Page 28 of Faeling
But if anyone believed his throttling would stop Ulrich, theywere wrong. “She cannot be your mate,” the lord commander wheezed. “She isfae. She must have bewitched you.”
Vallek snorted. “She had many opportunities to do so before and didn’t.”
“My king, you cannot—”
Slashing his hand through the air, Vallek growled, “Enough,Ulrich. I’ve heard enough poison from your mouth today. What’s done is done.” Although his stance remained ready, his gaze tore away from his second to find Ravenna. “She is my mate. My beast has decided.”
With her hands held up in a gesture of peace, Eydis stepped forward. “Let us all take a moment to breathe. This complicates everything and tempers are high.”
“I’m fine,” Vallek grumbled, stalking around her to stand before Brynhíl. “Have her things moved into my chambers. My mate sleeps with me.”
Brynhíl bobbed her head. “Of course, my king.”
“Wait!” Ravenna yelped, halting the older orcess.
Marching up to Vallek, she insisted, “There’s no need for that. My staying here will only raise suspicion.”
“You are my mate,” he bit out. “I will have you in my chambers.”
“I don’t need to stay in here with you, not when—”
“This isn’t up for debate,skala.”
“—you cannot justdecideto—”
“I can and I have—”
“—just your beast’s instinct, you will have a clearer head and see—”
“—Iam king here and—”
“—need not know, I can resume my position. I could leave—”
Snarling, Vallek struck quicker than she could see, catching her by the waist to haul her into his massive body. Pressed close to him, his heat enveloped her, and she couldn’t help a gasp to feel just how large he was compared to her. She had to look up and up andupto meet his glare with her own.
“You willnotleave. You will stay here. With me. Where you belong.” Vallek looked up long enough to nod at Brynhíl, sending her along to have Ravenna’s meager things brought.
A sound of pure outrage erupted from her throat. Struggling in his grasp, Ravenna argued, “Nothing good can come of this!”
“Listen to her, my king,” Ulrich insisted.
“Oh, now I’m to be listened to?” Ravenna spat.
A vein in his forehead throbbed, but before the lord commander’s expression could grow too withering, a growl from Vallek had him rearranging his features.
“There will be no way to hide this, not forever,” said Eydis. “A fae for a mate will complicate everything. We need time to think about this, Vallek. To plan.”
“I am only half-fae and have no love nor loyalty to them,” Ravenna admitted, not wanting Eydis to think less of her.
Brows arching in surprise, Eydis nodded.
“She will be kept safe. Secret,” said Vallek. “With me.”
Ravenna pushed against the heavy slabs of muscle that made up his chest. “You cannot just keep me prisoner in here!”
Snarling, he growled, “Watch me.”
“She will stay here,” agreed Eydis, her voice gentle and soothing, “until we get this figured out. For now, come away, Vallek. Let clearer heads prevail.”
