Page 62 of Claimed By the Fae Lord

Swallowing my frustration, I stepped forward. "I accept Drótinn Brahm's decree. I will do as you say, but I do not speak for my friend."

Mirrelle's reaction was quite different from mine. She rubbed her hands together gleefully, a wicked grin spreading across her face.

“Drótinn Brahm, I am ready, willing, and able to meet your challenges,” she purred, blood-red eyes glinting with anticipation. “In fact, I look forward to them.”

This time around, Brahm gave Mirrelle more than a cursory glance. The corner of his mouth twitched before he clapped Gunnar on the back. His oldest son blinked like he was coming out of a spell.

Brahm turned to leave, saying over his shoulder, “I hope to see each of you at dinner.”

Gunnar's hostility was palpable as he glared. “Come,” he clipped, leading the way south, his broad back turned to us as we trailed close behind.

I glanced at Liam, trying to gauge his thoughts, but his expression was carefully neutral. Mirrelle, on the other hand, seemed to be in high spirits, practically bouncing on her toes with excitement.

As we followed Gunnar through the winding paths, my thoughts kept returning to the upsetting words exchanged between Liam and his father. I didn’t want him to go into the mines distracted by it.

"I didn't realize you had your own home here in Ephandor," I said to Liam, breaking the silence that hung between us.

"What, you thought I might have been completely cast out?" he asked.

“Of course not. I’m just surprised. The main stokran has so much room and—.”

Gunnar snorted. “He built a home foryouto live in.”

“Shut the fuck up, Gun,” Liam threatened.

“Make me.”

Liam grabbed Gunnar from behind and spun him around, yanking him close by the shirt and baring his teeth.

“Think very carefully before you make that next move,” Gunnar advised with a steady voice.

“Oh, trust me, I’ve been thinking about it.”

Gunnar shook his head. “I wasn’t talking to you.”

Liam’s eyebrows came together, shifting his attention to the right of his brother where he found me with my spear extended. Pointed directly at Gunnar’s neck.

That’s when I noticed the tip of a blade pointed at Liam’s femoral artery. When Liam let go of Gunnar’s shirt I collapsed the spear and secured it to my back once more.

Mirrelle was close, grasping my elbow, steadying my shaking arm.He built a home foryouto live in. And he never told me.

She gave me a little squeeze then said, “I think the quicker we get where we’re going, the better.”

“The blood fae is right,” Gunnar agreed, holstering his dagger.

The four of us continued our short trek down the sloping terrain to the mouth of a large tunnel. It was the only cavern without any activity near it.

Steps from entering, as though nothing had happened between them, Liam questioned Gunnar about their latestintelligence. "Have there been any incidents recently?" he asked, his tone casual. “Anything we should be aware of?"

"Nothing we can't handle," Gunnar replied brusquely, not bothering to look at him. "But then again, we're used to dealing with problems instead of running away from them."

The barb was clearly aimed at Liam who kept quiet. It only served to fuel Gunnar's ire.

"Of course," Gunnar continued, "some think that bringing the frost nymph into our territory is not only courting disaster, it’s an insult."

Mirrelle laughed haughtily. “Like you don’t lie awake at night dreaming of the next battle.”

“I never said I didn’t like a good fight. There’s nothing quite like two adversaries going at it, is there?”

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