.” The hulking warrior scoots from the table, and the chair falls over on the floor.
“I don’t know your situation, but did you ever think that you’d never see her again? Because that’s how I feel right now. I need to see him again.”
“You’ll see him when we get the full story.”
“What full story?!” I hit my fist next to the plate full of food, and the meat falls off the edge of the plate. “He told you everything. I’ve told you everything. There isn’t an ulterior motive. The only motive I have is to see Trident.”
“Aye, you’ll do and say anything to make sure that happens, won’t you?” he asks, making his way around the table.
My chin quivers when I realize what he is trying to do. He is trying to spin this on me, twist my words. “It doesn’t matter what I say. Either way, you’re going to hear what you want and believe what you want.” I’m better off not saying anything else from here on.
“Is that so?”
“Beowulf!” Lord Grimkael, if I remember the gigantic man correctly, barks at his warrior and pushes him out of the way. “If I were to tell Lady Lilith how you are treating another Lady, I have a feeling she would make you sleep out in the woods.” Lord Grimkael towers over Wulf, and the warrior’s throat bobs from the power radiating off the leader. Even I can feel it. It nearly chokes me. It’s no wonder he is the Lord.
“I apologize, Lady Sylvie.” The shaken warrior bows to me and abandons the room, fleeing out the door.
Lord Grimkael sighs, watching Wulf leave and when he turns his gaze to me, his jaw ticks. It’s probably stress. Being a good leader like he is, I imagine it is much to handle, especially running the kingdom as directly as he does. I barely know the man, but I can tell Lord Grimkael is not the type to merely let his subordinates do the work for him. He makes the decisions himself. “How do you know Trident?”
“I told you,” I say, exasperated.
“No. I want to know everything from the beginning. I do not want rushed words and broken sentences because you are feeling desperate. From the moment you saw him, the details of your father, and any alternatives you may have. I must prepare my men if your father is truly going to attack.”
“He’ll attack, whether it has something to do with me or not.”
“And why is that?” he asks. “Is Trident in danger?”
“Everyone is. May I see Trident now?”
“No. I need his story and your story. And somehow, I must figure out how to keep your father from killing one of my best warriors. Son of a bitch, I can’t believe he did this.”
“Fall in love?” I ask with more venom than I originally intended.
“Fall in the love with his family’s enemy, kidnapping, and probably a few other things that I can’t think about right now,” Lord Grimkael rubs his temples.
“Trident told you everything. It’s the truth.” I can’t cry in front of him, but this is getting frustrating. I just want to see Trident. I need to make sure he is okay. “Please, just tell me if Trident is alive.”
“What? Of course he is. I’m not going to kill one of my own, not unless that is what your father deems necessary.”
“No. Please, you can’t let him. Trident is the only person that’s made me happy in so long.”
“Rules are rules, Lady Sylvie. You know I can’t make exceptions.”
This time I do break. I can’t hold it in anymore. My shoulders shake. Salty teardrops land on my hands as I cry. Even when I’m not home, my father still has control of what I do. My life is destined already, and it isn’t with Trident.
“Please, don’t cry. I don’t handle it well when women cry. I never know what to do.” He takes out a small cloth from his pocket and hands it over to me. Even with my hands bound, I’m able to hold on to it and bring the cloth under my eyes to dab the tears away.
“Thank you, Lord Grimkael,” I sniffle.
“Goddess, this is a mess,” he mutters.
A knock at the door interrupts us and my tears slow, but they do not stop. I need to figure out how the hell to get out of this situation. I refuse to let my father determine anything that has to do with my happiness. That time in my life is over. I do not care if it means I’m banned from the family. Trident has made me love life again. I’m stronger with him. No, I shall never let anyone get in the way.
“It’s another message from your father. He will be here in two days’ time to meet with the Karstens,” Lord Grimkael says, after the messenger brings him a scroll. “And if they do not get what they want, he has confirmed war.”
“He doesn’t know I’m here, does he?”
Lord Grimkael pauses, slowly turning his head to me, and flashes me a bright smile. “No, he does not. Maybe there’s a method to Trident’s madness after all. This is good.”
“I wouldn’t call this good,” I mumble, yanking on my chains.
“Oh, but it is. Now, I can request that he leave the Karstens alone in exchange for your life. Trident doesn’t even have to be part of this. If you’re willing.”
I fall forward and nod a little too eagerly. “I’m willing to do anything to save him. Just tell me what I must do.”
A flicker of hope starts to burn in my chest from his words. This is our chance.
Everything shall be fine, Trident.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Trident
Drip. Drip. Drip.
A crack in the stone leaks water from the harsh rain beating against the ground above me. A puddle gathers in front of me. With every drip, the middle of the puddle ripples, a bead of water ascends upward from the force and falls back down with a small splash.
“Jesus, I’m bored if I’m watching water fall from the ceiling,” I rub my face. When I pull my fingers back, they are black from soot and grime. I’m filthy. I probably smell just as bad, but the sour stench lingering in the tunnels overpowers my natural scent.
I want to bathe.
