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“Are you leaving?” Radiating concern, Mirren popped to her feet and ran to her father. As before, he caught her in his arms. “I’m not ready to say goodbye yet,” she cried, clinging to him.
“I’m not saying goodbye.” He held her close.
“You’re not?” Slowly, she raised her head. Tears glistened on her cheeks. She wiped them away with the back of her wrists. “I get to spend the day here?”
Oh, wow. Okay. That one hit me straight in the feels.
“Nay, love.” His gaze flicked to me and lingered for a single heartbeat. “You’re moving into the castle with me. Aunt Gavina, too.”
Mirren brightened. “I get to live with you again? You mean it?”
“I always mean what I say.”
“You really do.” She hugged him tight. “Oh, Da! I’m so happy!”
And the hits kept coming. Why would a father as loving and considerate as Callen marry someone like Isobel,simply because she calmed him? A berserker’s temper must be something fearsome and terrible indeed.
How had Callen known Isobel was his fated?I’d wondered before, but now Icravedthe answer.
Gavina’s eyes went round as saucers. “Of course I’ll move into your home, majesty. I mean, Mr. Bruce.” Complexion pinkening, she bowed her head. “Whatever you request, I will do.”
Why the new change in direction? Tavish? Or had something else happened? If not for Mirren, I would’ve asked, but I didn’t wish to frighten the little girl with talk of war.
Callen didn’t face me again as he kissed his daughter’s temple and passed her to Gavina. “The two of you will wait for me in the car. There’s something I must discuss with Isobel before we join you. But you have nothing to fear, all right? Magnus will be with you the entire time.”
A big ox of a man with red hair and a bushy beard stepped forward. Magnus, no doubt.
I licked my lips. Oh, yes. Something more had happened. Had Callen learned of Isobel’s body-swap betrayal?
“Why would I fear?” Mirren asked, truly confused.
“Exactly.” He gave her cheek a playful pat before nodding to Magnus, who led the women out of the office. Callen and Jamison shared a look before the prince took off, leaving me alone with the king of berserkers.
Wringing my fingers together, I asked, “What’s going on?”
“You want money. Verra well. You’ll get the money.” He pinned me with his gaze and took a step closer. “But in return, you’ll give Gavina your bedroom and be kind to our guests, without exception.”
My heart raced. Okay. He hadn’t learned about the betrayal. Yet. “How much money? Never mind. Twenty thousand pounds, and a day of horseback riding, and we’ve got a deal.”
He blinked. “No riding. But I will give you the twenty thousand pounds.”
Dang it! Why wouldn’t he take me out on those horses?
“You agree to my bargain, then?” he asked. “Without protest?”
“Why would I protest something I’d do for free?” I liked both Gavina and Mirren. “I’m happy to take a spare bedroom.”
“Nay, lass,” he replied, his irises glinting. “For the foreseeable future, you’ll be staying in mine.”
Chapter
Twelve
Tight Squeeze: Maneuvering in Cramped Quarters
FromA Beginner’s Guide to Berserker Bliss
Author Unknown
