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“All hail the queen,” Prince Jamie slurred from somewhere nearby.
I straightened with a snap, reminded of our audience. How long had I been standing there, whispering sweet everythings back and forth with Callen?
“Uisge ciùin,” he muttered, tossing the prince a scowl. “Your timin’ needs improvement.”
“Not true,” the other man replied. He stood at the fore of the crowd, a stunning woman hanging on each arm. His gaze landed on me. Scowling, he released his companions to grab a glass of iced whiskey from a tray. He downed the contents. “I think I nailed it.”
“Move along, Jamie.” Callen motioned to someone as the women dragged the prince away. A waiter rushed over with a platter full of those creamy tattie scones I’d enjoyed last time.
My mouth watered, and my stomach rumbled. Food!
“You must be starved, lass.” His teasing tone returned, this time with a hint of irony. “I know I am.”
Charming rogue. I batted my lashes at him before collecting a scone. Had I not been the center of attention, I would’ve taken more. At least half of them. Maybe the entire platter. I gazed longingly at the beauties left behind.
Callen motioned to someone else. A pretty server arrived with flutes of bubbly. Dazed by the abundance of his provision, I accepted a drink. As I alternated between bites and sips, my husband urged me forward, leading me from group to group, clearly proud to show me off. He remained at my side the entire time, his arm slung around me. Not a captor’s hold, but a possessive one. Mesmerized by him, I didn’t consider the two invisible swords that dandled above my head, aka Tavish and Isobel. Well, I didn’t consider them more than a dozen times.
Thankfully, no one cringed away from me. Even better, Callen included me in conversations and made sure everyone acknowledged my presence before we walked away, even if his stare had to metaphorically drill them to their knees. If that wasn’t enough, he petted me off and onwith such affectionate strokes and even toyed with the ends of my hair, the way I’d played with his. Thoughts abandoned me one after the other. Every second, I teetered on curling my body into his and kissing the air from his lungs
“Elle?” Callen glided his knuckles along my jaw and offered me a tender smile, as if he’d discovered a new favorite activity. “I like this gleam in your eyes. Later, I demand a full explanation of your current musings.”
I realized we’d paused in a private corner and grinned up at him. “You can demand, berserker boy, but I won’t tell. I’m a vault.”
“The contemplations are that bad, are they?” Peering down at me, he lightly pinched of my chin and tilted my face up to his. “Unfortunately for you, I have ways of extracting secrets.”
Oh, I bet he did, and I couldn’t wait to experience each one. “Stop bantering with me,” I demanded, and yes, okay, I might have possibly used a flirty tone. I gripped the lapels of his jacket and leaned into him. “And don’t you dare smolder. I’m doing my best to behave.”
He slid his thumb up, gently pressing the pad into the center of my bottom lip. “What if I want you wild?”
“Do you?” Because mission accomplished. My pulse was frenzied.
“Yes. It’s only fair. That’s what you make me.” He lowered his grip to my throat and stroked every dip and rise.
I bit my tongue to silence a ragged moan but couldn’t stop myself from tilting my head to the side, offering him more ground to conquer.
“The things I’m going to do for you. Later, always later,” he said and sighed. “Incoming.”
I straightened, fighting for calm but curious to see who dared approach our private moment. Ah. Prince Jamie and his companions.
Irritation contorted his features, but he wasn’t focused on me. “You marked her and continue to show her honor when we both know she’ll cause nothing but our ruin. Again!” he stated quietly, glaring at Callen. Then he blinked, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just said. But he didn’t recant.
Callen stiffened. “Jamie, donna do this. I’m offerin’ you a chance to apologize and walk away before you go too far.”
Silence. Thick and oppressive. Jamie jutted his chin. “I guess I love you enough to endure your wrath, because I’m goin’ to take this as far as I must. Have you forgotten Roderick? Because I haven’t. I loved him too. He was my best friend. The one who guarded my back on and off the battlefield, as I guard yours.”
Well. That explained a lot.
Callen blanked his features, but not before I glimpsed a flash of devastation. “Enough.”
I glanced about as mutters rose from the masses. Those who stood nearby watched and listened, unabashed. Some nodded their agreement, while others appeared uncomfortable. Frustration grabbed my reins, attempting to steer me into shouting facts. Not being able to defend myself sucked. Not being able to comfort the amazing man at my side with the truth sucked worse.
“Your lust for her has made you weak,” Jamie stated.
Tension crackled in the air, and I groaned. The W word. The worst thing to call a berserker, according to the history book. When a king was previewed as less than unbreakable, other warriors bombarded him with challenges.
This king offered no outward reaction. He simplyannounced, “Tomorrow morning, after you have sobered up, you will present yourself to my wife and apologize for your behavior. I’ll render your punishment.” Oh, Callen’s tone. Such quiet rage raised the fine hairs on my nape. “If you fail to show, I’ll consider it a challenge for my crown, and proceed accordingly.”
Gasps sounded, mine among them. I felt as if I’d been punched in the gut. Punishment? A possible death-challenge?