Echoing footsteps down the tunnel grabs my attention. The back of my head rolls against the wall. I look straight ahead, waiting for my visitor to make their appearance. Large shadow, heavy boots, and mumbling curses lets me know it is my friend Wulf. I smirk when he gets closer, his self-conversation getting louder. He has been doing that a lot lately.
“They say talking to yourself makes you mad, my friend,” I call out in the shadows, knowing he can hear me.
“How’d you know it was me?” he says, wrapping his fingers along the bars.
“You talk to yourself.”
“I do not,” he scratches his head. “Anyway, I brought you a visitor.”
“You aren’t my visitor?”
“No,” he shakes his shaggy hair and spreads his arm out, gesturing whoever it is to his side to step forward.
“Sylvie,” I say under my breath and run to the front of the cell, wrapping my fingers around hers when she pushes them through the small squares. I bring her knuckles to my mouth and presses kisses along the small ridges. “Sylvie, it’s felt like forever.”
“It’s only been a few hours,” Wulf grumbles.
“A few hours of horrible thoughts,” Sylvie says, never breaking eye contact with me.
Wulf rolls his eyes. “Newlyweds.”
“I wish.” Sylvie throws a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean for it to slip out like that. I wish. I hope, one day. That’s all.”<
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I smile, holding her hands tight. “I want that too. I do.”
“Lovestruck fool,” Wulf chimes in.
“No one asked you,” I snipe at him, but I keep my gaze locked to hers. “Are you well? Are they treating you right?”
“I’m fine. They fed me. My father sent a note to Lord Grimkael. He shall be here in two days,” she says.
“And you are allowed free for those two days, but after that, you must be back in here.”
I finally tear my gaze from Sylvie and look at my friend in utter confusion.
“For looks,” Wulf explains. He takes out the ring of keys he has around his belt loop and finds the long black iron key that belongs to the cell I’m in.
“Two days? That’s it? Did Lord Grimkael not believe anything we said?” Two days is not enough. I need more with her. I need every day. Stolen moments aren’t enough.
“He did, but there is a plan. Let’s get you out of here, and we shall talk about it, aye?”
Wulf slides the key in place. Waiting for it to unlock feels like an eternity. I’m bouncing on my toes. Waiting, waiting, waiting.
The hinges groan as Wulf swings it open, but he is taking his fucking time. I push on the door while he pulls. He stumbles backward and Sylvie jumps out of the way just in time before the heavy metal swings by her, almost hitting her. Sylvie doesn’t seem to care much because she jumps into my arms, wrapping her arms and legs around me.
I tangle my fingers in her hair while her head settles in the nook between my neck and shoulder. Goddess, I’ve missed her. Wulf was lying. It hasn’t been a few hours. It’s been much longer. Being without someone you love, right in the beginning is hard enough, but with everything hanging over our heads, it feels as though our relationship has a death sentence.
Lowering my forehead to hers, I relish in her nearness, her body, her touch, and sigh in relief. I’m so happy she is here. Not knowing anything about what was going on upset me. I expected better of the place that is supposed to be my home. I know what I did was wrong, and they need to figure out a way to punish me, but the immediate lack of faith hurt. There have been countless times I have had their backs in battle and none of them came to my aid. No one believed me when I explained myself.
In a split second, everyone changed for me. The only person that has faith in me is in my arms right now.
“When you have a free moment, can we talk?” Wulf asks.
I throw my arm around Sylvie’s shoulders. “You can talk to me in two days. When I’m thrown back in here. You didn’t give me the time before, why should I give you the time now?”
“I defended you. I protected you. I didn’t tell Lord Grimkael where you went!” he whispers the words harshly.
“I’m grateful, but what about when I came back? I would have defended you.” I walk away from my oldest friend with my lady at my side.
“That’s why I want to talk to you,” Wulf says from behind me, his boots hurrying forward to catch up with us. “Please—”
“Not now, Wulf. I just want to take a bath and be with Sylvie before I’m thrown in the dungeon again.”
The air in the tunnels gets warmer and more humid the closer we get to the surface. My skin sweats more, but the air is cleaner and easier to breathe than the air in the cell. I cough when I take too deep of a breath and hold my hand over my eyes when we finally reach the courtyard. The sun blinds me. Shite, it’s been longer than a few hours, an entire night has passed. It’s nearly noon of the next day now.
“Damn, it’s fucking bright,” I complain, protecting my eyes with my hand still. I want to go back inside the cold, dark dungeon if it means not being blinded for the rest of my life.
“We are going straight to the room Lord Grimkael offered us.”
“Great,” I sigh. A part of me is grateful for the kindness the Lord and Lady are offering us, but I do not want to stay there. For the first time, I feel like everyone here is my enemy.
A few people stop me along the way to the castle to say hello. Jericho slaps me on the back with his hand, happy and cackling like a mad man to see that I’m back. Erik waves at me from the distance, and Abram averts his gaze from me, nervous that I’ll be upset with him for what he pulled at the front gate.
