Page 94 of A Darkness So Sweet

Ragnar hadn’t stopped working for nearly a week since the king had decided on their new plan. The generals were all very forceful about what their thoughts were for next steps, and that meant he had little time to even go home. But Inkeri had sworn she was taking good care of Maia, and he had to trust that there were some trolls with her best interest at heart.

Even if it hurt to think that she was on her own. His little human wasn’t all that good at being alone, and certainly didn’t like being too far from him. Though he’d seen her strength come back in waves, he wasn’t sure that it was the same as it had been before the battle.

She’d seen too much. And part of that was his fault.

But now, he finally had time to go back home to her. Even though it was the middle of the night.

He was careful not to be too loud before he reached the bed, namely because he wanted to surprise her by sliding under the covers. Lifting the blankets carefully, he tried to make sure not too much cold air got underneath. If he could just get a little closer to her, then he could pull her against his chest. She would make that sweet little sound she did in her sleep when he showed up, and then sigh in that way that made every part of him clench in happiness.

Gods, he loved her. So much. And he wasn’t sure how to tell her that, or if there was a way for him to tell her that without her thinking he was joking or lying. It shouldn’t have been possible for either of them to fall in love with each other. Not considering their start, who they were as people, or all the other things that had led them here.

But he did. He loved the little noises she made in her sleep, the soft look in her eyes when she looked at his people, and the absolute wild abandon with which she threw herself into every single thing she did. When she got something in her mind, she did it. That was who his little human was.

Ragnar slid his arms underneath her limp form and gently tugged her into him. He just wanted to feel her for a little while. Then he would wake her up and tell her everything that was going to happen. But first, he wanted to enjoy her.

Until she willingly rolled against him and draped herself across his chest in a very not tired way. “You’re too big to be that quiet, you know.”

“You should be sleeping.”

“I couldn’t sleep.” She nuzzled her head on his chest, pillowed by all the thick muscles there. “You’ve been very busy.”

“The king keeps me busy.” Even though he wanted to be anywhere but in the castle. And maybe... Maybe she wanted to hear that. “I’d rather be here with you. That’s what gets me through the day, you know. I imagine taking you back to the illuminated glen. Or perhaps we’d go on a journey across your lands, camping underneath the stars. I’d catch you rabbits, just like the first time.”

She made a face he could feel pressed against his skin. “No rabbits—thank you.”

“You liked the rabbit I gave you then.”

“Because I was starving. I’d much rather find something more palatable than an adorable little creature.” But he could feel her laughter even as she tried to hide it. “Unless you’re insistent on killing small fluffy things.”

Ragnar ruffled her hair and curved an arm around her a little tighter. “I have absolutely no need to kill fluffy things if you’re not interested in eating them.”

“Good. I thought maybe we could use a pet around here, anyway. Maybe a cat?” She sat up on his chest, using her hand against his collarbone to push up. “Do you even know what a cat is?”

“I do not.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’ll like them. But they’re fun pets and I wouldn’t be quite so alone all the time.”

He heard the words she didn’t say. She wouldn’t be solonelyif she had a pet. And that broke his heart. He knew he hadn’t been around much, but... Ragnar caught a curl that had fallen in front of her face and tucked it behind her ear. “If that would make you happy, Maia, you can get all the terrifying creatures you want and fill this home with them.”

“I think they need sunlight.”

“We’ll bring them above to keep them happy.”

“Every day?”

Solemnly, he nodded. “If that is the burden I must bear, then I will carry you and all of your strange foundlings into the sun every afternoon.”

It was as much of a declaration of love as he knew how to give. For her, he would do anything if it would make her smile.

Just like she was smiling now. That ridiculous, beaming grin that said she thought he was being silly. And he was. He knew the words he said were foolish and perhaps a little lovesick, but he couldn’t stop them from coming all the same.

He had fallen so hard for this woman, it was almost embarrassing.

She watched him with those bright green eyes, shadows playing across her face like a loving hand trailing along her features. Ragnar traced those shadows, watching his massive hand dance across her features as though he’d never seen either of them before.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

“Thoughts I will tell you eventually, fire hair. But not tonight.”

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