Page 14 of The Kraken Bride

Fine. “Sebastian.” How could I say nein in a polite, non-war-causing way?

“You are the only one I want to do this, and you will not fail, Brona. You cannot. You have nothing to fear.”

I almost snapped: How dare you? I fear nothing! But it would have been a lie, and I would’ve known it, he would’ve known it, and that would have done neither of us any good.

“Before you deliver your verdict,” he said, “I’d like you to hear my terms.”

Oooh. Terms. I’d forgotten about those. Adelaide had mentioned them. Twice. Never give an answer without all the facts. I mean it, Bron. Never.

I inhaled slowly. Nodded. “Please continue.”

“I’m asking for five days of your life,” he said. Shadows crouched over his face, giving him an almost sinister air. “In exchange for attending meetings and events at my side, wearing the clothes I provide for you, playing the part of my devoted consort, and granting the rune permission to bond with me, I’ll change my vote on inter-realm marriage. I’ll also arrange for you to dance in every realm. Kings owe me favors, and I will collect.”

I sat reeling all over again. He would change his vote. The vote. The one that had sent me here in the first place, the nei that had killed my dream. And now he’d trade it back to me and let me dance for every berserker faction—for the price of pretending to date him.

How in the world did he learn about my goal to dance before all of berserkerhood? I’d told no one but my sisters, and they’d never spill.

Was there a spy in the dragon court, listening?

He wasn’t done. “I’ll also release you from your service contract the day after convergence. Your sister may replace you with anyone of her choosing.”

Buildings whizzed past us as I looked down at my hands. I’d come here for a reason, and he’d just offered me a solution on a silver shell. He’d even thrown in a sweetener. Early release if he wasn’t my firebrand. But what he asked of me was a responsibility I still wasn’t sure I wished to carry.

If I somehow failed to hear, people would get hurt. Innocent people. And I know, I know. He believed I would succeed. But how could he be so sure?

Argh. Could I really walk away without trying?

I narrowed my gaze on him. “I know you say fake is fine for the rune. But what about the shifter king? I’ve only been in your realm for a matter of hours, Sebastian. He won’t believe I fell for you. Or your people.”

The look he gave me could only be described as amused indulgence. “Everyone will believe you succumbed to me at moment one, Brona. But being in love isn’t our goal. It isn’t even on the table.”

Well, why wasn’t it on the table? I’d just watched him crouch beside a grieving woman and offer comfort. Before that, he’d dropped everything to arrange a search for survivors. He fought to protect his people. And by the flame, he smelled so good. There was a slight chance I could maybe, possibly, eventually fall in love with him if I let myself.

I gripped my knees. Could he not see himself ever falling in love with me?

“I promise you this, Brona. No one will ever question my desire for you.” He looked at me then, as he’d done inside the traveling stones, when his whole body had gone taut. As if he wanted me more than he wanted his next breath. “The relationship will be fake. The desire is not.”

Oh, sweet stars. Breathe. I needed to breathe. Heat flooded my cheeks. Little choking sounds escaped.

“See?” In a blink, that amused indulgence returned, replacing his desire. “Jon will say nothing.”

He’d turned it off so swiftly. And if he turned it on around others, everyone would believe he craved me. Even me.

This was so not smart.

And I couldn’t even be mad at him. If he’d spoken true, and that desire wasn’t faked… if that was really how much he wanted me… who would doubt him?

“Say já. If you say nei, I’ll be forced to go a different route.”

Oh, he would, would he? “If there’s another pretend consort in waiting, then please go a different route.”

His eyes slitted. “Say já,” he repeated, forcing the words through half-clenched teeth. “Please. I wish to do this with you. Only you.”

That was better. But it meant I had a decision to make. Risk everything in five days or leave with nothing in three years?

At least if I did it, I’d get to spend more time with him. Learn more about this mysterious, contradictory man and what he meant–or didn’t mean–to my future. And maybe, just maybe, make sure no other woman had to grieve like I’d seen earlier tonight.

Beyond the window, more of Krakenströnd unfolded beneath a ceiling of dark water. Sand-colored buildings curved the road, gardens of waving sea grass lined the walkways.