The more we walk, the stranger I feel. Everyone is staring at me and giving me looks like I’ve lost my mind. As if they wouldn’t do anything for their families. Please. I only did what I thought I had to, and you know what? I’d do it all over again. My family has a chance of being safe now, and even though my mother and I aren’t on the best of terms right now, it doesn’t mean I’d leave them vulnerable. I love them. They are my parents. Leaving them unprepared would make me a sad excuse of a son.
To the right, a few people are smoking hog and deer. To the left, the women are washing clothes in basins. Children play in the courtyard, laughing and running as they play tag. It makes me think of Sylvie and if she wants children. I’d love to fill an entire house with kids. There’s nothing like a child’s laughter to brighten a long day. But that’s a conversation we can have later. There is no urgency to have a baby right now. I’d rather us be a little more stable and in our own cabin, but if it were to happen sooner rather than later, I’d be a very happy man.
Thinking about it has my cock getting hard. I slide my hand down Sylvie’s side and squeeze the thick globe of her ass.
“Trident!” she gasps, slapping my hand away. “There are people around.”
“So?” I growl, wanting under her skirt this very moment.
“So, I’d rather save that for the bedroom.”
“Perfect. We are on our way now.”
“Not until after you bathe,” she scrunches up her face. “You are little ripe.”
“Way to spare a man his feelings,” I mutter.
“Your lady is right, Trident. You stink,” Wulf laughs, waving his hand in front of his nose like he can smell me from on the other side of Sylvie.
“I’ve had a hell of a few days, you know. A man has a right to smell. It’s the smell of success and journey.”
“Or it’s just a smell,” Sylvie whips back at me with her smart, sexy, pouty mouth.
Fuck. I need to bathe so I can be inside her already.
Wulf howls with laughter, his hand on his stomach as he bellows. “I like her. She’s a keeper.”
I pull her close to my side and narrow my eyes at him. “I know, but last time I checked, you weren’t interested in that.”
“Come on, Trident—”
“Not now,” I say, lifting my hand to interrupt him. “Not now.”
Wulf’s shoulders sag as we take our first step inside the castle. It’s much cooler in here than it is outside. The castle is darker, providing shade and sanctuary. The lingering smell of meat makes my stomach rumble, but as I look at the steps, I’m suddenly hit with exhaustion. I’m too tired to eat.
“Trident! I’m glad Wulf got you out. I’m sure they have updated you on the plan?” Lord Grimkael asks, striding out of the common room with Alexie at his side. What the hell is he doing here?
I curl my lip at him, and the smug bastard just smiles. “I see you have something against me, da?” he asks in a thick Kievan accent.
“You could say that. You were after my woman. For all I know, you’re here for her, and I will let you know right now,” I take a step toward him, “I shall fight and kill for her.”
He rolls his eyes and folds his hands in front of him, smacking his mouth together as if I’m wasting his time talking about this. “I am not here for that. Why I am here is between Lord Grimkael and me. It is none of your business why I am here.”
Lord Grimkael stops me from getting closer by putting his hand on my chest. “You are already on thin ice, Trident. I suggest you go upstairs to your room and rest. We have an eventful few days ahead of us.”
“Sir Trident. I hope you relax,” Alexie gives a half bow in respect, but I have a feeling he is mocking me.
“You too.” I turn o
n my heel with Sylvie on my arm and see Wulf waiting by the stairs. I have nothing against the prince of Kievan Rus’, but I hate that he was there at the Alands’ party to get to know her. He was interested. He could be the one touching her and having her body.
“Relax,” Sylvie whispers, and instantly my anger deflates. “I didn’t even see him at my party. I’ve never met the man before, and I’ll never let him take me away from you.”
I shouldn’t have gotten so upset at Alexie. While what I said wasn’t wrong, I need to keep my shit together. I rub my eyes with my index finger and thumb and nearly miss a step from not watching my feet as I climb the steps. “I’m just tired. I feel like the last few days haven’t stopped.”
“It has been long. We just need to go to sleep. It’s going to feel amazing not sleeping in the dirt though, right?” she says brightly.
“I don’t care where we sleep as long as I’m holding you.”
“Aw, so sweet,” Wulf coos.
I slap him in the chest and give him a look to tell him to shut up. I’m still not ready to forgive him yet, and it may be because I’m just exhausted from the last few days. I just need a break. “We will talk, Wulf. I need rest.”
“I understand. I’ll leave you to it.” He pauses on the top step a minute, his mouth opening to say something else, but pinches his lips shut and heads back down the stairs.
Sylvie squeezes my hand and peers up at me through her light red eyelashes. “You should be easier on him.”
“He is the one—”
She slaps her hand over my mouth and shushes me. “I know, but he is also a warrior, a loyal one not only to you, but his Lord. You put him in a bad position. Don’t do this to him forever. He doesn’t deserve it. No one here does. They have to do what they have to do. It isn’t going to come easy. Be glad that they love you enough to deal with this head on, or they could do it the easy way and kill you. Be more understanding and patient and not so selfish,” she hisses. Her eyes are big and bright, yet so serious as she stares at me.
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